[SOLVED] Set Low Fuse Bit, Now Can't Program over ISP

You won't measure an 8 MHz signal at an 8 MHz sampling rate.

Aakash:
@dc42 - I don't think CKOUT is outputting anything (see attached screenshot)

I think you're right, although you'll need to use a sampling frequency much greater than 8MHz to reliably see a 8MHz signal, so check with it set to 24MHz.

If you have an Arduino, you can use it to generate a clock signal to feed to XTAL1. Don't forget to use a potential divider to drop the voltage if it is a 5V Arduino.

PS - is it a 3-terminal resonator? If yes, have you grounded the centre pin? If no, are you certain that the capacitors you connected between the XTAL pins and ground are about the right value, and you haven't accidentally used a value that is much too large?

@dc42

I think the output looks the same at 24MHz. I have a 3.3V Arduino, what freq signal should I be generating to feed to XTAL1? Also, should I still try connecting XTAL1 and CKOUT?

And regarding your resonator question: It is a three terminal resonator. I didn't use my own caps as I believe they're built in. http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/CSTCE8M00G55-R0/490-1195-1-ND/584632

Thanks,
Aakash

EDIT: And yes, the center terminal is grounded.

The datasheet says that resonator has internal caps. I've use 8MHz ceramic resonators in my designs with no problems, although not at 3.3V and I set the low fuse byte to a more appropriate value.

Try feeding a clock signal from your 3.3V Arduino to XTAL1 through a 100 ohm resistor. The frequency doesn't matter much, I would try around 1MHz in the first instance. Leave CKOUT connected to your logic analyser so that you can check that you have a signal there.

Here's a sketch I use to get bursts of a known frequency on the OCR1A pin (pin 9 on an Arduino Uno):

// Generate a square wave of a given frequency on the OCR1A pin

#define REQUIRED_FREQUENCY  (38000)
#define REQUIRED_DIVISOR ((F_CPU/REQUIRED_FREQUENCY)/2)

#if (REQUIRED_DIVISOR < 65536)
# define PRESCALER  (1)
# define PRESCALER_BITS  (1)
#elif (REQUIRED_DIVISOR < 8 * 65536)
# define PRESCALER  (8)
# define PRESCALER_BITS  (2)
#elif (REQUIRED_DIVISOR < 64 * 65536)
# define PRESCALER  (8)
# define PRESCALER_BITS  (3)
#elif (REQUIRED_DIVISOR < 256 * 65536)
# define PRESCALER  (8)
# define PRESCALER_BITS  (4)
#elif (REQUIRED_DIVISOR < 1024 * 65536)
# define PRESCALER  (8)
# define PRESCALER_BITS  (5)
#else
# error Bad frequency
#endif

# define TOP        (((REQUIRED_DIVISOR + (PRESCALER/2))/PRESCALER) - 1)

void setup()
{
  pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(9, LOW);
  TCCR1A = 0;
  TCCR1B = (1 << WGM12) | PRESCALER_BITS;    // turn on
  TCCR1C = 0;
  OCR1AH = (TOP >> 8);
  OCR1AL = (TOP & 0xFF);
}

void on()
{
  TCNT1H = 0;
  TCNT1L = 0;  
  TCCR1A = (1 << COM1A0);
}

void off()
{
  TCCR1A = 0;
}

void loop()
{
  // Generate a burst 2ms long, then wait 10ms before generating the next one
  on();
  delay(2);  
  off();
  delay(10);
}

PS - have you checked for solder bridges on the XTAL1 or XTAL2 pins of the mcu?

@dc42 Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check for bridging tomorrow. I'll have to order a 100ohm resistor to test out the clock signal feeding. So that'll take a few days. I'll reply back with results then.

Thanks again everyone.

If you haven't got 100 ohms, try with 1K or whatever value >100 ohms you do have - it might work.

[EDIT: the datasheet for that resonator very helpfully gives the impedance at various frequencies. Based on that, at a clock frequency of 1MHz, even a 10K resistor may not be too high a value for it to work.]

@dc42 - I attached various screenshots of logic analyzer outputs. The file names are as follows:

  • RAW_SOURCE: the output of connecting the analyzer directly to Pin 9 of the clock source Arduino, which is running your code, through a 1.5K resistor.
  • XTAL1: The analyzer output on CKOUT due to connecting Pin 9 of source Arduino to XTAL1 pin on m328p through a 1.5K resistor
  • XTAL2: The analyzer output on CKOUT due to connecting Pin 9 of source Arduino to XTAL2 pin on m328p through a 1.5K resistor

I connected both the Arduino, m328p, and the logic analyzer to a common ground throughout these tests.

How should I proceed?

Thanks again!
Aakash

Try running my "chip detector" sketch:

That generates a clock signal on pin 9 as well in case you need it.

Nick,

I installed your sketch and hooked up the ICSP lines and the only serial output I got was "Atmega chip detector." I also tried connecting D9 to XTAL1 through a 1.5K resistor and the same was outputted.

Should I be doing something differently?

Thanks,
Aakash

I wouldn't worry about the resistor, but that sounds OK, assuming you followed my wiring. Sounds to me confirmation that it isn't responding to programming.

I wonder if, when you were changing the fuse in the Atmel Studio, you accidentally didn't notice that at the same time the high fuse was set to something that wasn't appropriate (like SPIEN). Once you turn off SPIEN you can't program through the SPI interface.

Nick,

AVR Studio read in the existing fuses, and showed me that only the low fuse had been modified (the field shows up with a notice once you modify it)

So, I'm pretty confident that I didn't change anything except low fuse.

Thanks though.
Aakash

OK, well I would remove the resonator if that is possible. Then feed the clock (XTAL1) from the clock output on my test sketch with no resistor. No capacitors or anything on XTAL1 or XTAL2. Check the voltages on the other pins (VCC, AVCC). Use the logic analyzer to confirm you are getting the 8 MHz clock in, and that the SPI data is arriving on the correct pins.

Do you have decoupling capacitors on VCC, AVCC?

Nick,

I do have decoupling caps on both. I'll have to buy a hot air gun to remove the resonator. I'll order one and update this thread in a few days.

Thanks,
Aakash

I'm not offering a magic bullet here. The symptoms as you describe them do not have a simple solution. I have a Uno here that just stopped working. I am assuming I zapped it with static, but can't be sure what is wrong. Maybe you did that yourself. Who knows? But if the thing isn't working, you may as well explore as many options as you can.

Nick,

It's possible! I'm just trying to find anything I can do before sending off to get rework done to replace the AVR and resonator.

Referring back to the logic analyser screen shots you posted earlier, the middle one (clock connected to XTAL1 through 1.5K resistor) looks exactly as it should. The frequency at CLKOUT is 1/8 of the clock you are feeding it because you have the fuse set to use the clock prescaler. We know that the your mcu wasn't oscillating before because you were unable to detect a clock on CLKOUT, and this explains why your ICSP was unable to read the device signature.

Have you tried using your ICSP to read the fuses, with the clock configured like this?

dc42 - I set your sketch to run at 1MHz and connected it to XTAL1. Then ran "avrdude -c avrispmkII -p m328p -P usb -B250" but no-go unfortunately. I suppose I'll just inquire about getting rework done to replace the mcu and resonator.

Thanks anyways guys, I really appreciate your help. When I get the board back I'll be sure to ask on this thread what fuses to set to what values. :slight_smile:

Thanks,
Aakash

dc42:
Referring back to the logic analyser screen shots you posted earlier, the middle one (clock connected to XTAL1 through 1.5K resistor) looks exactly as it should.

Are you certain? I does look like a nice clean clock signal but I read that horizontal scale as 1/10 of a second.

If I'm reading it correctly, the SCK period would have to be about 1/2 of a second (which may actually work).