nRF5340 PDK for nRF9160 external programming

SteveD0

I now plan on using the nRF5340 as an external programmer for the nRF9160. I’m completely new to using this board and the link process. I’ll use your 2.3.5 Programming and Debugging instructions, but a question I have is do I need to get a J-Link EDU Mini, a TC2030-CTX-NL or both? Also, I didn’t understand what you meant when you said, “…the J-Link EDU Mini is a great choice if you’re building non-commercial products.”

Thanks,
Steve

jaredwolff

SteveD0

SteveD0 but a question I have is do I need to get a J-Link EDU Mini, a TC2030-CTX-NL or both

You’ll need a programmer and a cable. The J-Link EDU mini is only for non-commercial purposes. So the next best (affordable) step is the nRF53 dev kit.

SteveD0

I plan on purchasing the nRF5340 PDK , so that means it will come with all the cables I need?

jaredwolff

SteveD0 it does not have any cables.

SteveD0

I’m still a bit confused about the Tag-Connect cable. so based on 2.3.5 I need a tag connect cable from the line “👉Additionally, you’ll also need a Tag-Connect cable. The nRF9160 Feather was designed to use the TC2030-CTX-NL. ” which is what prompted my question above.

So that means I need an nRF5340 PDK and a TC2030-CTX-NL?

jaredwolff

SteveD0 Correct!

SteveD0

Thank you!

SteveD0

I just got the nRF5340 and the Tag Connect cable. I’m not quite sure how to hook this all up. I’ve loaded the nRF Command Line Tools onto the nRF5340 which is connected to my PC. I can open the nRF Connect Desktop Programmer app and I connected the Tag Connect cable to the both the nRF5340 and the nRF9160 per the pictures you provided, however, I’m not sure how to program the nRF9160. Do I leave the nRF5340 connected to the PC or do I connect the nRF9160 to the PC? Whichever one is not connected to the PC to I just use a USB power supply to power it?

jaredwolff

SteveD0 What is the impact if I don’t put the glob of solder on the SB47 at this time, will this still work?

It forces the board to power the external pin always. This means it will attempt to communicate via the external interface and never to the onboard chip. This is helpful in the case your external board is not fully connected. (It will simply error out)

SteveD0 Also, I’m not sure where the power source should be set up on the nRF5340 as it is set to VDD but in your picture it is set to LiPo (I think?).

Set it to VDD

SteveD0 Do I leave the nRF5340 connected to the PC or do I connect the nRF9160 to the PC? Whichever one is not connected to the PC to I just use a USB power supply to power it?

Both need to be plugged into the PC unless SB47 is shorted. Best to have both.

SteveD0

Also, I’m not sure where the power source should be set up on the nRF5340 as it is set to VDD but in your picture it is set to LiPo (I think?).

SteveD0

Also, when I run the nrfjprog in the cmd window it doesn’t seem to be recognized. Any particular directory or folder where this should be executed?

SteveD0

What is the impact if I don’t put the glob of solder on the SB47 at this time, will this still work?

SteveD0

When I run the nrfjprog I get the various options.
C:\Users\Steve>nrfjprog –version
nrfjprog version: 10.10.0
JLinkARM.dll version: 6.84a

C:\Users\Steve>

SteveD0

Also, the RESET button doesn’t do anything and the LED1 is not blinking. the 4 buttons don’t do anything.

Here is the log from the Desktop:

16:47:08.480	Application data folder: C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Roaming\nrfconnect\pc-nrfconnect-programmer
16:47:08.578	Using nrfjprog library 10.9.0, pc-nrfjprog-js 1.7.3
16:47:12.733	Using nrfjprog to communicate with target
16:47:12.986	Using J-Link Software version 6.84
16:47:13.434	Segger serial: 960147438
16:47:13.435	Segger speed: 2000 kHz
16:47:13.435	Segger version: J-Link OB-K22-NordicSemi compiled Jan 21 2020 17:33:01
16:47:13.436	Error when getting device info: Error: Error: Error occured when get device info. Errorcode: CouldNotCallFunction (0x9) Lowlevel error: NOT_AVAILABLE_BECAUSE_PROTECTION (ffffffa6)
16:47:13.437	Could not fetch memory size of target devkit: Cannot read property 'family' of undefined
16:47:13.438	Error when closing nrfjprog: Error: Error occured when close opened device. Errorcode: CouldNotResetDevice (0x5) Lowlevel error: NOT_AVAILABLE_BECAUSE_PROTECTION (ffffffa6)