nRF9160 modem firmware update without SWD

[GiulianoFranchetto]

Hi,

Is it possible to update the modem firmware once the product is on the field? I'm not talking about the application hosted on the M33, but the actual modem firmware.

We won't be able to use SWD on the field, but we still would like to get all new functionnalities coming with all the updates.

What should be the strategy to update the modem firmware? Is there already an api for it? Do I need a specific nRF9160 routing to allow firmware update?

In our architecture, the nrf9160 is connected by UART to a nrf52840. Can I flash the new firmware using the nrf52?

Best regards

Giuliano 

[Sigurd]

Hi,

GiulianoFranchetto said:

Is it possible to update the modem firmware once the product is on the field?

Yes, that will be possible. The modem FOTA solution is however not ready for release yet. If you implement application FOTA now, it should be possible in the future to update the application to a version that support modem FOTA, and then do the modem FOTA after doing the application FOTA update first.

GiulianoFranchetto said:

In our architecture, the nrf9160 is connected by UART to a nrf52840. Can I flash the new firmware using the nrf52?

I believe it will be possible in the future, but modem FOTA over LTE will likely come first.

[Alan Hasty]

This is good news, on the modem FOTA update without having to use the debugger.

Are there any hardware requirements to make this possible?

We are implementing a similar design, and would like to be able to support this feature so if there are any hardware requirements we need to know what they are to be able to get them into the circuit design.

Thanks

[Sigurd]

Alan Hasty said:

Are there any hardware requirements to make this possible?

For modem FOTA via LTE? Then no, not that I can think of.