How to flash NT Modules
This page is for instructions on how to flash NT modules with a NT firmware.
Proprietary NT modules (such as those from ensys) may require different procedures and/or firmware, please see the vendor's documentation.
Updating NT Firmware
If your NT module runs already a NT firmware, this is the canonical procedure for upgrading:
First-Time Flashing
If your NT module has not yet been flashed with a NT firmware, or runs a different firmware because e.g. you're modding some piece of hardware to become a NT module, then one needs to resort to grass roots flashing methods for flashing the NT firmware (first-time flashing). For details see here:
General Comments on the First-Time Flashing Process
In general, the STM32 micro-controllers which are used in the NT modules (and STorM32 boards) provide two different built-in methods for flashing firmware:
- via the serial system bootloader using the STorM32 board (or a USB-TTL adapter)
- via SWD using a ST-Link programmer
Not all methods are available for every NT module. All "OlliW" NT modules can be flashed by method 1, some of them also by method 2. When a non-"OlliW" piece of hardware such as the CC3D Atom is modded, then the situation becomes very depending on the particular piece of hardware used.
Method 1 is most convenient, only the STorM32 board (or a USB-TTL adapter) is needed. However, the grain of salt, one needs access to the BOOT0 pin on the NT module, as it needs to be (temporarily) shortened to GND for method 1 to work, but this pin is not always available. This is so for instance for the Mini CC3D Atom.
Method 2 requires a dedicated ST-Link programmer as additional hardware. It is cheaply available, but nevertheless it is an additional piece of hardware. Also, the NT module must offer access to the SWD pins, which are not available on every board.