Extending the Thread Cloud CoAP Client Example with peripheral Hardware

[Apfelsine]

I want to extend the Thread Cloud Client Example (thread_cloud_coap_client_pca10056) with a peripheral controller. And I am looking at the UART Example (ble_app_uart_pca10056_s140) for transmitting and receiving data through a serial device. What do I have to consider merging those two programs? I am using GPIO Pins P0.06, P0.08 and GND for the serial connection.

A Noobie, obviously.

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

Hi,

Are you planning to use the BLE part of ble_app_uart example (Nordic UART service - UART emulation over BLE), or only the HW UART part? There is a basic UART example and another serial example using a newer UART library, in the SDK, if you do not need the BLE part.

If you are planning to integrate the BLE part as well, you need to follow the guidelines in Multiprotocol support documentation, and the page Adding dynamic multiprotocol Thread support to BLE examples. 

Also note that the Thread Cloud CoAP Client Example use the CLI on UART0 peripheral. If you are implementing UART connections to a second device, this must use UARTE1 peripheral.

Best regards,
Jørgen

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

Did you modify the file? Line 83 of nrfx_uaerte.h should say NRFX_UARTE, not NRFX_UARTE1 as it does in your screenshot.

 

[Apfelsine]

Yes, I did modify the main.c file:

I was just following the post

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/25173/nrf52840-uart1-not-working-in-sdk-14  with attached main file 1715.main.c. This Serial Port Library Example shows two instances of the port interface for testing. One test is for GPIOs P0.06, P0.08 and one test is for P0.26, P0.27. I thought that it is the same scenario I like to accomplish. Do I have the right approach?

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

I meant if you changed the file nrfx_uarte.h? In your second screenshot from your earier post, line 83 shows .drv_inst_idx = NRFX_CONCAT_3(NRFX_UARTE1, id, _INST_IDX), while in the original file this line should be .drv_inst_idx = NRFX_CONCAT_3(NRFX_UARTE, id, _INST_IDX). You need to remove the added number '1'.

[Apfelsine]

I didn't change file nrfx_uarte.h. However if I change the second serial uart definition statement in my main.c from

to

the program will compile with no error. I am just not sure if the second instance # should be 0?

May I suggest to the Nordic team to publish another Serial Example with two uart instances. It will definitely benefit me and others too.

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

You can't use instance 0 for both serial connections. Did you try changing nrfx_uarte.h as I suggested in my previous post?

[Apfelsine]

I just reinstalled the nRF5 SDK v15.0.0. Then I added again to my serial main.c the creation of a second UART instance. Now it compiles without error. However, I can't see any UART output from my second USB port. I see output on the PDK USB interface port(P0.08,P0.06). Any suggestions? In the mean time I ordered a Logic Analyzer.

 

[Jørgen Holmefjord]

What do you mean by this?

Apfelsine said:

I can't see any UART output from my second USB port

Have you connected the UART interface to some serial to USB converter? Which pins are you using for the second UART interface?