Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

Håkon Alseth — Wed, 28 May 2025 07:02:49 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="galook"]I'm using the nrf9161-DK[/quote]

My apologies for misreading! I see that you found the board configurator tool, which is great.

[quote user="galook"]I can't believe it, but using the board configurator I switched the VDDIO voltage to 3.3V and I have been able to start the nrf connect programmer with the custom board.[/quote]

This is great news! I am very happy to have helped out. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

galook — Tue, 27 May 2025 14:36:56 GMT

I can't believe it, but using the board configurator I switched the VDDIO voltage to 3.3V and I have been able to start the nrf connect programmer with the custom board. I am in shame. Thank you. I try to flash it and then update you.

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

galook — Tue, 27 May 2025 14:28:29 GMT

I'm using the nrf9161-DK, which does not seem to have this switch. Is it possible to switch the VDD IO on this newer DK?

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

Håkon Alseth — Tue, 27 May 2025 14:17:54 GMT

Hi,

The nRF9160-DK has a switch in the lower left corner, next to the ON/OFF switch, named "VDD IO".

This needs to match your custom boards VDDIO, ie. 3.0V.

Could you check the position of this switch?

If it still fails, could you check the current consumption of your external board(s)?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

galook — Tue, 27 May 2025 13:42:57 GMT

Hi,

that's because in my case, I'm using the same net for VDD and VIO on my custom board. I then connect this net to the VTG on the DK, as the purpose of this pin, as I understand it, is to provide the voltage of the logic on the custom board - which - in my case - is the LDO output 3.3V.

I have made two identical prototype boards based on the scheme provided in the OP, both behave the same.

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

Håkon Alseth — Mon, 26 May 2025 07:24:57 GMT

Hi,

[quote user="galook"]I connect both the VTG and VDD pin from the nrf9161 DK - and the DK is powered from USB. I just measured it and my custom board has 1.8V on VIO[/quote]

VIO is 1.8V, but you connect VTG to your VDD.

You should provide VIO to VTG.

How many of your boards behave like this?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

galook — Sat, 24 May 2025 20:51:22 GMT

Hi,

on my custom boards' VIO pin (in VDD net) I connect both the VTG and VDD pin from the nrf9161 DK - and the DK is powered from USB. I just measured it and my custom board has 1.8V on VIO

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

Håkon Alseth — Wed, 14 May 2025 13:18:39 GMT

Hi,

"VTG" pin on the DK does not provide any voltage, but it is a input for the nRF91-DK.

Your custom board shall provide its VIO voltage to the VTG pin.

Could you measure and verify what your voltages are?

Kind regards,

Håkon

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

galook — Tue, 13 May 2025 19:11:02 GMT

My boards' VIO is connected to the "3V3" net, as it is in the picture, but as I'm connecting this net directly to the "VTG" pin on the Nordic 9161 DK, the "3V3" should actually have 1.8V on it.

The only time it would have 3.3V would be either if I would connect this voltage directly, which I don't, or if I would connect a higher voltage (e.g. 5V) to the input net of the LDO (which I also don't)

So to my knowledge on VIO my custom board has the same voltage as VTG on the 9161DK - that means 1.8V

RE: Issue programming my board with the nrf9160

Håkon Alseth — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:06:12 GMT

Hi,

The jlink log shows that the debugger is not able to connect to the DUT.

[quote user=""]I am flashing it using the nrf9161DK via SWD and I am sure the connections are correct. Still, the Programmer app of Nordic SDK doesnt recognize the new board with the nrf9160[/quote]

The nRF9161-DK uses 1.8V by default:

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ug_nrf9161_dk/page/UG/nrf91_DK/hw_description/ext_programming_support_p19.html

Is your external board "VIO" connected to 3.3V or 1.8V?

Kind regards,

Håkon