Problem burning bootloader to Nano clone

Other Hardware 3rd Party Boards
1

I recently got a Nano clone and I found that sketches couldn't be uploaded. after looking around for a while I found that I needed to burn a bootloader to the chip; however I'm getting the following error:

Avrdude version 8.0-arduino.1
Copyright see https://github.com/avrdudes/avrdude/blob/main/AUTHORS

System wide configuration file is C:\Users\ismaw\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\tools\avrdude\8.0-arduino.1\etc\avrdude.conf

Using port            : COM5
Using programmer      : stk500v1
Setting baud rate     : 19200
AVR part              : ATmega328PB
Programming modes     : SPM, ISP, HVPP, debugWIRE
Programmer type       : STK500
Description           : Atmel STK500 v1
HW Version            : 2
FW Version            : 1.18
Topcard               : Unknown
Vtarget               : 0.0 V
Varef                 : 0.0 V
Oscillator            : Off
SCK period            : 0.0 us
XTAL frequency        : 7.372800 MHz

AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Device signature = FF 00 00
Error: expected signature for ATmega328PB is 1E 95 16
  - double check chip or use -F to carry on regardless

Avrdude done.  Thank you.
Failed chip erase: uploading error: exit status 1

The device signature changes between trials. It could sometimes be 00 FF 00 for example.

I'm using an Arduino Mega as the programmer
So far I have done the following:

  • Installed the MiniCore boards
  • Chose 328PB as the variant (other variants also do not work)
  • Connected a 10uF capacitor from RESET to GND on the Mega (I also tried 100nF and 1uF and they both didn't work)
  • Connected an external 16MHz clock to the Nano between pins 9 and 10

I really couldn't find any other solutions online :frowning:

2

Some thoughts:

  • I once had a cheap Nano clone with USB mini connector that didn't have the 328P processor, but a 168 instead.
  • make sure that your connections are stable
  • perhaps some other fuse got set, preventing you to upload. Using a high voltage fuse reset may be helpful.
3

Does your nano have a 328PB on it?

Connected an external 16MHz clock to the Nano between pins 9 and 10

That makes no sense, they are GPIO pins

4

Yes, that's what it says on the chip at least

This was a proposed solution in another forum post, here is the quote:

5

You misunderstood what he meant.

If you press the reset button does the LED blink about 3 times?

6

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The LED blinks only once when I reset it

7

Did you select the following when burning the bootloader?

Clock: External 16MHz
BOD: 2.7V
Variant: 328PB
Bootloader: Yes (UART0)
Baud rate: Default

8

image
image411×412 12.1 KB

Yes, I unfortunately still get the same error. I also tried selecting "Yes (UART1 328PB only)" and "No bootloader" with no luck.

9

Since you said that you initially could not upload sketches, your nano may just be defective.

At this point all I can say is recheck the wiring.

10

Thank you so much for your help.

The fix was actually pretty simple. I was following an old guide that connected the ICSP RESET pin to pin 53 on the Mega, but it worked when I connected it to pin 10 instead as stated in the ArduinoISP sketch, my bad for not noticing that.

1 Like