programing softdevice and firmware with nrfjprog

[Duaa]

Hi, 

I just started working with Nordic chips so I apologize if I am missing something obvious here

I am using a custom board that I designed containing a nrf52832 module. I am uploading programs to it through the command line using a jlink (program hex files). It is getting programmed just fine when it comes to programs that don't require softdevice such as simple blink programs, it blinks as expected. When it comes to anything requiring softdevice, I program softdevice (I tried s132 and s112) and then when I try to program my firmware (I tried the nRF5 SDK examples) I receive the error: 

"ERROR: The area to write is not erased" 

When I erase the chip I am able to program it, but I believe that means that I erased the softdevice as I am not able to detect any Bluetooth signal. I tried erasing using "--sectorerase", "-chiperase" and "--sectoranduicrerase" with the same outcome. 

Am I missing something here? I there a special way to get both the softdevice and my firmware on the chip using nrfjprog? 

Operating system: Windows

Programmer: Jlink EDU

Board: Custom with a MDBT42Q - nRF52832 based BLE module

[Øyvind]

Hello, 

Have you tried using --eraseall?

Kind regards,
Oeyvind

[Duaa]

Hi 

The sequence I've been using so far has been: 

First, erase everything:

<nrfjprog --eraseall>

Then program the softdevice:

<nrfjprog --family NRF52 --program softdevice.hex --chiperase --verify>

Then the firmware:

<nrfjprog --family NRF52 --program ble_app.hex --verify > (does not work, The area to write is not erased)

I tried <nrfjprog --family NRF52 --program ble_app.hex --verify --eraseall>  (does not work, ERROR: Two arguments were provided that cannot be combined.)

What does work is <nrfjprog --family NRF52 --program ble_app.hex --verify --chiperase> , no Bluetooth signal detected through 

Then: 

<nrfjprog --family NRF52 --reset> 

Is there a special way to use --eraseall to program the firmware? 

[ArtemS]

Perhaps application file that you're trying to upload was build to flash into wrong memory area, that overlaps with Softdevice. 
It should be like this: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/com.nordic.infocenter.sdk52.v0.9.0/ble_app_dfu_memory_52.svg

You can check in Softdevice description its memory boundaries and rebuild application using these memory settings. 

You may find this post useful on that matter:
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/tutorials/b/getting-started/posts/adjustment-of-ram-and-flash-memory

[Øyvind]

Duaa said:

What does work is <nrfjprog --family NRF52 --program ble_app.hex --verify --chiperase> , no Bluetooth signal detected through 

Have you verified that the module does work?

Duaa said:

Is there a special way to use --eraseall to program the firmware? 

Nope, this is correct from what you describe.  

Can you please try the following:

1. nrfjprog --eraseall
2. Program <..\[YOUR SDK]\components\softdevice\s132\hex\s132_nrf52_X.X.X_softdevice.hex>
3. Build and Program <..\[YOUR SDK]\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_uart\pca10040\s132\[YOUR COMPILER]\*.hex

  Using one of the examples from the SDK should work out of the box. What version of the SoftDevice are you using? 

[Duaa]

Thank you so much for the link. It helped me understand a lot about memory allocation. Turns out I was erasing the right area all along. It was a hardware issue that caused my Bluetooth module to not advertise which made me believe I was programming it wrong at first.