Timeout when trying to program NRF9160DK, programming only consistently works when holding reset.

[Thomg]

Hi Nordic Devzone readers,

Recently I've picked up a NRF9160DK and have tried to program my own user program onto it.
This will consistently fail unless I hold the reset button while programming.

If I do not hold the reset button while programming the programming procedure will halt and eventually throw a timeout, this is how it looks like in the target output:

Programming 32.0 KB of addresses 00000000 — 00007fff
Programming 72.2 KB of addresses 0000c000 — 0001e0e3
Timeout while checking target RAM, RAMCode did not respond in time. (PC = 0x200205B4, CPSR = 0x200205BC, LR = 0x61000000)!
Failed to prepare for programming.
Failed to execute RAMCode for RAM check!
Download failed

Similar behavior can be seen when trying to erase the chip.

I do also notice that LED5 turns off when attempting to program the chip without holding the reset button, whereas LED5 blinks rapidly when programming while holding the reset button.

Although I am now happy I can consistently program the nRF, having to hold the reset button every time I try to write to the chip isn't very user friendly.
Can anyone perhaps provide some insight?

I am using Segger Embedded Studio for ARM V4.42a, the firmware on the board is 1.1.1 and the ncs version I'm using is 1.2.0.

Regards,

Thom

Edit: I'm not having this issue with the NF52 DK.

[Øyvind]

Hello Thom, 

Please do not hold reset, as this will not program the device at all. There is a know issue with SES v4.42a that we are currently working with a solution for. What version of nRF Command Line tools are you running?

Kind regards,
Øyvind

[Thomg]

Hi Øyvind,

nrfjprog -v returns the following:

nrfjprog version: 10.6.0
JLinkARM.dll version: 6.54c

Although I'm suspect of the relevance to this issue as I installed nRF command line tools after encountering this issue. Am I perhaps looking at the wrong nRF Command Line Tools?

Regards,

Thom

[Øyvind]

Thomg said:

Am I perhaps looking at the wrong nRF Command Line Tools?

 No, this is correct. 

Regarding my previous message, please disregard it. You are absolutely correct that it works. Will forward it to our R&D team. Kudos to you my friend! :)

Kind regards,
Øyvind

[sindrevr]

Hi Øyvind,

Any news regarding this bug?

Flashing using west works everytime...

But when building and flashing / erasing with SES 4.42A it always needs two attempts.

Failing every second attempt with.

Timeout while preparing target, RAMCode did not respond in time. (PC = 0x00000000, CPSR = 0x00000000, LR = 0x21000003)!
Failed to prepare RAMCode using RAM
Download failed

[Øyvind]

Hello sindrevr,

There is a new version of SES out now, v4.52. Please download the latest version from here.

If you are still having issues, please register a new ticket. 

Thanks & kind regards,

Øyvind