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.

[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.