I started this off some weeks ago, but i have lost track of where i was at, so if i may, i will start again.
I am trying to achieve the above, i have followed the instructions from several sources, and i always end up with an error message, during the exercise you are instructed to download https://raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.xboards-manager/package_damellis_attiny_index.json in the additional boards manager, in the preferences window of the IDE (I am running v1.8.5) i have trie so many times now,and when i enter the "Boards Manager" and i end up with the same message -
After you see that error in Boards Manager and then click the "Close" button you should find some more details of the problem in the black console window at the bottom of the Arduino IDE window (you might need to scroll up to see it all). Copy the full contents of that window and paste it here using code tags (</> button on the toolbar).
ieee488:
Why do you insist on using the Arduino Uno R3 for this?
A USB-TTL adapter is dirt cheap and will work.
That is incorrect - you need an ISP programmer to program an ATTiny85. If a bootloader were available (I have plans to introduce this in the next version of my core), after bootloading it with an ISP programmer, you could upload sketches with a USB-TTL converter. (You would still need to use an ISP programmer to write the bootloader to it first).
You can either use an Arduino (running Arduino as ISP) - or a purpose made ISP programmer (USBAsp, USBTinyISP are two very common and cheap ones) - but a USB-TTL converter cannot do this.
DrAzzy already said pretty much the same thing while I was writing but since I already wrote it I'll post anyway:
ieee488:
A USB-TTL adapter is dirt cheap and will work.
Although it's supposedly possible to use an FTDI FT232 as an ISP programmer, it's extremely slow and not directly supported by the Arduino IDE. An Uno used as an "Arduino as ISP" programmer is much more suitable, though if doing this regularly I'd say buy a USBasp.
If you did install a bootloader on the ATtiny85 you could use the USB-TTL adapter to upload but the damellis hardware package does not contain bootloaders and the other popular package, ATTinyCore I believe still does not (though there has been some work on that recently). There are some other hardware packages with ATtiny85 bootloaders such as the DigiSpark but really with such a limited amount of memory it's not ideal to use a big chunk of it for a bootloader so most people just use an ISP programmer to upload to the ATtiny85.
I would prefer to use a dedicated ISP programmer.
The fiddling around with an Arduino is not something I would want to deal with on a continual basis.
Indeed - empirically, rate of problems using Arduino as ISP is much higher - there are more connections to make, the autoreset thing (which doesn't seem to behave the same for everyone)...
Please explain what you mean by "it will not let me cut and paste".
You should be able to just click and drag the mouse over the text to highlight it, press ctrl+c to copy, then ctrl+v to paste it to a reply in the forum.
Error downloading http://downloads.arduino.cc/packages/package_index.json
java.lang.RuntimeException: java.lang.Exception: Error downloading http://downloads.arduino.cc/packages/package_index.json
at cc.arduino.contributions.packages.ui.ContributionManagerUI.lambda$onUpdatePressed$0(ContributionManagerUI.java:151)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:748)
Caused by: java.lang.Exception: Error downloading http://downloads.arduino.cc/packages/package_index.json
at cc.arduino.contributions.DownloadableContributionsDownloader.download(DownloadableContributionsDownloader.java:131)
at cc.arduino.contributions.packages.ContributionInstaller.download(ContributionInstaller.java:334)
at cc.arduino.contributions.packages.ContributionInstaller.downloadIndexAndSignature(ContributionInstaller.java:309)
at cc.arduino.contributions.packages.ContributionInstaller.updateIndex(ContributionInstaller.java:287)
at cc.arduino.contributions.packages.ui.ContributionManagerUI.lambda$onUpdatePressed$0(ContributionManagerUI.java:147)
... 1 more
Caused by: java.net.SocketException: Permission denied: connect
at java.net.DualStackPlainSocketImpl.waitForConnect(Native Method)
at java.net.DualStackPlainSocketImpl.socketConnect(DualStackPlainSocketImpl.java:85)
at java.net.AbstractPlainSocketImpl.doConnect(AbstractPlainSocketImpl.java:350)
at java.net.AbstractPlainSocketImpl.connectToAddress(AbstractPlainSocketImpl.java:206)
at java.net.AbstractPlainSocketImpl.connect(AbstractPlainSocketImpl.java:188)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connect(PlainSocketImpl.java:172)
at java.net.SocksSocketImpl.connect(SocksSocketImpl.java:392)
at java.net.Socket.connect(Socket.java:589)
at sun.net.NetworkClient.doConnect(NetworkClient.java:175)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(HttpClient.java:463)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(HttpClient.java:558)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.<init>(HttpClient.java:242)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(HttpClient.java:339)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(HttpClient.java:357)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getNewHttpClient(HttpURLConnection.java:1202)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.plainConnect0(HttpURLConnection.java:1181)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.plainConnect(HttpURLConnection.java:1032)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.connect(HttpURLConnection.java:966)
at cc.arduino.utils.network.FileDownloader.downloadFile(FileDownloader.java:170)
at cc.arduino.utils.network.FileDownloader.download(FileDownloader.java:128)
at cc.arduino.contributions.DownloadableContributionsDownloader.download(DownloadableContributionsDownloader.java:129)
... 5 more
WARNING: Error loading hardware folder C:\Users\dell\Documents\Arduino\hardware\libraries
No valid hardware definitions found in folder libraries.
Typically we blame this kind of problem on the firewall or other network security settings preventing the Arduino IDE from accessing the Internet. Make sure the Arduino IDE is whitelisted in your firewall software.
pert:
Typically we blame this kind of problem on the firewall or other network security settings preventing the Arduino IDE from accessing the Internet. Make sure the Arduino IDE is whitelisted in your firewall software.
Some people have reported this sort of problem when the network they're on has restrictions on Internet access, such as a workplace network.
It would definitely be a good idea to find out how to get Boards Manager working since this is a very useful feature and is by far the easiest way to install or update certain hardware packages. However, if that's not possible then you can work around this issue by manually installing the hardware package. damellis/attiny is structured and documented to use Boards Manager installation exclusively. It's possible to install that package manually but I'm going to suggest you use a much better ATtiny hardware package, which is also easier to install manually:
If you don't currently have a folder named hardware under your sketchbook folder, then create that folder. You can find/set the location of your sketchbook folder in the Arduino IDE at File > Preferences > Sketchbook location.
Move the unzipped folder to {sketchbook folder}/hardware
Close all Arduino IDE windows.
Start the Arduino IDE
Select Tools > Board > ATtiny25/45/85
Select Tools > Chip > ATtiny85
Configure other options under the Tools menu according to your hardware/preference(Clock, LTO (1.6.11+ only), B.O.D. Level, Timer 1 Clock, Save EEPROM)
I have followed your instructions to the letter at least six times now, still no download. I now have the link you posted in my "Hardware" file in the sketchbook folder (am i right in saying the sketchbook folder is actually the Arduino folder in my root directory?) it is unzipped. This is getting scary
If i get this problem sorted, will these be anygood, i bought a job lot of electronic hardware before christmas last, decided to go through it all and hey presto, i think these might be ok to use?
You misunderstood. The instructions in my last reply are a way for you to work around the Boards Manager problem, not a solution to the Boards Manager problem. A manual installation as I described above is an alternative to Boards Manager for installing hardware packages. So when Boards Manager is not working you can manually install a hardware package with no problem.
gresleyman:
I now have the link you posted in my "Hardware" file in the sketchbook folder
...and do you now see Tools > Board > ATtiny25/45/85?
gresleyman:
am i right in saying the sketchbook folder is actually the Arduino folder in my root directory
The sketchbook folder can be anywhere you like. Its location is shown (and can be changed) in the Arduino IDE at File > Preferences > Sketchbook location.
pert:
You misunderstood. The instructions in my last reply are a way for you to work around the Boards Manager problem, not a solution to the Boards Manager problem. A manual installation as I described above is an alternative to Boards Manager for installing hardware packages. So when Boards Manager is not working you can manually install a hardware package with no problem.
...and do you now see Tools > Board > ATtiny25/45/85?
The sketchbook folder can be anywhere you like. Its location is shown (and can be changed) in the Arduino IDE at File > Preferences > Sketchbook location.
Will what be anygood?
Strange. I didn't see those attached pictures before and I definitely looked for them. I wonder if the forum doesn't show attachments when someone replies while you're writing a reply?
Yes, those are very useful tools! I am partial to the USBasp programmers but the USBtinyISP should also work fine for the ATtiny85.
Have you gotten the ATTinyCore hardware package working for you yet?
No, i am still struggling, i do not fully understand by what you mean a manual way ? I have followed your instructions, i will try to explain my actions -
Checked in my ARDUINO folder for a folder labelled "Hardware" yes, i already have one my document > arduino > hardware
I then downloaded into the hardware folder, the zip file you gave me, i opened the Arduino IDE, selected tools, > board - still the same problem.
