BC840 Unable to flash device

Question

Hi, 
 I have used several nrf52 based devices and modules. For the first time I bought some BC840 modules from Fanstel. I have been unable to get them to program, see the log below. 
 
 Flashing: _build/nrf52840_xxaa.hex
nrfjprog -f nrf52 --program _build/nrf52840_xxaa.hex --sectorerase
Parsing hex file.
Erasing page at address 0x0.
ERROR: Access to the selected address is blocked by the block protection mechanism.
make: *** [flash] Error 38

I would usually use the command make erase flash_softdevice flash to program my devices. This does not work. I have spent a long time browsing Fanstel's documentation and cannot find a good guide to get started. I have connected the SWD lines and ground and power. 
 
 I am able to erase the whole board and flash some things. For example, I downloaded this file from Fanstel 
 BT840X_AT_3in1PC181113.hex 
 And using this command works. 
 nrfjprog -f NRF52 --program BT840X_AT_3in1PC181113.hex --chiperase --reset 
 But I am not even sure what this program does, not a lot of information from Fanstel. 
 
 I have also tried nrfjprog --recover and it has bricked 2 modules. 
 
 From what I understand, the Fanstel modules come pre-loaded with a bootloader and this may be the problem. But I am not sure what the next steps are to load a program. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mredp · Accepted Answer

Thanks for the response I did solve the issue in the end. This was the first time running the system at 1.8V and I didn't realise that the dev boards were not able to flash external boards at this voltage. I guess it was just interesting that some things could flash but other things couldn't.. 
 Powering it at a higher voltage works now.

BC840 Unable to flash device

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