Issue with uploading code to custom board

[Raschke]

Hello, 

I am attempting to program to a custom board using VS Code. I am using the Bluetooth beacon advertising example from BLE fundamentals Lesson 2 Exercise 1.

I am getting an error when attempting to access the memory of my device.

I've uploaded a picture of the printed error.

I've also tried using the quick start app to upload the hello world example in the NRF desktop and am having the same issue. I've uploaded the associated logfile.

Are there any areas you'd reccomend looking into?

I've gone over the board and all connections seem to be stable.

Fullscreen 2025-09-02T00_14_28.037Z-log.txt Download

2025-09-02T00:14:28.615Z INFO Initialising the bundled nrfutil device
2025-09-02T00:14:28.647Z DEBUG Started watching devices
2025-09-02T00:14:32.202Z INFO Using the bundled core version for nrfutil device: 8.1.1
2025-09-02T00:14:32.418Z INFO Using nrfutil-device version: 2.10.2
2025-09-02T00:14:32.418Z INFO Using nrf-device-lib version: 0.17.71
2025-09-02T00:14:32.419Z INFO Using nrf-probe version: 0.38.0
2025-09-02T00:14:32.419Z INFO Using JLink version: JLink_V8.22
2025-09-02T00:14:32.420Z INFO Your version of SEGGER J-Link (8.22) is newer than the one this app was tested with (8.18). The tested version is not required, and your J-Link version will most likely work fine. If you get issues related to J-Link with your devices, use the tested version.
2025-09-02T00:14:34.025Z DEBUG Selected device: nRF52 DK
2025-09-02T00:14:34.086Z DEBUG Changed step: Info
2025-09-02T00:14:42.696Z DEBUG Changed step: Rename
2025-09-02T00:14:45.062Z DEBUG Changed step: Program
2025-09-02T00:16:04.301Z DEBUG Changed step: Verify
2025-09-02T00:16:07.311Z INFO Opened port with options: {"path":"COM14","baudRate":115200}
2025-09-02T00:16:08.415Z ERROR Failed with exit code 1.
One or more reset tasks failed:
 * 1050325190: Device error: Failed to write DebugPort register 0x08: Unknown Error in J-Link DLL (error code =-1) (Generic).
Message: Failed to reset 1050325190, Device error: Failed to write DebugPort register 0x08: Unknown Error in J-Link DLL (error code =-1).
2025-09-02T00:16:08.430Z INFO Closed port: COM14
2025-09-02T00:16:11.424Z DEBUG Changed step: Program

[JONATHAN LL]

HI,

How have you connected to the custom board? 


Is the voltage the same on both the the custom board and the debugger board? (are you using a DK as the programmer?)




On our newer DK's that has the nRF5340 as the debug controller this is the way to interface with the custom board. If you are using the pin header P19 then you might still need to tie the VDD to the same voltage as well.

Regards,
Jonathan

[Raschke]

Hi Jonathan,

I have connected to the custom board with the connections shown above. 
I am using the DK as the programmer.

It seems to be connecting to the board but unable to access memory.

[JONATHAN LL]

Raschke said:

I have connected to the custom board with the connections shown above. 

you are referencing the image i shared? I dont see any other diagrams or images shared in this post?


Can you check the voltage on VDD_nRF for the custom board?

Also have you had the design reviewed? Could you share the schematic maybe?

Do you only have one custom board or multiple? and was it hand soldered? 

Regards,
Jonathan

[JONATHAN LL]

If you have an older DK the connection looks like this:

[Raschke]

Hi Jonathon,

Yes, I was referencing the image you shared.

I have not had the design reviewed. I've uploaded the schematic. I copied the design from the provided example for a 2-layer board.

The custom board was ordered and soldered by JLCPCB so it was not hand soldered. 

I have 5 copies of this board and the voltage on VDD_nRF is 3V on the custom board.

I've also uploaded an image of the board if that is helpful.

All the best,

John

Custom_Board_NRF52832.pdf

[JONATHAN LL]

Raschke said:

The custom board was ordered and soldered by JLCPCB so it was not hand soldered. 

JLCPCB can have some issues with the smaller package types and the aQFN packages, soldering these can be a bit tricky and we often see some mistakes here done by JLCPCB for smaler batches. 

The schematic file you uploaded is blank, cant see anything in it. 

From the image it looks like this is a two layer PCB, and the ground is on the bottom layer? does it cover the entire bottom side? 

We do reviews on both schematics and layout and will do our best to help our customers cross the finish line with a good product design here. 

We also have a guide here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/guides/hardware-design-test-and-measuring/b/nrf5x/posts/nrf52832-specific-pcb-guidelines 
and: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/guides/hardware-design-test-and-measuring/b/nrf5x/posts/general-pcb-design-guidelines-for-nrf52-series 

Also looks like it might be only through hole vias, this is not the best for the CSP package variant. 


If you have the GERBER files I can provide some feedback.

Regards,
Jonathan