Getting started with Thingy91

[JohnStaveley]

I am trying to flash an LED on and off on the Thingy91 I have been provided using the Blinky program.

I have managed to update the firnware and model as described in the getting started guide and updated to asset tracker v2.

I have installed the nRF connect desktop and through this the programmer and toolchain manager. Through this I open Segger studio and open an nRF connect project SDK release 1.8.0 Projects: blinky, boardname thingy_nrf9160. I build and there are no errors, this produces the file merged.hex and I use the programmer to update the Thingy91 in MCUboot mode. The hex file merged.hex deploys ok. I can tell it has deployed because the function of asset tracker v2 is replaced, and nothing happens. No LEDs blinking. There are no compiler warnings telling me that I have no onboard LED. There are other hex files produced at the same time: zephyr.hex, mcuboot_primary.hex and mcuboot_primary_app.hex.

I have also tried enabling the build for mcu boot as described here youtu.be/1jgImp7FBy8 and updating the app_signed.hex This doesn't work either.

Can you advise what I am doing wrong or preferably point me in the direction of a really basic getting started guide that deals with programming and not setting up hardware.

There is clearly a bit of the getting started process I am missing.

Thanks

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

You should build with boardname thingy91_nrf9160_ns and update with app_signed.hex. After programming, power off/on the thingy91, it should blink with red. 

Regards,
Amanda

[JohnStaveley]

Where is the getting started guide for programming this device?

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi,

To get started, please follow the Nordic Thingy:91 Getting started guide.

To develop applications for the Thingy:91, you will use the nRF Connect SDK, which contains a variety of compatible libraries and samples. We also have a dedicated guide for development on Thingy:91, see Working with Thingy:91.

For more information on the Thingy:91 hardware development platform, see the Thingy:91 Hardware Description. If you have further questions, check out the Thingy:91 FAQ on DevZone.

-Amanda

[JohnStaveley]

I've done all of that. Let me  give you a for instance. In this link:

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_thingy91/UG/thingy91/hw_description/pin_maps.html

it refers to various pins, however, if you open the sample blinky, it refers to led0

where is the mapping between these two? They clearly refer to the same board but the documentation does not allow you to get started programming this device as there is no intellisense in code to give you a clue what led0 might refer to.

Why is it so hard to get started with this board?

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

See this https://github.com/nrfconnect/sdk-nrf/blob/main/boards/arm/thingy91_nrf9160/thingy91_nrf9160_common.dts#L26 

led0 is mapped to red_led which is P0.29. 

-Amanda

[JohnStaveley]

In case this helps someone, this is the list of steps I went to to finally get an LED blinking:

• Open nRF connect -> Toolchain manager -> nrF Connect SDK 1.8.0 -> Open Segger embedded studio
• In Segger studio -> File -> Open nRF Connect project ->
  • nrF connect 1.8.0
  • Project: Blinky
  • Board name: thingy91_nrf9160_ns
• Project -> Configure  nrf connect project -> menuconfig -> Filter by mcuboot. Ensure MCUboot bootloader support is checked
• Build -> Solution
• Navigate to Ncs\v1.8.0\zephyr\samples\basic\blinky\build_thingy91_nrf9160_ns\zephyr and obtain file app_signed.hex
• Connect Thingy91 to computer using USB cable, power off and holding down button power on
• nrf connect -> Programmer -> Open
• Select Device Nordic Thingy91, click enable MCU boot.
• Drag file app_signed.hex into right pane
• In programmer, Click Write and Write
• Uploading complete successfully
• Disconnect USB cable
• Power down and back up again
• LED flashes

[Amanda Hsieh]

Thanks for the nice summary and sharing. Have a nice weekend.

-Amanda