ATmega32U4 Beginner Issues

[alexwitter]

Hi everyone, I am pretty new to microcontroller programming. but I recently picked up a ATmega32u4 (received in a couple days, thanks), I know its not the best for a first attempt but I wanted to follow some of the LED tutorials on the site.

so basically I haven't really done much before I ran into some issue and spent 6 hours trying to fix it with no luck

Ok so I'm using OSX 10.7, I installed Ardiuno 1.0 Rc2, selected Leonardo as my board, connected up my ATmega32u4 and selected the new USB port tty.USBmodem411(also tried cu.USBmodem411). If I'm not mistaken this first time the "PWR"(red) and "boot"(green) light was solid, but since my attempted first upload the "boot"(green) green has been "breathing" (fading in and out reasonably fast). from the first flash where I pressed the reset button and tried to upload the blink example I have received:

avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude: Recv: ? [3f]
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x3f

Any Ideas? should I attempt to get avrdude compiled and running to troubleshoot? is the bootloader confused?

Thanks in advance this is driving me nuts

Alex

[adafruit_support_bill]

The timing on the reset can be a little tricky, try it a few more times.
Overall, avrdude is a better way to go.

[alexwitter]

Thank for the speedy response, Actually after attempting on a windows PC and installing ATmega32u4 inf I manged to kick it out of the "Breathing" loop on my first upload attempt. I is now functioning as normal even back on the MAC. Although I do no receive any verification of a successful upload. and I can only get it working with the custom IDE that has ATmega32Uu4 in the board list available here http://www.ladyada.net/make/ledbelt/

Now is there anyway to get the ATmega32Uu4 working on Arduino 1.0 RC2. I am coming across a bunch of sketches that will not compile on the custom Arduino 1.0 IDE mentioned earlier. I have tried selecting Leonardo although I keep getting an out of sync issue. Any Idea?

Thanks again

[adafruit_support_bill]

I am coming across a bunch of sketches that will not compile on the custom Arduino 1.0 IDE mentioned earlier. I have tried selecting Leonardo although I keep getting an out of sync issue.

Is the problem that they won't compile, or that they won't upload? They are two different problems.

What is the exact text of the error message you see?

[alexwitter]

As I stated "will not compile on the custom Arduino 1.0 IDE". Many will not even open (ie. .ino not .pde). (example neophob_SPI)

are you telling me that I should keep using the custom IDE that contains older code then attempting to get the board working on the newest software? (RC2)

[adafruit_support_bill]

although I keep getting an out of sync issue

What is the exact text of the error you see.
Out of sync issues are not compile issues. They are upload issues.

[alexwitter]

Everything works fine using Alpha 0021.I cannot even get blink uploaded using 1.0-RC2.

First when compiling with 1.0-RC2. i don't get a compile error but i do get two highlighted lines

/Applications/Arduino 2.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/arduino/cores/arduino/USBCore.cpp: In function 'int USB_Send(u8, const void*, int)':
/Applications/Arduino 2.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/arduino/cores/arduino/USBCore.cpp:266: warning: unused variable 'zero'

yet I'm still able to attempt an upload with these warnings. although with any sketch i try to upload using 1.0-RC2 i get:

System wide configuration file is "/Applications/Arduino 2.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
User configuration file is "/Users/alexwitter/.avrduderc"
User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

Using Port : /dev/tty.usbmodem411
Using Programmer : arduino
Overriding Baud Rate : 1200
avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude: Send: 0 [30] [20]
avrdude: Recv: ? [3f]
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x3f

avrdude done. Thank you.

again non of these problems occur using Alpha 0021 and selecting ATmega32U4

should I be selecting a different board other then Leonardo? any thoughts?

thanks again

[adafruit]

The atmega 32u4 breakout is not a leonardo compatible, it is also not arduino compatible. http://www.ladyada.net/wiki/products/at ... index.html has details on how to use it. if you want to use the arduino IDE we suggest picking up a teensy

if this is your first board WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU GET AN ARDUINO UNO (its even written in the product description! https://www.adafruit.com/products/296 )

[alexwitter]

coincidentally withen the last week this page http://ladyada.net/make/adavision/was pulled down and public access revoked for http://www.ladyada.net/wiki/tutorials/adavision/start

I can guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that on this page http://www.ladyada.net/make/adavision/power.html
they explain to chose Leonardo from the board list when programing ATmega32U4.

i think an Uno is a much better idea, but i also don't like the idea of giving up, on such a simple concept.

[adafruit]

that is because adavision is an unreleased, unsupported and incorrect tutorial. we will post it when its ready! there is no ETA when it will be ready.

[DJ4MC]

It looks like the tutorial is back for Adavision. I dont see any of the pics though and it looks the same. Not sure if you wanted it back up yet or not. BTW this is one of the coolest projects ever with huge potential for hacking/modding etc.

Go Adafruit Go!

Jules

[adafruit]

It should not be back up.

adavision is an unreleased, unsupported and incorrect tutorial. we will post it when its ready! there is no ETA when it will be ready.

[DJ4MC]

Sadness. I thought so. Anyway, it will be a most excellent project when it is ready. It is no longer up, just checked.

Jules