Testing your Arduino Board

BY J.B.WYLZAN

Testing Arduino R3 UNO

I was so static when I got my Arduino R3 Uno in the mail today.  Although a clone, the manufacturer claimed that it is arduino compatible and its microprocessor runs smoothly like the original Arduino board.

The mail contains only the following 8 components:

UNO R3 Board

USB Cable

1x 170 point Breadboard

1x 9V Battery Connector

10x 5mm LED (red, green, blue, white, yellow)

10x 200 Ω Resistors

5x Jumper Wires

2x Switches

From these 8 basic components, I designed the prototype as shown in the picture. From this model, I created 25 projects using only 5 commands. Most of the modular programs sketched on every project will be eventually combined gradually to build Homotronics (robotics) and Homodruinos (biped robots).

But before we go to the basic arduino projects, let us first check if our Arduino board is working properly. To do this, make sure to follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Arduino site (www.arduino.cc) and download the software.

2. Unzip the software and make sure you have the arduino infinity logo on your desktop.

3. Connect your Arduino board using the usb cable provided to your computer. 

4. Launch the arduino interface by clicking your Arduino infinity icon.

5. Go to File > Examples > 1.Basics > Blink.

6. Click the Blink example. 

7. Click Verify to debug  the program (known as sketch) 

8. Click Upload to download blink into your Arduino 

9. Check if the yellow led on your arduino board is blinking.

10. If so, congratulations, you Arduino board is working and you just made your first arduino project.

If you have the following errors below, don't despair I have the fix.

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x58

In took me awhile before I figured out the solutions on how to fix these errors. If you have these problems, make sure to follow the procedure below step by step:

First: Install the Arduino driver.

• a. Connect the board and windows XP will run the driver installation process.
• b. If not, click on Start and right click My Computer.
• c. The System window pops out and select the Hardware tab.
• d. Click the Device Manager button and click Ports (COM & LPT)
• e. You will see the name Arduino in this Ports category
• f.  If not, check a yellow question mark on top under Other devices.
• g. Right click and select Update the driver
• h. Under the question - Can Windows connect to Windows Update to search for software? choose the button that says; No, not this time. Then click Next to continue.
• i. Select Install from a list or specified location (Advanced) and click next. 
• j. Select Search for the best driver in these locations, uncheck Search removable media, and check Include this location in the search. Click next.
• k. The wizard will search for the driver and when found. Click finish.
• l. Verify if the drivers have been installed under Other devices: the yellow question mark should no longer present; and under Ports: the word Arduino should now be present.

Second: Launch the Arduino Application.

• a. In the Tools Menu, select Board and choose your Arduino board (Uno, Mega Mini, Pro)
• b. In the Tools Menu, select Serial Port and highlight your com port (com1, com2, com3, com4)
• c.Open the Blink example: File > Examples > 1.Basics > Blink.
• d. Click Verify
• e. Click Upload.

Third: The RX and TX lights begin flashing and the on board led starts blinking.

Congratulations your board is now working.

For more Arduino Projects visit my website @ 

 www.myarduinoscratchbook.blogspot.com

"The Last Human on Earth will no longer be Human." ~ Joey Lawsin

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