Modem DFU fails on nRF9160 using nRF Connect

[Fredrik]

Hi,

I'm trying to update the modem firmware on my nRF9160. I believe the current firmware is mfw-m1_nrf9160_0.6.8-30.alpha. I followed Martin's suggestions here, but nRF Connect fails with a DLL error. Below if the output:

2019-10-06T13:09:59.819Z INFO Application data folder: /home/fredrik/.config/nrfconnect/pc-nrfconnect-programmer
2019-10-06T13:09:59.891Z DEBUG App pc-nrfconnect-programmer v1.2.3 official
2019-10-06T13:09:59.891Z DEBUG App path: /home/fredrik/.nrfconnect-apps/node_modules/pc-nrfconnect-programmer
2019-10-06T13:09:59.892Z DEBUG nRFConnect 3.2.0 is supported by the app (^3.2.0)
2019-10-06T13:09:59.892Z DEBUG nRFConnect path: /tmp/.mount_nrfcon8ZSu9x/resources/app.asar
2019-10-06T13:09:59.892Z DEBUG HomeDir: /home/fredrik
2019-10-06T13:09:59.892Z DEBUG TmpDir: /tmp
2019-10-06T13:09:59.907Z INFO Using nrfjprog library 10.3.0, pc-nrfjprog-js 1.5.8
2019-10-06T13:10:03.194Z INFO Using nrfjprog to communicate with target
2019-10-06T13:10:06.405Z INFO Using J-Link Software version 6.44
2019-10-06T13:10:08.555Z INFO Segger serial:  960010299
2019-10-06T13:10:08.555Z INFO Segger speed:  2000  kHz
2019-10-06T13:10:08.555Z INFO Segger version:  J-Link OB-K22-NordicSemi compiled Feb 14 2019 14:03:18
2019-10-06T13:10:08.559Z INFO Probed: 960010299.
2019-10-06T13:10:08.559Z INFO Model: Unknown model.
2019-10-06T13:10:08.559Z INFO RAM: 256KiB.
2019-10-06T13:10:08.559Z INFO Flash: 1024KiB in pages of 4KiB.
2019-10-06T13:10:09.294Z INFO Device type is unknown. It may be a new version of product from Nordic Semiconductor.
2019-10-06T13:10:09.294Z INFO Please check device list supported by nrfjprog.
2019-10-06T13:10:11.386Z INFO Reading device non-volatile memory. This may take a few seconds.
2019-10-06T13:10:21.416Z INFO Modem DFU starts to write...
2019-10-06T13:10:21.416Z INFO Writing to device with serial number: 960010299
2019-10-06T13:10:21.416Z INFO Writing to device with file: /home/fredrik/Downloads/mfw_nrf9160_1.0.0.zip
2019-10-06T13:10:22.872Z ERROR Modem DFU failed with error: Error: Error occured when program. Errorcode: CouldNotOpenDevice (0x4)
Lowlevel error: NRFJPROG_SUB_DLL_COULD_NOT_BE_OPENED (ffffff69)

This is my environment:

• Ubuntu 16.04
• nRF Connect v3.2.0
• Programmer app v1.2.3
• nrfjprog version: 10.3.0
• JLinkARM.dll version: 6.44e
• SiP marking: nRF9160-SICA BAA-E2.1.5 11S7V

Any ideas?

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi Fredrik, 

Did you update to the latest 'nRF Command Line Tools'?

Please refer to this tutorial.  

-Amanda H.

[Fredrik]

Hi Amanda,

Yes, my nRF Command Line Tools are up to date. Just to make sure, I downloaded and installed them again, but I am still unable to update the modem firmware.

$ nrfjprog --version
nrfjprog version: 10.3.0
JLinkARM.dll version: 6.44e

I am able to successfully flash applications to the nRF9160 using the nRF Connect programmer. The at_client sample application works fine with the modem firmware currently on the board. It's just the modem update process that's not working.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi Fredrik, 

Is it a custom board or a DK?

If it's a DK, what version of the DK are you using?

You could try to erase the chip (nrfjprog -e) before programming modem fw 1.0.1.

-Amanda H.

[Fredrik]

Hi Amanda,

It's a DK. This is the information from the back of the DK:

PCA10090
0.8.2
2018.49
960010299

I tried erasing the chip, but the problem persists.

[Sigurd]

Hi,

You can get this error if you have the device connected to another nRF Connect App (like the LTE Link Monitor) as well as the Programmer app. Please close all other nRF Connect apps before updating the modem.