Don't have a FTDI cable, and want to program a Nanode, well if you have a Arduino board, it's very quick and easy to do so. All you need is a set of leads shown here;
The blue lead is to link 0v to 0v between the two boards, and the Yellow/Green leads are to connect Rx to Rx and Tx to Tx pins.
1. The leads are connected in this photo, but note that the Atmega chip has been removed from the Arduino, this is to stop the Arduino chip being wriiten to and not the Nanode, but more about that later.
Just to be clear which pins are used on the Nanode, this photo is clearer.
2. Once the leads have been connected, add power to both boards, plug in the USB cable, and load up your sketch in the Arduino software application.
It is important to select the Arduino Duemilanove or Nano w/Atmega 328 from Tools menu, and select the correct COM port.
3. Now before selecting the upload icon, ensure that you press and hold the Nanode reset button. Don't let go yet!
4. Whilst holding the reset button, select the upload icon, and you should see this;
5. Keep the button depressed until the sketch has compiled, and you see this message;
6. Now release the Nanode's reset button, and provided you have selected the correct board and COM port, you should see a flurry of activity as the Rx & Tx LED's flash.
7. The message on screen should now indicate a succesful upload hopefully. Lastly, disconnect the power, unplug the USB cable and disconnect the leads - Job done!
Programming with the Arduino Atmega chip fitted.
Connect the Arduino to the Nanode as steps 1 & 2 above, then press and hold the reset button of the Arduino. This button must be kept pressed until the whole process has been completed.
Press and hold the reset button on the Nanode, and with your third hand, select upload sketch on the Arduino software application.
Once the sketch as been complied and the size of the upload is displayed, release the reset button on the Nanode, and the upload should commence with again activity of the Rx & Tx LEDs.
Once the upload has completed, release the reset button on the Arduino, remove power & USB lead, remove connecting leads.
I have used both ways numerous times now, and it works great, with no problems to either board, but if you have any questions, please email me at (the last word in bold in this post) @gmail.com
Hope this helps!
yorkshirepudn
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
As described in the forums, it is also possible to re-flash the Nanode bootloader using a Arduino board, so it would have a UNO otpiboot bootloader instead of the Duemilanove bootloader that comes as standard with a Nanode, just follow this guide;
http://jeelabs.org/2011/
It's easy to do, and no special tools are required - just some wire!
The advantage for me was that the UNO bootloader supports the avr/wdt watchdog library, whilst the Duemilanove bootloader does not.
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
You can spare the third hand by keeping the arduino in reset with a wire from GND to RESET.
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
Worth pointing out that the Nanode needs power - many might miss the grey power lead connected to the green blocks at the bottom of your shots. Connecting the 5v header from the arduino to the Nanode's 5v header works just as well too.
NB the Arduino GUI's serial monitor works through this connection, which might not be obvious to newbies. Make sure you don't select too high a baud rate though - 9600 works for me (for debug output anyhow)
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
(Whoops - your blocks are blue not green! ;))
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
Great tutorial Paul!
Any chance you could add a link to your profile or email address to be used as a point of contact?
I'm sure this will be useful for many people.
All the best, Glyn.
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
Contact details added.
Re: Tutorial - How to program a Nanode using a Arduino board
thank a lot