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Bricked? Dead? Running? cannot connect to any nRF device

Beau R.

So, I have made 3 custom boards (all boards have the same layout, with a nrf51822AC) and I've been able to develop code. I've been using the swd lines from the nrfdk (pca10028) to flash code onto my custom boards.

I've been doing some durability tests, I've started to notice the following problem:

After testing, I am noticing is that I am unable to use nRFgo Studio or nrfjprog.exe to erase, flash, and/or recover my custom boards. My other board that has gone through less vigorous testing still works optimally and, I can continue to flash/develop code.

When I use nrfjprog.exe --recover, I get the following error message: ERROR: Cannot connect to any nRF device. Please make sure a device is ERROR: connected to the debugger and supplied.

The flashing/debugging setup: I have connected the external power/ground to my power rails. I have connected the VDD power and ground to my power rails. My custom boards are connected to the power rails. I do have a 3V regulator on my board, however, the nrfdk board supplies 2.8V. I notice the 2.8V on the other side of my regulator -> the nrf power. As far as the SWDIO and SWDCLK lines, I have tried several things. I've been programming fine by directly connecting the SWDIO from the debug port to the SWDIO on the nrf51822 (similarly for the SWDCLK). After looking through the forum and the nrf reference manual (CH. 11), I have recently added a 12kOhm pull up resistor for the SWDIO line and a 12kOhm pull down resistor for the SWDCLK line. Once again, I have been able to connect/flash/debug the nrfdk and my other custom board (no durability test, yet) without problems.

(For if it helps) More details about what I do know:

  1. After initializing the soft device, I blink an led. I see the led blink upon powering up on one board. The other board, I have a feeling that it's crashing in the soft device init because my balun chip is broken after the durability test.
  2. I am noticing that both boards, I am seeing my devices occasionally sending out ble advertisement packets. (Thank you nrfSniffer)
  3. I am noticing that my RSSI is pretty low (about -100 to -110 dB) for any advertising packet that I receive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  • 0

    Hi,

    If you submit your PCB for inspection at our closed support portal (I am assuming you don't want to post it publically) MyPage, you can get answers about layout specific issues. I suspect that your RSSI levels might be due to imperfect matching. Alternately you can post them here, and we will do our best to assist you.

    From my understanding the error is only present in one of the boards, were all the boards functional originally and is it possible that something got fried the first time you programmed it?

    Best regards,

    Øyvind

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