ADVERTISING STOP IN DEBUG MODE

[Brandon_sbz]

Hi all,

I have a problem when I try to debug nRF52832 target. The nRF52832 chip is advertising properly but as soon as I enter in debug mode, advertising stops. There is no reset triggered and I don't use any breakpoints while debugging, just logging some data.

This issue only occurs on my new custom board, on 2 other custom board I don't have this problem...

Does anyone have any idea what is causing this problem?

Thanks in advance! 

[Simonr]

Hi

Since it works as intended on some custom boards but not the others, what are the physical differences between the two? Does it for example run on a different voltage than the others, and what device do you use for debugging? If you'd like we can do a review of your design if you upload schematics and PCB layout of the device. If you don't want to share it with the entire forum, let me know and I'll set the case to private mode. This will let only yourself and Nordic employees have access to your case and its contents.

Best regards,

Simon

[Brandon_sbz]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your reply!

I have more information about my problem, I can see advertisement packets with the sniffer in debug mode but the packets are malformed and CRC is incorrect...

On the new custom board I added an RF connector (ref: MM8030-2610) on the transmission line just before the matching network components. This is the only change I made.

Best regards,

Brandon

[Brandon_sbz]

For debugging, I use a nRF52 DK (PCA10040)

[Simonr]

Hi

Then this RF connector must be causing some interference on the board I think. As there aren't any error messages from the device when advertising and there is no reset triggering, I think it is operating as it should, but you don't see any BLE activity because this RF connector is messing up the radio signals somehow. Can you show me a (high-res) picture of the board with this RF connector? There might be that it requires additional tuning to work optimally.

Best regards,

Simon