Where can I find info on uploading new firmware?

[bdruth]

I love the compact NRF51822 "beacon" module that you're using in your picture - where can I find info on setting these up to write new firmware? Hopefully something step-by-step on where to solder connections, etc.? Thanks!

p.s. this is the one I found on ali

[dakhnod]

Are you talking about the round module of the square box?

Anyway, the one you found is pretty much the one I am using.

First of all, you need a JLink debugger. I am using a JLink edu that costs around 20€.

After that, you somehow need to break out the single-wire-connection.

To attach to the debug and voltage pins on the round board I am just using crocodile clips.

Just comment here once you got everything together.

[digitaltrousers]

Hi @dakhnod . Is there a reason Jlink is specified? Would something like the below work instead? In my country these are a lot more readily available and don't have to pay over 40EUR postage.

• https://visualgdb.com/tutorials/raspberry/pico/picoprobe/
• FT2232H breakout?

[dakhnod]

@digitaltrousers I have no experience with any other boards.
I've heard that things like OpenOCD might work, but never worked with those.

After all, the nRF51 just speaks SWD, so you should have options.

[bdruth]

@dakhnod - it'll take me a bit to get the JLink - I'll check back here when I've got it. Unless @digitaltrousers has luck with the picoprobe approach first :)

[lspeltie]

@bdruth
I successfully flashed it with an STLink V/2 and OpenOCD. I have a board very much like the one you linked but it was missing the low frequency crystal so it wouldn't work with the configuration for boards/beacon_round.h. I had to swap in some of the config from beacon_big.

Firmware working very well so far. Now to see how long the battery will last.

[0xsyit]

does anyone have a picture with the pin outs? i just got my in Round Beacons from aliexpress im still waiting on the the little vibro-motors

EDIT
nvm i got it, here is a picture i found just in case anyone else needs it

[dakhnod]

There should be two pairs of contact points on the board. One pair is for power, the one close to the battery soldier point is 3v.

The other pair (very close to the nrf51 ic) is swd, you need to trial and error those.

[0xsyit]

There should be two pairs of contact points on the board. One pair is for power, the one close to the battery soldier point is 3v.

The other pair (very close to the nrf51 ic) is swd, you need to trial and error those.

Thank you, i was too afraid to break it. Im trying to understand how did you attach the vibrator motor, because i dont see anything hehe, i might be blind or too stupid :)

[dakhnod]

Not sure what vibration motor you are talking about. I am using a vibration sensor, attached at the same contacts as the button.

[0xsyit]

yes i mean vibration sensor, apologies for confusion. Thank you. I also noticed my Beacons are slightly different, there is few contacts on the left are exposed

t

[dakhnod]

Oh, right, you're missing the 32khz crystal

[0xsyit]

oh man, thats not good is it?

[dakhnod]

It's okay, you just need to adjust the board config to use the internal Oszillator. Search for LFSRC or something similar in the board configs and you should be able to find reference. That will lead to a slightly higher power consumption, but nothing too worrying.

[0xsyit]

Thank you kind sir :)

[biemster]

I have the exact same board as @0xsyit , and just to confirm (this is my first nRF project) the low freq source should be changed in the sdk_config.h, #define CLOCK_CONFIG_LF_SRC 0 instead of 1?