I want to put the Arduino hex file onto the Arduino UNO with Optiboot but not using the IDE. I want a PIC micro to do it. What is the sequence for using Reset and the serial port to send the program? Thanks.
You have to analyze the avrdude upload protocol.
If AvrDude displays [04] or something, is it putting non-printable ascii inside the brackets?
The sequence is described in the data sheet. See section 28. 28.8 might be what you are after.
What data sheet? I looked at the Atmega 328 data sheet, section 28 is electrical characteristics...
How fresh is that datasheet? In the 2/2013 version, chapter 28 is "Memory Programming," and 28.8 is "Serial Downloading," as advertised; "Electrical Characteristics" is chapter 29.