nRF51 SDK - S120 SoftDevice
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Running examples that use a SoftDevice

Before you can run more advanced examples that use Bluetooth, you must program the SoftDevice on the board. The SoftDevice binary is located in folder Nordic\nrf51\components\softdevice\s120\hex in the SDK.

You can also download the S120 SoftDevice and other SoftDevice files from http://www.nordicsemi.com.

There are three methods to program the SoftDevice:

  • using nRFgo Studio
  • from an example project within ARM Keil
  • using the GCC makefile of an example

See the following sections for detailed instructions on how to program the SoftDevice.

After you programmed the SoftDevice, follow the steps described in Running a first example to run an example that uses the SoftDevice. For example, test the BLE Heart Rate Collector Example.

nRFgo Studio

To program the SoftDevice using nRFgo Studio, perform the following steps:

  1. Open nRFgo Studio.
  2. In the Device Manager, select the nRF51 Development board that you are working with (identified by the SEGGER serial number).
  3. Select the Program SoftDevice tab.
  4. Click Browse and navigate to the SoftDevice file that you want to use.
  5. Click Program.

nRFgo Studio will erase any existing SoftDevice and program the selected SoftDevice.

ARM Keil

To program the SoftDevice using an example project in Keil, perform the following steps:

  1. Open an example project in Keil. The example must require a SoftDevice.
  2. Instead of the default target, select the flash_softdevice target.
  3. Click Download to program the SoftDevice.

Keil will erase any existing SoftDevice and program the appropriate SoftDevice for the example.

GCC makefile

To program the SoftDevice using a GCC makefile, perform the following steps:

  1. Open a command prompt in the folder that contains the makefile of an example. The example must require a SoftDevice.
  2. Ensure that nrfjprog.exe is in the path, thus the path to nrfjprog.exe is part of the PATH environment variable. The makefile issues a call to the nrfjprog tool.
  3. Run the following command: make flash_softdevice

Running the makefile will erase any existing SoftDevice and program the appropriate SoftDevice for the example.