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Can't get blinky demo to run on nRF51822 mkit (and .hex or .bin??)

Topic last updated 02 Feb 2015, by Paul Russell. 5 replies
ska lab
11 Aug 2014

(Sorry I accidentally made this as a question instead of a discussion at first!)

I have an nRF51822 mkit and have just tried compiling the mbed blinky demo. It compiled fine and generated a file mbed_blinky_NRF51822_.hex, which I downloaded. I have tried moving it to the device, however, and it doesn't seem to work at all. The status LED of the board just keeps blinking, and the file transfer fails.

I tried with both a file manager and using mv on the terminal, which gives output:

$ mv mbed_blinky_NRF51822_.hex /media/MBED/
mv: writing `/media/MBED/mbed_blinky_NRF51822_.hex': Input/output error
mv: failed to extend `/media/MBED/mbed_blinky_NRF51822_.hex': Input/output error

I was also expecting it to generate a .bin rather than a .hex — perhaps I have set my settings incorrectly somewhere?

ska lab
11 Aug 2014

Just to update on this... I have tried the other nRF51822 example programs with the same results. I have also tried renaming the files to remove the underscores just in case that made a difference (someone with a similar error on another forum fixed it by removing spaces from the file name). I also checked and there is definitely more than enough space on the mounted MBED drive for the file.

Really struggling to figure out what the problem is :/

Sam Grove
11 Aug 2014

Have you updated the interface firmware that came on the mkit? The instructions are about half way down the page. https://mbed.org/platforms/Nordic-nRF51822/

The nRF51822 platform should generate a hex file, not bin.

ska lab
12 Aug 2014

Thanks for your reply, Sam. I had updated the firmware but I just flashed it again just in case it would help, but I am still having the same problem.

Paul Russell
11 Nov 2014

Just adding notes in case others get same (I just did)...

  • bin:
    • Connect USB while RESET pressed
    • copy bin near mbed_bl.htm (USB Drive from mkit)
    • wait till completed (USB Drive vanishes and LED blinks steady)
    • disconnect mkit from USB
    • reconnect mkit to USB (without Reset).
  • hex:
    • Connect mkit to USB (without Reset)
    • copy hex near mbed.htm (USB Drive from mkit)
    • *If powered with Reset Pressed the n will get error of insufficient space.

Files: /media/uploads/prussell/mbed-mkit__firststepsv00_20141111pr.docx