• State Verified Answer
  • Replies 9 replies
  • Subscribers 62 subscribers
  • Views 5564 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Attachments (0)
Nordic Case Info
  • Case ID: 100112
Options
This post is older than 2 years and might not be relevant anymore
More Info: Consider searching for newer posts

Can I use my nRF51822 EK (PC10001) to debug a custom PCB board?

Wobs

It's possible with some vendors to have an "out" mode and use the devkit as a debugger for custom PCB designs. Is it possible with the EK?

  • 0

    I have the ANT+ version. On version 1.0 that I have there is a pin header with SWCLK and SWIO. The VCC sense and ground aren't broken out but shouldn't really be needed. On version 2.0 there isn't really a header or an easy breakout that I see. Check your schematic for the nRF51822 for the version you have.

    I bought the DK just to get the programmer for custom boards. There is potentially another alternative that I'm exploring. The Freescale Freedom has an onboard programmer easily broken out and can be setup to be a CMSIS-DAP programmer / debugger. It's a 15 dollar board + 1 dollar header. I think you have to cut a couple of lines on the board though. Cheap alternative. See link.

  • 0

    I think those boards that are capable of doing that are vendor locked. I guess I can either hack the little USB dongle or buy myself a J-Link probe, but that sounds a bit unnecessary having 2 J-Link compatible chipsets in the EK.

  • 0

    They are vendor locked with the original firmware on the debug chip. If you hack the board it can debug other boards with other firmware. See this attached link on how to hack the board. Again, haven't gotten around to testing but with other debug firmwares, including the CMSIS-DAP one you should be able to debug a custom board.

    The quick and easy option is to order the DK ($100) without any of the nRFgo stuff($400). You don't "really" need it. The nRFgo board is little more than a power supply. I've shoved wires in the ports at the bottom to power the DK boards to use them. The OEM programmer has proved sufficient to program my own board.

    I still plan on trying out the Freedom board though.

  • 0 in reply to Keith Wakeham

    I went for the DK, didn't know it was 100bucks, I had a more expensive option in mind, thats probably the 400USD nRFgo stuff. The DK price and the package is a great deal.

  • 0 in reply to Keith Wakeham

    I went for the DK, didn't know it was 100bucks, I had a more expensive option in mind, thats probably the 400USD nRFgo stuff. The DK price and the package is a great deal.

Related

core_v2_widget.Hide()