UART Program not working with custom board

[DD_]

Hello,

   I designed custom board using nRF52832. BLE Blinky code is working after uploading. I can able to see my ble with NORDIC BLINKY app and I can control LED. But while uploading UART code I didn't see BLE in UART APP of nordic. Please help me regarding. Thanks.

[Jared]

Hi, 

After further evaluation, I've decided re-open this ticket and close all other tickets that you have created on this issue. Keep any information regarding this issue to this ticket.

Regarding your issue. 

I would assume that the HW is correct, if other BLE examples work such as the BLE Blinky and you can see that it advertises. Is the ble_app_uart example completely unmodified? Did you change the board file?

Which UART app are you using? nRF UART or the UART console in the nRF Toolbox? 

regards

Jared 

[DD_]

Hi,
 I didn't change any board file. The custom board we recently designed work well with BLE Blinky. Only BLE UART is not working. I tried using nRF UART and nRF Toolbox app. In both BLE is not showing.

[Jared]

Hi,

And the example is completely unmodified? Could you use a debugger and see if the application asserts during run time? Could you also see if you see the issue appears on other samples? 

regards

Jared 

[DD_]

Hi,
While debugging I got breakpoint error. I am sharing that please see. Kindly have a look and respond asap. Thanks. 

[Jared]

Hi,

So you're getting an assert in the UART event handler, which would explain why don't see the board advertising. Are you sending any data? Could you try setting a breakpoint in the handler and see exactly what function call that causes it to assert? 

My guess is that it asserts here:

Could you verify it by setting a breakpoint there and see what the error code is. 

DD_ said:

I didn't change any board file.

 You have to change the board file to a custom board file so that pins are mapped correctly. 

regards

Jared 

[DD_]

Hi,
 I don't know why breakpoint is coming. I didn't send any data. I am only trying to advertise Bluetooth with BLE UART code. I am using reference design from NRF52 series. Then I need to change custom board file. I am attaching schematic too. Please help us regarding. Thanks.

[Jared]

Hi,

DD_ said:

 I don't know why breakpoint is coming

 What does this mean? Does the program stop at the breakpoint I suggested in my previous reply?

The unmodified example uses pins 5-8 for the UART. These pins are not connected to anything in your custom board. You would therefore have to change the board file so that they are mapped appropriately. Or change the pins in the application. 

Also, your schematic is mostly ok. Only concern is that you're using the pins on the upper side for I2C. The pins on the upper and right side of the IC is marked as low frequency/low drive, using these pins for serial communication might cause interference with the radio signal. However, I don't think your current problem is related to this. 

regards

Jared 

[DD_]

Dear Jared,

  After debug I got following error. I am attaching image. Please check. kindly help us regarding.Error in 561.

[Jared]

Hi.

Seems like the issue is still somewhere in the uart_event_handle(). Try setting breakpoints in the various cases in the switch case and see where the application stops.

Did you make a board file? The easiest is just to copy the PCA10040 board file and then adjust it to your board. 

Note: Debugging Softdevice applications requires that you restart the application each time the application starts. The application will assert otherwise i.e if you try to resume the application after it has stopped at a breakpoint. This makes it not possible to step through code step-by-step in  a SD application. See this and this thread for more info.

regards

Jared  

[DD_]

Hi,

  I entered DEBUG in preprocessor definition. After that I got error in one line. Then, I commented that lines where it shown error. After commenting that line Bluetooth is advertised in Nordic toolbox app. I am attaching that lines. Please check that. Is this a temporary solution or permanent one.
And in my laptop I can able to transmit and receive data. If am using other laptop after commenting that too line also I can't send datas. May I know why it was happening?

break;

//case APP_UART_COMMUNICATION_ERROR:
// APP_ERROR_HANDLER(p_event->data.error_communication);
break;

case APP_UART_FIFO_ERROR:
APP_ERROR_HANDLER(p_event->data.error_code);
break;

default:
break;
}

[Jared]

Most definitely not a permanent solution. If it works when you comment out that line then it means that you're getting an APP_UART_COMMUNICATION_ERROR. Try setting a breakpoint at  APP_ERROR_HANDLER(p_event->data.error_communication) and check the event structure p_event->data.error_communication, it should specify the error source.