Moving from PCA10056 to PCA10059

[Daniel Reisfeld]

Hi,

I've developed software using PCA10056 (using nRF5_SDK_15.0.0_a53641a) and I would like to test it on PCA10059.

Can you direct me to the new board files that need to be replaced?

Thanks,

Daniel

[Edvin]

Hello,

There is a folder in SDK15 called boards, located in:

SDK15.0.0\components\boards

In that folder you should find a file called pca10059.h, which is the dongle board header file.

 

Note that there are also a couple of projects that are already made for the PCA10059. Not many, but using one of these may save you some time with setup. Although, since it is the same chip as the PCA10056, it might be easier just to change the board header file.

 

Note that there is a define in the preprocessor defines, called BOARD_PCA10056 in all of the nRF52840 DK projects. If you change this define to BOARD_PCA10056, it should automatically change to use the correct file, pca10059.h.

 

You will probably notice that if you want to program a project using the softdevice and an application to the nRF52840 dongle, you might run into some issues. Since the dongle doesn't have a programming chip, like the DK has, it is only programmable with the USB bootloader, or with an external programmer. nRF Connect, which uses the USB bootloader currently doesn't support writing to multiple regions. So there is no way of using this tool to program both the softdevice and the application. If your application doesn't use the softdevice, however, then you should be fine. 

 

I have heard that it is possible to use the nrfutil tool to program the nRF52840 dongle. However be very careful not to overwrite the bootloader on the dongle, because if you do, it will not be possible to program it with nRF Programmer from the nRF Connect tool in the future.

 

You can also program the dongle using an external programmer (such as the DK), but you would have to solder on some programming pins on P1 (on the bottom side of the dongle). Note that by programming it with these pins, if you do a nrfjprog --eraseall or nrfjprog -e, you will also remove the pre-programmed bootloader.

 

Best regards,

Edvin

[Daniel Reisfeld]

Thanks Edvin,

I do use the softdevice. Just to make sure I understand:  I can, therefore, upload programs only using P1 (and not through the usb). Right?

If so, can you kindly direct me to directions to how to do so (preferably using the DK)?

Thanks again,

Daniel

[Abhishek]

Hi Edvin,

I want to use the \nRF5_SDK_15.2.0_9412b96\examples\ble_central\ble_app_blinky_c\pca10056 for the nRF dongle (PCA10059). 

I tried your suggestion as to change the BOARD_PCA10056 in boards.h file, I could not find the location of  

"# define BOARD_PCA10056 "

so I defined 

#undef BOARD_PCA10056
#define BOARD_PCA10059

in boards.h

I tried to program the generated hex files through the nRF Connect app on desktop but it did not highlight the "write" option.

How should I move forward ?

Thanks

Abhishek 

[Edvin]

Hello,

Programming the Dongle is a bit more complicated. Did the dongle appear in the drop down menu of nRF Programmer app?

There is a fairly new tutorial regarding dongle programming. It is not straight forward. Check it out:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/tutorials/b/getting-started/posts/nrf52840-dongle-programming-tutorial

Basically, the dongle doesn't have a programming chip, so it uses the bootloader. You need to set it to bootloader mode, but again, it is all described in the tutorial.

Best regards,

Edvin

[Edvin]

Abhishek: I see that your question is not really related to this question. I suggest we follow up in the ticket that you created:
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/41486/unable-to-program-nrf52-dongle-through-nrf-connect-app-desktop

BR,

Edvin