Thingy91 debug probe and Blinky

[lcogarcia]

Hello, I'm using Nordic Thingy91 for a college project, but I'm having some trouble figuring something out... I've managed to install every required extension on Visual Studio with Nrf Connect, but I can't exactly find good tutorials on how to program directly on the board, nor do I find easy ways to flash Nordic Thingy 91.

According to one of the tutorials (https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/working_with_nrf/nrf91/thingy91.html) one of the best ways to program is via a debug probe. I've never used one, though I have a decent enough idea of what they are. My biggest issue however, which I can't solve despite spending a few hours looking into it, is: does the Thingy91 have any external debug probe preference, or will any debug probe work? And if any debug probe works, is there some sort of setup I need to do with it before I can use it with the Thingy91?

This problem arises specially because I can't make the Blinky code work on the Thingy91, despite following several steps and recommendations from various sources on how to possibly fix.

I can flash the board properly via USB, using the app_signed.hex file, there are no errors accused in nrf connect, but when I turn on the board, nothing happens, it doesn't blink. This sort of problem seems to appear frequently in this support forum, so I figured some of these threads would have the answer I seek, but then I notice that the most popular ones are either 1+ years old or the solutions provided in them are very specific to the person asking the question.

I appreciate any help.

[Torje]

Hey,

You can program the Thingy:91 via the Programmer-app in nRF Connect for Desktop. After building your program in VS Code, you can find the files you need in the build folder it generates. The Thingy:91 needs to be in application serial recovery mode, so hold the button (SW3) while turning it on and connect it via USB. When this is done, find the "app_signed.hex" file in the build directory and drag it to the Programmer-window. It should be smooth sailing from here. Following these steps should help you get the apps working.

I recommend using the "LTE Link Monitor" to read outputs from the Thingy.

I hope this is helpful, and that is answers your questions. Good luck!

Kind regards,
Torje

[Kazi Afroza Sultana]

Hello Luis,

After building the application on Thingy:91 by VSCode you need to follow the following steps:

• Navigate to build f and obtain file app_signed.hex
• Connect Thingy91 to computer using USB cable, holding the SW3 button during power on the device so you can reach into MCU boot mode p
• nrf connect -> Programmer -> Open
• Select Device Nordic Thingy91, click enable MCU boot.
• Drag file app_signed.hex into right pane or browse it from the build folder
• In programmer, Click Write and Write
• Uploading complete successfully
• Disconnect USB cable
• Power down and back up again
• LED flashes

Torje Johansen also talked about the same process in his comment.

[lcogarcia]

Hello, I've followed all of the steps that you have indicated; however, it still won't work. The only thing I haven't yet done is use the LTE Link Monitor to read outputs, but assuming that the LED doesn't blink red as it's supposed to, I'm not sure there's an output at all.

Whenever I load it with the "asset_tracker_v2", it works properly and it even gives me the device's location (albeit with a pretty rough accuracy), even the LED flashes properly with green flickering lights, changing to purple and so on and so on.

I just build the program on "thingy91_nrf9160_ns", using nrf Connect 2.3.0 SDK. My Nordic Thingy91 hardware version is 1.6.0.

I'm not sure if this would affect anything, but I flashed the nrf52840 with the "thingy91_nrf52_connectivity_bridge_2023-03-02_8f26142b.hex" file, since I think that's how you update it.

I've read online that one of the possible fixes would be to properly update nrf52840 properly and THEN the nrf9160 SiP in that specific order for it to start working? Maybe I did something wrong while updating? Please give me a hand.

[Torje]

So you can flash it with Asset Tracker, and it works fine. But when you flash it with Blinky, its just dead? And if you flash it with Asset Tracker again, it works fine? This is weird, but it tells us that "everything works", except the blinky app.

Connectivity bridge for the nrf52 is correct. Building for thingy91_nrf9160_ns is correct. Your approach to flashing it is correct, as it works with Asset Tracker. So there must be something specific with the Blinky app.
1. Are you sure its building properly? No errors in the logs? If there are any, can you share them?
2. Have you done any changes at all to the blinky app? Did you try to do a pristine build? Or maybe deleting the app entirely and trying again from scratch?
3. Have you tried other samples? Try building and flashing something else, just to see if it works.

Perhaps Nordic employees will have some additional info here, but while you're waiting you can try these points.

[lcogarcia]

When I do a pristine build, this is what shows up on the Visual Studio Terminal: