Using 8.0.0 S110 SoftDevice with compiled bootloader and PCA20006 Beacon

[GlennEngel]

I'm trying to update my beacon to use 8.0.0 SoftDevice 110. I've downloaded the 8.0.0 precompiled softdevice hex and loaded the Keil dfu_dual_bank_ble_s110_pca10028 project and changed the C++ options to specify BOARD_PCA20006.

Using nRFGo I can load the 8.0.0 SoftDevice and the bootloader but it does not go into DFU mode. If I do the same thing with the precompiled 7.x hex files for the beacon project it does go into DFU mode.

If I load the 8.0.0 softdevice and just the blinky app (compiled to start at 0x18000), it works fine. However if I add in the bootloader then the blinky app does not run and it does not enter DFU mode either.

I expected that just loading the softdevice and the bootloader that it should enter DFU update mode. Is there something additional needed to get the bootloader to work with 8.0.0 S110?

[GlennEngel]

Thanks for the tips provided here and elsewhere I was able to program my beacon with the 8.x softdevice, dfu, and an app via ble. Here is the relevant details:

Building Bootloader for Beacon

• Use the dfu_dual_bank_ble_s110_pca10028 project from the pack installer
• Note that Beacon has 0x4000 RAM
• Set BOARD_PCA20006 in C++ options
• Set IROM1=0x3c00 3c00
• Set IRAM1=0x20002000 0x1f80
• Set IRAM2=0x20003f80 0x80 NoInit
• Set BOOTLOADER_BUTTON BSP_BUTTON_0 in main.c
• Set PSTORAGE_NUM_OF_PAGES 2 in pstorage_platform.h

Using nRFGo Studio, erase the device, flash the 8.x softdevice followed by the dfu .hex. Uncheck the protect option for softdevice if you want to load it later via the dfu. The beacon should reset to dfu mode and show up in the DFU mobile utility advertising itself.

Building the blinky app for Beacon

• Set IRAM1=0x20002000 0x2000
• Set IROM1=0x1800 0x0800
• Set BOARD_PCA20006 in C++ options

Convert blinky app to zip for use in mobile app

• nrfutil dfu genpkg --application blinky/pca10031/s110/arm5/_build/nrf51422_xxac.hex c:/temp/blinky.zip
• Transfer the .zip to your mobile device and use the DFU mobile app to load it into the beacon.