trying to bootload Atmega168a-pu optiloader

Other Hardware 3rd Party Boards
1

hello
Im trying to install a bootloader on the atmega168a-pu at 8mhz. Ive been bootloading the 328p-pu with my nano but can't get it to work with the 168a-pu. Ive been using the arduino to breadboard method with IDE 1.0.6. I've tried various board.txt modifications like the link below and get the Yikes, invalid device signature error. The 168a chips are blank, right from the manufacture. I would like it burned to 8mhz and brownout disabled.

http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=103491.0

any help would be great.

thanks
jason

2

Try this tutorial: Arduino Uno R3 as a true ISP programmer for any Attiny and Atmega AVR.
See: Arduino Uno R3 as a true ISP programmer for any Attiny and Atmega AVR - Microcontrollers - Arduino Forum

3

You are getting a signature error, which means the signature of the chip you have is not what is expected. Point in case, you state you are using an atmega168a, but your boards.txt is looking for an atmega168 (no "a"). The device signature is different for the two chips, which is exactly the error avrdude is telling you.

Looking in the conf file for avrdude with my version of the Arduino IDE (1.0.6), it does not look like support is there for the 168a. You will either need to add the support or change chips (the newest IDE, 1.6.x, might have support for the 168a, I don't know).

Folks run into this same issue trying to bootload atmega328, but the Arduino files mostly assume a 328p.

Also, if you are trying for 8MHz, then why this: "uno168.build.f_cpu=16000000L"...

4

I did have it set to 8000000L and upload.speed=57600, still didn't work.

5

OK, 8000000L and 57600 ought to work with the standard bootloader compiled for 16MHz and 115200 upload.

But first you need to deal with the chip signature mismatch. Nothing can progress until that is resolved.

6

Ok actually got it successfuly bootloaded with optiloader and the edited board.txt, but now i cant figure out how to upload any other sketches to it. Im only familiar with the Atmega328 on a Breadboard method and that wont work.

Thanks Twice and Madmattd for the responses.

7

echo419:
Im only familiar with the Atmega328 on a Breadboard method and that wont work.

Why not? "Won't work" doesn't tell much. I haven't used a 168 before, but its from the same family as the 328. Use an FTDI adapter to upload over serial (this is the point of the bootloader), same as with a 328/328p.

Are you sure you got the bootloader on? Out of curiosity, which route did you take to deal with the signature issue? And what fuse values did you set?