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Programming NRF51822 Beacon Kit via DFU & OTA

rvaessen

Hello,

I have been reading a lot of Nordic and DevZone stuff. The information I need appears to (almost) be there but I cannot quite put it all together. I need some help.

Where I am:

I have used CrossWorks to build and run the nRF51_SDK_8.0.0_5fc2c3a/examples/ ble_peripheral/ble_app_beacon application on an nRF51 Dongle (PCA10031). I have an iOS 8 iPhone app running that is receiving advertising packets from the ble_app_beacon app. (Note: I had to modify ble_app_beacon to use Apple's manufacturer code)

Where I want to be:

I want to install the same ble_app_beacon application onto an NRF51 Beacon Kit (PCA20006). I intend to use DFU/OTA initially (copy a hex file to my iPhone and use nRFToolbox to update the beacon). I might switch to wiring the beacon to the dongle.

Where I am stuck:

  1. Can I use the ble_app_beacon app from SDK 8 or must I switch to an earlier SDK? [Note: I cannot read the PacketVariant code (ex. QFACA1) from the Beacon Kit's MCU. I purchased it in June of 2015.]

  2. Will I have to modify the ble_app_beacon app (the bsp perhaps) in order to accommodate the Beacon Kit's hardware - such as where LEDs, switches, etc are mapped? It is not clear to me what assumptions the SDK examples make about the hardware, what is standard on boards, etc)

Caveats:

  1. I am new. [This too shall pass :-)]
  2. I am developing on a Macintosh and do not have any of the Windows only tools available

Thank you in advance for reading and responding.

Cheers, Robert

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  • 0

    Hi

    Thank you for your questions

    1. According to the Beacon firmware download page, the firmware that resides on the beacon kit is most likely S110 7.1.0, bootloader from SDK 7.1.0, and the beacon application. You will have to use ble_app_beacon app from SDK 7.2.0, or any other SDK that is compatible with softdevice S110 7.1.0. Check the nRF51 compatibility matrix to see what SDKs are compatible with S110 7.1.0.

    2. In order for the LEDs to work on the Beacon hardware, you would only need to define a PCA20006 preprocessor symbol. You can see how that is modified in Keil on this thread. Hopefully you can find where to modify this in Crossworks.

    Bootloader for SDK 7.1.0 requires init file to be uploaded with a new application. You would need to generate an init file for your application as described in the guide provided on this thread from 2.1.2015. Then you can upload the new application with the nRFToolbox DFU app available on App Store. Follow the instructions given there when you press the questionmark.

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  • 0

    Hi

    Thank you for your questions

    1. According to the Beacon firmware download page, the firmware that resides on the beacon kit is most likely S110 7.1.0, bootloader from SDK 7.1.0, and the beacon application. You will have to use ble_app_beacon app from SDK 7.2.0, or any other SDK that is compatible with softdevice S110 7.1.0. Check the nRF51 compatibility matrix to see what SDKs are compatible with S110 7.1.0.

    2. In order for the LEDs to work on the Beacon hardware, you would only need to define a PCA20006 preprocessor symbol. You can see how that is modified in Keil on this thread. Hopefully you can find where to modify this in Crossworks.

    Bootloader for SDK 7.1.0 requires init file to be uploaded with a new application. You would need to generate an init file for your application as described in the guide provided on this thread from 2.1.2015. Then you can upload the new application with the nRFToolbox DFU app available on App Store. Follow the instructions given there when you press the questionmark.

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