Programming nRF9160 modem firmware with a stand-alone SEGGER J-Link

[Jonathan]

I have a PCB containing an nRF9160 using a SEGGER J-Link. I am able to update the application firmware at will using a variety of tools but if I use nRF Connect v3.2.0 to run Programmer v1.2.3 and select the J-Link device, the software hangs.

As far as I am aware, nRF Connect / Programmer is the only supported way to update the modem firmware, so how can I get new modem firmware on my PCB?

I have tried using an nRF9160-DK but I was unable to get the board to detect the external target.

I did also try nrf9160_mdm_dfu but that stopped working with the 1.0.0 release, giving a the error:

ERROR: Missing file: firmware.update.image.hex

Kind regards,

Jonathan

[MJD093]

How are you connecting the PCA10090 to the custom device?

Our custom boards have been able to update the modem firmware using the nRF Programmer App and the DK.

[Sigurd]

As MJD093 points out, it could be an issue with how you have connected the custom device to the programmer.

Jonathan said:

As far as I am aware, nRF Connect / Programmer is the only supported way to update the modem firmware

It's also possible to use a python script with pynrfjprog to flash the modem. 

You might need to run pip3 install pynrfjprog -U before testing this.

Simple example:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#
# Copyright (c) 2019 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-BSD-5-Clause-Nordic


from pynrfjprog import HighLevel
api = HighLevel.API()
api.open()
snr = api.get_connected_probes()
for s in snr:
    probe = HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(api, s, HighLevel.CoProcessor.CP_MODEM)
    probe.program("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    probe.verify("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    print("Done")
 
api.close()

With threading[experimental]

#!/usr/bin/env python3
#
# Copyright (c) 2019 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-BSD-5-Clause-Nordic

from pynrfjprog import HighLevel
import threading
 
class myThread (threading.Thread):
   def __init__(self, threadID, name, counter):
      threading.Thread.__init__(self)
      self.threadID = threadID
      self.name = name
      self.counter = counter
   def run(self):
      print ("Starting " + self.name)
      update_fw(self.name)
      print ("Exiting " + self.name)
 
def update_fw(snr):
    print("updating FW in {}".format(snr))
    probe = HighLevel.IPCDFUProbe(api, int(snr), HighLevel.CoProcessor.CP_MODEM)
    print("{} probe initialized". format(snr))
    probe.program("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    print("{} programmed".format(snr))
    probe.verify("mfw_nrf9160_1.0.1.zip")
    print("{} verified".format(snr))
 
# Create new threads
api = HighLevel.API()
api.open()
devices = api.get_connected_probes()
threads = list()
for idx, device in enumerate(devices):
    threads.append(myThread(idx, device, idx))
 
# Start new Threads
for thread in threads:
    thread.start()
 
print("waiting for all threads to complete")
#wait for threads to finish
for t in threads:
    t.join()
 
api.close()
print("Exiting Main Thread")

[Jonathan]

> How are you connecting the PCA10090 to the custom device?

With a custom cable assembly through to P15 on the PCA10090. Now that you have confirmed that this set-up should work, I will look again at that cable assembly. Thanks!

[MJD093]

Which pins are you connecting? Is a voltage being supplied to VTG to detect a connected device on P15? If you device doesn't output a voltage back to the DK, then you can bridge VDD and VTG on P15 to fool the Interface MCU into thinking there is a device connected, this will allow you to direct SWD through P15.

[Jonathan]

All sorted. I had a bad ground between the programmer and the custom PCB. I can confirm that nRF Connect v3.2.0 / Programmer v1.2.3 work fine with a SEGGER J-Link Base for upgrading modem firmware.