NRF52840 Dongle support for NRF Sniffer

[pcmihnea]

Hello,

We have multiple NRF52840 dongles that we want to repurpose as receivers for the NRF Sniffer software. Browsing throughout the forum we've came to the conclusion that currently there is no possibility to use them as-is.

As such, we would like to propose a few solutions:

1. Update the NRF sniffer software to support the dongle via its USB CDC interface (no timeline presented, in works?).

2. Share the source code for the NRF sniffer firmware (may not be possible?).

3. Share a modified NRF sniffer firmware for NRF52840 were the UART pins are re-mapped to more easily accesible pads present on the dongle. Then on those pads an external USB-UART bridge (for ex. Segger's VCOM) will be connected to enable firmware communication.

4. Share a modified NRF sniffer firmware for NRF5x end-products, for ex. Thingy52 or BBC's MicroBit boards, were as in solution 3, the pins are more easily accesible.

Please consider the four points and analyze if any may be feasible from your side.

Thank you.

[awneil]

pcmihnea said:

3. Share a modified NRF sniffer firmware for NRF52840 were the UART pins are re-mapped to more easily accesible pads present on the dongle. Then on those pads an external USB-UART bridge (for ex. Segger's VCOM) will be connected to enable firmware communication.

Apparently this is already possible:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/40331/nrf52840-dongle-sniffer/156815#156815

[pcmihnea]

The solution mentioned involved using other microcontroller pins than the ones used on the NRF52840-DK board.

The problem is that the UART pins used on the -DK are P0.04 through P0.08, which on the NRF52840 dongle are either unconnected, or used for other purposes (for ex LEDs):

If you were to use the -DK pins, you would need to solder directly on to the microcontroller, which due to it's BGA package is impossible. A firmware modification is much simpler.