nRF51822 doesn't advertise

[Velizar]

I have bought a Tayio Yuden EYSGJNZWY Bluetooth module, which is in fact just a Nordic's nRF51822 (256KB Flash and 32KB RAM) with added antenna. Tayio's files say that the module is factory preflashed with S120 V2.1.0 SoftDevice firmware EYSGJNZWY datareport - check p.6, s. This is my wiring schematic:

On module power up there is no bluetooth advertising at all. I have tried sending AT commands via UART to see if it will return anything, but there was no response. Then I flashed it via SWD (OpenOCD) with S110 ble_beacon .hex precompiled example from Nordic's website - still no advertising or any sign of life AT ALL.

What am I doing wrong?

[Petter Myhre]

I'm not sure why the AT commands don't work, you would have to ask Tayio Yuden about that. From which SDK is this S110 ble_beacon .hex? Where did you find it?

Just to confirm, you have connected an external low frequency crystal? I see it the schematic, just want to double check. Do you have any debug options?

[Velizar]

Well I have tried all of the precompiled "production ready" firmware S110-SD-v5, v6, v7, v8 and neither of them works. I got them from here: www.nordicsemi.com/.../nRF51822. I don't have any debug options because I don't have J-Link (SEGGER tooooo damn expensive), otherwise I can flash the chip with SWD and OpenOCD. Before putting the 32kHz crystal I wasn't able to flash either, but now after THE CRYSTAL IS THERE I can at least flash it.

[Petter Myhre]

From which SDK is this S110 ble_beacon .hex? Where did you find it? Did you flash a SoftDevice as well? Which one? Was it compatible with the application firmware?

[Velizar]

S110 is a SofDevice...and yes, I have flashed the module with each of SoftDevice S110-SD-v5,S110-SD-v6,S110-SD-v7,S110-SD-v8 -> NEITHER WORKS. As they are precompiled hex files I have no source code and can't know if there is something wrong with the code. Here are direct links to the files I donwloaded from the official Nordic website

www.nordicsemi.com/.../32599

www.nordicsemi.com/.../39091

www.nordicsemi.com/.../46312

www.nordicsemi.com/.../80234

What do you mean is it compatible with the application firmware?S110 is THE APPLICATION FIRMWARE as far as I understand Only thing is that it is precompiled and ready to flash, so I suppose it should be working out of the box for NRF51822

[Petter Myhre]

S110 is not the application firmware, it is the BLE protocol stack. You need to program an application using the SoftDevice as well. Please have a look at the Getting Started section here, especially the section "Running examples that use a SoftDevice"

I also recommend to try some simple firmware (without the SoftDevice) first, to see that your board is actually operational. On the nRF51 DK blinky is used to blink som LEDs, but that is not compatible with your board out of the box, and I don't know if you have LEDs on your board.