(While searching through my previous research, I found this:
"Editing the Arduino preferences file
"To use an external programmer for all boards you need to make some small changes to the Arduino preferences.txt. Make sure to edit this file "when the Arduino IDE is not running.
"This preferences file is found in this folder:
" * /Users//Library/Arduino/preferences.txt (Mac)
" * c:\Documents and Settings<USERNAME>\Application Data\Arduino\preferences.txt (Windows)
" * ~/.arduino/preferences.txt (Linux)
(If this is the solution, then disregard but I don't have the time to test it at the moment).
I couldn't figure out exactly what to put in the subject line so I put what I think I'm having trouble with.
I'll start with the problem then go into what I did to solve it. I have done tons of research and tried various fixes, I promise.
Long story short, I get this:
stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00
after I (think) I burned a bootloader to the chip using a leonardo as ISP. Uploading a sketch will not work as I get that error. Currently the module just blinks the activity light about once every 0.8 seconds, and it's on for about 0.25 seconds (not like the stock "blink" example).
Now here's what got me there.
To start, I followed this instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/YABBAS-Yet-Another-Bare-Bones-Arduino-on-Stripb/
It is a ATMEGA328p on a stripboard with a power indicator LED, activity LED, 7805 regulator, external crystal w/proper caps, and a few resistors in what seems like all the right places for things like resetting etc based on my research.
Let's assume all the wiring, soldering, and building is sufficient. After I got it all together and got my FTDI Basic breakout board, I tried to program it.
FIRST thing I did was wire up and configure my leonardo to do the ISP work.
I used these instructions to set up the leo for ISP: ArduinoISP on the Leonardo | PeterVH
This provided the wiring, but the instructions regarding the ISP stuff software-wise weren't 100% clear to me. We're talking like 95%, but I can't be certain I interpreted them correctly. Either way, I wired the 6-pin ICSP just like the picture, to all the right pins on my 328 (as the picture is for the Tiny85) and I uploaded the one-line-modified Arduino as ISP sketch to the leo.
On to the bootloader process...
I used these instructions to burn the bootloader: VeroBoardUino – Last Part – Burning a Bootloader and Uploading Programs – Martyn Davis | Marengo (primary)
http://thetransistor.com/projects/arduino/ (rough outline)
Basically both times I tried to "burn bootloader" using arduino as ISP for the programmer, the activity LED on the standalone flashed like a machine gun pattern for a while, then it got done about 30-45 seconds later. After this was complete, the activity LED does the 0.25 second ON every 0.8 seconds ever since. Whenever I try to upload a sketch to it, the activity light patter changes a bit, but there's no discernable pattern, then it goes back to the intermittent blink.
I tried updating/installing proper(?) drivers for USB Serial and Serial in Device Manager as per BLGC usb glitch workaround [update- problem solved] - RC Groups
which basically has me delete/uninstall all previous drivers, avoid online updating and installing the drivers that they had.
I tried swapping TX/RX pins (makes no sense, they should be one thing and not a 50/50 choice), using leo, power supply, and the regulator voltage, and like I said burning the bootloader again.
Question I have is.... what's going on? I've tried lots. The tutorial that showed me how to use the leo as an ISP also has a section on how to use it as a USB->Serial adapter as well, that's my next step after I get back tonight but ANY (please!) any input would be super appreciated.
Thanks so much in advance!