Flashing bootloader

[bbuster2]

I am trying to flash the bootloader on a brand new chip (Ebyte E73 nRF52840).
Checkin if the chip is locked gives me the following result: Ok: the nRF is unlocked

I downloaded a few bootloaders including the SEEED USB bootloader: Seeed_XIAO_nRF52840_Sense_bootloader-0.6.1_s140_7.3.0.hex

I can flash the chip and i see after a few moments the chip is written

....
14:55:22.959 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:22.992 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:22.992 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.025 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.025 -> 000 Write Register: 0x4001e504 : 0x00000001
14:55:23.025 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.057 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.057 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.090 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.090 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.121 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.121 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.121 -> Done flashing file, it took 19015ms speed: 28.0205kbs

Is this the correct result?
I used the SEEED bootloader because i try to flash my own software via Arduino to the nRF52840. I connected a usb cable to the VBUS (5v), GND, D+ and D- (including resistors and capacitor)

Left part on this image:
https://camo.githubusercontent.com/f6eeaf4a553951599a5c2197d05be781ac764dd330e77d7f09aeae72b76785dd/68747470733a2f2f6465767a6f6e652e6e6f7264696373656d692e636f6d2f726573697a65642d696d6167652f5f5f73697a652f373032783437362f5f5f6b65792f737570706f72742d6174746163686d656e74732f62656566356431623737363434633434386461626666333136363866336134372d32643162336461623134623834646561613262313637646539626261363762612f5343482e504e47

When i connect the USB cable, nothing shows up, not in Arduino IDE and not in finder (i'm using mac).
Is my way of doing this correct or did i do something wrong?

[danielkucera]

It expects to get .bin file, not .hex.
There is a WiP PR for hex file support #15

[bbuster2]

Well, i tried the hex file first but then converted it to .bin via HxD but this was the result from the bin upload

[danielkucera]

Did you erase it after each flash?

[bbuster2]

Yes, i just tried it again, connect the ESP32, erased the chip and flashed the bootloader file (hex file converted to bin file).

Is the output i showed above correct?

Edit:
Erase if AFTER each flash?
I assumed you meant before but do i need to erase it after the flash??

[bbuster2]

Update,

I tried to install arduino_nano_33_ble_bootloader-0.7.0_s140_6.1.1.bin
When i flashed it via the ESP32, the arduino IDE showed except my ESP32 port, also a new port: /dev/cu.usbmodemF2BD185AD80C1

When i unplug the ESP32, the port goes away.
If i keep the ESP32 plugged in and try to upload a new arduino program to the new port, it cannot upload

Sketch uses 138160 bytes (16%) of program storage space. Maximum is 815104 bytes.
Global variables use 13836 bytes (5%) of dynamic memory, leaving 223732 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 237568 bytes.
Performing 1200-bps touch reset on serial port /dev/cu.usbmodemF2BD185AD80C1
Waiting for upload port...
No upload port found, using address:"/dev/cu.usbmodemF2BD185AD80C1" label:"/dev/cu.usbmodemF2BD185AD80C1" protocol:"serial" protocol_label:"Serial Port (USB)" properties:{key:"pid" value:"0x521F"} properties:{key:"serialNumber" value:"F2BD185AD80C"} properties:{key:"vid" value:"0x1915"} as fallback`

Files are downloaded from here https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_nRF52_Bootloader/releases/tag/0.7.0
The zip files include a .bin file

[bbuster2]

It looks like flashing is not doing anything.
After i flashed the file and read the nrf register, all the values are (tested with value 0, 300 and 10000):

Ok: Register read address: 0x00000000 value: 0x00000000
Ok: Register read address: 0x00000300 value: 0x00000000
Ok: Register read address: 0x00010000 value: 0x00000000
...

[bbuster2]

After some more tests i see different bootloader files get different values than 0x0000000
But i still cannot upload my own code to the usb device, also when unplugging the ESP32, the usbmodem device goes away as well

[danielkucera]

update to latest master (a2d9a3d) and try that hex file again

[bbuster2]

I already did (yesterday), but maybe i took the wrong bootloader file.
I just have to upload this file Seeed_XIAO_nRF52840_Sense_bootloader-0.6.1_s140_7.3.0.hex
And then use the same filename and click "Flash file"? That's it, after that i can reset the nRF and it should work?

I am not using a mosfet for ground, just connected the ESP32 ground to the nRF ground. Is that okay?

[danielkucera]

What does the serial log say?

[bbuster2]

From Arduino IDE -> Serial monitor while "flashing" the firmware?

[danielkucera]

the same way you got this:

....
14:55:22.959 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:22.992 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:22.992 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.025 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.025 -> 000 Write Register: 0x4001e504 : 0x00000001
14:55:23.025 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.057 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.057 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.090 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.090 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.121 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.121 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
14:55:23.121 -> Done flashing file, it took 19015ms speed: 28.0205kbs

[bbuster2]

13:27:37.024 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.057 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.057 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.057 -> 000 Write Register: 0x4001e504 : 0x00000001
13:27:37.089 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.089 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.121 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.121 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.154 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.154 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.188 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.188 -> 000 Write Register: 0x4001e504 : 0x00000001
13:27:37.219 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.219 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.251 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.251 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.285 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.285 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.317 -> 0000 Read Register: 0x4001e400 : 0x00000000
13:27:37.317 -> Done flashing file, it took 16648ms speed: 32.0044kbs

You need all? Because i cannot copy everything the Serial monitor outputs so if you need all i need to use a different way to copy the result

[bbuster2]

Does this give any information?

[danielkucera]

No, you need to see something like: hex line found:.
But I just noticed it only works with Flash uploaded file: