SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic error message

I recently purchased a sparkfun inventor’s kit 4.1 and when I try to upload a sketch to the RedBoard i get this error message.

avrdude: stk500_paged_load(): (a) protocol error, expect=0x10, resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_cmd(): programmer is out of sync

avr_read(): error reading address 0x0000

read operation not supported for memory “flash”

avrdude: failed to read all of flash memory, rc=-2

avrdude: stk500_disable(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_disable(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x00

i’ve tried to upload from several different computers to no avail. any suggestions?

Hi Bjerkestrands.

Are you using the Arduino IDE that is downloaded and installed on your computer, or are you using the online Arduino Create website?

Also, have you installed the CH340 driver and what port are you selecting in Arduino?

And lastly, are you on a PC or Mac?

I use the Adruino IDE version 1.8.10 which i downloaded on pc, and i have installed the CH340 drivers.

i have been able to upload a few times since i posted, but this only happens when i havent used or powered the redboard for a while. By this i mean that after the second or the third time i consistently get the error message again untill i unplug the Redboard for a while. Could this be a ground issue?

Shouldn’t be a ground issue since ground is provided by your USB cable.

You might have a bad USB cable though, that could cause issues like this. Can you PM me your SparkFun order number?

I tried another micro-b usb connector, but still get the same error message.

It’s probably a bad CH340 chip in that case. You’re going to want to exchange the board in your kit for another one.