NRF52840 Dongle

[jonathanljc]

Hi, how can i build and flash the Thread CLI sample code to my dongle? doesnt seems to work the .hex file? any links or steps tutorial i can follow closely please.


i am setting up my rpi as my thread border router. I am able to flash the sample code of the co-processor to my dongle then pluck into my rpi to configure as the thread border router.

so i need help to setup the Thread CLI. Please help

[Edvin]

Hello,

If you want to use the dongle as the radio device for a Raspberry Pi acting as a Thread Border Router, then I assume you want to build the "coprocessor" sample, not the "cli" sample. 

However, it will still give you a .hex file, and you can't flash it directly in VS Code. What you want to do is to use the nRF Connect for Desktop applicatio, install it's "programmer" app, and use that to program the .hex file that was built. (build\merged.hex)

Let me know if you are stuck in any of these steps.

Best regards,

Edvin

[jonathanljc]

Hi Edvin thank you for your reply. I am able to flash the co-processor sample to the dongle but not the CLI sample to my another dongle. I have two in total, one which already flashed with the "Coprocessor" the other one i intended to flash the CLI sample to it but to no avail, it doesnt work. 

[Edvin]

When you say that you are not able to flash it, what does that mean exactly?

Are you able to flash it, but it doesn't behave as expected? Or are you not able to program the device? If so, what happens? Do you have some sort of logs or screenshots?

BR,
Edvin

[jonathanljc]

Hi Edvin, as i have no idea how can i build the cli sample code and generate a .hex file so i can flash into my dongle.

the documentation shown is using the nrf52840 board but i am using the dongle instead so the setup is different.

Additionally, i downloaded anotherthread cli zephyr 

but doesnt work though. Anyways steps to mitigate it?

[Edvin]

jonathanljc said:

how can i build the cli sample code and generate a .hex file so i can flash into my dongle.

Ok, so the issue is not related to flashing, but to building, then.

You need to build for the correct board:

Then it will generate the .hex file found in: build\cli\zephyr\zephyr.hex. Use this to program the dongle using nRF Connect for Desktop -> Programmer.

When you insert the dongle, you need to put it in DFU mode. To do this, press the reset button while it is powered (not the big white button, but the gray one next to it). Then it should start blinking red, and it is ready to be programmed. 

jonathanljc said:

Additionally, i downloaded anotherthread cli zephyr

Not sure what you mean by this, or what your COM14 - PuTTy is supposed to show. Did you get it working, or is that some 3rd party application?

Best regards,

Edvin

[jonathanljc]

im not sure i am doing it correctly, i manage to build the sample openthread cli it generate a merged.hex (im not sure is the correct .hex file) then i try flashing into the dongle it shows the error as seen in the 1st picture log. for the base configuration setting i uses the prj.conf located at file C:\ncs\v2.9.0\nrf\samples\openthread\cli. Not sure which part when wrong? 

And u mention zephyr.hex? i dont get this part as the sample cli code is from openthread CLI as per from the NRF Connect SDK sample code though. 

[jonathanljc]

oh i think i manage to solve it! so sorry i didnt choose the board target as dongle thus it didnt generate a zephyr.hex file instead. Thank u Edvin.