Successful dongle programming, but application not starting

[NorbertD]

Hello,

I am working with the nRF52840 dongle. There is a bootloader at the end of it's flash, which can be started by pushing reset after power up.

However I cannot start the written app on the dongle. It is strange, because even the SDK blinky app, with the provided hex file(MBR and app) won't start. Flashing a hex file, which I compiled(with an arm-none-eabi GCC) won't help either. The blinking led works, since in DFU mode, it is slowly pulsating in red. So I don't think it is a hardware problem. Of course I choose the binaries belonging to PCA10059.

I think after writing the app and mbr to the flash of the device successfully, the dongle should start the blinky app.

However only the always on green led is emitting light. No blinking whatsoever comes from the second led. I used the nRF Connect for writing the example. I tried pulling the dongle from the USB, and providing supply through the Vin and GND pins. I tried with 5V and 3.3V. Nothing helped. No blinking. However I could always reset to DFU.

Do you have any idea, what can be done, to start the app? What can be the problem?

Best regards,

Norbert

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

There are two blinky examples, Blinky Example (<InstallFolder>\examples\peripheral\blinky) and BLE Blinky Application (<InstallFolder>\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_blinky). Which example are you using? 

If you flash the blinky_pca10059_mbr.hex to the nRF52840 dongle, you will observe that the LEDs are blinking. 

Please provide the nRFConnect-Programmer log if you still have the issue.
 

-Amanda H. 

[NorbertD]

Turns out Makerdiary's dongle which I use(which is sold as a nRF52840 dongle, resembles your dongle, and behaves in DFU mode like your dongle),is marketed with your SDK. The nRF chip pinout is different. Because why not make a halfway compatible hardware? Adapting the board definitions for pca10059 solves the problem.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Good to hear the problem is solved.

-Amanda H.