Device Signature Error uploading to ATMEGA168PA

Question

I keep getting a device signature error and can't program my Atmega168pa chip.

I'm using the board from: https://mcudude.github.io/MiniCore/package_MCUdude_MiniCore_index.json

I've pasted the error below from an attempt to upload a new sketch:

void setup() {
 // put your setup code here, to run once:
}
void loop() {
 // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
}

Arduino: 1.8.13 (Linux), Board: "ATmega168, No bootloader, EEPROM retained, 168P / 168PA, BOD disabled, LTO Disabled, Internal 8 MHz"
Sketch uses 412 bytes (2%) of program storage space. Maximum is 16384 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 1015 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 1024 bytes.
/home/rick/.arduino15/packages/arduino/tools/avrdude/6.3.0-arduino17/bin/avrdude -C/home/rick/.arduino15/packages/MiniCore/hardware/avr/2.0.7/avrdude.conf -v -patmega168p -cstk500v1 -P/dev/ttyUSB0 -b19200 -Uflash:w:/tmp/arduino_build_51999/sketch_nov15a.ino.with_bootloader.hex:i 
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 "/home/rick/.arduino15/packages/MiniCore/hardware/avr/2.0.7/avrdude.conf"
 User configuration file is "/home/rick/.avrduderc"
 User configuration file does not exist or is not a regular file, skipping
 Using Port : /dev/ttyUSB0
 Using Programmer : stk500v1
 Overriding Baud Rate : 19200
 AVR Part : ATmega168P
 Chip Erase delay : 9000 us
 PAGEL : PD7
 BS2 : PC2
 RESET disposition : dedicated
 RETRY pulse : SCK
 serial program mode : yes
 parallel program mode : yes
 Timeout : 200
 StabDelay : 100
 CmdexeDelay : 25
 SyncLoops : 32
 ByteDelay : 0
 PollIndex : 3
 PollValue : 0x53
 Memory Detail :
 Block Poll Page Polled
 Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack
 ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
 eeprom 65 20 4 0 no 512 4 0 3600 3600 0xff 0xff
 flash 65 6 128 0 yes 16384 128 128 4500 4500 0xff 0xff
 lfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
 hfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
 efuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
 lock 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
 calibration 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
 signature 0 0 0 0 no 3 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
 Programmer Type : STK500
 Description : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
 Hardware Version: 2
 Firmware Version: 1.18
 Topcard : Unknown
 Vtarget : 0.0 V
 Varef : 0.0 V
 Oscillator : Off
 SCK period : 0.1 us
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000 (retrying)
An error occurred while uploading the sketch
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x000000
avrdude: Yikes! Invalid device signature.
 Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
 this check.
avrdude done. Thank you.

Pictures of my wiring:

My wiring

I have:

• D13 -> (PCINT0/CLKO/ICP1) PB0 [Pin 14]
• D12 -> PB4 (MISO/PCINT4) [Pin 18]
• D11 -> PB3 (MOSI/OC2A/PCINT3) [Pin 17]
• D10 -> (PCINT14/RESET) PC6 [ Pin 1]

I have a 100n capacitor between vcc & gnd and between avcc & gnd. I have a 10 uF capacitor between "Reset" and "Ground" pins on the Arduino. Power is fed via the 5v pin from Arduinio.

I know this nano works (I programmed an ATTiny84 with it before and after my attempts on the Atmega). I've checked pwr & gnd. I'm not 100% sure of the wiring. These chips are new from China so I'm not sure if they are configured for internal or external clock, although I believe they are set to internal by default.

• KIIV: ISP pins are usually all next to each other. That D13 to PB0 is unlikely to be correct. It should be PB5
• timemage: @KIIV, I just noticed your comment here. Write it up as an answer and I'll vote my answer for deletion.

Answer 1

The ISP pins are usually all next to each other. The connection D13 to PB0 is unlikely to be correct. It should be connected to PB5.

You can check your connections here: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/BuiltInExamples/ArduinoToBreadboard (there is UNO, but pin numbering/wiring is exactly the same as for Nano)

Another possible mistake is burning wrong fuses (with bootloader) for external xtal setting (also mentioned in the article)

• Rick Dearman: The issue was the D13 to PB0 connection, it should have been PB5. After I moved that everything worked perfectly. Thanks!