I have plugged my ardinuo board and got a flashing orange light. New to this. Assembled radio. Then got into this stuff. I mean I bought a do it yourself radio. Anyway the board is flashing orange. Is it faulty? Just ordered another off amazon
This is normal. Once you upload a sketch, you will no longer have a blinking LED. That is, unless the sketch you upload is written to blink the LED.
A new Arduino comes with a preprogrammed sketch that flashes an on board LED.
I would suggest you view a few tutorials on the Arduino and read what material you can get. The Arduino Cookbook would be a great read for you, it will give you the basics. If you do not have any electronics background do the same with the tutorials.
Good book
Arduino links of interest.
How to use this forum:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=149014.0
Getting started:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide
Listing of downloadable 'Arduino PDFs' :
Either Google >>>- - - - > arduino filetype: pdf
Or
[url=https://www.google.ca/search?q=arduino+filetype%3A+pdf&rlz=1C9BKJA_enCA739CA739&oq=arduino+filetype%3A+pdf&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65.1385j0j7&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8]arduino filetype: pdf - Google Search
Listing of downloadable 'C++ PDFs' :
Either Google >>>- - - - > C++ filetype: pdf
Or
[url=https://www.google.ca/search?q=c%2B%2B+filetype%3A+pdf&rlz=1C9BKJA_enCA739CA739&oq=c%2B%2B+filetype%3A+pdf&aqs=chrome..69i57.22790j0j7&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8]c++ filetype: pdf - Google Search
Arduino cheat sheet:
[url=https://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/learn/materials/8/Arduino_Cheat_Sheet.pdf]https://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/learn/materials/8/Arduino_Cheat_Sheet.pdf[/url]
Watch these:
Arduino programming syntax:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CbJHL_P5RJ8
Arduino arithmetic operators:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UUx0_s-ElSs
Arduino control flow:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QpPGGuaGbCA
Arduino data types:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xmZXWMEltEc
Understanding Destructive LC Voltage Spikes:
https://www.pololu.com/docs/0J16/all
OR
https://www.pololu.com/docs/pdf/0J16/destructive_LC_voltage_spikes.pdf
Why MOSFET gate resistors:
https://youtu.be/o0OHGWCZ7B0
Some things to read
LCD information:
https://learn.adafruit.com/character-lcds?view=all
OR
https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/downloads/pdf/character-lcds.pdf?timestamp=1573085286
Reading a schematic:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-read-a-schematic
Language Reference:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/HomePage
Foundations:
[url=https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Foundations]https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Foundations[/url]
How and Why to avoid delay():
[url=http://playground.arduino.cc/Code/AvoidDelay]Arduino Playground - HomePage
Demonstration code for several things at the same time.
[url=http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=223286.0#bot]Demonstration code for several things at the same time - Project Guidance - Arduino Forum
Multitasking:
Part 1:
https://learn.adafruit.com/multi-tasking-the-arduino-part-1?view=all
Part 2:
https://learn.adafruit.com/multi-tasking-the-arduino-part-2?view=all
Part 3:
https://learn.adafruit.com/multi-tasking-the-arduino-part-3?view=all
Sparkfun Tutorials:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials?page=all
Micro Controllers:
https://learn.adafruit.com/mcus-how-do-they-work?view=all
Useful links:
[url=https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=384198.0]Useful links - check here for reference posts / tutorials - Programming Questions - Arduino Forum
Arduino programming traps, tips and style guide:
[url=http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=12153]Gammon Forum
Arduino programming course:
https://startingelectronics.org/software/arduino/learn-to-program-course/
Jeremy Blume:
[url=https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA567CE235D39FA84]https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA567CE235D39FA84[/url]
Arduino products:
[url=https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Products]https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Products[/url]
Motors/MOSFETs
[url=http://www.gammon.com.au/motors]http://www.gammon.com.au/motors[/url]
Making a library
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Hacking/libraryTutorial
Switches:
http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11955
Share tips you have come across, 700+ posts:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=445951.0
Debug discussion:
https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=215334.msg1575801#msg1575801
Frequently Asked Questions:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/main/FAQ#toc10
Number 'type's.
- boolean (8 bit) - simple logical true/false, Arduino does not use single bits for bool
- byte (8 bit) - unsigned number from 0 to 255
- char (8 bit) - signed number from -128 to 127. The compiler will attempt to interpret this data type as a character in some circumstances, which may yield unexpected results
- unsigned char (8 bit) - same as 'byte'; if this is what you're after, you should use 'byte' instead, for reasons of clarity
- word (16 bit) - unsigned number from 0 to 65535
- unsigned int (16 bit)- the same as 'word'. Use 'word' instead for clarity and brevity
- int (16 bit) - signed number from -32768 to 32767. This is most commonly what you see used for general purpose variables in Arduino example code provided with the IDE
- unsigned long (32 bit) - unsigned number from 0 to 4,294,967,295. The most common usage of this is to store the result of the millis() function, which returns the number of milliseconds the current code has been running
- long (32 bit) - signed number from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
float (32 bit) - signed number from -3.4028235E38 to 3.4028235E38. Floating point on the Arduino is not native; the compiler has to jump through hoops to make it work. If you can avoid it, you should. We'll touch on this later. Sparkfun.
You select the 'type' best suited for your variables.
ex:
- your variable does not change and it defines a pin on the Arduino. const byte limitSwitchPin = 34;
- since an analog variable can be 0 to 1023, a byte will not do, you can select 'int'. int temperature;
- if your variable needs to be within -64 to +64 a 'char' will do nicely. char joystick;
- if your variable is used for ASCII then you need type 'char',
char myText[ ] = {"Raspberry Pie Smells"}; - if your variable enables some code then boolean can be used. boolean enableFlag = false;
- millis() returns the time in ms since rebooting, unsigned long currentTime = millis();
etc.
Oh, and have fun too 
!
LarryD
Quite an essay you have there.
The hefty Arduino Cookbook has always been one of my mainstays and one of the best when either starting out or general referencing.
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