nRF5 action!

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.

d00616

@NeverDie said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

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

Yes. 9x9mm with antenna: https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product/PTR5628-Nordic-nRF52832-Module-BLE-4-0-Module-Free-shipping/130096_32760971926.html but photo and product description are different. I had a discussion with the manufacterer end of 2016 at this time the module was shown as 9*9mm module. The PTR5628 has no 32kHz oscillator, you have to use the unprecise RC oscillator.

NeverDie

@d00616
9mmx9mm would be great. However, are you certain? Product description says 15.4mmx15.4mm.

Pitty the lack of 32khz crystal, but for a lot of sensor nodes perhaps it won't matter much.

I did find this after making my prior post:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/nRF51-M0-Ultra-small-Bluetooth-BLE-Module-4-0-Module-LIS3DH-Support-10-GPIOs/32697055436.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.295.t9NHvJ
which is allegedly 8.5mmx10.5mm and allegedly does have a 32Khz crystal, but the trade-off is that it's an nRF51832, not an nRF52832.

NeverDie

@d00616 said in Minimalist SAMD21 TQFP32 Pro Mini:

I think the best option for beginners is to use an CMSIS-DAP/DAPLink adapter.

Thanks for the tip! Based on your recommendation, I ordered this:
http://www.adafruit.com/product/2764
because I could expedite the shipping.

Hopefully it works.

NeverDie

@d00616
The smallest size I found was this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bluetooth-UART-Wireless-Data-Transceiver-DA14580-Module-for-Arduino/32666222427.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.284.fiUAYv
It's just 5mmx6.2mm! So, at least the size is very much awesome. It does have an M0 Cortex core, but it's not a Nordic Semi chip: http://www.dialog-semiconductor.com/sites/default/files/da14580_ds_3v4.pdf
so I have no idea if, or to what degree, it can be easily programmed from within the familiar Arduino IDE the way the Nordic chips apparently can. Do you happen to know if it would be trivially easy? Or would getting it to work be a project unto itself?

nRF5 action!

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