nRF52840 dongle isnt showing up in the connected devices section on VS code.

[qurese1]

Hi, 

I've been trying to connect the nRF53480 dongle to VS Code. I have followed the necessary tutorials and ensured I have compatible and updated nrf Connect SDK and toolchain versions. However, the toolchain installation is always stuck on loading on VS code (amber colour) and always fails to connect. Subsequently, I don't see any device connected in connected devices. I know it is not a hardware problem, as the dongle turns either green or red when i connect it and in the RSSI viewer, I can see the live connection as well. I am unsure what to do next. 

I have also reinstalled and installed it multiple times from scratch, but it doesn't seem to fix the problem. 

The purpose of my work right now is to run a continuous wave through the dongle and be able to visualize it, but I am unable to get past the configuration/setting up stage. 

Any ideas on how I can fix this? 

[Maria Gilje]

Hello,

Subsequently, I don't see any device connected in connected devices.

The nRF52840 Dongle will not show up in VS Code because it does not have an on-board debugger. It can be programmed with the Programmer application in nRF Connect for Desktop. You can find the instructions for programming it here, and the user guide for the nRF52840 Dongle here.

I've been trying to connect the nRF53480 dongle to VS Code. I have followed the necessary tutorials and ensured I have compatible and updated nrf Connect SDK and toolchain versions. However, the toolchain installation is always stuck on loading on VS code (amber colour) and always fails to connect.

Please use the "Generate support information" option in the Welcome tab in the nRF Connect for VS Code extension and share the output in a reply.

I have followed the necessary tutorials

Was this the tutorial you followed? Installing automatically

If yes, please share the system report from the Toolchain manager. This is found under About -> Support.

Best regards,

Maria

[qurese1]

Hello, 
- here is the system report from the toolchain manager. 

- yes, the link to tutorial you mentioned is the one i have used. 
- for "share the output in a reply" is that referring to the toolchain being stuck on "loading"? 
- lastly, where can i find the DFU in nrf Connect 

these are the only apps i see here, is there an external way of getting the DFU as the on-board debugger?

Best Regards, 

[Naeem Maroof]

Hello Emaan,

Maria is away for few days, so I will be with you on this ticket.

1) Yes, the dongle (nrf52840_dongle) will not show up in the VS Code and you cannot program it directly from the VS Code.

2) However, you can generate HEX files by compiling (building) compatible samples or your code for the dongle.

3) For the programming (flashing) part, you need to use the nRF Programmer (a tool within nRF Connect for Desktop tools)

4) Moreover, as you know the dongle is not the full DK, and so it does not have on-chip debugger, therefore, we need to put dongle in bootloader mode before programming. 

5) You need to choose the HEX file which you want to flash onto the Dongle. As mentioned earlier, you can build firmware for the dongle in the VSCode and generate HEX file. This HEX file (in PROJECT_FOLDER/Build/Zephyr/Zephyr.hex) would be the one you need to choose in programmer app.

6) I am not sure about what issue can be with your VSCode and the toolchain, as you have checked there are no problems. Also, as you have previously installed many times. But I think there could be several reasons for not loading of toolchain, including but not limited to the incorrect installation or some missing files or something happening in the background. I have not experienced that, but I can suggest few items as in below queries: (please ignore if you think they are unnecessary):

a) were you able to use NCS2.4.0 previously? Or it is the same symptoms from the start (when you first time installed NCS)

b) did you try any other version of NCS (like 2.3.0)?

c) can you uninstall the NCS and completely remove the toolchain and sdk folders and then start from scratch. Also, try another version of the SDK as well.

d) I am not sure, but can it be that VS Code is fetching something from the internet? can you turn off internet and see if it helps.

I don't have any other suggestion at the moment, but it could be improper installation if you were never able to start any sample. You may consider installing another version of ncs (e.g. ncs v2.3.0 along with the toolchain). It might take some time before installation gets completed. Please update the SDK and toolchain before using.

BR, Naeem

[qurese1]

Naeem Maroof said:

I don't have any other suggestion at the moment, but it could be improper installation if you were never able to start any sample. You may consider installing another version of ncs (e.g. ncs v2.3.0 along with the toolchain). It might take some time before installation gets completed. Please update the SDK and toolchain before using.

since my laptop is windows 11, could that be the reason why the toolchain isn't loading??

[qurese1]

Naeem Maroof said:

a) were you able to use NCS2.4.0 previously? Or it is the same symptoms from the start (when you first time installed NCS)

b) did you try any other version of NCS (like 2.3.0)?

c) can you uninstall the NCS and completely remove the toolchain and sdk folders and then start from scratch. Also, try another version of the SDK as well.

I have once again uninstalled all relate SDKs and toolchains and will try the aforementioned versions to see if it works!

[qurese1]

Naeem Maroof said:

a) were you able to use NCS2.4.0 previously? Or it is the same symptoms from the start (when you first time installed NCS)

 

since my laptop is 64 bit only these versions of nrf connect are available

[Naeem Maroof]

Hi Emaan,

I am also surprised to look at this, but yes, as per the "supported OS" information of the NCS, it may or may not work for your operating system.

[qurese1]

Hi, given that table not many OS support the SDK. What do you recommend then in terms of the optimal OS. My purpose for using the nrf52480 is to program it for app development and would therefore require the SDK to make necessary modifications. 

[Naeem Maroof]

Hi Emaan,

As per the table, all major OS (Windows, Linux, and macOS) are supported for x64 architecure.

But at the same time not all their versions are supported.

I am using windows10 and most of other customers are also using windows10.

I have seen some people using windows11 as well. 

I am not sure about their experience, but yes, as per the table the support is of "Tier3" which means it may or may not work.

Recommendation could be to use windows10 (if you are windows user), or use Ubuntu (20.04 LTS) if you are linux user.

BR, Naeem