Quiic Openlog firmware update fails

I’m trying to upload changed firmware on the Quiic Openlog to be able to log binary data that contain 0 values, which fails with the default firmware. I am following the instructions in the hookup guide, using Arduino 1.83 with an Adafruit FTDI friend with jumpers configured to 3.3 V, DTR, RX/TX crossed. Board is set to Arduino Uno. The firmware upload fails with the error message:

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding

I’ve tried running avrdude manually from the command line with:

avrdude -c avrisp -p m328 -P /dev/cu.usbserial-A104JU5F -v

to try the “plug in” reset, but got the same error messages every time.

Any suggestions?

Like its predecessor, the Qwiic OpenLog runs off of an onboard ATmega328, running at 16MHz thanks to the onboard crystal. The ATmega328 has the Optiboot bootloader loaded on it, which allows the OpenLog to be compatible with the “SparkFun Redboard” board setting in the Arduino IDE - try this setting?

If that doesn’t improve things, can you confirm by using another product/item that the FTDI is working properly? It sounds like the board isn’t Transmitting, perhaps ensure the cable is working correctly.

Best of luck!

Haven’t tried Adafruit’s FTDI Friend on the Qwiic Openlog, but you shouldn’t need to cross anything, just line up the GRN and BLK markings and connect all 6 wires and you should be OK.

If that doesn’t work, give our [FTDI Basic Breakout a try, that should work.](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9873)

Thanks for the quick response. You are right about no need to cross the cables (although I tried Rx/Tx both ways, anyway), and the suggestion to use Sparkfun Redboard probably helped. After changing the board, the first 5 or 10 tries to upload failed with the same error message. I eventually connected another board with Quiic cable to supply power, and and after that, the upload worked on the second or third try. Still quite a pain compared to flashing the OLA, but at least it worked in the end.

I posted code to fix the problems with logging binary data to https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_Qw … /issues/13

Awesome; thank you!