Thingy:91 and nRF9160

[Tommy]

Hi

I have a few questions as a newbee on Nordi products:

• Can nRF9160 be used as modem via UART in the same way as i.e. Simcom's ?
• Is it possible to run code on the Arm M33 or do i need another processor for sending data to a server ?
• Can nRF9160 Arm M33 run Micropython or is it only the nRF52840 ?
• What is the correct way to upgrade the Thingy:91 firmware? I have tried via nRFCloud and nRF Desktop without any luck. In the Desktop version, the buttons are greyd for erasing and so on even when i'm connected.

Br

Tommy

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi Tommy,

 

 

Can nRF9160 be used as modem via UART in the same way as i.e. Simcom's ?

 That is possible, if you program this application on to your device: https://github.com/NordicPlayground/fw-nrfconnect-nrf/tree/master/samples/nrf9160/serial_lte_modem

Documentation for this sample is available here: http://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/samples/nrf9160/serial_lte_modem/README.html#

 

Is it possible to run code on the Arm M33 or do i need another processor for sending data to a server ?

 No, you do not need an external mcu. nRF9160 is a SoC, so you can run everything on the nRF9160.

 

Can nRF9160 Arm M33 run Micropython or is it only the nRF52840 ?

 I believe there is support in micropython for nRF9160. Support for this project should go through the projects support channels.

Micropython on nRF9160 is discussed here: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/53197/micropython-on-the-nrf9160/214932

  

What is the correct way to upgrade the Thingy:91 firmware? I have tried via nRFCloud and nRF Desktop without any luck. In the Desktop version, the buttons are greyd for erasing and so on even when i'm connected.

The latest Programmer app in nRF connect for desktop shall have support for programming thingy:91. This was introduced in Programmer v1.3.0 (latest is v1.3.1). Could you check if you have the latest one installed?

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Tommy]

Ok thank you.

I have version v.3.3.0. But the Upgrade choices under "Device" is greyed out and cannot be clicked. Se picture. Is there something special i need to do with the Thingy:91 to put it in programming / Upgrade mode ?

[Håkon Alseth]

The image must be signed for mcuboot to accept it, as described here: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_thingy91/UG/thingy91/firmware_update/updating_appn_fw_9160_mcu.html?cp=12_0_4_1_0_0 

If you're updating the asset_tracker, it will be located here:

..\ncs\nrf\applications\asset_tracker\<my build folder>\zephyr\app_signed.hex.

Programmer shall then allow you to press write:

 

After its done it'll look like this:..

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Tommy]

Ok

Where is this folder "\ncs\nrf\applications\asset_tracker..." ? On github ?

Shouldn't i be able to click "READ" button regardless of the hex files in the "File Memory Layout" ?

And same with the "Update modem" button in the lower right corner ?

The link below is dead btw...

Håkon Alseth said:

Documentation for this sample is available here: http://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/samples/nrf9160/serial_lte_modem/README.html#

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

Tommy said:

Where is this folder "\ncs\nrf\applications\asset_tracker..." ? On github ?

 That is a part of the code base. I would recommend that you run through "Getting Started Assistant" to setup your environment. 

 

Tommy said:

The link below is dead btw...

Are you still experiencing issues?

 

Tommy said:

Shouldn't i be able to click "READ" button regardless of the hex files in the "File Memory Layout" ?

Thingy:91 does not have a dedicated debugger, so it uses a bootloader (mcuboot) to update the application. If you have a nRF91-DK (or a Cortex M33 capable JLink SWD debugger) you can use that as a debugger to program the device.

 

Tommy said:

And same with the "Update modem" button in the lower right corner ?

 At this moment, you cannot update the modem by interfacing mcuboot.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon