Bought a sainsmart arduino and the tutorials suck. HELP! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 02:16:42 am
content: its the mega 2650 board but when I bought it I didn't know I was buying the knock off; in fact I didn't know I was going to buy an arduino today. But anyways I wanted a very beginners project for it. It comes with a bread board and a bunch of parts. Problem is the tutorials look like this:QuotePoor english and it was made by someone who doesn't give a shit.So after fucking around for a bit I've decided to try and find the tutorial its copying and work off that, but can't seem to find it. Also there is some program you put the code into but it doesn't tell you what it is. Really want this thing to work. I would take it back but I can't drive because of my failing eye sight so thats out of the question. Any advice? I'm just watching you tube videos now trying to find something I can use instead... Comes with a decent pile of parts and the big arduino board so I guess that alone is worth the 35 buck I paid for it.

author: EBRAddict
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 02:22:54 am
content: That program is called the Arduino IDE.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 02:46:57 am
content: http://www.arduino.organdhttp://www.arduino.cc

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 03:59:52 am
content: I found the arduino IDE. Now maybe I can try those tutorials. But they still suck. Making things learnable to beginners is an art form that requires alot more then broken english.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 04:01:57 am
content: Well, you've got a Chinese copy of a product. I think you waived your rights to complain at that point. Be thankful that genuine tutorials are still available from original authors.

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 04:05:34 am
content: I found this series:https://youtu.be/YDkdVZ7e3OYBut still not the product this sainsmart company is knocking off.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 04:08:40 am
content: Arduino Mega is not the most popular one, so there will be fewer tutorials on it specifically. But for basic stuff it is pretty much the same API as the Uno.

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 04:25:22 am
content: So I got the IDE working.Installed driversSet the option for arduino mega 2650 in the ideThen this error:QuoteOn the board I have power (powered off USB) from windows 10 laptop, and "L" is a steady one sec blink. No tx/rx lights when I try to upload.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 04:35:06 am
content: I'm not an Arduino user, so can't really help here.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 08:04:24 am
content: Do you have the correct serial port selected in the Arduino IDE? The Arduino will create a virtual serial port when plugged in to a usb port on your PC, assuming you ahev the relevant drivers loaded. Check the device manager to ensure the port is being created and get the port number.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 08:34:22 am
content: Chinese clone Arduinos often use different USB<=>serial interface chips, and as a result, under Windows the drivers frequently don't auto-install. If you cant see a new serial port when you plug the Arduino in, identify the interface chip, and if its not an Atmel chip, download the driver from the chip manufacturer's website. If it is an Atmel one, it gets a bit more complex as they should have been preloaded with USB CDC firmware compatible with the Arduino drivers when the board was built.

author: picandmix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 10:47:32 am
content: Hi,Would be surprised if your SS Mega board was a problem, most clone Arduino boards work very well.The Uno board is the 'stock' beginners board , but for most things the Mega will be 99% compatible.When you downloaded and installed the Ardunio IDE which version did you use.The Windows Installer or Windows Zip for Non Amin users ?https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/SoftwareI found using the latter did not install the drivers properly, so delete that, and use the Windows Installer.If you still have problems , then without disrespect to this forum, your really want to use the Arduino forum with their hundreds of daily Q and As.http://forum.arduino.cc/If you want a good tutorial , then well spoken fellow American, Jeremy should help.https://www.element14.com/community/community/arduino/blog/2014/09/04/jeremy-blum-arduino-tutorials

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 10:58:29 am
content: Can you post a picture of the MEGA you have?When you plug in the MEGA it will create a "virtual COM port" under System -> Device Manager, check out the "Ports" section.Make sure that the correct COM port is set within the IDE.Some Chinese knock offs use a fake FTDI chip, just search this forum for FTDIGate and all will become clear, hopefully uou have a second ATMega chip or something else doing the USB, I can't remember of the Mega uses a separate one or if it has USB built in for programming.You should be able to open the IDE, select "Blink" or "Hello World" whatever they call it and it should blink the on-board LED (pin 13 I think, or it is on the UNO).

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 10:58:43 am
content: Quote from: raspberrypi on February 07, 2017, 04:25:22 amThe SainSmart Mega seems to use the Atmel micros as USB bridges, so that should work with the standard drivers, assuming they have programmed it correctly.Make sure you have the correct virtual serial port selected in the Arduino IDE - the errors are because the IDE is unable to talk to the board.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 07:31:08 pm
content: The Mega is a fine board for larger projects. Whether it is a good choice for a beginner is debatable. Were it me, I would set it aside for the moment and get a Uno R3. Nearly every tutorial out there will run on the Uno and it's important to know that what you have matches what you are reading.The example code as provided, without the appropriate line breaks, won't compile.Try this:Code:void setup() {Serial.begin(9600);// opens serial port, sets data rate to 9600 bpsSerial.println("Hello World!");}void loop() {}This code is known to work on an original Uno (not an R3) and an R3. Just compile and upload the code (the two little buttons at the top left (the one that looks like a check mark compiles the code, the next button to the left uploads the code (and recompiles if necessary). After the code is uploaded, open the Tools->Serial Monitor to see the output. If the Monitor doesn't default to 9600 baud, fix it in the lower right corner where the rate is displayed and then reset the Arduino (or re-upload) to see the output.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 01:18:23 am
content: Not only do you need to make sure you have the correct serial port set, you also need to set the correct board type.

author: janoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:42:55 am
content: Quote from: rstofer on February 07, 2017, 07:31:08 pm99% of the tutos will work on the Mega as well, you only need to be careful about the pin numbers/pin capabilities (like analog inputs, PWM and pull-ups) as some are different between Uno and Mega. Also Mega has multiple copies of some peripherals where Uno has only one. So instead of just Serial you may have to use Serial1/Serial2/Serial3 to choose the right port, etc.The documentation at Arduino.cc is fairly explicit about it, for ex:https://www.arduino.cc/en/reference/serial

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:08:21 pm
content: So I took it back and get a regular arduino uno (although I think this one is made from chinesium as well!)and the first program uploaded!!!!Its an led blinking program but I can't figure out where to hook up the led. This is the diagram:

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:10:52 pm
content: It says it right there - between D13 and the ground. You will also need a resistor in series with the LED. Connecting it like shown will work, but it will violate MCU's absolute maximum ratings.

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:18:37 pm
content: It blinks!Thanks for the help I'm losing my eye sight and thats why I ask so many questions. Now to start having fun and playing around with it.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:43:16 pm
content: WTF that diagram is inexcusable and will fry your chip. I'd toss all that documentation in the trash and use the linked stuff presented here.BTW, even though it's Chinese, I think the nano versions are the best. I like them because I can solder pin headers and plug them into a breadboard making prototyping so easy. Then the board can be integrated into a final project.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2017, 12:34:30 am
content: Quote from: raspberrypi on February 08, 2017, 09:18:37 pmNow, to make sure YOU are in control, change the blinking program just a bit. Change the delay(nnnn) to a different number.I think it was originally 1000 (for 1000 milli-seconds), change it to something like delay(200). That should send it into a rapid blink. If that works, you know your successfully completed your first program change with that UNO.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2017, 12:47:22 am
content: When I was playing around with Arduinos the thing that I found most frustrating was that changes incorporated into later versions of the language break older code, and for inexplicable reasons you cannot have multiple versions of the IDE installed simultaneously. How hard would it have been to have a selection in the IDE to enable backward compatibility? Or to implement the changes such that they work concurrently with the older way of doing things? For a platform aimed at beginners I found this inexcusable.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2017, 12:59:10 am
content: Quote from: james_s on February 09, 2017, 12:47:22 amThe changing scene of parts/modules/shields doesn't help.I had my first LCD (2004) that came with a library so old it was probably written by Nero himself when Rome was burning. Modifying the library to make that work was educational but very frustrating.That LCD uses a SainSmart I2C wired for address 0x3F which was different than another other I have seen since. If I come across something like that now, it is no problem. But when I first came across it, it was confusing as heck.Start with the UNO and standard things. Once you learn it, converting it to something different is a hell of a lot easier than trying to learn with something that is just a little off.

author: raspberrypi
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2017, 07:42:31 am
content: So the purpose of the arduino is to to prototype something on a bread board then when you are ready to make the real thing you design your PCB with just what you need and then pop that long chip out and put it in the final product? How much does just the chip cost? Is there a way to program it in your device say using two pins when its in the product? That way you wouldnt have to put it in the arduino board then pull it out and resocket it.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2017, 08:02:20 am
content: No. The purpose of an Arduino is to enable the 'maker' community to use a few microcontrollers and peripherals without the 99% masses having to read and understand device datasheets or write low-level code that bit-bashes registers. The fact that its a reasonably capable ATmega board and development platform of interest to more serious hobbyists wanting to get into Atmel AVR development on the cheap is almost entirely a pure bonus, though it was quite intentional as the Arduino community needs to recruit that 1% who shouldn't be forced away from any machine running Atmel Studio at gunpoint for the greater good (unlike the other 99%), to write libraries for new peripherals and package them for the unwashed masses.In your case, simply put the same MCU chip as any 'flavor' of Arduino on your own board, break out the programming pins to the standard 6 pin AVR serial programming header and program it either with a commercially available Atmel AVR programmer (preferred) or with an Arduino running the ArduinoISP sketch to emulate an AVRISP programmer.N.B. If you pull the ATmega328P from your Arduino and replace it with one bought from a distributor, the Arduino will no longer work! ATmega chips do NOT come preprogrammed*with a bootloader so you need to program an Arduino compatible one by ISP before use.* Unless you pay a premium and get it from an Arduino specialist reseller that offers that service.