Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 23:06:37 GMT

>I strongly urge you to use an existing BLE example project as the basis for any project that uses BLE.

This is what I did in the end.

I spent a long time comparing the 2 folders but couldn't find what was wrong with my application. Perhaps something in a config file or something. Hard to compare everything.

When I moved my code into the 10059 ble_blinky example and added things like SAADC to the build, it worked. Which is fantastic because now I can make a fairly comparable prototype to do some real tests with.

And I have just seen this post which shows me how I can connect the SWDIO and SWDCLD to the Dev Kit.

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/51179/debug-out-port-p20-on-nrf52840-dk-debugging-custom-board

Thank you for your help. Very much appreciated.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:41:52 GMT

There seems to be some delay in the "Reply" and "More" buttons appearing. It's odd.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:37:48 GMT

Thanks, yes I did this, sort-of.

I edited ble_app_beacon_pca10056 to make my current project in. Now I need to either bring in the differences from pca10059 blinky or move my changes into the pca10059 blinky. I just thought it was probably similar work either way.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:31:27 GMT

I've just found this guide which looks like what I needed. I had the wrong RAM_START 0x20001628

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/short-range-guides/b/getting-started/posts/adjustment-of-ram-and-flash-memory

And when I tried to run my changes I noticed that the Programmer app was marked as having an upgrade available. Which I installed. But now it says "The app only supports NRF connect 3.2.0 which does not match your currently installed version"

oops.. I guess if I wait a few mins then this update will appear as well? Maybe I should make dinner

thanks for your help

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

awneil — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:30:36 GMT

[quote userid="13562" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/51554/trying-to-convert-my-nrf52840-dk-project-to-run-on-the-nrf52840-dongle/207170"] I strongly urge you to use an existing BLE example project as the basis for any project that uses BLE[/quote]

Absolutely!!

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

awneil — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:28:55 GMT

[quote userid="79391" url="~/f/nordic-q-a/51554/trying-to-convert-my-nrf52840-dk-project-to-run-on-the-nrf52840-dongle/206840"] I cant see how to edit the post[/quote]

Click on 'More'
Click on 'Edit.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

haakonsh — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 13:22:21 GMT

[quote user="JasonR"]I cant see SWDCLK and SWDIO except on the tiny debug headers. [/quote]

They are the two weird plated indentations on the neck of the USB plug. See the hardware drawings I posted previously.

[quote user="JasonR"]It still fails in the call to nrf_sdh_enable_request()[/quote]

If you enable the log module it will spit out the proper RAM settings when you call nrf_sdh_enable_request.

[quote user="JasonR"]Of course my app is different from the ble_blinky_10059 example so maybe I need to do more than just copy the settings from that example. [/quote]

I strongly urge you to use an existing BLE example project as the basis for any project that uses BLE.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 10:45:38 GMT

YES, I've been 'debugging' by flashing LED's. oldschool.

I realised last night that there are 3 debug interfaces but I've not got the 5x2 pin header that I need to solder on, nor do I have the cool needle pin segger cable. (I got the segger edu mini as well as the normal 52840 Dev Kit.) And I'm not sure where I'm supposed to solder the SWDCLK and SWDIO connections to on the NRF52840 Dev Kit. I cant see SWDCLK and SWDIO except on the tiny debug headers.

Anyway, by flashing LEDs I found that my app crashes when I call nrf_sdh_enable_request() and that this means it's something to do with the RAM layout, as you say in your answer below. (I cannot see how I can reply to that comment, only this one.) I found other forum users talking about similar problems related to their calls to nrf_sdh_enable_request() crashing.

I've used a diff program to compare my project file with the ble_beacon project file. and taken all of the settings that looked relevant. I was able run the ble_blinky 10059 example and it runs fine. I can see it in nrf connect on my android phone

I made project -> options -> Build->"Memory segments" match the settings in ble_app_blinky_pca10059

FLASH RX 0x0 0x100000;RAM RWX 0x20000000 0x40000

Also the project -> options -> Linker -> Section Placement Macros

FLASH_PH_START=0x0
FLASH_PH_SIZE=0x100000
RAM_PH_START=0x20000000
RAM_PH_SIZE=0x40000
FLASH_START=0x26000
FLASH_SIZE=0xda000
RAM_START=0x200022e0
RAM_SIZE=0x3dd20

I also checked that the flash_placement.xml files are identical

It still fails in the call to nrf_sdh_enable_request()

Of course my app is different from the ble_blinky_10059 example so maybe I need to do more than just copy the settings from that example.

I see in this comment that maybe I should look at the softdevice specification

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/27219/unable-to-enable-the-softdevice-on-custom-board/107375#107375

So I looked at the spec but I couldnt see what they were referring to.

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/struct_nrf52/struct/s140.html

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

haakonsh — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 08:52:17 GMT

[quote user="JasonR"]Which I guess is obvious because the the dongle doesn't have debug support.[/quote]

You can debug the dongle by using a DK's OB debugger. Though you need to either populate the debug port connector footprint at the bottom of the dongle, or solder a couple of wires to VDD, GND, SWDIO, and SWDCLK. Then you do not even need a bootloader.

See the dongle's Hardware drawings.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

haakonsh — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 08:43:04 GMT

It's a classic mistake when staring out with Nordic, and you've almost solved it already.
The examples in "sdk/examples/peripheral" are not set up to use the SoftDevice, whereas the examples in "sdk/examples/ble_*" are.

The SoftDevice is placed at the bottom of flash and forwards interrupts to the applications vector table, often placed at 0x26000, on top of the SoftDevice. You will also need to set the start address and size of the application's RAM as the SoftDevice has a dedicated space at the bottom of RAM.

If you copy the ble_app_blinky example from "sdk/examples/ble_peripheral/" and swap out the main.c file and necessary libraries with the blinky example from "sdk/example/peripheral/" you should be able to run the blinky example with SoftDevice flashed, as the ble examples have everything set up already.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 12:17:24 GMT

When I change my FLASH_START from 0x1000 to 0x26000 then it works.

When I write I see my new blink speed

Is this the right thing to do?

Now I'll try un-commenting my full application and hopefully it will work.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 12:05:10 GMT

I tried changing my project to have debug_additional_load_file mbr_nrf52_2.4.1_mbr.hex instead of s140_nrf52_6.1.1_softdevice.hex but it made no difference. Which I guess is obvious because the the dongle doesn't have debug support.

I notice that if I try to upload just my application.hex without adding the softdevice.hex then it actually works. My code is running now. I can change the blink speed in my project and it works on the dongle.

My actual application needs the softdevice though so I still need to figure out how to get the memory laid out correctly.

RE: Trying to convert my NRF52840 DK project to run on the NRF52840 Dongle

Jason — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 11:21:35 GMT

Sorry, a few typos. I cant see how to edit the post to fix them