Looks like it might actually be possible to reprogram the bootloader without an ISP programmer. Some clever folks have figured out how to use the FTDI chip on an Arduino to "bit bang" the SPI pins and reprogram it fully. That chip is the same one as we have in the USB-TTL cable, so it should be possible to make the same mod on a Meggy Jr RGB.

http://www.geocities.jp/arduino_diecimila/bootloader/index_en.html
http://labs.coffeebot.net/content/ftdi-drivers-avrdude-linux

Anyone interested to try this out?

I have a similar problem. My Meggy resets about three seconds after I hit "Upload" with Arduino 15 (on Vista). It also resets about twenty seconds later when the error message pops up in the Arduino environment. I was able to upload Meggy Bright with some trial and error, but after that I can't upload anything at all.
I get the "not in sync: resp=0x00" and "expect=0x14, resp=0x51" errors.
I understand that these are blanket errors, but I've gone through all the solutions I've come across and I've either got a problem that hasn't been documented, or I haven't found the right steps to fix the problem.

There are a few different things that could be wrong. If you have the problem with the windows/arduino reset timing conflict, you can verify that by determining if a well-placed reset button press- right after it goes into reset while programming --causes it to program okay. If that's the case, we may be able to help you out with that one directly.

Flaky soldering connections (more common than you might suspect) are also a common cause of this sort of error. Also make sure that you've done the "set RTS on close" hack.

I tried resetting at different points during the upload and for different lengths of time, and it seems that a hold of a second or two during the first self-reset is what it needed to work.

Then yes, it sounds like the same problem-- essentially that the Arduino software is allowing too much time between sending the reset signal and starting the programming operation. We're working on a better long-term fix for already existing units that have this issue, but it's not ready yet. In the mean time it can be fixed if (1) you have access to an AVR ISP programmer (or Arduino or other device that can act as one) (2) we reprogram it for you. Otherwise, you may want to press the button at the right moment for the time being. If you'd like us to reprogram it for you, please contact us through the Evil Mad Science contact form:
http://evilmadscience.com/contact?Itemid=62

Windell,

Perhaps the next kit available from Evil could be an AVR ISP programmer. Or, is there one currently available you'd recommend?

We do recommend the Adafruit USBtinyISP kit, and don't plan to make a general purpose replacement for it.

As I've said, we're looking at a couple of possible resolutions for existing units with this issue. The possible solutions, as I see them are (1) to fix the Arduino software or (2) to reprogram the devices to work with the current Arduino software.

As far as #2 goes, one of the things to consider is that the FTDI cable *can* actually be used as an ISP programmer, with a little bit of temporary wiring and small patches to existing sofware. See this post for an example:
http://tinyurl.com/ykbytg2

Dr. Who,

I have not played with Meggy Jr for a while. When I upgraded to Arduino 17 on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala and tried to upload to her, I had the same issue as described here. The program will upload with a well timed reset. Is this an Arduino 17 issue?

Justin

>Is this an Arduino 17 issue?

Yes and no. It would be easy for me to put the blame fully with them-- We had a carefully timed bootloader that was tested and worked well under Arduino at the time (15, I believe), but then it stopped working for a few people after the upgrade. On the other hand, it's our fault for daring to tweak the bootloader. (I *really* wish that they would reduce the required bootloader delay from 2 seconds to about 0.25 seconds-- and test to make sure that their software still works with it.)

The ideal solution is to reflash the bootloader. This can even be done directly through the FTID USB-TTL cable now (as mentioned earlier in this thread), through an external Arduino (using megaISP) or through a regular ISP programmer.