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nRF9160 Custom PCB Programming - Using NRF91DK

Hey Nordic team ,

We are having some issues with programming a custom NRF9160 PCB board. I am trying to use the NRF91 DK to program the bareboard PCB just like a typical nRF51/52 (Image Attached). The nRF Connect Desktop Application is not able to detect a external IC (It is perpetually trying to communicate with the target without success) any feedback on things to check/improve ?

Thanks and regards,

Gurbir Singh

  • Hello, 

    The image you provide seems correct. How are you powering your custom board? Do both boards have the same voltage level?

    Kind regards,
    Øyvind

  • I am powering the Custom PCB with the NRF91DK VDD Voltage , both are supposed to be operating at the same voltage levels . 

    A Few Updates 

    1. Removed a short in the Custom PCB due to poor soldering by PCBA (Multimeter didnt show a short , but the resistance between VDD and GND was really small )

    2. Now IC responds when programming (nRF Connect Desktop 3.0.0) with SW11 turned to 3V (Doesn't respond in 1V8)

    2020-01-02T17:30:42.011Z INFO Using nrfjprog to communicate with target
    2020-01-02T17:30:44.238Z INFO Using J-Link Software version 6.54
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.407Z INFO Segger serial: 960091668
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.407Z INFO Segger speed: 2000 kHz
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.407Z INFO Segger version: J-Link OB-K22-NordicSemi compiled Nov 7 2019 16:11:45
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.410Z INFO Core probed: 960091668.
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.411Z INFO Core RAM: 256KiB.
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.411Z INFO Core ROM: 1024KiB in pages of 4KiB.
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.683Z INFO Model: NRF9160_xxAA_FUTURE.
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.688Z ERROR Error when getting device info: TypeError: First argument must be a unsigned integer
    2020-01-02T17:30:47.688Z DEBUG getDeviceMemMap: First argument must be a unsigned integer

    3. Checked (nRF Connect Desktop 3.3.0)  SW turned to 3V -> Works  !! 

    Using nrfjprog to communicate with target
    2020-01-02T18:00:04.057Z INFO Using J-Link Software version 6.54
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.134Z INFO Segger serial: 960091668
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.135Z INFO Segger speed: 2000 kHz
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.135Z INFO Segger version: J-Link OB-K22-NordicSemi compiled Nov 7 2019 16:11:45
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.138Z INFO Core probed: 960091668.
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.138Z INFO Core RAM: 256KiB.
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.138Z INFO Core ROM: 1024KiB in pages of 4KiB.
    2020-01-02T18:00:06.405Z INFO Model: NRF9160_xxAA_FUTURE.
    2020-01-02T18:00:07.330Z INFO Core0: Reading device non-volatile memory. This may take a few seconds.
    2020-01-02T18:00:16.734Z INFO Core0: Non-volatile memory has been read. 3 non-empty memory blocks identified

    Thanks,

    Gurbir Singh

  • Very glad to hear that you solved the issue!

    Kind regards,
    Øyvind

  • Hi Øyvind

    I can't programing the target board.can you tell me On the "debugger" nrf9160DK ,What do I need to set?

    I followed the Settings below:

    On the "debugger" nrf9160DK, PC is connected to J4 through USB

    I connected a 10pin cable from P22 (Debug Out) on the debugger board into P3 (nrf91 Debug in) on the target board. 

    On the target board, I select "nRF only" via SW1.

    Connect a second USB cable to J4 on the target board. This will provide power on the target board.

    Attached is my connection diagram

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