Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Discussion and questions about boards that can run MicroPython but don't have a dedicated forum.
Target audience: Everyone interested in running MicroPython on other hardware.
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djipey
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2019 3:04 pm

Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by djipey » Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:11 pm

Hi,

I know that similar questions were asked before, but after browsing quite a lot of threads on the forum, I couldn't find exactly what I need. In short, I would like to find a board that matches all these conditions:

- cheap (< 10 €)
- has bluetooth
- small (something like 20x30 max)
- has 2.54 mm pins (so it can be soldered directly on a perfboard)
- has at least one ADC
- can run micropython, of course

The bare ESP32 could match this description, but the pins are very close together. Trying to solder it on/to a perfboard inevitably means soldering it to an adapter, and then the overall bundle isn't small anymore.

I was able to find something that matches my requirements (I think) here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3284765 ... hweb201603_

And I know that micropyhton runs on the NRF52.

WHat do you guys think? Do you have any other board in mind that matches my requirements?

Cheers

tBStar
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2020 3:56 pm

Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by tBStar » Sun Jul 05, 2020 4:04 pm

Hi,
I would go with the Ebyte E73-2G4M04S1B nRF52832, easy to solder, comes with an external low power crystal and cheaper. It has only 512KB flash but you can run most of you python code on it. Ebyte's dev board E73-TBB nRF52832 is probably what you're looking for.

Regards,


lukejamie07
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Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:55 am
Location: Houston
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Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by lukejamie07 » Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:59 am

Great, Its really very useful medium links.

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mcauser
Posts: 507
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 8:03 am

Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by mcauser » Sat Dec 05, 2020 6:53 am

EByte E73-TBB
Image

Was pretty easy to flash MicroPython to it!

EByte E73-TBB: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000516424563.html
J-Link clone: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001335080402.html

Install command line tools (on macOS):

Code: Select all

https://github.com/ARMmbed/homebrew-formulae
brew tap ArmMbed/homebrew-formulae
brew install arm-none-eabi-gcc
brew install homebrew/cask-drivers/nordic-nrf-command-line-tools
Compile and flash:
* Clone lastest micropython.
* Grab the e73 board def from: https://github.com/micropython/micropython/pull/5055
* Save the files in a new dir: ports/nrf/boards/e73
* Connect the E73-TBB to J-link (you can't use the E73-TBB onboard USB yet)
* make, deploy (,unlock, deploy)

Code: Select all

cd microython
make -C mpy-cross
cd ports/nrf
make submodules
make BOARD=e73
make BOARD=e73 deploy
If you hit this error, you need to disable the flash protection:

Code: Select all

ERROR: The operation attempted is unavailable due to readback protection in
ERROR: your device. Please use --recover to unlock the device.
Run this to unlock:

Code: Select all

$ nrfjprog --recover -f nrf52

Recovering device. This operation might take 30s.
Erasing user code and UICR flash areas.
Then try to deploy again:

Code: Select all

$ make BOARD=e73 deploy

Use make V=1 or set BUILD_VERBOSE in your environment to increase build verbosity.
nrfjprog --program build-e73/firmware.hex --sectorerase -f nrf52
Parsing hex file.
Erasing page at address 0x0.
Erasing page at address 0x1000.
Erasing page at address 0x2000.
....
Applying system reset.
Checking that the area to write is not protected.
Programming device.
nrfjprog --reset -f nrf52
Applying system reset.
Run.
Flashing complete. You can now try MicroPython REPL over USB.
* Unplug the j-link debugger.
* Connect to the E73-TBB onboard USB.

Code: Select all

$ screen /dev/tty.usbserial-1420 115200

MPY: soft reboot
MicroPython v1.13-221-gc8b055717 on 2020-12-05; E73-Demo with NRF52832
Type "help()" for more information.
/dev/tty.usbserial-1420 is my 2nd USB-C port on my MacBook Pro.
ls /dev/tty.* to see what yours is.

Naveenhome
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Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by Naveenhome » Thu Jul 08, 2021 10:36 am

Great post! thanks for sharing useful post.

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jimmo
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Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by jimmo » Thu Jul 08, 2021 1:09 pm

djipey wrote:
Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:11 pm
- has bluetooth
djipey wrote:
Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:11 pm
- can run micropython, of course
It's worth noting that the nRF port of MicroPython isn't as well maintained as the other main ports. It's on the TODO list but there are a lot of things on the TODO list.

In particular though, the bluetooth support is functional but the ubluepy API is deprecated (to be replaced with ubluetooth like the other ports).

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scruss
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Location: Toronto, Canada
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Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by scruss » Thu Jul 08, 2021 3:48 pm

It's not going to be particularly cheap (it's being made in Canada in limited numbers) but the myQT nRF52840 uses the small QT Py / Xiao form factor. The developer's a former colleague, and he's made it especially for his work in assistive technology.

aiHungChampion
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2020 8:20 am

Re: Simple cheap small board: NRF52 ?

Post by aiHungChampion » Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:47 am

Hi. I am looking for ibeacon example on NRF52. I search in the forums but can not find the right way to do. I have run successfully Eddystone with temperature sensor.

Any body can help?

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