topic Re: FRDM-MCXW71 delvelopment board has mal functioning external SW (J12) in Wireless MCU

FRDM-MCXW71 delvelopment board has mal functioning external SW (J12)

MVWare — Thu, 29 May 2025 12:04:54 GMT

I want to use the FRDM-MCXW71 development board to debug an external proto board with an K32W041 device. That proto works fine with segger Jlink.
I dont get SW to work with this FRDM.
I do not understand from the documentation and schematics, how the local MCXW71 is decoupled, when connecting the external device. On J12 pin 9 will sense the external device, and should switchto that interface. (but FRDM has no coucoupling to the MCXW71, strange! )
Each time the core is not detected or recognized.
With the scope I check all signals, all work.
Cable connection is correct.
When starting the debug, or flash erase with MCUXpresso, the local MCXW71 stops its ledblinky program, the external device keeps on running its ledblinky program. So it is already wrong that the local MCXW71 is reacting on the debug action. the external should.
From UM12063, it seems that this FRDm can not debug external devivces, while other NXP documentation sys it can. very confusing.
I also used a LPC55S69 development board 2 years ago. that was able to program external devices. But is was also equiped with SW disconnection chips..
Any help or suggestion is welcome..
Im affrais that NXP has not made a well job on this FRDM board...

Re: FRDM-MCXW71 delvelopment board has mal functioning external SW (J12)

sofiaurueta — Fri, 30 May 2025 18:41:26 GMT

Hello,

Hope you are doing well.

Could you please help me clarify if you wish to use the MCXW71 or the K32W041 as the external debugger?

Also, could you send me an image of your setup and how you managed the connections?

The available debug scenarios for FRDM-MCXW71 are MCU-Link for debugging the MCXW71 MCU and using an external debugger for debugging the MCXW71 MCU, mentioned on section 3 from the FRDM-MCXW71 Board User Manual.

Best Regards,

Ana Sofia.

Re: FRDM-MCXW71 delvelopment board has mal functioning external SW (J12)

MVWare — Fri, 30 May 2025 19:11:04 GMT

Hi Ana, thanks for reply.

After more studying the schematics and documentation. it seems indeed not possible to use this board for debugging to an other external MCU.
JP12 seems only added to this development board to connect for example the segger J-link to this development board.
Many other development boards with onboard debug device-iC's do have the posibility to use them as a limited (cheap) debugger and programmer for your own protoype-board. This one from NXP does NOT. thats a big dis advantage.
Of course I can modify the boards and make the LPC55S69 ready for external use. then I need to patch some connections.
You can compare this FRDM-MCXW71 to the LPC55S69 EVK. that one is able tot use as debuger/programmer. I succeded to us it for the K32W.

If you think I can use this FRDM for external MCU debugging. please explain how.
So far it will not work, as the local MCU wil disturb SW communication...
It would have been possible with a very simple change in the design. Just a split in reset...

Re: FRDM-MCXW71 delvelopment board has mal functioning external SW (J12)

sofiaurueta — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:44:52 GMT

Hello,

You would have to use an external debug probe, you could check the MCU-Link Debug Probe and MCU-Link Pro Debug Probe. These are small, economic devices to help debugging and programming.

The MCXW71 can be programmed with the MCU Link, and the MCU-Link Pro supports CMSIS-DAP and/or J-Link protocols.

Best Regards,

Ana Sofia.