New to NRF51422

RE: New to NRF51422

D_Hercules — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 02:21:18 GMT

Wow, thanks a lot for the help. I just bought the DK actually. Segger sounds like a great software. I wonder what can be used for going commercial... one day I want to sell my device... years from now. I wish there was a free free no limits software to use out there.... I dont understand the rationale of this devices not being able to be programmed for free. what is the contact of the IDAP-Link person that sells that device? is there other software that is free that used with that device gives me access to program NRF for free?

Regards,

Daniel Hercules

RE: New to NRF51422

RK — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:59:38 GMT

no - but you need some kind of programmer which talks SWD. The advantage of the nordic board is that first off it's a good dev board, secondly all the examples are designed to work with it (buttons,leds,UART..) and third it has JLink-OB which both programs the on board nRF51 and can also be used for debug out, ie to program a custom board with an nRF51 on it. It's a good way to develop the custom software you're going to put on your actual board. Or get a Segger JLink or a guy here sells IDAP-Link as a standalone programmer.

You'll need to put some kind of debug header on your custom board, probably best to stick to the 0.5" FTSH 10 pin connector (there are cheaper versions) as you just then use a straight thru from the nRF51 to your board.

GCC works, very terminal-ish. If you are doing non-commercial work I like Segger Embedded Studio for IDE. Some people like eclipse, I don't.

RE: New to NRF51422

D_Hercules — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 01:50:09 GMT

ok, I have ordered 5 of those. But I am confused... do I need obligatorily the board on this link to program it? or to program the other board that I also showed in my previous link?

programmer

I will use GCC since its free... unless you recommend another one free as well. Regards,

Daniel Hercules

RE: New to NRF51422

RK — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 03:25:22 GMT

yes you can pretty much use any pin you like for anything, except SWDIO/SWDCLK and the crystal pins etc. You're not really tied down at all. With many MCUs (Atmel for instance which I like and use a lot) you can mux a pin to a variety of functions but there's only a few options for each pin. With the nRF51 you basically put the pin number you want to use in a TXPIN/RXPIN .. etc register.

If you're going with a module then that one is very cheap - I will however put in a pitch for this one as I've had a lot of success with Rigado modules, you have even more pins and their support is great. Those modules I can solder by hand if necessary (the newer Rigados based on the nRF52 need reflow but aren't that hard).

RE: New to NRF51422

D_Hercules — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 02:59:42 GMT

Last question: (very appreciative of the help).

I want to jump-start this process of learning the NRF51422. I found the following in ebay (which can solve my problems with refluxing):

www.ebay.com/.../232242607835

I see it has limited pins.... Those are GPIO. 2 I think are used for programming? right? Can the rest of pins be declared for communication (UART) so I can connect a GPS module? Or declared as digital communication so I can connect an ADC or LCD or OLED screen or anything I want.. Right? I am WAY to used to arduino nomenclature, where pins are already declared and with a specific purpose. I think this architecture is a little bit different and more flexible. Just want to make sure I pick the right module to start learning.

Thanks again

RE: New to NRF51422

RK — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 02:03:57 GMT

Yeah the nRF51s reflow easy and I have a homebuilt reflow toaster. Just ensure you skinny up the pads to the point your board house (I use Elecrow) can get some mask between the pads and do any usual kind of adjustments you make (I tend to lengthen a pads a little so I can touch up with an iron if necessary).

Elecrow's standard service will do 0.075mm pad clearance and 0.15mm minimum solder mast so that means for the nrf51s I get a max 0.1mm pad (0.1 + 0.15 + 2 * 0.075 == 0.4). I have done with without any mask between the pads and it does work, but you get a lower yield and get to play touch up with hot air quite a bit.

RE: New to NRF51422

D_Hercules — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 01:53:56 GMT

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate the pointers. Just ordered the DK. I need an ADC of the type ADS1247... it has to be fast. I cannot use what comes with the MCU. But saving MCU and transmitter in one chip is worth the time to learn how to develop on this new platform.

Do you know if this package for the NRF chip does well reflowing at home. I have a very precise oven, but not experience with something so small. I usually only reflow SOIC components which is not that complicated.

Thanks

RE: New to NRF51422

RK — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 01:43:10 GMT

Yes the platform comes with the device (look at the Resources tab above which tells you something about the SDKs and the Softdevices which are available). They are fully documented, you can use the compiled code in your product.

You can't use the arduino platform. There are a number of IDEs available ranging from the expensive (Keil) to the free (Eclipse) and the 'free-for-non-commercial' (Segger Embedded Studio). You can also just use gcc and gdb for free (and the SDK has examples for this).

Don't know about the NF24L01

RE: New to NRF51422

D_Hercules — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 01:36:22 GMT

Thanks a lot for the comments. Is the platform to program them free of use? or can arduino platform be used? I guess I need to find a module ready to use similar to the nrf24L01. Also, can the NRF24L01 be programmed? Regards, Daniel Hercules

RE: New to NRF51422

RK — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 00:37:41 GMT

Yes you can program the nrf51822, it's a full MCU as well as radio and peripherals (it has an ADC on it by the way if you want to avoid using the SPI ADC, it also has SPI so you can read the SPI ADC if you use that).

the NRF51822 does come in QFN, it's one of the packaging options.

I suggest buying the development kit, it's cheap, it has an integrated JLink debugger you can use for testing your code and also programming your custom boards after you make them.

Nordic also has the nRF52 series chips which are even lower power and have even more features. I haven't tried hand-prototyping those yet, they have a pretty tight footprint which is more complicated than QFN (but not quite as bad as BGA).