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LTE Modem over J-Link

This article describes how to flash the LTE modem firmware in CHESTER using SEGGER J-Link.

Requirements​

You will need the following hardware and software tools:

  • One of these operating systems:

    • Ubuntu version 20.04 / 22.04
    • macOS version 11 / 12 (with Homebrew installed)
    • Windows version 10 / 11

  • Python 3 distribution installed on your system:

    Run this command in the Terminal app:

    sudo apt install python3

  • CHESTER device (you will need to open the enclosure top cover with six screws)

  • USB debugger/programmer SEGGER J-Link (including a 10-pin SWD adapter + flat cable)

    tip

    HARDWARIO provides J-Link + all the required accessories on demand.

  • Micro-USB cable with appropriate plug type to your computer

    danger

    Some Micro-USB cables provide only power and no data signals. If the connection between J-Link, and your system does not work, check the cable type in the first place.

  • Python application bundle HARDWARIO Command Line Tools

Installation​

You can install HARDWARIO Command Line Tools with these steps:

  1. On Windows only - Install the SEGGER J-Link drivers:

  2. Open the Terminal (Ubuntu or macOS) or Command Prompt (Windows) application.

  3. Initialize the Python virtual environment:

    python3 -m venv hardwario-venv

  4. Activate the Python virtual environment:

    source hardwario-venv/bin/activate
    caution

    When you close the Terminal or Command Prompt, you must reactivate the Python virtual environment. Simply repeat the appropriate command for the given platform above.

  5. Install HARDWARIO Command Line Tools:

    pip install hardwario

  6. You can verify the installation with the following command:

    hardwario --version

    It should provide output similar to this:

    hardwario.chester v1.19.0
    hardwario.cloud v1.4.1
    hardwario.common v1.7.1
    hardwario.hardwario v1.2.0

Flashing Procedure​

Follow these steps to flash the LTE modem firmware in the CHESTER device:

  1. Open the CHESTER enclosure (6 screws from the bottom side).

  2. Connect the 10-pin flat cable to the connector labeled APP (or BLE on hardware revision R3.2 and earlier).

    caution

    One of the wires on the flat cable between SEGGER J-Link and CHESTER has red color. This red color denotes signal number 1. This red-colored signal has to be oriented toward the black dot located next to the SWD connector on the CHESTER mainboard. The same rule with the cable applies at the side of SEGGER J-Link.

  3. Connect the other side of the 10-pin flat cable to the SEGGER J-Link adapter board (and plug the adapter board into the SEGGER J-Link device).

  4. Connect the Micro-USB cable to your computer and SEGGER J-Link.

  5. Open the Terminal (Ubuntu or macOS) or Command Prompt (Windows) application.

  6. Activate the Python virtual environment where you have installed the HARDWARIO Command Line Tools (see the previous chapter).

  7. Run this command to erase the application firmware:

    hardwario chester app erase
    tip

    The application firmware erase is required in order to prevent the reset signal collision between SEGGER J-Link and the application firmware.

  8. Connect the 10-pin flat cable to the connector labeled LTE.

    caution

    One of the wires on the flat cable between SEGGER J-Link and CHESTER has red color. This red color denotes signal number 1. This red-colored signal has to be oriented toward the black dot located next to the SWD connector on the CHESTER mainboard. The same rule with the cable applies at the side of SEGGER J-Link.

  9. Download the LTE modem firmware package v1.3.0.

    info

    If you are upgrading your CHESTER to the LTEv2 communication stack, you need to download and flash v1.7.0 or higher.

    This newer LTE firmware is not backward compatible with LTEv1 catalog apps and you have to flash to the APP/BLE MCU only the LTEv2 application like Demo or CHESTER Control.

  10. Run this command to flash the LTE modem firmware:

    hardwario chester lte flash hio-chester-lte-v1.3.0.zip

  11. Connect the 10-pin flat cable to the connector labeled APP (or BLE on hardware revision R3.2 and earlier).

    caution

    One of the wires on the flat cable between SEGGER J-Link and CHESTER has red color. This red color denotes signal number 1. This red-colored signal has to be oriented toward the black dot located next to the SWD connector on the CHESTER mainboard. The same rule with the cable applies at the side of SEGGER J-Link.

  12. Flash the application firmware.

  13. Disconnect the SEGGER J-Link adapter.