Bluetooth Project: How to program your firmware to module

After setup been done, here comes the next question: How to program the firmware in to the module. We are using some simple instruction in below for reader's quick reference.

Hardware

You will need a Nordic nRF5X DK or a Segger J-link as programmer to load the firmware. To use Nordic nRF5X DK to debug the SoC as well, you will need to order corresponding nRF5X DK to match the SoC number. For example, order nRF52840 DK to debug nRF52840 SoC or order nRF52 DK to debug nRF52832/52810 SoC. But if you are only using it as programmer, any version of nRF5X DK will work as we only use the J-link on this board.

Software

Please download Nordic nRFGo Studio or Nordic nRF Connect for Desktop for programming. Remember to install nRF5X Command Line Tools if the board was not detected by nRFGo Studio. Once they are all connected, you can then start programming. Please make sure to “erase all” every time before programming.


For more tutorials and demo of sample code, please visit Nordic’s DevZone and Infocenter where have ample resources to utilize. 

Programing 

Case A. SoftDevice + Application

1. If Softdevice and Application code separately
Erase all first. Then program Softdevice and follow by Application code.
   

2. If Softdevice and Application combined code is available (Recommend)

Erase all first. Then program the combined code

   

 **Raytac module comes with testing code programmed. Please erase the testing code as the first step and then start the programming.

Case B. SoftDevice + Bootloader+ Application

1. Softdevice+Bootloader 

Erase all first. Program the Softdevice and follow by Bootloader. Then use DFU to update the application code.

2. Softdevice+Application+Bootloader combined code is available (Recommend)

Erase all First and follow by programming the combined code.

 **Raytac module comes with testing code programmed. Please erase the testing code as the first step and then start the programming.

*Remark
Bootloader is needed for DFU (OTA) Function.
SDK 11 (included) and before - a legacy DFU method, which is simple but less security
SDK 12 (Included) and after - a latest DFU method, which has higher security.

To easy customer's IoT device mass production, Raytac provide code pre-program service into module before shipment.  There are requirements listed in below for customers who need the service!

1. A single, combined hex file is required. Please combine softdevice and application or/and bootloader (depending on your firmware design) together before programming. This will shorten programming time and help to manage your code easier.
2. Need a simple method to check programming status. The easiest way is to check the device name if device will broadcast device name after programming is done; or use I/O to trigger LED and its behavior. This does not aim to test any or full function of your device, only a simple method for the operator to know programming status.

Raytac Corporation 勁達國際電子有限公司

A BT5 & BT 4.2 & BTv4.1 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 & nRF52 solution 

(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF52810 & nRF52840)

www.raytac.com          email: cs@raytac.com          Tel: +886.2.3234.0208

Raytac Product Change Notice (PCN) Announcement for Nordic nRF52832 Solution

Dear Customers,

Correspond to Nordic new revision of the IC with key changes 
(According to Nordic Information Notice No.: IN-105, rev.1.0)

nRF52832 SoC Build Code changed: 

1. nRF52832-QFAA from B00 to E00

2. nRF52832-CIAA from B00/B10 to E00/E10

Raytac would like to announce Product Change Notice (PCN18033101) for below Module lines which are built based on Nordic nRF52832 Solution

Modules built by nRF52832 SoC Part no. Changed from

1.        From MDBT42Q-512K to MDBT42Q-512KV2

2.        From MDBT42Q-P512K to MDBT42Q-P512KV2

3.        From MDBT42-512K to MDBT42-512KV2

4.        From MDBT42-P512K to MDBT42-P512KV2

5.        From MDBT42V-512K to MDBT42V-512KV2

6.        From MDBT42V-P512K to MDBT42V-P512KV2

Customers those who have been developing products based on above modules please contact with service@raytac.com to request V2 samples for evaluation.

Reference Download Site

Nordic PCN and IN-105, rev.1.0

http://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/pdf/in_105_v1.0.pdf

Nordic Errata (nRF52832 Rev 2 Errata v1.1)

http://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/pdf/nRF52832_Rev_2_Errata_v1.1.pdf

Raytac Corporation 勁達國際電子有限公司

A BT4.1 & BT 4.2 & BT 5.0 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 & nRF52 solution 

(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF52810 & nRF52840)

www.raytac.com          email: cs@raytac.com          Tel: +886.2.3234.0208

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Raytac Laser

Nordic nRF52810 Module MDBT42Q-P192K by Raytac in Mass Production

With Nordic nRF52810 SoC volume production, Raytac announced nRF52810 module MDBT42Q-P192K and MDBT42Q-192K will be available by 2017/11

nRF52810 SoftDevice S112 Released

nRF52810 is an ultra-low power 2.4 GHz wireless system on chip (SoC) integrating the an ARM® Cortex®-M4 CPU with 24K RAM and 192K flash memory, supports BT5.0 (BLE),  , the ANT™ protocol, and a range of proprietary 2.4 GHz protocols.

Differ from nRF52832 solution which developed based on S132 Softdevice, Nordic has released S112 for nRF52810 in order to increase the flexibility of application code in limited flash memory size. 

Raytac strongly suggest all customer to download the product specification and Softdevice in below link for further nRF52810 development.

nRF52810 Product Specification

S112 SoftDevice

Raytac, meanwhile, has released MDBT42Q series module correspondent to nRF52810 solution. MDBT42Q series module is a pin to pin design for both nRF52832 and nRF52810 solution and equipped 2 kinds of antenna, Chip antenna and PCB antenna.

nRF52810 solution module MDBT42Q chip antenna P/N.: MDBT42Q-192K

nRF52810 solution module MDBT42Q PCB antenna P/N.: MDBT42Q-P192K

nRF52810 module MDBT42Q Specification

http://www.raytac.com/download/MDBT42/(nRF52810)%20MDBT42Q-192K%20&%20MDBT42Q-P192K-Version%20A.pdf

Raytac Corporation

A BT4.1 & BT4.2 & BT5 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 & nRF52 solution 

(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF52810 & nRF52840)

www.raytac.com            Tel: +886.2.3234.0208

email: service@raytac.com

Wordpress

Raytac MDBT42V, Small But Comprehensive

Raytac BT5 module MDBT42V series designed to provide developers of Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable connected products.

Nordic Released S132 V5.0 Supports Concurrent multi-role Bluetooth 5 protocol stack

Nordic latest released SoftDevice S132 v5.0 is a Bluetooth 5 protocol stack. It works for  nRF52832 and nRF52810 multi-protocol SoCs. The S132 not only supports up to 20 connections, but also offers following 4 Bluetooth low energy roles:

• Central
• Peripheral
• Broadcaster
• Observer