trouble with nrf9160 modem firmware in a virgin chip 9160

[babos]

hello,
I made a custom board that mounts a virgin nrf9160; its programming takes place via a tag connected to the segger programmer. I tried copying a whole chip with JFlash from a motato 9160 to a thingy91 and then flashing to the new one. It seems to take the application well but not the modem firmware. I did not understand if the entire erased and reprogrammed chip is dedicated only to applications and the modem is programmed separately. If so; how can I with the segger to inject only the modem firmware? Thank you

Silvio

[Elfving]

Hello Silvio,

I will have to get back to you on this.

Regards,

Elfving

[babos]

Hello Elfving,

I will wait for some news thanks.
I don't understand if the chip already comes with the modem firmware and in any case, if I have the MODEM firmware file (eg. Xxx_1.3.2.zip) how can I inject it through the jlink SEGGER programmer? I tried to open it but there are more files ... I have no idea of the sequence and how to use it. My custom card is similar to thingy91 in serial port configuration so I should go from 52840 ... (???)
a thousand thanks

[babos]

*** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.0.99-ncs1  ***
Flash regions           Domain          Permissions
00 02 0x00000 0x18000   Secure          rwxl
03 31 0x18000 0x100000  Non-Secure      rwxl

Non-secure callable region 0 placed in flash region 2 with size 32.

SRAM region             Domain          Permissions
00 03 0x00000 0x08000   Secure          rwxl
04 31 0x08000 0x40000   Non-Secure      rwxl

Peripheral              Domain          Status
00 NRF_P0               Non-Secure      OK
01 NRF_CLOCK            Non-Secure      OK
02 NRF_RTC0             Non-Secure      OK
03 NRF_RTC1             Non-Secure      OK
04 NRF_NVMC             Non-Secure      OK
05 NRF_UARTE1           Non-Secure      OK
06 NRF_UARTE2           Secure          SKIP
07 NRF_TWIM2            Non-Secure      OK
08 NRF_SPIM3            Non-Secure      OK
09 NRF_TIMER0           Non-Secure      OK
10 NRF_TIMER1           Non-Secure      OK
11 NRF_TIMER2           Non-Secure      OK
12 NRF_SAADC            Non-Secure      OK
13 NRF_PWM0             Non-Secure      OK
14 NRF_PWM1             Non-Secure      OK
15 NRF_PWM2             Non-Secure      OK
16 NRF_PWM3             Non-Secure      OK
17 NRF_WDT              Non-Secure      OK
18 NRF_IPC              Non-Secure      OK
19 NRF_VMC              Non-Secure      OK
20 NRF_FPU              Non-Secure      OK
21 NRF_EGU0             Non-Secure      OK
22 NRF_EGU1             Non-Secure      OK
23 NRF_EGU2             Non-Secure      OK
24 NRF_EGU3             Non-Secure      OK
25 NRF_EGU4             Non-Secure      OK
26 NRF_EGU5             Non-Secure      OK
27 NRF_DPPIC            Non-Secure      OK
28 NRF_REGULATORS       Non-Secure      OK
29 NRF_PDM              Non-Secure      OK
30 NRF_I2S              Non-Secure      OK
31 NRF_GPIOTE1          Non-Secure      OK

SPM: NS image at 0x18200
SPM: NS MSP at 0x20022cb0
SPM: NS reset vector at 0x2dc95
SPM: prepare to jump to Non-Secure image.


BT300:~$ *** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.0.99-ncs1  ***

Version 1.2.7 UNIFIED TH 290822 1821 - BT300

BT300 version:       1.2.7 UNIFIED TH 290822 1821
BT300 build id:      custom
BT300 build variant: beta
Modem fw:            mfw-pti_nrf9160_1.1.2


thread_service: initialized successfully
leds: initialized successfully
PWM-based LED fade

main thread : intialized successfully
Fall thread : intialized successfully
AT+CNEC=16 failed, err 65536

Release 14 features disable AT-command error, type 1 err 0
AT+CNEC=16 failed, err 65536

BT300:~$ 


GNSS: Failed to start GNSS
start: starting GNSS failed, err -1

Main thread has started !
[00:00:01.568,481] <err> lte_lc: Failed to subscribe to CEREG notifications, error: 65536
[00:00:01.568,511] <err> lte_lc: Failed to enable notifications
[00:00:01.628,021] <err> lte_lc: Failed to subscribe to CEREG notifications, error: 65536
[00:00:01.628,021] <err> lte_lc: Failed to enable notifications, error: -14
[00:00:01.662,780] <err> nrf_modem: Modem error: 0xfff, PC: 0x0
Failed to send AT command, err -1
[STA]: A500000000000004
[STA]: A500000000000007
[STA]: A50000000000000B
[STA]: A50000000000000F
[STA]: A500000000000013
Failed to send AT command, err -1
[STA]: A500000000000017
[STA]: A50000000000001A
[STA]: A50000000000001E
[STA]: A500000000000022
[STA]: A500000000000026
Failed to send AT command, err -1
[STA]: A50000000000002A
[STA]: A50000000000002D
[STA]: A500000000000031
[STA]: A500000000000035
[STA]: A500000000000039
Failed to send AT command, err -1
[STA]: A50000000000003D
[STA]: A500000000000040
[STA]: A500000000000044
[STA]: A500000000000048
[STA]: A50000000000004C
Failed to send AT command, err -1
[STA]: A500000000000050
[STA]: A500000000000053

for completeness I have read some material around and I have learned that the firmware is inserted in the nrf9160 from the factory. So I just have to update it (now at revision 1.3.2.).
I am sending you a piece of log to try to understand the errors I get from the modem I think. The application is the modem_shell for thingy91 modified for my uses, and obviously the connectivity_bridge on the 52840 side with BLE activated permanently.
Everything works but I am not communicating with the modem. Could it be the firmware version that is old?

I hope not to waste a lot of time

Thank you

BABOS

[Elfving]

Hello, sorry about the wait.

babos said:

I don't understand if the chip already comes with the modem firmware and in any case

babos said:

I have read some material around and I have learned that the firmware is inserted in the nrf9160 from the factory.

It doesn't really. It just comes with a basic test FW from the factory, and you would have to update it yourself. You can do this using the nRF Connect Programmer on nRF Connect for Desktop for instance. This video explains how its done, and the different files in the MFW zip file. 

Did you allready manage to update the modem FW?

What is the version of the nRF9160 you're using? 

Regards,

Elfving

[babos]

hello,
i managed to insert modem firmware 1.3.2, via nrf connect with jlink programmer, following your suggestion.
Now I can make it communicate via AT commands. Now it doesn't seem to see the SIM Card; i need to check the hardware and i will let you know.
Meanwhile, I thank you for your advice

Babos

[Elfving]

No problem at all,

Let me know how it works out.

Regards,

Elfving