BLE Beacon Hardware Design

I am rolling out a proximity-based advertising platform for trade shows and pop-up exhibitions. Visitors who walk past one of our stands should instantly see a promo on their phone. The beacon’s job is simple: broadcast a small, unique ID; the mobile app will use that ID to fetch the full offer from our server. Here’s what I need from you on the embedded side: • Hardware: select or design a compact BLE beacon (Nordic nRF52, ESP32, or any module you trust) that plugs straight into a wall outlet. No batteries—continuous mains power is preferable for multi-day events. • Firmware: write clean, update-ready code that advertises only the short ID, with configurable transmit power and interval so we can fine-tune range on-site. Standard formats such as iBeacon or Eddystone are fine as long as the payload structure stays minimal. • Power & thermals: keep current draw low enough to avoid heat build-up in an enclosed plastic housing, even when permanently powered. • Configuration & OTA: provide a simple mobile or desktop tool (CLI, BLE GATT, or serial) so our technicians can change the ID, tweak Tx power, or push firmware updates without opening the case. • Documentation & files: schematic, BOM, Gerber/PCB layout (if custom), compiled firmware plus source, and a quick-start guide our software team can follow. Acceptance criteria – Beacon reliably broadcasts the chosen ID and is detectable by a standard Android/iOS BLE scan within the intended 3-20 m range. – Changing Tx power clearly scales the effective range in field tests. – Device remains stable after 72 hrs continuous operation on mains power. – Firmware and hardware files compile/reproduce without errors. You’ll collaborate directly with our app engineers, so expect rapid feedback loops on packet format and timing. If you’ve shipped similar BLE or iBeacon hardware before, I’d love to see examples.