# I can not program Arduino Pro Mini **URL:** \ **Category:** MicroMod\ **Tags:** avr-atmel\ **Created:** [March 27, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/i-can-not-program-arduino-pro-mini/15093 "2010-03-27T14:28:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4da419/32.png) [@mblue](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/mblue)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/i-can-not-program-arduino-pro-mini/15093/1 "2010-03-27T14:28:34Z")
I an unable to program my Arduino Pro Mini It is a “Arduino Pro Mini 328 - 5V/16MHz” and I have the “Arduino Serial USB Board”. Both of these were purchased in the past couple of months, so I believe they are the newest models. Between the 2 boards, I have grounds connected together, V+ connected together, TX to RX, and RX to TX. When the Pro Mini powers up, the pin 13 led turns on/off once then on/off several times fast then it is off. In the IDE the error that I ALWAYS get is “avrdude: stk500\_recv(): programmer is not responding”. I have tried many combinations of clicking on the “Upload” button, and pressing reset on the Mini… Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated… ---
**Author:** ![sfe\_kav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@sfe\_kav](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/sfe_kav)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/i-can-not-program-arduino-pro-mini/15093/2 "2010-07-20T13:42:11Z")
you need connecting DTR pin of usb serial to pro-mini and all will be ok. Look at FTDI bassic brakeout from SF it hase same pinout as pro-mini. ---
**Author:** ![justinlevi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@justinlevi](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/justinlevi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/i-can-not-program-arduino-pro-mini/15093/3 "2010-08-02T00:46:56Z")
I don’t have an FTDI cable yet, but I do have a RS232 Shifter SMD ([http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts\_id=449](http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=449)) and a usb to serial adapter. Would i be possible to program the mini using the usb to serial and the RS232 Shifter? If so, would I need an external 5V power supply to both the RS232 Shifter and the Mini? What would the RS232 Shifter RX/TX pins hook up to on the mini? Does the RS232 Shifter supply 5V on it’s own? \*edit - The RS232 Shifter does not supply 5V, but I still am not sure if its possible to program the mini in this way. Ordered a FTDI cable, but I’m impatient and just wondering. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sfe\_kav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@sfe\_kav](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/sfe_kav)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/i-can-not-program-arduino-pro-mini/15093/4 "2010-08-06T09:26:21Z")
without FTDI you can use any usb-\>serial: connect rx,tx,ground and power(3.3V or 5V) before programming press reset button and than very fast as posible program your mini using IDE you has less than 1 second after pressing reset button. dtr signal of ftdi connected to reset, so you can start bootloader by pressing reset))) ---
**Author:** ![firestarter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b38774/32.png) [@firestarter](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/firestarter)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/i-can-not-program-arduino-pro-mini/15093/5 "2011-06-23T23:06:20Z")
mblue, I’m hoping to find out if you were ever able to figure this out. I found the thread through a forum search because I am considering buying a Pro Mini as well, but if there are installation issues I might back off and go another direction. Right now a majority of my experience has been with moisture products so I am trying to branch out a little bit. Have you heard of [[wagner meters](http://www.wagnermeters.com)?]([http://www.wagnermeters.com](http://www.wagnermeters.com))