The nRF9160 DK comes shipped with the Asset Tracker v2 application. This application collects various data from the device and transmits it via LTE to the nRF Cloud, where it can be visualized.
In this exercise, we will walk you through the simple steps of how to unbox your nRF9160 DK, update both the application and modem firmware, provision the iBasis SIM card and establish a connection with nRF Cloud.
Exercise Steps
1. Putting in the SIM card
Pop the iBasis eSIM card out of its holder and insert it into the SIM card holder on the nRF9160 DK.
2. Connect the nRF9160 DK to your computer using a micro USB cable and turn it on.
Since we want to update firmware on the nRF9160 SiP, make sure the board debugger switch (SW10, marked PROG/DEBUG) is set the nRF91, not nRF52.
4. Connect to your nRF9160 DK by opening the Select Device tab in the upper left hand corner and selecting the nRF9160 DK.
5. In the sidebar on the left, scroll down to Advanced Options and select Program device.
A window called “Program sample app” will show up, displaying three different applications that you can flash to your device.
6. Program the Asset Tracker V2 sample.
6.1 Click on the Select button in the window under the description of the Asset Tracker V2.
6.2 In the next window that shows up, make sure both Modem and Application are selected, then click Program.
7. Wait for the device to be successfully programmed.
This process can take a couple of minutes. If the application and modem firmware is successfully programmed to the device, a message in green should appear and you can proceed to the next step.
If it was unsuccessful, you will get a red message telling you to please check the log.
Try to select Program again, which may resolve the issue.
If it’s still an issue, you can create a ticket on DevZone. Make sure to attach the log file from the Cellular Monitor, by selecting Open log file and saving the text file that shows up.
Or you can update the application and modem firmware manually by following the steps in the documentation found here: Updating the DK firmware.
8. Copy the SIM ICCID onto your computer.
8.1 In Cellular Monitor, click Start and then Refresh Dashboard.
8.3 Click the ICCID number to copy it automatically to your clipboard.
The ICCID will be listed under the Sim menu in the Dashboard.
9. Activate your SIM card and add the nRF9160 DK to nRF Cloud
Important
If the device you are using has been deleted from someone else’s nRF Cloud account prior to use, you will need to update the nRF Cloud certificate before adding the device to nRF Cloud. Please see Updating the nRF Cloud certificate for how to do this.
9.1 Go to nRF Cloud (nrfcloud.com) and either register a user if you don’t have one or just log in.
9.2. Click on the big plus sign in the upper left-hand corner of the page to add a new device, then click LTE Device as shown below.
9.3. Input the SIM ICCID and SIM PUK code to verify the SIM.
The Add LTE Device page opens in the Verify SIM Info view, asking you to enter the SIM ICCID and SIM PUK code.
9.3.1 Paste the ICCID from your clipboard into the “SIM ICCID” section, but remove the two last characters.
The SIM ICCID should only be 18 characters long.
9.3.2 Enter the PUK code.
Reveal the PUK by scratching off the area on the back of the SIM card.
9.4 Make sure to read the Term and Privacy Policy before selection, then hit Activate SIM.
9.5 In the next step, fill out the required information, then select Save to continue.
10. Wait for the device to connect to nRF Cloud.
Now that the SIM card has been activated, we need to wait for the board to establish an LTE connection and connect to nRF Cloud before we can continue with provisioning the device. Please note this might take a few minutes.
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.
Your device must connect to nRF Cloud before you can continue on to the next step.
11. Provisioning the nRF9160 DK to nRF Cloud
The next window that appears is the Add LTE Device pop-up window asking you to enter the Device ID and the PIN/HWID.
The Device ID is the text nrf- followed by the 15-digit IMEI. Both the IMEI and the PIN/HWID can be found on the white sticker on the back of the nRF9160 DK.
The IMEI can also be copied from the Cellular Monitor dashboard, under the Device menu
Note
The HWID is only found on older versions of the nRF9160 DK. If you have a new kit, the value you are looking for is the PIN.
Please enter these values as shown above, then click Add Device.
12. When the device has been successfully provisioned, the device window should appear, displaying the GPS data being sent from the device, as well as some other parameters.
13. For someone else to be able to use the same device and go through these steps.
Since you have provisioned the device to be associated with your nRF Cloud account, you must delete it from your account first. Select the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner, and then Delete Device.
This deletes the device certificate from nRF Cloud, so the next person to use the device must provision the nRF Cloud certificate again. Please see Updating the nRF Cloud certificate for how to do this.
Thingy:91
The Thingy:91 comes shipped with the Asset Tracker v2 application. This application collects various data from the device and transmits it via LTE to the nRF Cloud, where it can be visualized.
In this exercise, we will walk you through the simple steps of how to unbox your Thingy:91, update both the application and modem firmware, provision the iBasis SIM card and establish a connection with nRF Cloud.
Exercise Steps
1. Putting in the SIM card
Pop the iBasis eSIM card out of its holder and insert it into the SIM card holder on the Thingy:91.
2. Take the silicon cover off the Thingy:91 and connect it to your computer using a micro USB cable and turn it on.
Since we want to update firmware on the nRF9160 SiP, make sure the board debugger switch (SW2, marked SWD SELECT) is set the nRF91, not nRF52.
4. Connect to your Thingy:91 by opening the Select Device tab in the upper left hand corner and selecting the Thingy:91.
5. In the sidebar on the left, scroll down to Advanced Options and select Program device.
6. Select the Asset Tracker V2 sample.
A window called “Program sample app” will show up, displaying three different applications that you can flash to your device.
6. Program the modem firmware.
Next, a window called “Program Modem Firmware (Optional)” will show up, asking if you want to program the modem firmware on the device before programming the application.
6.1 Select the latest version of the modem firmware; in this case, it is v1.3.5.
6.2 Enable MCUBoot mode.
The window will now ask you to enable MCUBoot mode on your device.
To do this, turn off your device. Then press down the center black button (SW3) in the middle of the Thingy:91 while switching the power switch (SW1) to the ON position.
Note
This is to put the Thingy:91 into serial recovery mode, to be able to use the bootloader MCUboot. This is necessary because the Thingy:91 does not have an on-board debugger.
6.3 Select Program.
Now click on the Program button to program the selected modem firmware.
6.4 Wait for the modem firmware to be programmed, then Continue.
When the modem firmware is successfully programmed to the device, a green message will appear, and you can select Continue to proceed. Note that this might take a few minutes.
7. Program the application firmware.
7.1 Enable MCUBoot mode.
Flashing the modem firmware takes the device out of MCUBoot mode, and you will once again need to put the device into MCUBoot mode to be able to flash the application firmware.
Turn off your device. Then press down the center black button (SW3) in the middle of the Thingy:91 while switching the power switch (SW1) to the ON position.
7.2 Select Program.
Now click on the Program button to program the Asset Tracker V2 firmware to the device.
When the application firmware is successfully programmed, a green message will appear.
If it was unsuccessful, you will get a red message telling you to please check the log.
Try to select Program again, which may resolve the issue.
If it’s still an issue, you can create a ticket on DevZone. Make sure to attach the log file from the Cellular Monitor, by selecting Open log file and saving the text file that shows up.
8.1 In Cellular Monitor, click Start and then Refresh Dashboard.
8.3 Click the ICCID number to copy it automatically to your clipboard.
The ICCID will be listed under the Sim menu in the Dashboard.
9. Activate your SIM card and add the Thingy:91 to nRF Cloud
Important
If the device you are using has been deleted from someone else’s nRF Cloud account prior to use, you will need to update the nRF Cloud certificate before adding the device to nRF Cloud. Please see Updating the nRF Cloud certificate for how to do this.
9.1 Go to nRF Cloud (nrfcloud.com) and either register a user, if you don’t have one, or log in.
9.2. Click on the big plus sign in the upper left-hand corner of the page to add a new device then click LTE Device as shown below.
9.3. Input the SIM ICCID and SIM PUK code to verify the SIM.
The Add LTE Device page opens in the Verify SIM Info view, asking you to enter the SIM ICCID and SIM PUK code.
9.3.1 Paste the ICCID from your clipboard into the “SIM ICCID” section, but remove the two last characters.
The SIM ICCID should only be 18 characters long.
9.3.2 Enter the PUK code.
Reveal the PUK by scratching off the area on the back of the SIM card.
9.4 Make sure to read the Term and Privacy Policy before selection, then hit Activate SIM.
9.5 In the next step, fill out the required information, then select Save to continue.
10. Wait for the device to connect to nRF Cloud.
Now that the SIM card has been activated, we need to wait for the board to establish an LTE connection and connect to nRF cloud before we can continue with provisioning the device. Please note this might take a few minutes.
This is indicated by white double pulse blinking of the Thingy:91’s RGB LED as indicated in Operating states. When this occurs, you can move to the next step.
Your device must connect to nRF Cloud before you can continue on to the next step.
11. Provisioning the Thingy:91 to nRF Cloud
The next window that appears is the Add LTE Device pop-up window asking you to enter the Device ID and the PIN/HWID.
The Device ID is the text nrf- followed by the 15-digit IMEI. Both the IMEI and the PIN/HWID can be found on the white sticker on the front of the Thingy:91.
The IMEI can also be copied from the Cellular Monitor dashboard, under the Device menu
Please enter these values as shown above, then click Add Device.
12. When the device has been successfully provisioned, the device window should appear, displaying the GPS data being sent from the device, as well as some other parameters.
For someone else to be able to use the same device to go through these steps. Since you have provisioned the device to be associated with your nRF Cloud account, you must delete it from your account first. Select the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner, and then Delete Device.
This deletes the device certificate from nRF Cloud, so the next person to use the device must provision the nRF Cloud certificate again. Please see Updating the nRF Cloud certificate for how to do this.
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