I recently started getting a "avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding" error when I try to upload anything to my Uno from an iMac (10.6.6). The setup worked fine until I tried to use an analog reference voltage of 12v. I'm pretty sure I did everything right for the aref, but I assumed the ATmega328 had been fried, anyway, so I bought a new one. Installed the new chip last night, but I'm still getting the same error.
This is what Arduino tells me when I try to upload:
Binary sketch size: 1426 bytes (of a 32256 byte maximum)
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
I have a Mac w/10.6.6, and an Uno board.
Thanks for any help or advice!
Sam
P.S. I tried looking through the troubleshooting page (which actually has very little useful information on it about really anything...) and searching the forums for similar problems. I found one that I thought was close, but they suggested I start my own thread, so here it is!
The error is a generic error and there are probably thousands of pages (and old-forum posts) that give ideas on what to do.
The two most common issues appear to be: 1) Something wrong with the USB-Serial Interface or 2) Auto-Reset not working.
If you damaged the 8u2 on the Uno, it may not be able to communicate with the computer any more. The first step is trying the manual-reset already mentioned.
As for applying 12V to AREF, you probably shouldn't. The reference (nor the ADCs inputs) are not rated for anything over ~5V.
Yeah, I've tried manual reset already, to no avail.
The chip said it came preloaded with the bootloader (from Sparkfun), but I got the same error when I tried to write the bootloader to the chip, anyway.
I'm selecting the same COM ports and have the same settings on my computer as I did when the communication worked, so I don't think that's the issue.
I thought I read that you could use pretty much any aref voltage as long as you told the board you were going to beforehand. Maybe I missed where the max is 5v. I thought using an external reference was for if you needed a reference above 5, but maybe it's just if you need it other than 5...
I don't know what the 8U2 is, but it sounds like that's probably what I fried, then. I'm guessing this means I'lll just need to get a whole new board?
The Atmega328 Datasheet clearly says that all I/O pins have a Max Voltage of VCC+0.5v. The Arduino documentation could probably be clearer on this point. You are right, the reason for ARef is for anything other than the internal 1.1V or VCC as the reference.
I don't know what the 8U2 is, but it sounds like that's probably what I fried, then. I'm guessing this means I'lll just need to get a whole new board?
The 8U2 is the other microprocessor on the Uno. It is the surface mount component near the USB port. It handles the USB/Serial communication between the PC and the ATmega328. Unless you can do the rework yourself, you'll need to purchase another Uno.
Well.. Just as a suggestion (and to ensure your old and new chip is not completely fried) try wiring it in a breadboard and communicating with it if you have an avr programmer.
And yes there are a few tutorials here, but this one is more visual(to me anyways).
Heck if both chips work, buy a few boards from radio shack, two usb to serial chips, 5v(or 3.3v) regulators, a few capacitors and resistors, and two reset buttons, and you have efficiently multiplied one dead arduino for two good ones
