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[Solved] MacOS X - Arduino Uno - Problem uploading to board - HELP

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(@mikbmw)
Active Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 5
Topic starter  

I am using an Arduino Uno with a USB Host Shield. I can't upload my sketch on Mac. I recieve this error avrdude: stk500_recv programmer is not responding and then the upload fails. Sometimes I recieve this error when I remove the USB Host Shield, avrdude: stk500_disable0: protocol error. I tried using the Arduino Uno on Windows 10 and it is working fine without the USB Host Shield plugged in. But on the Mac it doesn't work with or without the USB Host Shield. I tried to downgrade from Catalina 10.15 to Mojave 10.14 and installed the latest version of Arduino software, but this didn't solve my problem. I tried to make sure the right ports were selected, the programmer, and the board itself. I also tried changing the preference to check compilation and upload but nothing seems to work. I tried resetting the Arduino while uploading and many other fixes from the forums but nothing seems to work. I need help. I have been trying to do this for 3 days and I can't find a solution.

Error with USB host shield connected on unoArduino: 1.8.13 (Mac OS X), Board: "Arduino Uno"

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00
Sketch uses 444 bytes (1%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/bin/avrdude -C/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -P/dev/cu.usbmodem17101 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:/var/folders/y8/4zk2nvgx3qv59c202dsd9ynr0000gn/T/arduino_build_111884/sketch_sep18a.ino.hex:i
Problem uploading to board. See http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting#upload for suggestions.

avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

System wide configuration file is "/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/tools/avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
User configuration file is "/Users/mojave/.avrduderc"
User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping

Using Port : /dev/cu.usbmodem17101
Using Programmer : arduino
Overriding Baud Rate : 115200
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0x00

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.


   
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 Hans
(@hans)
Famed Member Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 2660
 

Ehm, I'm not quite sure where to start with this one since I have never used an Arduino Uno with a USB Host Shield.

First thoughts (some you may already have tried):

  1. Go for a lower baud rate, just for testing (eg. 57600)
  2. Consider using a different USB cable

I have no idea if this is a genuine Arduino Uno or not, but if it is not then you may need to load the board configuration into the Arduino.
Additionally, especially with exotic USB chips, you may need special drivers (but you already mention that the regular USB connection didn't work).


   
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(@mikbmw)
Active Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 5
Topic starter  

@hans How do I adjust the baud rate? Where is that located exactly? I am brand new to Arduino and Mac.

I am using an Arduino Uno R3. I am not sure if it is genuine or not because I borrowed it from my friend who purchased it a long time ago. But, it is working on Windows 10.

On Windows 10 it shows COM 3 on the ports, which is what it works with. But I can't find COM 3 on the Mac , only usbmodem2201(Arduino Uno) I am not sure if this is a problem or not.

Also my main host OS is Windows 10, I have a virtual machine running with MacOS.

  • I have tried installing ftdi drivers but that didn't work.
  • I also just updated my MAC ports- that didn't work either.

What's driving me crazy is that it is working on the Windows 10 but it won't upload anything on MAC even without the USB Host Shield.

  • Mac doesn't work with or without USB Host Shield.

 

Thanks for responding!


   
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 Hans
(@hans)
Famed Member Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 2660
 

Setting the upload speed depends a little on your board, but in general you'll find it under the "Tools" menu.
See attached screenshot.

Now to determine if you are working with a genuine Arduino Uno, typically the board will be green or blue and have the genuine Arduino logo on it.
Something like this:

Some clones, especially some of the very cheap and/or older models, use a different USB chip, which can cause issues on a Mac (and sometimes even under Windows where you then have to install a separate driver for it).

The selected port "usbmodem2201(Arduino Uno)" sounds correct, but I'm not sure how reliable that will be with a virtual machine (for example: I wasn't able to low-level format an SD card with specific software).

I'm typically running MacOS as my main OS, and Windows 10 as a virtual machine (VMWare) and there I find too that talking to a USB device doesn't always go as well as one would hope. I even avoid doing that, since the "layer" in between can disturb things.
So I'd really recommend running your Arduino software under Windows, in case Windows is yoru main OS.

You were able to upload a sketch from Windows 10 right?


   
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(@mikbmw)
Active Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 5
Topic starter  

@hans I don't see that Upload Speed under the "Tools" menu.

 Yes I can upload a sketch from Windows 10, which is my main OS.

However, the project I am working on can only be completed on MacOS, which is why I have been trying to make it work on a virtual machine. I tested the sketch on Windows 10 to see if the Arduino Uno would would upload but I can't actually use it there for my purposes.

I have tried VMWare and Virtual Box and it doesn't want to upload with either.

I checked my Arduino Uno with the pictures and I am not sure if it is real or not. It has some components that match the real Arduino such ads the Gold 501k component, the Italy land mass is not too close to the words, and it is blue.

  • However, the board is a deep blue.
  • The A in Arduino logo is missing the hole
  • The O in Uno is more squared looking.

The USB plug looks a little different, like this one below:

                                                                         

 

^^This is not my board and it doesn't look completely like this. But the USB plug looks like the one pictured instead of smooth.

Does this mean the board is counterfeit? And if so, is there any driver I could install that would make it work properly with MacOS?

I am going to install MacOS on my PC without the Virtual Machine since you mentioned that VMWare can cause issues.


   
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 Hans
(@hans)
Famed Member Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 2660
 

Well, first off: your Arduino looks genuine. 😊 

I'm afraid you're bumping into some of the challenges when running things in a virtual machine.
I occasionally run macOS in a virtual machine (on my Mac), and even then it performs horribly.

A Quote from an article I found, related to the serial (USB) port in VM's:

VirtualBox allows to propagate a USB device to the virtual machine. Within OS X this sometimes causes an error message that the device is busy.

So this could explain why the device is seen but communication is not starting (programmer not responding).

This does seem a common challenge, but unfortunately, I could not find an "quick fix".
A hopefully useful article I found: Virtualbox USB Passthrough Guide
Of course: keep in mind that this article is written by the company that sells the software to fix this 😉 

Just being curious here: why can the project only be done on the Mac?
All of my Arduino projects run under Windows, MacOS and Linux.
Is there anything special you require? 


   
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(@mikbmw)
Active Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 5
Topic starter  

@hans I tried the fix from the link you provided, but unfortunately it did not work.

I've tried everything I can think of to fix it in the Virtual Machine but I am at a loss.

I am trying to use the Arduino Uno with the USB Host Shield in a project related to IOS and the sketch only supports MacOS, unfortunately.

Do you know of any way to use the MacOS without a virtual machine on my current PC? I'm attempting to install MacOS Mojave so that I could remove the extra layer of using VMWare, but I am running into some issues there as well.

 


   
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 Hans
(@hans)
Famed Member Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 2660
 

I'm sorry to hear that it still doesn't work 😞 

Well, there are 4 ways to run MacOS on your PC:

1) Virtual Machine, but we already ran into problems there ...
2) Use the Hackintosh method - this would make MacOS run natively on a PC (but it can take quite a bit of work, and may not be the most stable)
3) Buy, borrow or rent a cheap Mac
4) Rent a Mac in the cloud (but honestly, I highly doubt USB support will work)

Just 2 things I ran into, while trying to help you find a fix:

VirtualBox:
I just found a post on running MacOS in a virtual Machine with VirtualBox, where they say:

Before creating the macOS virtual machine, you need to install the VirtualBox Extension Pack. It includes fixes for USB 3.0 support, mouse and keyboard support, and other useful VirtualBox patches.

Download: VirtualBox Extension Pack for Windows (Free)

For VMWare:
I found this tip:

In the Virtual Machine (VMWare) settings:

- Set the USB compatibility to be 2.0 instead of 3.0
- Check the setting "Show all USB input devices"

Maybe this helps?
I know, you may have already tried these tricks ...


   
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(@mikbmw)
Active Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 5
Topic starter  

@hans Thank you for the advice.

Unfortunately I have already tried these tricks and they didn't help.

I would borrow a Mac but everyone I know uses Windows.

I am currently trying to use the Hackintosh method since yesterday but am running into trouble trying to install it. Will continue trying this way as I can't think of anything else to make the Virtual Machine work properly.


   
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 Hans
(@hans)
Famed Member Admin
Joined: 11 years ago
Posts: 2660
 

You're welcome!

And yes: Hackintosh comes with its challenges (depending on your hardware) .... fingers crossed 😉 


   
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