Is NRF51822 standalone without any motherboard or extra kit is of any use

[Nandan Dubey]

Hi, I have just bought NRF51822 without any extra peripherals(no motherboard/DK). Just plain Module like below image.

I am supplying 3.3V to VDD and also Connected GND with Arduino. I don't see any bluetooth device while searching from my laptop or mobile(both can detect Bluetooth 4.0). Is the module I have is bricked already? Or is it possible that it is shipped without any default firmware? Or the module doesn't work standalone like this?

[RK]

It's probably just blank. But that's a bit hard to say without knowing where it came from.

[Marco Russi]

Hi, I bought the same module and it is blank, no default firmware is flashed. For flashing a demo application you need a programmer such as the nrf51-DK. Refer to the following link:

electronut.in/.../

You can find a iBeacon example here:

github.com/.../nrf51_beacon

Let us know. Regards.

[Wojtek]

I used same module. You need external programmer to flash it (I used j-link v8 from china, which i am not sure was original, but now I flash it using nrf52-DK and it works flawless).

What you should know about this module is that it probably has the oldest chip version onboard! so using newest SD on it is not recommended.

[Carlos]

I also have the same module, and used OpenOCD and StLink-v2 for programming it, mine got 3rd revision nrf51 IC. It came without any firmware loaded, for being able to seeing it as a bluetooth peripheral with your phone remember flash the corresponding SoftDevice + your application.

[Gavin]

I believe the black ones come with later revision chips, if that helps