flashing problem with some nrf52832 shields using the DK-nrf52

[PhilippeG]

Hello

i just bought my DK-nrf52 to move to BLE after playing few months with arduino. I have connected various nrf52832 shields from China (from Holyiot 17095, which is very small). 

after learning the basics from Keil and your board. i finally compile and flashed correctly the blinky example using the s132. 

first i have to report this has been a very long time consuming because i might not have found the community to help for that. is there any links that you might share from people doing simple tutorials? the one i have seen from you are very generic and doesnt go far enough for beginers like me. 

saying so. i do have problem flashing more complexe example on my nrf52832, for instance the proximity_ble example compiles and is flashed on the device without any error on Keil. but no phone can detect this device? 

i have also noticed, that sometimes, flashing from Keil is mentionning that the content is flashed successfully as well as the program is running, while (either on the DKnr52 board or the external devices, the former program is still running. 

Sorry for asking all my questions in the same message. but i try to move fast because i noticed that the nrf52832 seems having a low distance of fonctionning (few meters) the proximity app on my phone is mentionning that the signal is lost after few meters. Is that normal? if so, i might have to come back to my arduino and HC06 Bluetooth. I hope i misunderstood something about that. 

thanks a lot

Philoppe

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

there are other blog post links bellow that helps to make it easier to write BLE firmware.

Eclipse GCC environment development for nRF51 & nRF52 series. Eclipse is totally free without restrictions. 

BLE programming the easy way.  Many example code to write BLE firmware with Eclipse as easy as Arduino

[PhilippeG]

Oh thanks a lot.. i will look at that. Is Eclipse free? because Keil is extremely expensive for what i need to do.

[PhilippeG]

Dear Martin

Thanks again for your help. 

I am glad if my questions have been helpful to point out something to correct into the documentation. 

Regarding the two ways communication. Unfortunately it doesnt look like working on my side . please find three pictures here:

1/ the termite's terminal showing the type of message send from the phone and message sent from my computer 

 

2/   2 screenshots regarding the information available on my phone. 

Thanks for the links regarding the code from the app. this will be very useful. 

Warm regards

Philippe

[PhilippeG]

oh sorry i forgot to comment your advise :"You have the UART app in the nRF Toolbox app which you can use instead of the deprecated "nRF UARTv2.0"."

actually i do have the UART app in the nRF Toolbox app, but it really doesnt look like a terminal 

[PhilippeG]

Dear Martin, I found out that the UART from the nRF Toolbox can also send command when you slide the first panel on the right. but unfortunately it works also one way only like the nRFUARTv2.0 i tried earlier

[Martin Lesund]

You should be able to send and receive messages if you follow what is described here:
- Testing with a mobile device

'

I would also recommend you to check out this updated Getting Started Guide for developing with SEGGER embedded studio

[PhilippeG]

Hi Martin. Thanks again for your help. I made the UART properly thanks to your link.

What still doesnt work is to communicate with an external nrf52832 connected to the DK-nrf52. Doest Termite communicate to the external nrf52 module that way?

The connection is working fine between the module and the phone. i can see the app sending text. but Termite receives nothing. Is it possible actually to communicate through the DK-nrf52 and an external nrf52832 connected to it ? 

Thanks also for the Nordic document regarding the Guide to develope with Segger embedded studio. I really like this IDE. 

[Martin Lesund]

Hi Philippe,

 How are you connected to the external nrf52832 module with the nRF52 DK?

If you are you using the "debug out" (p19) on the DK, you should be able to communicate with the module with CDC-UART.

 

[PhilippeG]

 Dear Martin, I am still connected to the external module the way i connected it for flashing it. It is not on P19 but P20 (which should be the same i guess). I did set Termite the way that is said into the documentation here, since it works perfectly with the module on board but not the external one

[Martin Lesund]

Hi Philippe,

- Please confirm that you have connected the correct pins to each-other like described in the manual.

- Check that there is actually communication between the boards by checking with a scope.

- Flash a simple UART example to test that you can echo the messages to the custom board.

[PhilippeG]

Hi Martin. 

I think I need help on your first point . I am not sure i know how to connect a module to the board nfr52-DK. to play with the example ble_UART i flashed on the external module.  Here is what i need to know to move on:

My Question is really pragmatic:  how to connect my external module to send and receive text  it Using Termite

The documentation of the DK is not mentionning that how to play with the ble_UART but how to flash it ( i did that already). I am reading all kind of post related to that 

such as https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/17706/uart-communication

honnestly i have been spending more than one month on trying to use your technology and after purchasing: the DK-nrf52, Keil, I really dont intend to buy a  scope just to play with a simple module connected to your board and see if the text i send from my app is read by the module flashed with your own example from your sdk v15?

Thanks for your understanding. 

[Nguyen Hoan Hoang]

Connecting the external module to the DK uart is a no go.  There are 2 solutions for you.  

- First solution :  use the FTDI breakout board for the uart to usb bridge. Part number UMFT234XF.  With this you still need the DK for flashing and the UMFT234XF for uart to PC.

- Second solution use the IDAP-Link CMSIS-DAP Debug JTag.  You can do both flashing and uart to usb bridge all in one.  This option, does not work with Segger Studio but you can use it with any other IDE Eclipse, Keil, CrossWork... including Arduino IDE.  There is a setup procedure here https://github.com/sandeepmistry/arduino-nRF5 for Arduino.