Arduino Mini, USB serial light adapter

Hi everyone,

I'm using Arduino mini for a project and I'm stuck to this problem for some days. I'm also using USB serial light adapter to connect the mini with my PC. I've checked the basic set up that is recommended here and my circuit is wired up the same way.
However, every time that I'm trying to upload something, this error keeps showing up...

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xf8

Probably is something wrong with the connection, but everything seems to be ok(the right serial port is chosen - COM3, drivers are updated, arduino mini board chosen as well).

Extra info:
OS: Windows 8.1 (also tested in Ubuntu 14.10-> didn't work).
Programmer : AVRISP mkll.

Thank you in advance :slight_smile:

nina_siam:
I'm using Arduino mini for a project and I'm stuck to this problem for some days. I'm also using USB serial light adapter to connect the mini with my PC.

Probably is something wrong with the connection, but everything seems to be ok(the right serial port is chosen - COM3, drivers are updated, arduino mini board chosen as well).

Extra info:
Programmer : AVRISP mkll.

You should make certain that your USB Serial adapter is showing up in Devices (and make sure of the COM# assigned to it)

Hi Runaway Pancake,
I ' ve checked that a few times so far.. :neutral_face:

The Arduino IDE shows COM3 as a serial port choice on my laptop, but I don't have anything showing up on COM3 in Device manager.
The IDE tries to use whichever COM is selected. You can choose anything from the list (all of the COMs online get listed) whether an Arduino device is connected to it or not.
My USB serial adapter pops up as COM9.
I hate to ask, but are you sure that you have a "ProMini" and not a "Mini"?

Hi again,
It's a mini. Concerning the ports I followed the guide to determine them. COM3 was the default choice.
Thanks again

What are you picking in the various menus under Tools, such as Board, Port, Processor?

In the Arduino IDE preferences put a checkmark on Show verbose output during upload. When you attempt an upload, post the entire contents of what is shown to you in the bottom part of the IDE window.

What do you get when you pick "Arduino Nano" on the Tools, Board menu (instead of Arduino Mini) and then try to upload a sketch?

If that does not work, upload a photo which shows (very clearly with good lighting and focus) how you have the serial adapter and Mini wired.

Try holding down the reset-button while compiling. Release it just as you see "uploading"

Hello,
I've tried pressing reset till uploading, and changing the board to Nano. Neither of them seem to work.. :frowning:
This is what avrdude complains about:

/*
Sketch uses 1,030 bytes (3%) of program storage space. Maximum is 30,720 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2,039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2,048 bytes.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM3 -b57600 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\nina\AppData\Local\Temp\build7574941503615981456.tmp/Blink.cpp.hex:i

avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Apr 15 2015 at 19:59:58
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch

System wide configuration file is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"

Using Port : COM3
Using Programmer : arduino
Overriding Baud Rate : 57600
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x26
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfe
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x26
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5e
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x1a
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x26
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x3a
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x33
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xe7

avrdude done. Thank you.
*/

Photos of my circuit are included.
Thanks :slight_smile:

Does the attempted baud rate show 115200 baud when you select Mini on the Board menu and attempt upload? Do any LEDs flash on the serial adapter or on the Mini when attempting upload? Do any LEDs flash on the Mini when you press and release the reset button? [edit; well I guess there is no pin 13 LED on the Mini like on other Arduinos. I am concerned that the photos show power applied to the USB adapter but the Mini power LED is not on. How about measuring with a voltmeter to see if there is any power getting to the Mini?]

Is the processor on the Mini an ATmega168P or ATmega328P (or something else)?

I would probably tend to use another working Arduino as an ISP programmer and burn a fresh bootloader on the Mini.

Promini has D13 LED like other arduinos.

CrossRoads:
Promini has D13 LED like other arduinos.

We are not talking about Pro Mini. It is the much rarer and enigmatic Mini.

Paired with the even rarer and more enigmatic ATmega8u2-based USB Serial Light Adapter.

Now that I think about that, nina_siam you may want to do the loop back test, which is described in one of the pinned posts at the top of the forum. It would be good to know for a fact the USB-serial adapter is in good working condition.

Hello,

It's ATmega328. I' ve tried loop back test with no success, unfortunately :confused: I' m very confused about led because sometimes it is on and sometimes off, without making any change on the circuit,arduino is new to me and i can' t determine led's meaning, especially in mini.

Thanks again,
Nina

I believe you need to get a different USB-serial adapter.

What is your experience level with Arduino in general? New to all of it, or are you experienced with other boards such as Uno? Do you know how to do ISP programming and have the means to do it? If not, I suggest set the USB Serial Light Adapter aside, because once you get a working Arduino and some experience with ISP programming and get comfortable with doing things on the command line with avrdude you may be able to repair it by re-installing the firmware on it. The firmware would be the same as on the Uno Rev1 or Rev2, I think.

I would also suggest switch to a Pro Mini. You can get a Pro Mini, and a matching USB-serial adapter which just plugs right onto the Pro Mini without wires, and it "just works."

I believe the LED on the Mini is a power LED, and should be on all the time it is connected. So I am concerned about your wiring or perhaps you have a bad breadboard. But then again, the USB-serial adapter could be at fault.

Sorry I don't have a good answer for you, just some stuff to think about.