NRF52840-DK - can't run Get Started demos PCA10056/PCA10040

[simfero]

Hello,

I just received my NRF52840-DK board today. I was able to run the demo (LED blink/Switch and NFC) which comes factory installed. But copying the hex files from demo (proximity, heart rate) fails. The flashing seems to happen as per the instructions, the JLink drive closes and reopens after flashing but the demo doesn't work as expected. I tried resetting the board, turning off and then on, pressing all the switches and nothing seems to help.

For instance, in the proximity demo, the LED1 is not glowing as per the instruction. Pressing Switch 1 (short or long) doesn't help. I have tried this in a Mac, Linux/Ubuntu and Windows 10 machines but nothing helps. I also tried re-flashing with the default firmware (the one that has the NFC and LED/Switch demo) but fails too.

I believe this has something to do with PCA version in demo hex files. Mine says PCA10056 v1.10 2019.12 on the chip and I see that proximity demo hex (downloaded from NRF52840-DK downloads page) uses PCA10040 when I load it into nRF Connect Desktop. 

https://www.nordicsemi.com/Software-and-Tools/Development-Kits/nRF52840-DK/Download#infotabs

I also tried compiling some sample code in PlatformIO with NRF52840-DK board selected and I get similar behavior: BLE works but LEDs won't turn on as if the pins are incorrect.

https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/tutorials/nordicnrf52/arduino_debugging_unit_testing.html

Above are the examples I tried, except that I chose Nordic nRF52840-DK instead of nRF52-DK board.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Segger version: J-Link OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi compiled Jul 12 2018 11:44:41

Model: NRF52840_xxAA_FUTURE.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

NRF52840-DK should use the image for PCA10056. You can go here to download SDK 15.3 and use ble_app_proximity_pca10056_s140.hex under 

<InstallFolder>\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_proximity\hex

You also can refer to the page of Proximity Application example for more detail.

Best regards,

Amanda 

[Dazdranagorn]

Hello,

I've catch the same issue on nRF52840-DK  PCA10056 1.1.0 2019.22.

BLE work nice but  I can’t see led blink at all.

I tried some precompiled examples with BLE+LED+BUTTONS from SDK15.3 and SDK16.0

I found out that hi/low level appears on the led, but it is only 2.5V so that’s why there no led glow.

I powered up the coin battery + USB to J2. SW6 is “DEFAULT”. SW7 is “Def.” SW8 is on. SW9 is “VDD”. SW10 is off.

 

May be there is some special combinations of switches to push the voltage up?

PS. I updated onboard j-link by J-Link_OB-SAM3U128-V2-NordicSemi_170724.bin from DK start page.

PPS. I used SES to wipe flash by Target->Erase All.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

You need to program the chip with the correct FW, for the examples indicated in the names with either 'nrf52840' or 'PCA10056'. Some applications might work on e.g. nRF52840, even though it has been built for nRF52832, but you should not count on it.

In some cases, applications do run, but the different development kits (for nRF52832 and nRF52840) do not have LEDs and buttons connected to the same GPIOs, so the application is toggling the incorrect pins if not programmed with the correct version. This is why the BLE is working, but the LEDs do not flash.

The getting started guide links to the incorrect version. I apologize for the confusion, I will report this again.

-Amanda H.

[Dazdranagorn]

Of course I flash only *_s140_pca10056.hex files.

I found out the source of my problem. It is not a software.

Power switch U4 was mounted poorly, I found that it is disconnected from board a little bit.

According a schematic, I have to put a drop of solder on SB9.

And it helps. Leds blink in a proper way.