Flash Thingy firmware using NrfGo

[Xaerdna]

I am trying to flash custom firmware to Thingy using nrf52dk and nrfgostudio.

I have attached a cable from the debug out port on the DK to Thingy, and followed the steps here: nordicsemiconductor.github.io/.../dfu_cable.html

However, in NrfGo under 'Device Manager->nRF52 development boards' I can only get access to the DK. If I run erase all or program anything, I only program the DK.

Idk if the example shown in the documentation is using this setup or a j-link adapter. But shouldn't I be able to see both units? How do I know if Thingy is discovered by nrfgo? And does anyone have a clue on how to get this working?

[Bjørn Kvaale]

The link you mention is only valid for the Nordic Thingy FW. To flash custom FW, you will need to use secure dfu. This secure dfu blog post could also be helpful.

An easy way to tell whether you are programming the nrf52dk or the Nordic Thingy is by first only having the nrf52dk connected via USB, open nrfgostudio, find the segger chip under device manager -> nrf52 development boards & then pressing the erase all button. Then, you can connect the SWD cable to the P19 port on the nrf52dk & connect the other side to the Nordic Thingy. Turn on the Thingy & press another tab under device manager in nrfgostudio (e.g. Motherboards). Then, go back to the Segger tab under nrf52 development boards & the image in the middle that shows the different regions should have updated.

If you have the regular Nordic Thingy FW on the Thingy, you should get three different regions (softdevice, application & bootloader). If you have erased your Thingy:52 previously, as far as I know you will not notice a difference in nrfgostudio. However, if the external Thingy:52 device is on & the SWD cable is connected, the interface MCU on the nrf52dk will detect the external board and program that instead of the dk. If you then program the latest precompiled Thingy hex file via the Program Application tab in nrfgostudio, you will notice that that nrfgostudio will update to show three different regions. Hope that helps!

[Xaerdna]

Hi bjørn, thank you for your reply.

I did follow the guide for using secure dfu. I've got everything ready, but I am not able to flash the bootloader to Thingy. In the guide and the blog post it just says "Flash the compiled bootloader onto Thingy.". My guess was that I could do this by following the guide I linked to (but of course choose "program bootloader" instead of "program application"). Is this assumption correct? If so, I am still not able to detect Thingy in nrfgo.

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Hi Xaerdna, your assumption is correct. You will need to program the bootloader via the program bootloader button in nrfgostudio. You are using an SWD cable to connect the nrf52dk to the Thingy:52, right? Have you remembered to turn the Thingy on while programming the bootloader? Can you first try flashing the precompiled hex file I linked to in my answer & see if the Thingy starts emitting a blue light?

[Xaerdna]

Turns out it was just a matter of replacing a faulty cable. All works fine now :)

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Great! Good to hear that you got it working. It makes sense that it didn't work then, because the process of flashing the Thingy:52 using nrfgostudio and an nrf52dk is quite easy & essentially works out of the box.