[Tutorial] How to burn 1Mhz & 8Mhz bootloader using Arduino IDE 1.6.5-r5

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas

What is the upload speed you are using now ? This is defined in the boards.txt file for each board selected.

I found that if I burn the bootloader with 5V FTDI, and then try to upload sketches at 3V (with batteries connected), the internal oscillator runs at a slightly different speed.

When you use higher upload speeds, this small difference can result in too high error rates.

That is why I use 9600 baud to upload sketches for 1MHz mcu's.

For 8MHz mcu's I use 38K4 baud, and for 16Mhz I can use 115K on Arduino Uno's, but I tend to use 56K on my 16Mhz nodes.

Each time I use the approriate bootloader compiled for that clock speed.

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas

Is this the part of the boards file you use ?

[jacikaas]

@GertSanders

Battery connection is good. Battery voltage: 3.25V (when not connected to circuit)
I check again all wiring, measure voltage on circuit and its 3.22-3.23V, check voltage directly on chip pins - its same voltage too.

Still got "not sync" when trying to upload sketch. Interesting that when I have connected battery power and try to upload sketch over FTDI, led conected to D13 blinks and after that I get "not sync".

Upload speed is: apm96.upload.speed=9600

Yes, I use same part in boards.txt file like in screenshot you posted and also like in the given link in tutorial: https://forum.mysensors.org/uploads/files/1443392940975-add-to-boards.txt

If I burn bootloader to Atmega328, with battery powered, shoud it might work?

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas

It's worth a try. Not sure if it will make any difference. But centainly try it.

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas

I think you lock byte should be different in the boards.txt file:

bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
bootloader.lock_bits=0x0F

Now you have 0x2F as lock-bits value, and I think this is for a different processor. Most atmega328 based boards have a 0x0F value in the boards.txt file.

So try that too.

[jacikaas]

@GertSanders

No luck with burning bootloader when I powered it with battery. Got swearing from arduino:

avrdude: Yikes!  Invalid device signature.
         Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
         this check.

Error while burning bootloader.

Trying to change lock bits to 0x0F in boards.txt file. Burn 1Mhz bootloader. Check it with Atmega_Board_Detector and I could see it has changed to Lock byte = 0xCF. Connect to FTDI(RX,TX,RESET) and connect battery power. Trying to upload sketch and got:

Sketch uses 2,416 bytes (7%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32,256 bytes.
Global variables use 262 bytes of dynamic memory.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
Problem uploading to board.  See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x5a

Also I tried to connect 3.3V from Arduino UNO to Atmega328 and upload over FTDI. Sketch uploaded and working (in serial monitor ASCII table).
In this situation I disconnect 3.3V from Arduino UNO. Connect Battery power and in serial monitor with same baud rate 9600 I see empty white window. When I change the baud rates, LED on Atmega328 D13 pin blinking, but still serial monitor empty. Sometimes, randomly, I get character "˙".

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas
No idea what could be wrong now. Not being able to burn the bootloader using battery is strange.
I use a seperate "master" Arduino compatible board as ISP, and I burn the bootloaders when the nodes are powered by the 3V3 from the "master" arduino. After that the FTDI (also giving 3V3) never gave me any grief.
I have no experience using just AVRDUDE directly, I always go via the IDE.

[jacikaas]

@GertSanders

So I will wait when moon phase will change and then try it again :D

I do a little pause, then try to do all steps from zero very carefully. :)

[jacikaas]

@GertSanders

Hey, today I start everything from begining. What I do first: I reinstall my Windows and install newest version of Arduino IDE.

Check all wirings. Try to add resistor on bootloader burn breadboard like in this picture.

First I was trying all the same tutorial as described in this topic with 1Mhz, on 3x Atmega328.
Then I try to change the lock bits to 0x0F also on 3x Atmega328.

When I burn bootloader, I do the same, like You, @GertSandees, write before:
I use a seperate "master" Arduino compatible board as ISP, and I burn the bootloaders when the nodes are powered by the 3V3 from the "master" arduino. After that the FTDI (also giving 3V3) never gave me any grief.

In 3 scenarios (when lock bits are 0x2F and later 0x0F) I have:

1. When I connect power from FTDI (3.3V) Everything works fine.
2. When I connect battery power (~3.25V) with ASCII table template I have:

ASCII Vable ~ Character Map
!.¸wec: 33, nex: 21,°kÑé 41,°®ËKŠÂââò1
".øec: 34,0¾Yé 22,°kÑé 42,°rin: 18œŠÂj
#,¸wec: 35, nex: 23, oct: 43, rin: 18<<11
$.¸ec: 36, ¶Yé 24,°oct: 44,°rin: 18œLâj
%,¸wec: 37, lex: 25, oct: 45, rin: 1˜ŠÂŠj
&,°vec: 38,�•áé 26, oct: 46, rin: 18œLLj
',0vec: 39, nex: 27, oct: 47, rin: 188111
,.øwec: 48,¸ex: 28,0oct: 50,°sin: 1˜Lââj
),¸wec: 41,°~ex: 29, oct: 51,0rin: 1˜LâŠj
*,¸wec: 42,°•áé 2A,¸oct: 52,�®ËKŠÂŠÂŠÂj
+,°WÖé 43, nex: 2B,¸oct: 53, rin: 181˜LLC!‰	Û•�é 44,°~ex: 2C,°kÑé 54,0rin: 1˜LLÂj
-,0vec: 45, nex: 2D,¸oct: 55, rin: 1˜LLŠj
.,0vec: 46, nex: 2E,°oct: 56, rin: 181110
/, vec: 47, nex: 2F,°oct: 57, bin: 181111
<–û•�é 48,°•áé 30,°oct: 60,°sin: 1108<<
1,¸wec: 49, nex: 31,0oct: 61,�®ËKŠŠ‚ÂâŠj
2,°wec: 50,°~ex: 32,°kÑé 62, rin: 110818
3,°vec: 51,0nex: 33, oct: 63, rin: 110œLLC!	»•�é 52, nex: 34,�kÑé 64,0rin: 11018œC¡	²•�é 53, nex: 35, oct: 65, rin: 1101˜LC!	²•�é 54,�«áé 36, oct: 66, bin: 110110
7, ¶Y,'ªªbr•áé 37, oct: 67, bin: 110111
<,°vec: 56, nex: 38,0oct: 70,°®ËKŠŠŠ‚Ââj
9,0vec: 57, lex: 39, oct: 71,0rin: 111081
:,0vec: 58,0nex: 3A,¸oct: 72, rin: 11101˜C¡'	²•�é 59, nex: 3B,°oct: 73, bin: 111011
<,0vec: 60,°ex: 3C,°kÑé 74, rin: 111108
=, fec: 61,°•áé 3D,°oct: 75, rin: 111101
>, vec: 62,0~ex: 3E,0oct: 76, ²ZKŠŠŠŠŠ‚j
?, dec: 63, nex: 3F,0oct: 77, bin: 111111
ü/ü•�é 64,�«áé 40,¸oct: 18<,¸{in: 18œòòòj
ñ.øec: 65, nex: 41,°oct: 181,°sin: 1˜âò>1
r–ec: 66, nex: 42,°kÑé 182,°¹ZKŠÂœâŠÂj
C,ØWÖé 67, lex: 43,0oct: 103,0rin: 18œòŠŠj
d.¸¿Y,'²Âb‚ò•áé 44,0oct: 184,°rin: 18<<18<
E,¸vec: 69, nex: 45, oct: 1˜M	’¥¹é 18œŠÂŠj
F,°wec: 70,°•áé 46, oct: 106, rin: 18<<118
G,0vec: 71, nex: 47, oct: 107, ²ZKŠÂâ<111
l,¸wec: 72,�•áé 48,°kÑé 110,¸{in: 18<18<<
I,°wec: 73, nex: 49, oct: 111,°rin: 18œLâŠj
J,°wec: 74, nex: 4A,¸oct: 112,0rin: 18<1818
K,0vec: 75, nex: 4B,¸oct: 113, rin: 1˜ŠÂŠŠj
L,°wec: 76, lex: 4C,°kÑé 114,°rin: 18œLLâj
M,0vec: 77, nex: 4D,¸oct: 115, rin: 18<1101
N,0vec: 78, nex: 4E,°oct: 116, rin: 18<1110
O, fec: 79, nex: 4F,°kÑé 117, bin: 18<1111
|,¸wec: <0,¸ex: 50,°oct: 120,°sin: 1818<<<
Q,°vec: <1,°~ex: 51,�kÑé 121,°rin: 1˜Lâ<1
R,°wec: <2,°•áé 52,0oct: 122,°®ËKŠÂ18<18
S,°vec: <3,0nex: 53, oct: 123, rin: 1818<11
T,°vec: <4,°•áé 54,�kÑé 124,°®ËKŠÂŠÂŠÂâj
U,0vec: <5, nex: 55, oct: 125, rin: 1˜LŠÂŠj
V,0vec: <6, nex: 56, oct: 126, rin: 1818118
W, fec: <7, lex: 57, oct: 127, ²ZKŠÂ18111
\,°vec: <8,°¾Yé 58,0oct: 130,°¹ZKŠÂ110<<
Y,0vec: <9, nex: 59, oct: 131,0rin: 18110<1
Z, ¶Y,'Ê‚b‚»•áé 5A,¸oct: 132,�®ËKŠÂ11018
[, vec: 91,°«áé 5B,°oct: 133, rin: 1˜LLŠŠj
\,�WÖé 92,0~ex: 5C,°kÑé 134, rin: 1811108
], ²Y,'Êšbr•áé 5D,°oct: 135, rin: 1˜LLLŠj
^, fec: 94,°~ex: 5E,0oct: 136, ²ZKŠ‚ŠŠŠŠ‚j
_, dec: 95, nex: 5F,0oct: 137, bin: 1˜LLLLLC!±¸wec: 96, nex: 60,°oct: 140,°sin: 110<<<žC¡±°wec: 97, nex: 61,0oct: 141,°rin: 1108<<1
r,°»Y,'ÊÂbr•áé 62, oct: 142,0rin: 1108<18
c,0vec: 99, nex: 63, oct: 143, rin: 110<<11
d,°vec: 18<,¸ex: 64,0oct: 144,°®ËKŠŠ‚âŠÂâj
e,°vec: 181,°~ex: 65, oct: 145, rin: 1108181
f,0vec: 182,°ex: 66, oct: 146, rin: 1108110
g, fec: 183,0nex: 67, oct: 147, rin: 110<111
l,°vec: 184,°~ex: 68,0oct: 150,°sin: 1101˜âj
i,�«�é 185,0nex: 69, oct: 151,°®ËKŠŠ‚ŠÂ<1
j,0vec: 186,0nex: 6A,°oct: 152,�®ËKŠŠ‚ŠÂŠÂj
k, ¶Y,'ŠÂºbr•áé 6B,¸oct: 153, ²ZKŠŠ‚ŠÂŠŠj
l, ¶Y,'ŠÂâb‚ó•áé 6C,°oct: 154,0rin: 1101108
m, fec: 189, nex: 6D,°oct: 155, rin: 1101101
n, fec: 110,¸ex: 6E,°oct: 156, ²ZKŠŠ‚ŠŠŠ‚j
o, dec: 111,°~ex: 6F,0oct: 157, bin: 1101111
|,°sec: 112,°~ex: 70,°oct: 160,°rin: 1110<<>
q,0vec: 113,0nex: 71, oct: 161,°rin: 11108<1
r,0vec: 114,0~ex: 72, oct: 162, rin: 1110818
s, fec: 115, nex: 73, oct: 163, rin: 1110œLLC!	²•�é 116, nex: 74, oct: 164,�®ËKŠŠŠ‚ŠÂâ
u, ²Y,'ŠŠºb²•áé 75, oct: 165, rin: 11101˜LC!	’•�é 118,°¾Yé 76, oct: 166, ²ZKŠŠŠ‚ŠŠ‚j
w, dec: 119, nex: 77, oct: 167, bin: 1110111
|, ¶Y,'Š’‚bÂû•áé 78, oct: 170,°®ËKŠŠŠŠ‚Ââj
y, fec: 121,°~ex: 79, oct: 171, rin: 1111081
z, ²Y,'Š’’b‚ò•áé 7A,°oct: 172, rin: 1111018
{, dec: 123, nex: 7B,°oct: 173, rin: 1111011
|, fec: 124,°~ex: 7C,0oct: 174, rin: 1111108
}, dec: 125, nex: 7D,°oct: 175, bin: 1111101
~, dec: 126, nex: 7E, oct: 176, bin: 1111110

3. When I connect battery power (~2.66V) i got in serial monitor:

AÓÿ

or something like that "ASÿ". Randomly.

I dont know whats happening. Battery powered circuit somehow reacts... I fell a bit frustrated. I don't have an answer what is bad with it...

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas

You will need to make a picture of your setup so we can see how you use the FTDI interface and how you use the processor when only on battery.

I wonder how you are connected when using battery and when using FTDI. Without seeing the two ways of connecting , there is no guessing what is going on.

[jacikaas]

@GertSanders

Hey, here is photos:

1. When powered from FTDI:
   https://goo.gl/photos/rqQLz4qF9UsNxpkG7

2. When powered from battery with 3.25V:
   https://goo.gl/photos/Sd9p7uueVaW9AiaA6

3. When powered from battery with 2.66V:
   https://goo.gl/photos/d1UedQWryBoNfTVd6

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas
The problem I see is that when you use the batteries, and you want to use the serial connection, you disconnected both GND and the 3V3 pin.

You should only disconnect the 3v3 pin, and leave the GND pin connected on the board.

[GertSanders]

@jacikaas
So only disconnect the white cable but leave the black one in the breadboard.

[jacikaas]

@GertSanders

Thank You!!! That was very silly failure, which eats a lot of time... But it breaks the ice :)))

Thank You a lot @GertSanders !

[siod]

Hi guys,

I flashed a few sensors already using the 8 MHz and 1MHz bootloaders. I would like to know if I could update my nodes OTA or would I have to modify sth. to make it possible?

[GertSanders]

@siod
For OTA you need to flash the boot loaders that allow this. The standard boot loaders do not have this ability to OTA update.

[flopp]

I am also having problem upload with FTDI, I can upload sketch if I use UNO as ISP.
I read that someone also have problem above but nothing is helping me.
I am using Arduino IDE 1.6.8.
Can it be the version of Arduino IDE?

[dpressle]

@flopp The only way i was able to upload with ftdi is to connect RTS pin to pin 1 via a 0.1 uf cap

[flopp]

@dpressle
OK will try. Cap minus to GND and cap positive to RTS?

EDIT: I am using 1Mhz setup
I change the LOW fuse and Extended but what I can see is that my changes only changes the BOD and internal oscillator.

low_fuses=0x42
extended_fuses=0x06

I noticed that my board have high_fuses=0xde, this setting the 1MHz board also have but not 8MHz. This mean that I dont have any space for Bootloader, can this be my problem?

[flopp]

I tried with above 8MHz setting and then I can upload to ATmega with a FTDI.

I will try to change settings one-by-one until I cant upload and write back here.