Cannot connect to Arduino FIO via FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable

Development Boards Arduino
1

I bought an Arduino FIO to build a bGeigieNano, it requires Flash Firmware to work.

Unfortunately, I cannot access the FIO from my PC using FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable.

I tried to reset the board and it didn’t change anything.

The board is turned off and connected to TTL-232R-3V3.

After plugging in the USB port, the red led between D13 and A7 will blink 10 times.

I can confirm the usb cable is aliased as COM4 port but I cannot flash firmware by Xloader.

Even the Arduino IDE cannot recognize or connect to the board.

I also try to work through in CLI with latest avrdude by the following command.

avrdude -c arduino -P com4 -p m328p -v

It return

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xfa

avrdude -c ttl232r -p m328p -v

It return

avrdude said Device is not responding to program enable.

Either of those commands cannot connect the board.

At first, I thought it was the USB cable issue. I bought a FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V and came up with the same result.

I am a newbie to Arduino, I don’t even know where the problem is.

Please give me some advice.

Arduino FIO - https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10116

bGeigieNano - How to Update the Firmware · Safecast/bGeigieNanoKit Wiki · GitHub

2

Hello, if you have properly installed the FTDI driver but still having issues with FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 and FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V , most probably the FIO is faulty. Have you separately tested the FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable and FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V by the way?

3

How is the FTDI connected to the FIO?

4

YellowDog:
How is the FTDI connected to the FIO?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BSQoLGXFsSEixFjs7

This is how I connect FTDI cable to FIO.

5

rpiloverbd:
Hello, if you have properly installed the FTDI driver but still having issues with FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 and FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V , most probably the FIO is faulty. Have you separately tested the FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable and FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V by the way?

Thanks for your quick reply.

I downloaded and installed the FTDI driver from here https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/ (CDM212364_Setup.zip).

I also downloaded the arduino IDE from https://downloads.arduino.cc/arduino-1.8.19-windows.exe , it comes with many drivers.

Windows Device Manager will show a device in COM4 after plugging the USB to the computer. (FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V is COM3)

I have separately tested TTL-232R-3V3 cable with FIO and FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V with FIO.

Those result in the same error message.

Because those FTDI tools are brand new, I have never tested them with other hardware. so I cannot say the FIO board is 100% faulty.

It is impossible for me to return the product, only the shipping fee will be enough to buy a new one.

Is there any method I can confirm the FIO is faulty ?

Or can I replace any chip on the FIO to fix the problem ?

6

Hmm, that looks correct. Maybe you have a bad fio?

7

YellowDog:
Hmm, that looks correct. Maybe you have a bad fio?

Is there any method to check if faulty is from ATmega328p? I can replace it by myself.

8

Today, I received my new Arduino Nano, it uses the same CPU as my FIO.

I tested my TTL-232R-3V3 cable and FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V with that nano.

It came up with the same result.

After searching from the arduino support webpage, it said that the error message meant no board was found on the port.

https://support.arduino.cc/hc/en-us/art … 00_getsync

I also tested the Arduino Nano with a micro USB cable, the device manager will appear as a new device but it is not named as Arduino Nano, it just identifies as a serial port device. Even when I try to update it by right click, Windows keeps telling me it is using the suitable driver now.

I start thinking this is my OS / driver issue.

I am using Windows 11. I have installed the FTDI driver from https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/, also used Arduino 1.8.19 installer to install the Arduino IDE. Did I do something wrong? Do I need any other driver to install ?

9

Can you connect the with the Arduino serial montor to see if that connects?

Regards,

Rob Oudendijk

Safecast volunteer.

10

robouden:
Can you connect the with the Arduino serial montor to see if that connects?

Regards,

Rob Oudendijk

Safecast volunteer.

​Hi robouden,

Thanks for your reply.

I just tried to open the Arduino serial monitor and see if there was any connection.​ Sadly, I cannot receive anything from the Serial monitor(band 57600 and 115200). I believe that I need to upload a program to FIO to print something first.

I am still ​not confirm of​ ​the root cause because I am not sure the way I tested with Arduino Nano is correct. I just ordered an Arduino Mini Pro from my local market, i will test the TTL-232R-3V3 cable again once I receive it.

I’m also thinking of using Arduino FIO v3 because it accepts USB programming. In this way, I can skip the TTL cable. To upgrade to Arduino FIO v3, I will need to modify the ​main ​circuit board to fit those pins. This means I will need v1.1r5a ​.​brd & ​.​sch file, which I cannot find in github repos too.

[](monitor hosted at ImgBB — ImgBB)

11

Dear all,

I just received my Arduino Mini Pro, I already tested it with my TTL-232R-3V3 cable. I came up working great!

I can be sure that the problem is caused by my Arduino FIO now.

I intend to fix the Arduino FIO.

In the worst case, I will buy a new one.

Thanks for you all.

Image of connecting TTL-232R-3V3 cable with Arduino Mini Pro

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TrebcEpPMJrPo7E87