Nubie can't BLINK but I want to learn how to correct my errors.

[kpgresk]

I’m a 76 yo trying to learn Arduino for a 3D printer. I’m using Mac OS 10.10.5 and Arduino 1.6.5 with a Mega 2560 connected via USB. I can’t BLINK. I’ve scoured the message boards, Arduino help and Google. I’ve tried whatever I can find to try.
I would like to know what my error messages MEAN, and what I need to do to correct the errors. I have miles to go and every journey starts with one small step—but I can’t get started.

The 2560 has a steady red light lit @ “on” and a blinking “L” light (on for ½ sec, off for ½ sec) when connected via USB. I know its not receiving sketches because it says it’s not receiving and I’ve changed the timing delay for the “L” from 1000 to 8000 in the sketch to no avail.

My settings and Programmer selections are attached below.

Question 1: Which Programmer should I select?

MY ERROR MESSAGES ARE LISTED HERE.
avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Apr 14 2015 at 16:30:25
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch

System wide configuration file is "/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
User configuration file is "/Users/Ken/.avrduderc"
User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

Using Port : /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port
Using Programmer : wiring
Overriding Baud Rate : 115200
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_getsync(): timeout communicating with programmer

avrdude done. Thank you.

Question 2: What does “User configuration . . . skipping” mean and what should I do about it?

Question 3: What is “avrdude?”

I assume the “ReceiveMessage . . . timeout” means no msg was received.

Question 4: What should I do to fix the “timeouts” and the “getsync?”

Really, I’m at the end of my rope, but have high hopes of enjoying my newly built 3D printer “one step at a time!”

Settings for Forum.doc (166 KB)

[jackwp]

Welcome to the forum. You are right, one step at a time.
I ask a lot of questions, so bear with me.

Are you trying to use bluetooth, or usb connection?
** Using Port : /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port**

This is your first attempt to load sketch into an arduino?
So, am I to understand that the problem isn't that you can't get the BLINK to work, but that you can't upload any sketch into the arduino?

[kpgresk]

Thanks for offering to help.

Using USB. My port options are attached.

You're correct. I can't upload any sketch because of the errors listed. I've been trying what suggestions I could find.

My "on" LED glows bright red, and my "L" LED (also red), right next to "on", blinks, perhaps twice a second.

I've "tested" the board (connected RXO pin to TXO; reset to gnd). Looked for feedback from Serial Monitor by typing on Mac, but got nothing.

PS I can answer lots of questions.

[jackwp]

The bluetooth thing keeps showing up, and sticking in my mind??

I am leaning toward the problem being in your PC with info at hand. Do you have another PC (maybe one with another operating system) that you could try with.

I use chrome book, so I have no experience with your PC. Maybe someone else here can suggest

[kpgresk]

Here is the compile response. I've abbreviated it to eliminate the many repeat tries. Does this help??

/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avr-g++ -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -mmcu=atmega2560 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10605 -DARDUINO_AVR_MEGA2560 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -I/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/cores/arduino -I/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/variants/mega /var/folders/d_/gbfvlvcn4y11n0fjm48959bh0000gn/T/build7013834018722971516.tmp/BlinkTry.cpp -o /var/folders/d_/gbfvlvcn4y11n0fjm48959bh0000gn/T/build7013834018722971516.tmp/BlinkTry.cpp.o
/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avr-gcc -c -g -x assembler-with-cpp -mmcu=atmega2560 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10605 -DARDUINO_AVR_MEGA2560 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR –

I/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/cores/arduino -I/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/variants/mega /Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/cores/arduino/wiring_pulse.S -o /var/folders/d_/gbfvlvcn4y11n0fjm48959bh0000gn/T/build7013834018722971516.tmp/wiring_pulse.S.o
/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avr-gcc -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -mmcu=atmega2560 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10605 -DARDUINO_AVR_MEGA2560 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR –

/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avr-g++ -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -mmcu=atmega2560 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10605 -DARDUINO_AVR_MEGA2560 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR –

I/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/cores/arduino -I/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/variants/mega /var/folders/d_/gbfvlvcn4y11n0fjm48959bh0000gn/T/build7013834018722971516.tmp/BlinkTry.cpp -o /var/folders/d_/gbfvlvcn4y11n0fjm48959bh0000gn/T/build7013834018722971516.tmp/BlinkTry.cpp.o
/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avr-gcc -c -g -x assembler-with-cpp -mmcu=atmega2560 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10605 -DARDUINO_AVR_MEGA2560 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -

avrdude: Version 6.0.1, compiled on Apr 14 2015 at 16:30:25
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch

System wide configuration file is "/Users/Ken/Documents/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
User configuration file is "/Users/Ken/.avrduderc"
User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

Using Port : /dev/cu.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port
Using Programmer : wiring
Overriding Baud Rate : 115200
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout
avrdude: stk500v2_getsync(): timeout communicating with programmer

avrdude done. Thank you.

[johnwasser]

The Bluetooth Incoming Port is NOT the port for your "Arduino Mega". If you don't see a port that looks like "/dev/cu.usbmodemXXXX" you might have a cheap clone that uses an FTDI, CH34x or other USB-to-TTY Serial chip and will have to install the matching driver for that chip.