nRF52840 Dongle

[JamesBellville]

I have a new nRF52840 Dongle which seems to have either had a hardware failure while updating its bootloader or the updating was unsuccessful and now the device does not flash the red led, what can I do to update the bootloader or test the hardware?

[Dra6on]

Hi,

I got the same issue, but it gets to blinking mode arfter pressing reset button.
Check the manual here.

[JamesBellville]

Thankyou, that sorted it out

[Dra6on]

For checking that all is good with my dongle I've used precompiled example from nRF52 SDK:
nRF5_SDK_15.2.0\examples\peripheral\blinky\hex\blinky_pca10059_mbr.hex 

I've only managed to load above using nRFConnect app called 'Programmer (experimental)'.

[Bjørn Kvaale]

You can also program the dongle via P1 on the back of the dongle. You will need to solder some kind of SWD connector (e.g. the debug in or debug out connector on the dev kits) & program via some j-link. Just beware that when you erase the dongle, you also erase the bootloader & therefore cannot use nRF Programmer app anymore until you flash the bootloader back onto the dongle. 

I would recommend just sticking with the nRF Programmer app instead. Less hassle. However, if you want debugging info from the dongle, you can use this method, attach a SWD cable between the dongle & the DK & use the Segger chip on the DK to get logging.

We in Tech Support have e.g. received quite a few questions about running Bluetooth Mesh on the dongle. In order to do this & get Segger RTT logging, I would recommend the above technique.

However, remember that the dongle is not the same as a DK! If you want to do a lot of development, buy a DK instead. Hope that helps!

[awneil]

Bjørn Kvaale said:

We in Tech Support have e.g. received quite a few questions

Indeed - there seems to be at least one per day on this public forum!

Bjørn Kvaale said:

remember that the dongle is not the same as a DK! If you want to do a lot of development, buy a DK instead.

In light of the above, I think you should really make that clearer on the Dongle Product Page!

eg, see:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/39893/downloaded-the-sdk-for-the-nrf52840-and-found-out-that-all-refer-to-other-hardware-pca10040-and-pca10056/155417#155417

You could save yourselves a lot of work - and a lot of disappointed/frustrated customers!

[JamesBellville]

would I be able to program the nRF52840 Thingy using Segger and DK, I have not checked yet but did find the problem encountered above trying to program via the USB

[JamesBellville]

apparently it has the same issue, now to get a programmer for the two Nordic units I have

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Are you referring to the Thingy:52 or the 52840 dongle when you write 52840 Thingy? If you want to program the 52832 Thingy:52, you can either use DFU via the Thingy app (iOS or Android) or via the debug out port on the DK & a SWD cable. The documentation here could also be helpful.

[JamesBellville]

I was hoping to program via the USB port on the Thingy 52, but I see from the documentation that it is only for charging the battery

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Yes, the USB is only for charging. You will need to do what I explained in my last comment to program or upgrade the FW. The reason is because the Thingy:52 does not have an integrated Segger J-Link chip (unlike the DK, which does).