Direct Test Mode

[Sascha Schmidt]

Hi,

we have to program direct test mode software for our certification process of our device. What we did was: take the dtm example from Nordic SDK (v15.3.0) and programmed it to the device. Our certication lab gives us feedback that the mode does not work. It only gives the send data back (feedback loop). Is there anything we are doing wrong? Do we have to program something else to the device?

This is very urgend, so a quick answer would be very nice!!!

Kind regards

Sascha Schmidt

[cbd]

Hi,

Have you set-up the UART correctly and are the lines isolated from the rest of the board?

Your test house may just be seeing signal reflection rather than data response.

[Sascha Schmidt]

Hello,

yes your right. I checked it with a logic analyzer. I now programmed the precompiled hex file from Nordic and tried it out with a demo board and a PC. Now the UART says nothing at all. I get no response to any command of the direct test mode. Am I right that the UART pins are on 5, 6, 7, 8 of the nRF52832 (I looked it up in the board-file of the board_pca10040.h)

Kind regards and thanks for the support!!!

Sascha Schmidt

[Hung Bui]

Hi Sascha, 

By default the pins are configures as follow: 

#define RX_PIN_NUMBER 8
#define TX_PIN_NUMBER 6
#define CTS_PIN_NUMBER 7
#define RTS_PIN_NUMBER 5

Which demo board are you testing with ? Note that when you connect to PC you need a RS232/FTDI chip to interface with PC. 

I would suggest you to test with the \examples\peripheral\uart to make sure UART works at it should. 

[Sascha Schmidt]

Hi,

ok that verified my understanding of which pins of the chip are used, so thanks for that!! :) We have a FTDI chip to connect to the PC via USB. Is it necessary that the softdevice is programmed to the device, so that dtm works?

We have a rigado demo board for thier BMD-350 module.

Thanks in advance!!!!

Kind regards

Sascha Schmidt

[Hung Bui]

No, you don't need a softdevice to be flashed on the board when using DTM. Softdevice should be erased. 

Please make sure there is no bootloader on the module that may prevent running the DTM code. 

Please test using UART example and try to debug. 

[Sascha Schmidt]

Hi,

now it works with the precompiled file and the UART with RX and TX pins on port 6 and 8!!!

But I have another question: is it possible to redirect the RX and TX pins to port 9 and 10? Because these are the pins for the NFC antenna to connect. Do I have to program something special to the dtm example other than defining these other pins?

That would make it easier for us to support our test lab, because than we could only send new firmware instead of getting back the complete devices to us?

Thanks in advance for your good support !!!!

Kind regards

Sascha

[cbd]

Hi,

You can reassign the TX RX pins by changing the definitions in the board file.

For your product you should have your own version of the board file. Best to have a separate one for your board rather than change one of the SDK ones. Then include it by using a pre-processor switch e.g. MYBOARD instead of PCA10056 and have an entry in board.h use that to include your custom board file

[mrono]

Sascha Schmidt said:

is it possible to redirect the RX and TX pins to port 9 and 10? Because these are the pins for the NFC antenna to connect. Do I have to program something special to the dtm example other than defining these other pins?

There is a preprocessor define that triggers the startup code to initialize the NFC pins as regular GPIOs. It is called CONFIG_NFCT_PINS_AS_GPIOS. Add this define to your project options then you should be able to use those pins as regular GPIOs.

[Sascha Schmidt]

Ok, perfect. I did  that and it worked!!

Thank you very much for your help!!!! I appreciate it!!

Kind regards

Sascha