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]

Hi,

This is a signal controlled by the programmer.

The nRFgo Motherboard sets the PROG pin high when required.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi Emma,

  

BDSL said:

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.

Verify that the connection to MISO on the header -> the module is connected properly according to the flash SPI in the PS (chapter 6.3.5):

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/pdf/nRF24LE1_PS_v1.6.pdf?cp=12_0_0_0

 

So when you have everything connected, ohm from the motherboard to the nRF24LE1 chip (not module!) to ensure its properly routed.

Also verify that the module is powered up by measuring the voltage the VDD_NRF on the module.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[BDSL]

Hi Hakon,

Thank you so much for the advice! I am measuring between the VDD pin and the VSS pin of the nrf24le1 on the radio module and noticed that there is only 33mV of power (not enough to power the microcontroller)! I have tried connecting the VCC pin of the radio module (P1 of the 20x2 header for the radio module) to a battery (3.2V) but it is still not getting any power. I have also tried connecting to a VEXT pin on a different I/O header of the motherboard but that does not work (they are only supplying 33mV of power). I have the ISP header of the motherboard connected to the VCC_NRF pin of the radio module 20x2 header which is only for level shifters. Do you know why it isn't getting power? Or how I can give it power?

Thanks,

Emma

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi Emma,

 

Is the current consumption jumper (P7, just above the  MOD A and MOD B connectors) open? That one should be connected (shorted) to provide VTG.

 

Since you do not have a module plugged in right now, the VTG net isn't powered. However, if you have another module; plug that into the motherboard to power the external GPIO headers.

Alternative is to connect pin 1 and pin 2 together on EXT A (marked as "P5" on the motherboard), which will connect vcc to vtg'.

 

Here's the schematic of the motherboard in case you want to look deeper.

nRF6310_Rev1_4_schem.pdf

 

Kind regards,

Håkon