Programming a TinyFSK with the Arduino IDE

Getting K0SM's software copied over to an Arduino Nano is fairly straight forward, but there are a few important steps to follow. Note that the "genuine" Nano is no longer sold, so you must use a clone; the original chip set used an FT232 FTDI chip, and many clones are sold with that chip. Some, however, have a CH340 chip, and that requires downloading and installing drivers to the Arduino Drivers folder. It is easier just to check the specs and go with an FT232 chip. Nano clones are also sold with and without header pins. I prefer those with header pins in the package but not soldered to the board. That way you can mount the Nano any way you want.

First, download the Arduino IDE:

You have a choice: I suggest using the old version 1.0.6. The newest version does not recognize some Nano clones. So far 1.0.6 has worked with several for me. A blank sketch looks like this:

Then Google K0SM's Tiny site: http://www.frontiernet.net/~aflowers/tinyfsk/. Near the bottom of his posting is the link to the source code: copy the entire code, and paste it into a blank Arduino sketch.

Go to your Control Panel----Device Manager-----Ports (COM and LPT)---and watch what port comes up when you plug your Nano USB cable into the computer. Back in the Arduino IDE, under the Tools tab, be sure that port is entered in Ports and Nano is entered in the Board menu.


Now under the Sketch tab click Verify/Compile, and if all is well, the sketch will fly through and verify. A Timer1 error code indicates that an updated Timer1 needs to be copied and pasted into the Arduino folder:

Finally, Click File.....upload....and the Nano will be a TinyFSK!