Arduino nano 33 ble how to flash for opendeck usage

[ratracerecord]

Hello,

First thank you for all this nice work is Opendeck!
Second i'm a big noob, only sound tech who's trying to build a custom midi controler, so some instruction are a little "blured" for me.

I just bought an arduino nano 33 ble to begin to test some midi controler (in the futur if i achevied to instal properly opendeck on it i would use it with opendeck3 board for more in and out).

So i would like to flash the arduino nano 33 ble with the nano33ble.bin provide here ( https://github.com/shanteacontrols/OpenDeck/releases ) but it seem I can't use the nrf connect app because this have an arduino bootloader.

i try to flash with this type avec cmd line : "C:\Users\ratra\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\bossac\1.9.1-arduino2/bossac.exe" -d --port=COM4 -U -i -e -w "C:\Users\ratra\Downloads/nano33ble.bin" -R

but no controler detected on the opendeck controle page.

So how could i do to make this arduino nano 33 ble work ? 🗡️

Thank's in advance,

Best regards,

Jules.

[paradajz]

Hi,

I'm glad you like the project.

Writing clear and easy-to-follow documentation takes a lot of time. The documentation on how to flash Nano 33 BLE will come at some point, but I don't know when. Flashing that particular board is a bit involved and is not that simple, unfortunately. You cannot flash OpenDeck firmware on it with Arduino bootloader - it needs to be flashed with external programmer such as JLink, Black Magic Probe or nRF52840 development kit. Nano has SWD connections on the bottom of the board:

You need to connect SDWIO, SWDCLK and GND connections to external programmer and then flash it. Fair bit of warning, though: once you flash the board this way, it can no longer be used with Arduino IDE unless you restore the Arduino bootloader on it.

[ratracerecord]

Thank you for the quick answer!

So if i understand well i could use nrf52840DK as programmer (using the SEGGER J-Link OB Debugger with debug out functionality) connecting the good pin to SWD, SWCLK and GND from the nrf52840DK P19 Debug Header.

here (https://www.pic-control.com/nrf52840-dk-ble-bluetooth-development-kit-tutorial-start-up-guide/) i can read i could use the NRF connect software to program my nano 33 ble.
In the "methode 4" it say "If there is a connecting board, the nRF52840-DK will program the external board instead of the nRF52840 chip onboard the nRF52840-DK board."

so when the 2 board are connected for program (like say before) i juste have to follow the flahing nrf boards (https://github.com/shanteacontrols/OpenDeck/wiki/Flashing-nRF-boards) and till the nrf52840DK detect the target board on VTG pin, the target board will be the flashed one with the *.hex file.

Am I right, or do i miss something ?

[paradajz]

You are right, that is the procedure, yes.

[ratracerecord]

Big thank's! :)

[ratracerecord]

So just for beeing sure i understand all nicely i had to :

-connect SWD, SWCLK and GND between booth boards (nrf52840DK as programmer board and nano 33 ble as target board)

-short VTG pin and VDD nrf pin on the nrf52840DK : it gonna tell the nrf52840dk to program the board connected to debug pins and not the nrf52840DK itself.

-connect usb on both board (on the nrf usb port for the nrf52840DK for power and data from the computer; on the usb port of the nano 33 ble only for power)

EDIT : -before flashing the *.hex from nrf connect do i need to put the nano 33 ble in bootloader mode (pushing the buton on it to get the orange pulsating led) ?

-follow the flashing nrf boards page (https://github.com/shanteacontrols/OpenDeck/wiki/Flashing-nRF-boards)

i had some doubt about powering both board separetly (or do i need to power the nano 33 ble from the nrf 52840DK ?) and about the usb connection needed by nrf52840DK (nrf usb or mcu usb ?)...

[ratracerecord]

thank you, i ordered an nrf52840DK, now waiting for it :)

And do i had to connect the programmer/DK via nrf usb or mcu usb ?

[paradajz]

via nrf usb or mcu usb ?

I don't understand the question.

[ratracerecord]

on the nrf52840 there is 2 usb port (J2 and J3 here call nrf usb https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_nrf52840_dk/UG/dk/images/nRF52840/pca10056_debug_output_connector.svg )

[paradajz]

Ah. Connect just the debugger.

[ratracerecord]

so J2 i suposed.

sorry for being so bad at understanding all of this and again thank you for all your help!

[ratracerecord]

Worked perfectly! thank you!

[FractalFM3]

Hello there,

thank you so much for your thread and @paradajz support. I had same problem. I will follow your procedure and will try to flash my board.
Question for you: did you used P19 or P20 to connect and if used P19, what pins? I did not find pin description of P19 for SWD, SWCLK and GND.
I think I will use P20 as pins are clearly identified, but just wanted to make sure
Thanks

[FractalFM3]

My PCB version is 3.0.0 as per below so there is not VTG on P20 and no GND DETECT as shown in the manual listed in this link (https://www.pic-control.com/nrf52840-dk-ble-bluetooth-development-kit-tutorial-start-up-guide/)
my PCB 3.0.0 looks like this:
PCA10056_Schematic_And_PCB.pdf

so What pin on the DK should I use to connect the Nano 33 BLE?
Thanks

[FractalFM3]

Finally I succeeded, using same pins a V1.0.0 PCB despite they have no name on P20.
However on Mac several time it has shows JLINK in the nRF Connect and said not recognized device, but after trying a 4th Time then the device showed and I was able to flash Open deck,

All good Thanks again

[FractalFM3]

Hello again,

I did FW update using OpenDeck configurator (nano33BLE.sys) and it went well up to the pop up box saying FW update is finished.
I pushed the reset button (also try after to disconnect the board) but when I go to configurator it does not come up to configuration and always go to UPDATE FW page asking me to load a file like if the Nano was stuck in Bootloader mode.

During update led is blinking, after reset it is permanently lighting. I rebooted my Mac but always the same. I done several time the update and everytime it was working nicely.

Just the web configurator takes me directly to update FW. I loaded latest FW (the one he found when I checked for update via the configurator).

Sorry for the long post, any help appreciated and sorry for being such a newbie

[paradajz]

I don't know. Try flashing the v7.3.3 hex file.

[FractalFM3]

Thanks for your answer I downloaded Brave browser and it worked so I suspect it comes from my chrome browser Now working nice

…

Le 25 août 2022 à 19:24, paradajz ***@***.***> a écrit :  I don't know. Try flashing the v7.3.3 hex file. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you commented.

[paradajz]

Official instructions are now available here:
https://github.com/shanteacontrols/OpenDeck/wiki/Flashing-nRF-boards