Updating the nRF51822 Beacon SoftDevice with a Distribution zip

[GlennEngel]

I need to use the 8.0.0 version of S110 with my beacon which contains 7.1.

Since the Android DFU utility supports updating the Bootloader and softdevice with a zip distribution file I'm wondering if there is one available for this purpose. Lacking one that is already pre-packaged, can someone provide detailed instructions on how to create one for this purpose?

[Stefan Birnir Sverrisson]

Hi

I do not think there is such a zip file available, even though it would be convenient. The instructions for making such a zip file is available here

Update 27.10.2015 I have verified that using a zip file with an softdevice update does not work for the Beacon kit. The reason is that the Beacon kit ships with an unintentional softdevice protection, making it impossible to load a new softdevice with another size. S110 8 has a different size than S110 7, which resides on the Beacon kit up to v1.3.0, see the table in the answer in this thread. I am sorry for this inconvenience and for indicating before that this was possible.

The conclusion is that it is only possible to upload a softdevice S110 8 to the beacon kit with a programmer, see how to connect a programmer to the beacon board on this thread. It is however possible to upload a S110 7.3.0 to the beacon kit over the air as it has the same size as the S110 7.1.0 that resides on the Beacon kit.

How to program the nRF51 on the beacon kit or any other third revision nRF51 so it can be uploaded with a new softdevice via bootloader is described on this thread. Note step 4: Deselecting "softdevice protection".

Update 28.10.2015 How to create a distribution zip file with softdevice and bootloader is described on this thread

[GlennEngel]

Thanks for the update and clear explanation. See also this post for instructions for loading a new softdevice and dfu via nRFGo Studio.