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Exercise 1

nRF9161 DK

The nRF9161 DK comes shipped with the Serial LTE Modem application. With this application, you can interact with AT commands directly to the nRF9161 for quick evaluation through a serial terminal.

In this exercise, you will flash the Asset Tracker v2 application, which collects various data from the device and transmits it via LTE to the nRF Cloud, where it can be visualized. 

We will walk you through the simple steps of how to unbox your nRF9161 DK, update the device, and establish a connection with nRF Cloud.

Exercise Steps

1. Putting in the SIM card.

Pop the SIM card out of its holder and insert it into the SIM card holder on the nRF9161 DK.

2. Connect the nRF9161 DK to your computer using a USB-C cable and turn it on.

3. Launch nRF Connect for Desktop and install and open the Quick Start application.

The Quick Start application will search for devices connected to your computer. Select the nRF9161 DK and select Continue.

4. Go through the steps and select Asset Tracking in the Program section.

This will update the modem core with the latest modem firmware and update the application core with the Asset Tracker v2 application.

5. Add the nRF9161 DK to nRF Cloud.

5.1 Go to nRF Cloud (nrfcloud.com) and either register a user if you don’t have one or just log in.

5.2 In the navigation pane on the left-hand side, select Device Management, then Devices.

5.3 Click Add Devices.

The Select Device Type pop-up opens.

5.4 Click LTE Device in the Select Device Type pop-up.

5.5 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 nRF9161 DK.

Note

The IMEI can also be copied from Quick Start, under the Verify section

Please enter these values as shown above, then click Add Device.

5.6 When the Do you need to activate an iBasis SIM? pop-up opens, select Continue, as the provided SIM is already registered.

6. Wait for the device to connect to nRF Cloud.

Now, we need to wait for the board to establish an LTE connection and connect to nRF Cloud. 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.

7. The device window should appear, displaying the GPS data being sent from the device, as well as some other parameters.

10. 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, for someone else to go through these steps using the same device, you must delete it from your account first. Select the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner, and then Delete Device.

nRF9160 DK

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 eSIM card that comes shipped with the kit 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.

3. Launch nRF Connect for Desktop and install and open the Quick Start application

4. Upon launching the Quick Start application, it will detect your nRF9160 DK automatically. Connect to your nRF9160 DK by selecting it and then clicking continue.

5. Then, the Info page will display some information about your kit, and the Rename page will prompt you to give a display name to your kit. On the Program page, you will be able to select an application to flash. Choose the Asset Tracking application and click Program.

When the application is successfully programmed to your board, you will see this window, and you can click Continue.

When prompted with the optional automatic verification test, click Verify to make sure your DK is set and ready.

Copy the IMEI using the button shown below, which we will use to add the device to nRF Cloud.

We have now successfully updated the DK firmware.

6. Activate the SIM card.

Follow the instructions in the SIM Setup window to setup the iBasis SIM card.

6.1 Go to nRF Cloud (nrfcloud.com) and either register a user if you don’t have one or just log in.

6.2 In the navigation pane on the left-hand side, select Device Management, then SIM cards. Then, in the upper right-hand corner click on the Add SIM button.

6.3 Input the PUK code, found by scratching off the area on the back of the SIM card.

6.4 Enter the ICCID, found by clicking the reload button besides this step in the Quick Start application, then copying the 18-digit code, see images below.

Note

The ICCID can also be found printed on the nano SIM card, it is the first 18 digits.

7. Add your device to nRF Cloud.

Now that we have activated the SIM card, it’s mine to add the device to nRF Cloud.

Important

If you are using a device that has belonged to someone else, make sure it has been deleted from their nRF Cloud account before adding it to yours.

7.1 In the navigation pane on the left-hand side, select Device Management, then Devices.

7.2 Click Add Devices.

The Select Device Type pop-up opens.

7.3 Click LTE Device in the Select Device Type pop-up.

7.4 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.

Note

Recall that we copied the IMEI from the Quick Start application in step 5.

Please enter these values as shown above, then click Add Device.

7.5 When the Do you need to activate an iBasis SIM? pop-up opens, select Continue.

We already activated the SIM card in the previous steps.

8. 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. 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.

9. The device window should appear, displaying the GPS data being sent from the device, as well as some other parameters.

10. 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.

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.

3. Launch nRF Connect for Desktop and install and open the Cellular Monitor application.

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. Update the application firmware and modem firmware on the device.

6.1 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.

6.2 Select the latest 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.

Select the latest version of the modem firmware; in this case, it is v1.3.5.

6.3 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.

6.4 Select Program.

Now click on the Program button to program the selected modem firmware.

6.5 Wait for the modem firmware to be programmed, then select 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.

6.6 Enable MCUBoot mode again.

Before we program the application firmware, we must but the device in MCUBoot mode again.

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.

6.7 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.

7. Turn the device off and on again before proceeding.

The device is still in MCUBoot mode, and a power-cycle will take it out of this.

8. Copy the SIM ICCID onto your computer.

8.1 In Cellular Monitor, click Start, then when the Refresh Dashboard button is active, click that as well.

8.2 Hover over the SIM information box and click the ICCID number to copy it, then save it on your computer.

Note

If the dashboard field does not get populated, you can select Open Serial Terminal and get the ICCID from the AT command AT%XICCID.

9. Activate your SIM card.

Important

If you are using a device that has belonged to someone else, make sure it has been deleted from their nRF Cloud account before adding it to yours.

9.1 Go to nRF Cloud (nrfcloud.com) and either register a user, if you don’t have one, or log in.

9.2. In the navigation pane on the left, go to Device Management, the select SIM cards.

9.3. Click Add SIM.

9.4 Input the SIM ICCID and SIM PUK code to activate the SIM.

The Add SIM page will open up on the Verify SIM Info view, asking you to enter the SIM ICCID/EID and SIM PUK code.

9.3.1 Enter the 18-digit ICCID or the 19-digit EID into the SIM ICCID/EID section.

Note

If your SIM card has an ICCID, you will need to remove the last two characters, as 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. Add the device to nRF Cloud.

10.1. In the navigation pane on the left-hand side, select Device Management, then Devices.

10.2 Click Add Devices.

The Select Device Type pop-up opens.

10.3 Click LTE Device in the Select Device Type pop-up.

10.4 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.

Note

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.

10.5 When the Do you need to activate an iBasis SIM? pop-up opens, select Continue.

We already activated the SIM card in the previous step.

11. 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. 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.

12. The device window should appear, displaying the GPS data being sent from the device, as well as some other parameters.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is device_added-1-1024x715.png

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.

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