Starting Arduino, but no micro-controller programming skills

SamR

Joined Mar 19, 2019
5,487

dendad

Joined Feb 20, 2016
4,637
I see others have put up links to cheaper boards. I usually go via Ebay, but as I'm in Australia, the links would not be valid for you.
If you have a 3D printer, then try thingiverse.com for cases and mounts.
Here are a couple of mine....
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2528477
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2533143

By the way, most 3D printers, at least up to fairly recently, run on Arduinos, so that are capable of pretty decent work. The Arduinos in question are the larger ones, like the 2560, or a custom board that still programs like an Arduino.

My only trouble with Arduinos is the libraries. Updated ones come out, or others with the same name, and they can break working code. The main on I have "fun" with is the LCD driver. Using I2C LCDs is my choice as it only need 2 port pins, and even then, they are shared with other devices. On my 2 Macs, one will compile correctly while the other brings up errors. Both have libraries of the same names but they are not the same. I'm in the process of deleting the Arduino IDE off the suspect one and copying the good one to it.

This is one of my projects. It is a quick, rough VFO for HAM radio...
http://www.sadarc.org/index.php/projects/
An Arduino Nano, I2C LCD and a Si5351 signal generator are used. It runs very well.
The board has a couple of design errors on it and I've drawn Version 2 but not made them yet. As this version 1 board has proto holes, the extra fixes can be grown onto it.
Years ago, I made a synthesizer for a VHF ham radio and it has a dozen or more ICs in it. This is a LOT easier!
 

Thread Starter

Terrypin

Joined Feb 5, 2016
113
I wouldn’tgo to a third party site for Arduino software. I’d stick with the official site.

My mistake, I meant the link that Elegoo recommended, which was the Arduino download page.
 

Thread Starter

Terrypin

Joined Feb 5, 2016
113
djsfantasi

I tested again more carefully today. I do get the compilation message. But whatever value I make one or both delay commands, it doesn’t work. However i get the message at the bottom, in orange:
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: response=0x00.

I ensured that there was only my sketch running.

Hope that offers a clue.
 

djsfantasi

Joined Apr 11, 2010
9,237
djsfantasi

I tested again more carefully today. I do get the compilation message. But whatever value I make one or both delay commands, it doesn’t work. However i get the message at the bottom, in orange:
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: response=0x00.

I ensured that there was only my sketch running.

Hope that offers a clue.
Ok, that means the upload is not working. You should have seen on the status bar “upload complete”.

I’m visiting friends. I’ll check when I get home.
 

SamR

Joined Mar 19, 2019
5,487
You should see on last 2 lines something like this...

Sketch uses 2080 bytes (6%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 286 bytes (13%) of dynamic memory, leaving 1762 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
 

Thread Starter

Terrypin

Joined Feb 5, 2016
113
Those are for building finished systems. What you have will suffice for learning.

For the time being I've mounted on a piece of hardboard. I used plastic PCB pillars. Nuts and bolts would have been more rigid but couldn't find some small enough to avoid risk of touching components or traces.

 

SamR

Joined Mar 19, 2019
5,487
It's just much handier to me on a base plate unless I am just doing some code work without a breadboard connected. I keep a couple of them in the drawer by my keyboard and use a 4 port USB splitter with various often used cables to plug into hanging next to the keyboard.
 

Thread Starter

Terrypin

Joined Feb 5, 2016
113

Wolframore

Joined Jan 21, 2019
2,619
I actually do not have a genuine Arduino. In fact I was thinking about donating to them. I have a SainSmart, keyStudio and a bunch of clones. I think they all had pin 13 LED blink programmed. Just a good way to quick test for them.

From the egloo instructions.

E7E79F07-B194-40E6-8CF8-176305B34F15.jpeg

This part on how to correctly install the device starts page 19
7CF8B63A-872C-4C2C-993A-41052BD63E07.jpeg
 
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djsfantasi

Joined Apr 11, 2010
9,237
djsfantasi

I tested again more carefully today. I do get the compilation message. But whatever value I make one or both delay commands, it doesn’t work. However i get the message at the bottom, in orange:
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: response=0x00.

I ensured that there was only my sketch running.

Hope that offers a clue.
Did you perform a search on that error message? Google has many answers as to what it means. Since it’s an Arduino, you’ll likely get answers from a straight search of any error message. These are the responses just from the Arduino site.

It indicates a communication problem between your computer, the USB cable and the Arduino.

Close any and all occurrences of the IDE that are running. Disconnect the USB cable. Reset the Arduino by removing power or pressing the reset button on the board. Then, reconnect the cable and restart the IDE.

Other advice can be found on the link I provided.
 

djsfantasi

Joined Apr 11, 2010
9,237
I'm sure I did get that message. And the two lines that SamR mentioned.

Here's an example of one of my attempts:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ers5sdpfhm3ak28/Blink-Terry-01.ino?raw=1

I'll recheck port and board tomorrow. But surely Blink.ino would not have run if either were not set correctly?
I’ll see if I can check out your file on Dropbox.

But you should see more than what you’ve reported including SamR’s lines. Those are all from the compile phase

I haven’t seen anything from the upload that indicates a successful transfer. Your initial blink worked because you uploaded something successfully once. The link I supplied provides more detail. Try my suggestion.

Something else that was brought up. Are you running XP? That operating system has been unsupported for a long time. Current software likely will not be able to run properly.
 
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