Impossible to upload code

[Alkerion]

Hi!

I’d like to upload code to the GameTimerPro, but nothing is working.

I’m really surprised that there is absoluttly no information regarding programming the board available on the site.

I’m using a USB to Serial adapter, I’ve connected it to the serial connector of the board and to my PC.

I’ve installed FTDI drivers, latest Arduino IDE.

Loaded the code, compile perfect.

I see the COM Port, I defined it as an Arduino UNO.

When I try to upload code I obtain only errors, and I’ve tried all programmers.

What am I doing wrong ?

Any help appreciated.

[Michael]

Hi,

What errors are you getting? There are no further instructions on the site because the Game Time Pro is simply an Arduino UNO with a normal ATmega328 microcontroller. If you can see the serial port and compile the code, it should upload just like any other Arduino.

I assume you got the code from the GitHub repo: https://github.com/nootropicdesign/game-timer-pro

What errors do you get when uploading?

-Mike

[Alkerion]

Yes I’ve downloaded your code on Github.

Direct error saying cannot connect, or error like this one :

Le croquis utilise 20810 octets (64%) de l’espace de stockage de programmes. Le maximum est de 32256 octets.
Les variables globales utilisent 1670 octets (81%) de mémoire dynamique, ce qui laisse 378 octets pour les variables locales. Le maximum est de 2048 octets.
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x75
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
…
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x75
Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1

Which drivers am I supposed to use ?
which programmer ?

[Alkerion]

A friend come home with his FTDI programmer from Sparkfun, we setup it and… same problem, impossible to upload code.

It’s very strange as the serial monitor seems to connect, but no output.

When we connect the adapter there is 4 red leds blinking a few time, then they turn OFF.

When I click on Upload the leds turn ON, then after a while I’ve the error message.

I own two boards, they both behave the same.

[Alkerion]

I’ve tried to upload through an Arduino UNO, without success either.

[Alkerion]

That’s not the cable, tried 3.

That’s not the PC, been able to upload your code to an Arduino UNO without any issue.

So there is something wrong with your board.

Boatloader ?

Possible to reset the board ?

Looking forward for your support to solve this issue.

[Alkerion]

I’ve tried on another PC -> No success

I’ve tried with an older Arduino IDE -> No success

What’s wrong with your boards ?

Looking forward for your support to solve that issue.
Thanks

[Michael]

I am sorry for the slow response, my apologies.

How are you connecting the FTDI programmer to the board? There must be some kind of problem with the connection. Can you show me a picture of how you are connecting it?

It should be connected like this:

https://nootropicdesign.com/store/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ftdi_connection.jpg

Also, the logic level is 5V on this board. Maybe you are using 3.3V logic level programmers?

[Alkerion]

Thanks Michael!

It works now, the problem was between the keyboard and chair (known as PEBKAC).

I thought that GRN on the board mean Ground, and as I don’t have the BLACK/GREEN indication on my adapter, I put the Ground on it.

And guess what, the only thing I didn’t test is to reverse the adapter… I felt dumb 1s after having seen the picture.

My adapter is 5V, the Sparkfun we used is effectively 3.3V.

What I don’t understand is why I’m wasn’t able to upload FW through Arduino UNO, something I’ve already done.

A little guide for dumb people will be nice to have.

[Michael]

I am glad it works for you now. I totally understand how “GRN” could mean “ground”. There just happens to be a long-standing tradition of labeling USB-Serial adapters with “green” and “black” designations. Makes sense in English, but not everyone is speaking English, of course.

Again, sorry about the problems and about the slow responses.

-Mike

[Author]

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