Which Nordic chip should we use ?

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

Bndit — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:38:54 GMT

Thats correct but modules cost usually more then 7$, and in mass production its too much. They also tend to have a super short life since the developers usually just don't really care after they made some money. They are not large companies like this one. I have a very bad experience with modules .

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

awneil — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:34:32 GMT

They can be used as NCP - but you'd still have to (develop and) put the NCP firmware into them.

I think that's effectively what some of the module manufacturers do?

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

awneil — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:32:46 GMT

AFAIK, all the later chips are "SoC" - so require firmware.

They can be used as NCP - but you'd still have to (develop and) put the NCP firmware into them.

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

Bndit — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:16:46 GMT

I see, thanks a lot :) btw, is the 8001 the only chip that does not require firmware? is there a new one like this to Nordic ?

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

awneil — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:10:32 GMT

Note that most repsondents - me included - on this forum are not Nordic staff!

As I said, for "roadmap" questions - product lifecycles, etc - you need to contact Nordic direct

www.nordicsemi.com/.../Contact-us

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

Bndit — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 08:04:52 GMT

We are a company :) yes we have the skills to design the RF ( and its pretty easy to be honest ), and we explored all your chips deeply. Since we are going to a meeting with key investors, we needed a fast solution, and I am still trying to understand, if the 8001 is recommended as something that is going to have a long life or is there an option that you will stop making it. I can see here that almost everyone is using the 51822.

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

awneil — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 07:57:22 GMT

The emphasis in your OP seemed to be on the "No Firmware"?

Do you have the necessary RF design skills to use a bare chip?

For "roadmap" questions, you will need to contact your local nRF sales department.

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

Bndit — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 07:35:00 GMT

Thanks very much for your answer, well I still did not get what I needed :) First I came here obviously to pick a Nordic chip , second, I don't want a module, i want a chip that will be on our custom pcb . So the question remains, should we use the 8001 ? will it become obsolete? is it too old? if we should, what would be a minimal circuit for it? what about the 51822 ?

RE: Which Nordic chip should we use ?

awneil — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 07:21:03 GMT

What you're describing is often called a "Network Co-Processor" or NCP.

Many manufacturers make such chips - but, obviously, the Nordic Semiconductor site is not the place to promote competitor's products! (although, as you're using an Atmel processor, I guess I could mention that Atmel do have such chips...)

There are many modules based on Nordic chips - no doubt some of these can be used as an NCP?

Many are listed here: www.nordicsemi.com/.../3rd-Party-Bluetooth-low-energy-Modules

Although it's true that you don't load any firmware into the nRF8001 itself, you will still have to do a significant amount of firmware work in the "Host" microcontroller to drive it.

There is an Arduino SDK:

github.com/.../ble-sdk-arduino

You would have to port this you your "Host" microcontroller, and then write the "application" code around that...