💬 Various bootloader files based on Optiboot 6.2

[GertSanders]

@carlierd
No, the serial speed is not something relevant for the radio communication.
When I compile the boot loader, I just need to choose the CPU frequency and make sure I also choose an upload speed which is compatible with that CPU frequency. Some combinations of CPU frequency and upload speed give errors and the error rate of the serial upload communication can not be above 2% or AVRDUDE will fail.
For node to gateway communication (and your ST=FAIL errors) this is not relevant.
ST=FAIL errors can (in my case) be reduced by lowering the power output of the radio on the node (is default set to MAX, I put it mostly to HIGH).
st=fail errors can also be the result of poor power to the radio.

[alexsh1]

@GertSanders said:

ST=FAIL errors can (in my case) be reduced by lowering the power output of the radio on the node (is default set to MAX, I put it mostly to HIGH).
st=fail errors can also be the result of poor power to the radio.

Or just a bad radio. There is a huge thread on the forum about fake radio modules.
I have gone through quite a few - what a waste of time....

[carlierd]

I am using RFM69. No fake as it's working perfectly at other frequency.

@GertSanders
I tried three different configurations:

• 16 MHz with crystal
• 8 MHz internal
• 1 MHz internal (with some st=fail)

I measured power consumption in sleep mode and found that it's very close to 4uA with all configurations. So why using the 1 MHz ? Do you have better consumption when using 1 MHz ?

The best configuration for me will be the 8 MHz internal as it avoid to used the crystal.

David.

[GertSanders]

@carlierd
In sleep mode it does not matter which frequency is used. The watchdog timer runs off its own clock and that is the same for all three cases. The fact that you get around 4 uA is just because you still have a watchdogtimer running. With full deep sleep and complete shutdown of the radio we should see 1-2 uA if external pullup of more then 2MOhm is used.
The mcu frequency is important for the active time. Higher frequency means faster startup and faster completion of tasks.
8Mhz is a good compromise as the internal oscillator is less powerhungry then fullswing crystal.
And you need less parts.

[Samuel235]

@carlierd, all that i can say is; do not rely on serial communication working. I'm running my custom made node on 8MHz internal, can use the serial monitor but i can not upload via serial. Only ISP uploads using programmer.

[GertSanders]

@Samuel235
I have no issues with ftdi uploads at 8Mhz internal and 38k upload speed on my nodes. Even for 25k byte sketches.

[Samuel235]

@GertSanders said:

@Samuel235
I have no issues with ftdi uploads at 8Mhz internal and 38k upload speed on my nodes. Even for 25k byte sketches.

I've been told that it should work but atmel do not advise it or support it apparently. There are chances that it wont work and mine doesn't. I had the discussion regarding it in my nodes topic but the conversation just dropped off and went stale.

[GertSanders]

@Samuel235
That depends on the upload speed. At higher speeds the error on the frequency of the internal oscillator gets more important. It can be off by several percent (from 8mhz) and then avrdude can fail. I have experimented with 9600 baud and there the deviation of the internal 8mhz has to be severe before the serial uploads starts to feel the effect.
So try using a 8Mhz boot loader prepared for an 9600 baud upload.

[Samuel235]

@GertSanders, i did do, that's the latest solution i tried. No joy.

[carlierd]

@GertSanders Thanks for explanation. It confirms what I imagine !

I am using a 10MOhm resistor but not the full deep sleep as I want to periodically send the battery.
I will try it because 1-2 uA is very low ;)

[carlierd]

@Samuel235 No issue to with the FTDI.
I just found a small problem due to the Arduino IDE. As I often change board (from UNO to different bootloader) I discover that the menu is sometime not coherent with the real setting. So I found that selecting two or three times board parameters (including port) is the solution to avoid communication issue.

[GertSanders]

@Samuel235
Would you want to try a bootloader with an upload speed of 4800 ? I can make that for 8Mhz if you want (just to test)?

[Samuel235]

@GertSanders, that would be fantastic if you wouldn't mind. Its for my in wall light switch custom made node that you're following. Thanks you, much appreciated.

[GertSanders]

@Samuel235

here is the boot loader in 2 versions: one will flash port PB0 and the other does not.

You need to use the following fuse settings in the board file:

bootloader.low_fuses=0xE2
bootloader.high_fuses=0xDE
bootloader.extended_fuses=0x06

1_1458903521561_optiboot_atmega328_08M_004800_NOLED.hex

0_1458903521561_optiboot_atmega328_08M_004800_B0.hex

I saw that you use high fuse 0xDA

I'm assuming you use a boot loader larger then 512 bytes. Optiboot fits inside 512 bytes, so we need to define a space of 256 words (1 word = 2 bytes in AVR 8bit).

[GertSanders]

@Samuel235

For my boot loaders based on Optiboot 6.2, I normally use high fuse set to 0xDE

Extract from my boards.txt file:

menu.mhz=CPU Speed
menu.bod=Brown Out Detection

28PinBoard.name=atmega328p based - 28 pin DIL

28PinBoard.upload.tool=arduino:avrdude
28PinBoard.upload.protocol=arduino
28PinBoard.upload.maximum_size=32256
28PinBoard.upload.maximum_data_size=2048

28PinBoard.bootloader.tool=arduino:avrdude

28PinBoard.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
28PinBoard.bootloader.lock_bits=0x0F

28PinBoard.build.core=arduino:arduino
28PinBoard.build.mcu=atmega328p

28PinBoard.build.board=AVR_GERTSANDERS28PinBoard
28PinBoard.build.variant=28PinBoard

28PinBoard.menu.bod.4v3=4V3
28PinBoard.menu.bod.4v3.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x04
28PinBoard.menu.bod.2v7=2V7
28PinBoard.menu.bod.2v7.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x05
28PinBoard.menu.bod.1v8=1V8
28PinBoard.menu.bod.1v8.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x06
28PinBoard.menu.bod.off=Disabled
28PinBoard.menu.bod.off.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x07

28PinBoard.menu.mhz.8Mi-38K4-D8= 8Mhz - internal - 38K4 - D8
28PinBoard.menu.mhz.8Mi-38K4-D8.bootloader.low_fuses=0xE2
28PinBoard.menu.mhz.8Mi-38K4-D8.bootloader.high_fuses=0xDE
28PinBoard.menu.mhz.8Mi-38K4-D8.build.f_cpu=8000000L
28PinBoard.menu.mhz.8Mi-38K4-D8.upload.speed=38400
28PinBoard.menu.mhz.8Mi-38K4-D8.bootloader.file=myoptiboot/optiboot_atmega328_08M_038400_B0.hex

[Samuel235]

@GertSanders I used that DA high fuse simply to make sure the default bootloader fitted, however if its too big will it cause issues on serial ipload even if its a very small upload? Could that be the reason?

I will try your bootloader without the LED as my module doesn't contain the LED. This is very hard to read from a mobile device so i will attempt this when i get home tonight. Thank you once again for your files and time.

[carlierd]

@GertSanders Hello. I tried the full deep sleep and it's really amazing !

I used your 8MHz with internal crystal and B0 led, BOD disabled. RFM69 for radio and just a switch via a 10MOhm resistor.
With the switch open: 280nA
With the switch close: 580nA

Measures done with a uCurrent Gold.
So I am sure now that I found the good bootloader for my application. It's simple to install and I can change easily the BOD !
Thanks !

[GertSanders]

@carlierd
Great to hear those low consumption numbers.

[carlierd]

@GertSanders
Yes, very impressive ! But finally not a lot of difference with the same node using interruption and sleep.
The auto-discharge of AA batteries is really important compare to node consumption.

David.

[Samuel235]

@GertSanders, I have just managed to make time to remake a node and troubleshoot its upload issues with your suggested solution. So i went a head, got everything made up the minimal version, MCU, caps, and programming headers. I made sure all connections were working fine, they were. I then read the fuses, all fine and dandy. I then burnt your suggested fuses of;

bootloader.low_fuses=0xE2
bootloader.high_fuses=0xDE
bootloader.extended_fuses=0x06

Then the problem came. I lost all contact to the node, tried slowing the clock rate down on AVRDUDE to read it, nothing. I've hooked up my crystal just in case it burnt it incorrectly and thought it had an external crystal, nothing there either.

I'll be honest, i'm a little confused.