Getting Started with my Nordic nRF9160 DK

20 Aug 2022

Getting Started with my Nordic nRF9160 DK

This blog contains my notes for installing the Tools and Firmware needed to get started using the nRF9160 DK. I thought to take notes for a review I did for the roadtest Nordic nRF9160 DK -- A single board development kit for evaluation and development on the nRF9160 for LTE-M

I followed the guide on the Nordic documentation page at Getting started with nRF9160 DK.

You will install/update the Firmware (modem and application), connect to the Nordic nRF Cloud, and conduct some initial test to proof that the firmware is installed properly.

- First Installing the required software Á

This section describes how to install some of the required software needed to get started.

Install nRF Connect for Desktop. on my Windows box

After installing and starting nRF Connect for Desktop, install the following programs from the list of available prograns:
- Programmer
- LTE Link Monitor

- - - When you open “programmer” for the first time the Segger debugger installs

- Second Updating the DK firmware section
  - - - This section describes where to get the application and modem firmware. It also describes each folder in the zip extraction.
      - Download the latest application and modem firmware from the nRF9160 DK Downloads page and extract to a folder of your choice. nRF9160 DK - Downloads - nordicsemi.com
    - I was a bit confused here with “Which modem FW to use?” I clicked into the page mobile network operator as described in the instructions on the firsts bullet above. It was hard at first to understand for me. I am in the USA and have access to Verizon, AT&T , T-Mobile. I noted the version number from the VERIZON MATRIX . From this matrix the version requires the LwM2M Carrier
    - In the Changelog section if you click the filename the information expands. As shown below.
    - So, I took this path instead of downloading and installing the Default Version. according to these instructions I downloaded the following version of the nRF9160-DK application and modem firmware
    - - The 0.20.1 version of the LwM2M Carrier Library
        
        I was not quite sure how to download this version? No download link? Is it part of the Modem firmware install?
      - Note: It is mandatory to include the LwM2M carrier library
      - Downloaded file 2021-10-20_d29f1dde
        
        Extract the zip file to the hard drive
        
        C: \

C:\Users\skrug\Documents\000-Nordic nRF9160 -application and modem firmware\nrf9160dk_fw_2021-10-20_d29f1dde
TRY a shorter DIR
C:\00-nordic nrf9160dk

Did nothing here as far as updating. However, there are a few things to note here :
- Img_app_bl folder contains full firmware versions for different applications. When following this guide use an image for nRF9160: Asset Tracker v2
- Asset Tracker v2 simulates sensor data and transmits it to Nordic Semiconductor’s cloud solution, nRF Cloud.
- Depending on where you are located, you need the image with either LTE-M or NB-IoT support.
- Check with your SIM card provider for the mode they support at your location. For iBasis SIM card provided with the nRF9160 DK, I refered to iBasis IoT network coverage.
- According to the coverage map on the page, only LTE-M coverage is supported in the USA.
- And for IoT coverage, only 3G and 4G coverage is supported.

Third Updating the modem firmware Section
- This section describes how to update the Modem Firmware
- Follow the directions in this section to use PROGRAMMER to install firmware.
  - Open Programmer
  - On the nRF9160DK
    - Set PROG/DEBUG Switch to nRF91
    - Connect the nRF9160 to the vomputer with USB, and turn the DK ON
    - In the log window THERE SHOULD BE NO ERRORS.
  - Select the nRF9160
    - Click ADD FILE
    - Browse and navigate to where you downloaded the firmware choose the mfwnrf9160_<version-number>.zip
    - Click WRITE
    - The Modem DFU dialog appears
      - Click WRITE
      - When the update is complete, you should see a SUSSES message.
      - Close the dialog
    - Observe the LOG for errors.
    - If you experience problems ERASE ALL and UPDATE again
    - Nothing shows on the MEMORY SCREEN? Not sure why?

Fourth Updating the application firmware Section
- Went to step 5
- In step 7, I selected nrf9160dk_asset_tracker_v2_ltem_<version-number>.hex (LTE-M mode)
  - As noted earlier on the page for the iBasic SIM card, LTE-M coverage is the only option in the United States.
  - I get a WARNING as follows:
  - “Part of the HEX regionsare out of the device memory size, but you can still proceed write operations”
  - What DOES THIS MEAN? Is there a memory problem?
- - Click ERASE& WRITE
  - NO ERRORS in log
  - At this point leds1 thru 4 are BLINKING
    - WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Step 5 Connecting the DK to nRF Cloud Section
- This section describes how to create and Connect the DK to the Cloud.
- The nRF Cloud is Nordic’s platform for for connecting IoT devices, viewing and analyzing device message data, prototyping ideas, that use the company’s chips and more.
- The nRF Cloud also includes a public REST. If you wish to use the REST API, you need to update the nRF Cloud certificateof your DK. I will also try to experiment with this feature in this review.
- Step 5.1 Creating an nRF Cloud account
  - Open nRF Cloud at https://nrfcloud.com/
  - Click Register
  - Create an account
  - You can now log in with your email and the password you chose.
    - After logging in, you are taken to the dashboard view that displays your device count and service usage.
  - Step 5.2 Connecting to nRF Cloud
    - This section will describe how to activate your SIM card and ADD the nRF9160DK to the nRF Cloud.
      - Log into the nRF Cloud
      - Click Plus sign on the left sidebar
      - On the “Add New” dialog select the ”LTE Device” button. This will bring up the “Activate SIM Card Window”
        
        On this dialog enter
        
        18 digit ICCID or 19 digit EID from the iBasic SIM card
        
        EID: 8949 3200 0526 2232 954
        
        ICCID: 8931 0805 2003 5837 89
        
        PUK (printed on the SIM card)
        
        PUK: 69210437
        
        Click activate SIM
        
        PROBLEM WORKING 8/1
        
        Not WORKING WITH EID OR ICCID?
        
        DO I NEED an antenna?
        
        SIM card is not plugged in?
        
        When do I plug the Sim card into the device?
        
        What is the orientation of the card?
        
        Customer Support
        
        Tried to get into support? Never received email on register
        
        TRY
        
        Why is it not working with the version of the Modem Firmware? Do I need to install another version?
        
        Install latest version and go thru again
        
        After the new version now the 4 LEDs are flashing.
        
        Still nothing tried to update both modem and app firmware several times.
        
        Inserted Sim card it clicked in so I’m assuming it in ok?
        
        Now only led1 is flashing
        
        But still working after 20minutes
        
        Is it a communication problem?
        
        WITH MY ROUTER?
        
        Certificates?
        
        My computer internet connection?
        
        SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACTIVATE SIM CARD BOX up after
        
        Playing with the sim card pluged in and erasing memory and starting all over again?
        
        I’m going to go on now 2 days later
        
        8/1 9:19 PM
        
        Can’t explain how this happened?????
        
        After SIM is activated, the Add LTE Window comes up. LEAVE THIS OPEN IN THE BROWSER AND GO ON THE THE NEXT STEP NEVER WAS ABLE TO ACTIVATE???
        
        7/31 CONTINUE ON.
        
        Punch out the nano-SIM from the Sim Card and plug it into the SIM slot. Orientation green side up notch in first? I hope this is the right way? DONE
        
        Optional GPS function could be tested but I do not have an antenna?
        
        8/1 reinstall all firmware and try again.
        
        iBasic card was finally activated???? HOW? Not sure why???
        
        Received the following error on after skipping ACTIVATION because the sim card is active.

40412

No device found for this id. The device has not yet been provisioned.

The device cannot be found in the device registry, i.e., it is not 'known' by the IoT cloud platform. Possible reasons:

1. You entered the device id and/or ownership code (PIN or HWID) incorrectly.

2. Before attempting association, you did not wait for the LEDs to indicate the device was provisioned.

3. Corrupt modem firmware.

4. Corrupt, wrongly flashed, or illegitimate device certificates.

5. Poor LTE connection

Solutions that match the possible reasons are listed here. For items 2-4, refer to the nRF9160 DK Getting Started Guide or Thingy:91 Getting Started Guide.

1. Verify the values and try again. For Nordic Semiconductor products, please see the solution for nRF Code 40411, above.

2. Check the LED status indicators to ensure the device indicates it was provisioned.

3. (Re-)flash the latest modem firmware.

4. Flash new device certificates obtained from the CreateDeviceCertificate endpoint.

5. Move to a location with a better LTE connection.

8/1 INSTALLED other version for verizion mentioned above and now I was able to connect.
– ONCE I TROUBLE SHOT THE ACTIVATION PROBLEM
- AT this point the led1 is blinking and I’m Skipping over this to Testing the DK
- Connect the nRF9160DK to the computer and Turn it on
  - Wait up to 3 minutes for the device to find the cell network and connect to the nRF Cloud server.
    - When the DK has connected the LED3 DOUBLE PULSE BLINKs (to indicate that user association is required and you can move to the next step.
    - At this point the device is provisioned on the nRF Cloud but not yet associated.
  - Finally ADD the LTE Device window. Enter the Devcie ID and the ownership code.
  - Use 15 digit IMEI code on the label of the nRF9160 with the nrf- preceding it
  - Use the 6 digit PIN# under the IMEI code on the Label .
    - IMEI/ Device ID: nrf-351358811463808
    - PIN: 914911
  - Click add device
  - The nRF9160 DK is now added to your nRF Cloud account. This is indicated by the blinking of LED3on the DK, which shows that it is publishing data. See Asset Tracker v2 LED indication for more information.
  - On nRF Cloud, you can access the device by clicking Devicesunder Device Management in the navigation pane on the left.
- Step 6 Testing the DK Section
  - 8/1 WORKING NOW
  - still need to trouble shoot step 5 my device is still not on the RFCloud but I will return to this part soon I hope
  - FIRST SOME DIAGNOSTICS
    - See Asset Tracker v2 LED indicationfor more information.
    - - Without the iBasic SIM card inserted all 4 LEDs Are Flashing
        
        What does this indicate?
        
        Error according to chart
        
        With the iBasic SIM inserted, the LED1 is flashing
        
        What does this indicate??
        
        LTE Connection Search
        
        8/1 WORKING NOW
        
        STILL TODO
        
        After successfully associating your nRF9160 DK with your nRF Cloud account, you can start testing it. The application programmed in the DK is nRF9160: Asset Tracker v2, and it is used for the testing.
        
        For a basic test, complete the following steps:
        
        Turn on or reset your nRF9160 DK.
        
        Log in to the nRF Cloud
        
        Click Devicesunder Device Management in the navigation pane on the left.
        
        From the Devicesview, open the entry for your device.
        
        Observe that the DK is sending data to nRF Cloud.
        
        If you experience problems and need to check the log messages, open nRF Connect for Desktop and launch the LTE Link Monitor app. After connecting to your DK, you can see the log messages in the terminal view.
        
        WORKING NOW data is being sent
        
        HAD to install and update to different version over 2 days
        
        Took a long time to activate iBasis SIM card.

Step 7 Testing the cellular connection with the AT Client sample Section
- The nRF9160: AT Clientsample enables you to send AT commands to the modem of your nRF9160 DK to test and monitor the cellular connection. You can use it to troubleshoot and debug any connection problems.
- Complete the following steps to test the cellular connection using the AT Client sample:

1. - - Follow the steps Updating the application firmware to program the sample to the DK. When choosing the HEX file, choose nrf9160dk_at_client_<version-number>.hex instead of one for Asset Tracker v2.
    - Test the AT Client sample as described in the Testing section of the nRF9160: AT Client documentation.

Using LTE Link Monitor to get the modem status

I experiment with this app and found it quit useful to monitor the board LTE activity and send the modem at commands.

You can observe when you run this app that the signal has 2 bars .
The network being used is T-Mobile USA
And all LTE is GREEN as well as all the other board systems

At this point I completed all the test to connect the Modem to the nrRF cloud

Top Comments

DAB over 2 years ago +1

Nice post.

skruglewicz over 2 years ago in reply to DAB

I'm having a boat load of fun with this Kit.
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DAB over 2 years ago in reply to skruglewicz

Hi Steve,

It has been a long time since I did any RF work.

I have seen the Nordic line develop over the years, but I have not taken the leap into actually using one.
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skruglewicz over 2 years ago in reply to DAB

Thanks DAB for taking the time to read my blog. I'd be interested in knowing what you think about related Roadtest review on the Nordic 9160 DK?

Thanks Again

Steve K
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DAB over 2 years ago

Nice post.
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