Hello,
To contextualize my questions, here is my project : I am working on a mesh network with a proprietary protocol. Each node is stationary. I use the nRF52832 SoC.I use the Bluetooth DFU to perform OTA update.
However, for the moment I update node "manually", I switch one node in Bluetooth DFU mode, then I update it with the nRF Connect application then I repeat it for each node of my network.
As you suspected this operation is pretty long and really far to be optimized.
So I am trying to find a solution to automate it with the nrfutil cli.
Firstly I use the BL654 USB Adapter ( https://connectivity-staging.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/2019-07/CS-PB-BL654-USB_NORDIC_ZEPHYR_v1_0.pdf ) but the range is really to short for my use. So I try with the nRF52832 Development Kit but I got the same range.
After some research, I noticed that the nRF52832 SoC is not compatible with Bluetooth Long range, so I try the OTA update with nRF52840 Development Kit and the Dongle previously quoted to have two devices able to use Bluetooth Long Range. Unfortunately I did not observe any improvement.
I also tried to use the mesh DFU protocol with the nRF52832 SoC. I followed the quick start ( https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.nordic.infocenter.meshsdk.v3.1.0%2Fmd_doc_libraries_dfu_dfu_quick_start.html )
But after 10 minutes I have this error : Failed to upgrade target. Error is: Failed to establish connection
That makes a lot of issues that i can't solve.
Here are my questions :
The DFU protocol seems to be proprietary, is it possible that it limits the range of communication ? I try to perform DFU with and without antenna, there is no differences.
Even if the SoC and the soft-device we use is Bluetooth 5 qualified, does it use it ? Or does it use Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1 ? Is it the same version for the Bluetooth DFU ?
Why DFU mesh in not add to the latest release of nrfutil ? Why it seems to be an abandoned tool ?
How to hard reset the BL654 USB Adapter ? I try to program only the original bootloader that I get from nRF at the end of the quick start but I have some key issue.
( https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/short-range-guides/b/getting-started/posts/nrf52840-dongle-programming-tutorial )
Thank you in advance,
Vincent.