Newbie trying to connect some boards

Development Tools Uploading
1

I am trying to get to grips with Arduino. I am using a Mac running 10.14.4.
My Arduino UNO works so I bought some clones. A Pro mini and a Nano. When I connect them and try to upload I get:

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

I have googled this but there does not seem to be a definative answer and most people have windows so they always talk about installing drivers.

Also there is talk about flashing firmware. When I buy a new board, do I have to do this?

Any good ideas out there?
Thanks

2

I am having problems connecting to my Pro mini and Nano with my Macbook.
I have a UNO original which connects ok.

I get this message with both Nano and ProMini: (tried different cables)
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

I saw on the Project hub “Prgramming the Arduino Pro Mini via the UNO.

I did this and hey presto, the Pro Mini connects.

Question 1 : Why is this happening?
Question 2: Can I prgramm all boards like this?
Question 3: Anyone know a better solution?

Many thanks

3

Herrid:
I get this message with both Nano and ProMini: (tried different cables)
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

For the Nano, select Tools > Processor > ATmega328P (Old Bootloader) and then try uploading again.

Herrid:
I saw on the Project hub “Prgramming the Arduino Pro Mini via the UNO.

Please post a link to it.

4

Thanks, the Nano now loads. The ProMini is still the same. It will only load via the UNO as shown here:

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/WolfxPac/programming-arduino-pro-mini-using-uno-014949

5

I'm glad to hear the Nano is working!

I can now see that the tutorial is about turning the Uno into a USB to TTL serial adapter for the Pro Mini.

What are you using for a USB to TTL serial adapter when you get the upload error? How is it wired to the Pro Mini?

Herrid:
Also there is talk about flashing firmware. When I buy a new board, do I have to do this?

Well, in the Arduino world, "uploading a sketch" is just another term for flashing firmware. Perhaps you're talking about burning the bootloader? If so, that's definitely not necessary. The fact that you can upload to your Pro Mini using the Uno in the way shown in that tutorial proves that the bootloader on your Pro Mini is working fine.

6

This is what I am using, connected the same as the UNO example. Ie TX to TX RX to RX and 3.3v and GND

USB-TTL Serial adapter CP2102, 5V
Purchased: https://opencircuit.nl/Product/14449/USB-TTL-Serial-adapter-CP2102.-5V-3.3V.-USB-A

7

Herrid:
TX to TX RX to RX

That's your problem. You need to make the connections RX-TX, TX-RX. The reason is that RX stands for "receive" and TX stands for "transmit". The reason why the RX-RX, TX-TX connection works on the Uno is because the RX and TX pins are labeled as they connect to the ATmega328P microcontroller which is normally on the Uno. However, you are not using the ATmega328P chip. You are connecting the USB to TTL serial adapter chip on the Uno (ATmega16U2 on the official and clone Uno, CH340 on the derivative Unos) to the Pro Mini. That USB to TTL serial adapter chip is connected to the ATmega328P on the Uno with an RX-TX, TX-RX connection. So your RX-RX, TX-TX connection to the Uno is really a RX-TX, TX-RX connection to the USB to TTL serial adapter.

8

Just swopped them over, still getting the same report:

vrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

When I click "TOOLS:GET BOARD INFO" I get native serial port cant obtain info.

9

Do you have a 16 MHz (AKA "5V") Pro Mini, or an 8 MHz (AKA "3.3V") Pro Mini?

10

8MHz 3.3V