nRF5 action!

NeverDie

Looks as though the nRF52832 beats the nRF51832 on Rx sensitivity at 1mbps. The nRF51832 is:
• -90 dBm at 1 Mbps
versus -93dBm at 1Mbps for the nRF52832.

On the other hand, the nRF51832 has -96dBm receive sensitivity at 250kbps, and the nRF52832 appears to lack that mode altogether. So, in a way, that make sthe nRF51832 seem a bit more attractive on range, even if one has to pay a price on bitrate.

NeverDie

@d00616 Now that you mention it, that board you linked to ( https://www.aliexpress.com/item/BLE4-0-Bluetooth-2-4GHz-Wireless-Module-NRF51822-Board-Core51822-B/32633417101.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.18.Q9naea&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_10068_10130_10084_10083_10119_10080_10082_10081_10110_10178_10136_10137_10111_10060_10112_10113_10155_10114_5360016_10154_438_10056_10055_10054_10182_10059_100031_10099_10078_10079_10103_10073_10102_10120_10189_10052_10053_10142_10107_10050_10051,searchweb201603_5,ppcSwitch_4&btsid=f45d662b-6a09-4449-9bee-1ea58d9beab8&algo_expid=53f99b5d-bb10-4b34-a548-2a3e4c0cd96e-2&algo_pvid=53f99b5d-bb10-4b34-a548-2a3e4c0cd96e ) would be an interesting way to control an RFM69, especially if it could do an OTA sketch uploade. Can it?

d00616

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

The board you linked to is an nRF51. Which do you prefer? nRF51 or nRF52?

I prefer to use nRF52 controllers when the price doesn't matter.

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

Now that you mention it, that board you linked to would be an interesting way to control an RFM69, especially if it could do an OTA sketch uploade. Can it?

OTA sketch upload is on my todo list, but not at the first position ;-)

d00616

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

On the other hand, the nRF51832 has -96dBm receive sensitivity at 250kbps, and the nRF52832 appears to lack that mode altogether.

The 250kbps mode is working with the nRF5232 but this was the last chip supporting this mode.

NeverDie

This module is interesting because it looks as though it would be relatively easy to attach to most simple sensor projects:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/NRF52832-Bluetooth-4-2-module-Bluetooth-5-program-PCBA-serial-transmission-cost-effective/1383441_32818791344.html

NeverDie

I found some useful connectors:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/20Pcs-0-050-1-27-mm-2x5-Pin-10-Positions-IDC-Male-Box-Header-Dual-Row/32813323776.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.dhOAzn

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-15Cm-10-Pin-1-27mm-Pitch-IDC-Socket-Extension-Flat-Ribbon-Cable-Wire-for-ISP/32699295021.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.dhOAzn

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/50PCS-1-27MM-pitch-Female-Header-Connector-SMT-socket-Plastic-high-4-6mm-1x10p-1x20p-1x30p/32748567947.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.dhOAzn

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/X132-Free-Shipping-10pcs-1-27mm-40-Pin-Male-Single-Row-Pin-Header-Strip-1x40P/32785126666.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.dhOAzn

1.27mm pitch seems to be what's most common with nRF52 stuff.

gohan

what would you use those connectors for?

NeverDie

@gohan said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

what would you use those connectors for?

The J-Tag ones for connecting a J-tag programmer to an nRF5 board (e.g. the adafruit one has holes for such a 2x5 connector already on its PCB).

The 1.27mm headers I think I might use for connecting some of the small nRF5 boards which have 1.27mm pitch through-holes onto some prototypes rather than just soldering them down. That way I can easily move them to the next version of the prototype without creating a lot of desoldering work.

I've ordered all of the above earlier today. I'm just providing the links in case others may want to do the same.

Terrence

@NeverDie Thanks for the nrf link, but I liked the units with coin cell better. I purchased 2.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/NRF52832-5-Bluetooth-module-PCBA-Bluetooth-indoor-positioning-to-undertake-the-project-Adult-supplies/32818011255.html?spm=2114.12010108.1000013.1.jSrF4y&traffic_analysisId=recommend_2088_1_82199_new&scm=1007.13339.82199.0&pvid=d299b2c3-7d8c-4704-8765-59c82338fbb8&tpp=1

NeverDie

@Terrence

Attractive form factor, but I believe that it's just a beacon. If not, how do you connect it to anything?

d00616

@Terrence said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

@NeverDie Thanks for the nrf link, but I liked the units with coin cell better. I purchased 2.

This module looks great. Both oscillators and the inductor is placed ob board. But the SWDIO and SDCLK are not connected. You can only flash via OTA update. Don't flash MySensors until you have moved the used Flash by NVM driver. The NVM would overwrite the DFU bootloader. It's possible that the nRF5 code needs changes to support running on an nRF5 with Softdevice.

@scalz is playing/plans to play with Nordics OTA update.

NeverDie

A couple more interesting finds.

Terrence

@NeverDie Yes, I got to thinking about that after I pulled the trigger.

Terrence

@d00616 Thanks.

NeverDie

Lastly, I'm quite intrigued by this one, which is an nRF51832, because it is only 11.4mmx9.5mm in size:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/PTR5528-Fingertip-size-nRF51822-Module-Ultra-Low-Power-Bluetooth-4-0-Low-Energy-RF-Module-Free/130096_1705429590.html?spm=2114.12010108.0.0.TRBTKq

Has anyone seen anything else which is that small or even smaller?

NeverDie

@Terrence
Maybe you'd like this one (or similar) a little better, as it has some additional sensors already built into it:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Ship-Bluetooth-4-0-temperature-sensor-pressure-sensor-acceleration-sensor-gyroscope-light-nRF51822-bluetooth-4/32705653095.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000013.6.5TTgVd&traffic_analysisId=recommend_2088_3_82199_new&scm=1007.13339.82199.0&pvid=71d80c46-bd50-4ed5-bdc6-1d6253d9e038&tpp=1

d00616

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

What exactly do I need to do to get it work? I tried it from Windows, and failed. I seem to recall you said you got it to work from Linux after changing a definition. Would you mind showing the steps, or providing a link on how to do that?

I have updates my documentation: https://www.openhardware.io/view/376

I have tested all three programmer types with Windows 10. It looks like Zadig installs the correct drivers for J-Link and ST-Link adapters. The CMSIS-DAP requires the serial driver from mbed.

NeverDie

@d00616
Thanks! I had been using a computer running Windows 7, and I got no joy with Zadig and st-link v2 on that. However, you just now mentioned Windows 10, so I'll give that a try.

d00616

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

Maybe you'd like this one (or similar) a little better, as it has some additional sensors already built into it:

This is the discussion to this board: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/6951/nrf5-multi-sensor-board-12-14/1

d00616

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

hanks! I had been using a computer running Windows 7, and I got no joy with Zadig and st-link v2 on that. However, you just now mentioned Windows 10, so I'll give that a try.

I think the best option for beginners is to use an CMSIS-DAP/DAPLink adapter. Firmware and drivers are open source and there is an integrated serial port.

The ST-Link adapter is initialized with an ST-Link driver by libwdi. If you have luck you can find an old variant.

nRF5 action!

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