ISP with nRF6700 and radio module with nrf24le1

[BDSL]

Hi there,

I have successfully programmed the nrf24le1 on the radio module  using the nrf6700 (motherboard) through nrfgo studio. I did so by plugging the radio module into MOD A and MOD B pins on the motherboard. Now, I am trying to use the ISP port on the motherboard to program the radio module. The reason that I am doing this is because I am waiting for my application boards with an nrf24le1 to ship to me so I am practicing using the ISP with the radio module as my "application board". I have setup a circuit that accesses VCC_nrf, MOSI, MISO, RESET, PROG, CSN, SCK, GND on the radio module and connected the pins to the ISP port on  the motherboard.

I have also connected VCC pin on the radio module and plugged it into a power supply (VEXT pin on the motherboard) to power the radio module. When I try to program the radio module via nrfgo studio, it says that there is no chip detected for ISP programming. Should I not be using nrfgo studio? I have selected the ISP programming option in nrfgo studio, but there is not an option for the nrf24le1 when I plug in the radio module. should I be using Keil  instead? Am I powering the board wrong? Any help is appreciated.

Thank you for reading this post.

[Håkon Alseth]

Hello,

 

I did so by plugging the radio module into MOD A and MOD B pins on the motherboard. Now, I am trying to use the ISP port on the motherboard to program the radio module.

Which radio module are you targetting using the ISP port? If its a module that normally fits on MOD A/B or P1/P2 connectors, then its not possible to use the ISP to program them. Then you should use the detected board setup in nRFgo Studio to do so.

 

I have setup a circuit that accesses VCC_nrf, MOSI, MISO, RESET, PROG, CSN, SCK, GND on the radio module and connected the pins to the ISP port on  the motherboard.

 If you manually route all these to the external module; it should be OK, but it highly depends on the module as well (if everything is routed directly or through other logic). Which module specifically are you using?

 

Should I not be using nrfgo studio? I have selected the ISP programming option in nrfgo studio, but there is not an option for the nrf24le1 when I plug in the radio module. should I be using Keil  instead? Am I powering the board wrong? Any help is appreciated.

Both Keil C51 and nRFgo Studio can be used to program a module or external board (over ISP), if you choose the correct programming port.

Do you have a picture of your setup?

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[BDSL]

Hi Hakon, 

Thank you for the response.

I have manually routed from Pin 1 on the nrf2627 (radio module) using the schematic above. Here is the actual setup:

1. Here is the manual routing using a pin adapter to Pin 1: 

2. So the radio module fits on like so. Accessing VCC_nrf, GND, MOSI, MISO, CSN, SCK, PROG, and RESET (the 5x2 pin to the left is what they are routed to. Please ignore the other 4x2 pin): 

3. Here is how it is connected to the ISP port of the motherboard:

There is also no indication of what orientation the ISP Port is in. Do you have any way to know? I have tried connecting the pins in either orientation it could be in but neither have worked. This is the only reference I have:

When I load nRFGo Studio, the motherboard is recognized and there is only an option for ISP programming, shown here:

When I select "Program", this is the error I recieve:

Any thoughts on why this may be happening is much appreciated.

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

I would recommend that you ohm from the ISP header on the motherboard to the corresponding pins directly on the nRF24LE1 device to see if they're connected correctly towards the flash-SPI pins on your corresponding package (QFN24/32/48).

 

Have you powered the external device? "RF_VDD" does not provide power, its used as a input to the level shifters on the motherboard.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[BDSL]

HI Hakon,

I have ohm the ISP header to the SPI pins. I am powering the external board as well using the VEXT pins on the general I/O pins on the motherboard. Is that okay? For some reason I am still not getting a signal.

Kindly,

Emma

[BDSL]

Hi Hakon,

I saw this thread: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/9392/target-programming-chip-detection-problem . How do I set a pic externally high before its been programmed?

Thank you