Not alone in flashing an Amazon ProMinii 328P. Comes with a bootloader.
It was my solution to replace a mega328P U in a component tester.
I have flashed many devices using the serial interface of my Uno. So using the SCPI intercace and flashing the Uno as a programmer turned into a few days of headaches.
The Pro Mini is readily available and cheap. All I need is the MCU to transfer to the tester.
So far I have been able to program the EEP and HEX using the latest Avrdudess program.
The Uno as a programmer did not work. Serial and ICSP didn't work. Communication and com port errors.
Finally pulled the MCU in the Uno. Used the SCPI pins and jumpered the Pro Mini clone.
And got my EEP and Hex to "take".
The code was precompiled and the dev. assured me that the bootloader was included in the package. Just flash both files and good to go.
I verifieded the code in dude. Also read and saved both EEP and Hex files.
In a hex editor. Image posted here. Compring the original code versus written code. I see some differences. Even though verify in dude showed no errors.
Questions.
The Pro Mini is advertised as having a 16 MHz timebase. The tester has an 8 MHz crystal.
The code is compiled for an 8 MHz timebase.
Programming was sucsessful. No errors.
Considering that I will eventually lift the mega328P and solder it to the component tester.
Is this feasable?
Before and after flashing the code. There is a flashing red LED by the reset button of the Mini.
The Uno still connected to the SCPI flashes too. I cannot find much info on what causes it.
I'm not sure if the flash is correct because the EEP and HEX are different from the files>Mini.
I put the MCU back in the Uno and still get flashing LED's.
I am accustomed to being able to write 00's or FF's to zero fill adevice before actually flashing.
It helps to verify the erase was good.
Is there no zero fill utility in the IDE or dudes??
It took a bit to discover how to overcome write protection with fuses. I "think" I aced it.
Because eventually I got full progress bars with no errors when programming the Mini with dudes.
Again. The IDE failed me badly. With or w/o the MCU in the Uno.
All in all. I just need a bit of wisdom before lifting the mega328P from the Mini and installing it on my component tester. I screwed it up by checking a capacitor that was still charged.
Another salute to chinesium quality for the multimeter test probes I bought!
I went 50 different directions and tried 47 different methods to get as far as I did. With the help of Advil. I am NOT a seasoned Arduino user. But have a bit of a spark now. A mission of sorts.
Help!!!! Please. And try to be kind. I'm really trying here guys and gals.
