There are a number of things that have to work correctly for programming to work: The software environment, communication speed, USB interface, the cable, and power. If you’d like to try serial communication with the clock, that’s a good first check before trying to program. Make sure that you use a communication speed (in the serial monitor) of 19200 baud. (See here for more detail: http://wiki.evilmadscientist.com/Alpha_Clock_Serial )
Double check that your FTDI connector is oriented the right way. (“Black” side to “Black” side.)
Double check soldering connections at the microcontroller, J5, R4, C10. The latter three are *only* used for programming, so everything could be working perfectly fine otherwise, only it can’t be programmed if there’s a problem at one of those points.
If you continue to have difficulty, you might consider sending the microcontroller (or the whole clock less digits and case) back to us for an upgrade and for us to double-check that everything is working and it can be programmed.
