nRF9160 board programming issue

ashad66 · 2024-08-15T14:52:55+00:00

I recently purchased a couple of nRF9160 Feather boards from DigiKey and have encountered a recurring issue during programming. Initially, I was able to prog...

jaredwolff

ashad66 I added the picture after sending the nrfprog -r command in shared slide deck (slide number 7)

I’ve never seen an error like that with nrfjprog. If you don’t connect the Tag Connect, does it work with the nRF53 ok? My nRF53DK is very flaky and essentially stopped working after many hours of work. Did you modify the DK at all?

ashad66 For taking picture I used both hands, otherwise I was keep pressing the connector while programming

Got it 👍️

ashad66 Initially when I received first time nRF9160 feather board with bootloader, it was connected successfully via SDK connect and I erased all and programmed with new firmware after that I could not be able to reconnect with the same boards.

Right, what functionality does your firmware accomplish? Nevertheless, nrfjprog should work a-OK with a nRF9160 Feather connected via Tag Connect with both boards powered (as long as the JLink on the nRF53DK behaving!)

ashad66

jaredwolff I’ve never seen an error like that with nrfjprog. If you don’t connect the Tag Connect, does it work with the nRF53 ok? My nRF53DK is very flaky and essentially stopped working after many hours of work. Did you modify the DK at all?

The strangest part is that the blinky code I programmed last time is still functioning. When I connect the nRF5340 without the J-Link being attached to the Feather board, the SDK Connect Programmer App recognizes it as an nRF5340DK (see slide 8). However, as soon as I connect the J-Link to the Feather board, the SDK Connect Programmer App no longer detects the nRF5340DK and only shows the J-Link (see slide 8).

I did not modify the dk but I am sure nRF5340dk detects the board is connected via P19, because without connection app recognised as nRF5340dk and with connection with feather board it does not recognised as DK

I have three new nRF5340 DK boards and I tested 02 and getting same issue. I need to order more boards but waiting to resolve this issue because I already designed PCB as per Feather board pinouts

ashad66

jaredwolff Right, what functionality does your firmware accomplish? Nevertheless, nrfjprog should work a-OK with a nRF9160 Feather connected via Tag Connect with both boards powered (as long as the JLink on the nRF53DK behaving!)

I recently flashed the Blinky code from your repository onto an nRF9160 Feather board using a J-Link connected via Tag Connect. Although the program is running successfully on the board, the board itself is not responding. This is the third board where I’ve encountered the same issue. I consulted an experienced developer who works with the nRF DK and sent him the nRF9160 Feather board. After he programmed the board using Tag Connect, he also was unable to detect or re-flash the board. He suggested that this seems to be a consistent issue with these boards.

ashad66

I have one board left, I would like to reflash bootloader again, could you guide me where I can find the nRF9160 feather board bootloader and how I can flash it without having any trouble

jaredwolff

ashad66 I have one board left, I would like to reflash bootloader again, could you guide me where I can find the nRF9160 feather board bootloader and how I can flash it without having any trouble

Is there a reason why you’re not simply using the bootloader that is already there? Have you set up your SDK as per the documentation? Doing anything outside of what’s prescribed is not supported.

Bootloader reflashing

https://community.circuitdojo.com/assets/files/2024-08-16/1723816279-33982-v5-2-ga33aa1f-fast-blink.zip

Instructions:

Unzip
Make all necessary connections to your boards
Run nrfjprog --program v5-2-ga33aa1f-fast-blink.hex --chiperase --verify

The device should blink 500ms and you should get some test output from the console.

Also please confirm you have a newer version of nrfjprog. Anything equal or newer to the one I have installed should work as expected:

❯ nrfjprog --version
nrfjprog version: 10.18.1 external
JLinkARM.dll version: 7.86f

ashad66

jaredwolff Is there a reason why you’re not simply using the bootloader that is already there? Have you set up your SDK as per the documentation? Doing anything outside of what’s prescribed is not supported.

by mistake I erased all nRF9160 feather board but after erasing I retrieve the board but other board, I could not be able to retrieve.

jaredwolff

Hi @ashad66

Any update on my suggestions?

I see you also soldered headers to the board. What did you connect the board to? Any chance you may have damaged it while doing so? The fact that you have 3 inoperable boards makes me think something went wrong. What power sources have you connected the board to?

When you plug in USB, do you get 3.3V on the 3V3 pin?

What version of Windows are you running?

ashad66

jaredwolff

jaredwolff Any update on my suggestions?

my son is hospitalized, I did not focus much.

ashad66

jaredwolff I see you also soldered headers to the board. What did you connect the board to? Any chance you may have damaged it while doing so? The fact that you have 3 inoperable boards makes me think something went wrong. What power sources have you connected the board to?

I ordered almost 04 Boards and need at least 21 more to built 25 Units of AQM. I have temperature controlled Soldering station and I solder all board Carefully. All boards I soldered works fine even this board as well.
After Soldering I programmed the Blinky Application which works fine and still it is working fine. I do not think it is a soldering issue.
But after programming this board I could be able to reconnect and program again, although I retrieve other boards and still I am developing the HW by using other board.
I think this specific issue is related to other board only therefore, I decided not waste more time and continue develop my project with other working boards

ashad66

jaredwolff When you plug in USB, do you get 3.3V on the 3V3 pin?

Yes, 3.3V and 5V as well

ashad66

jaredwolff What version of Windows are you running?

I do not think it is window issue because other 03 board works fine to me

jaredwolff

ashad66 Yes, 3.3V and 5V as well

3.3V pin should never have 5V. That’s a problem! I’m assuming though you’re saying the 5V pin has 5V and 3.3V has 3.3V.

ashad66 I do not think it is window issue because other 03 board works fine to me

Let me know if you need any other assistance.