I have several standalone atmega328 chips, each running on it's own board. I use a standard FTDI breakoutboard to upload code to these chips. I have to do batch uploads so I hook up board A, upload the code, disconnect the TX/RX/RST/GND connector from standalone board A, plug it into board B, and upload again.
Sometimes this works for up to 8 boards in a row, sometimes the COM port gets locked up when I switch my connector from one board to another. I usually solve this by quitting all Arduino IDE windows, unplug the USB cable connected to the FTDI board, wait, reconnect, restart Arduino IDE, open sketch again and voila: upload works again.
I would like to be able to switch the connector between boards without the COM locking up. I have no idea what causes this. Can the disconnecting mess up the communication with the virtual COM port through the FTDI chip? If so, can this be prevented with some extra electronics to disconnect the board safely, as with USB devices ?
Cheers,
Jack
Before you switch, do you go thru USB Safely Remove Hardware thingy? Or just pull the cable out.
I just pull the cable, but I don't think I've connected more than 2 boards in a row. Usually just an FTDI adapter and the Atmel AVR ISP MKii adapter.
Thanks for your reply!
I see I have been unclear. My setup:
[ PC ]----usb cable-----[FTDI breakout board]---four wire cable TX/RX/RST/GND---[standalone atmega328 board]
If I wish to switch boards, I remove the four wire cable from the board and connect it to the next. Sometimes that action results in a locked COM port on the PC. In that case, I remove the usb cable from the PC, quit arduino IDE, reconnect usb cable, reopen sketch. This always results in a working setup again, but is more work than necessary (I hope). If I remove the usb cable, I do not use the safely remove hardware option, but that has not resulted in problems yet.
Cheers,
Jack
So your standalone board is powered by the FTDI adaptor?
Let me guess - you have a 47µF capacitor on the 5V line on the standalone board?
Ah no, my standalone board is powered by its own power source, multiple 47uFs between 5V and GND. I can connect it to the four wire cable when it's powered or when it's off, both ways sometimes work, and sometimes not.
If you are on Windows, I feel your pain.
That is why I now do this stuff from the command line:
http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=182849.0
Or
http://www.hackster.io/rayburne/avr-firmware-duplicator
Ray
mrburnette:
That is why I now do this stuff from the command line:
Copy 'n Paste Arduino Firmware - Exhibition / Gallery - Arduino Forum
Someone was chasing you for further information on that thread.
I say, was. ...
Paul__B:
Someone was chasing you for further information on that thread.
I say, was. ...
I saw that and just was not able to bring myself to enter a discussion with a newbie over "choppin" the Intel format HEX file... It is often cruel to overlook a question, but sometimes it is just better not to answer, IMO.
Ray