Programmer using ATMEGA8 microcontroller

The programmer I use is built from a kit I bought at Tuxgraphics. There are several reasons I bought this kit.

  1. It is open source, works with avrdude.
  2. It connects to USB.
  3. It is a lot faster then my old programmer (Programs an ATMEGA8 in about 5 seconds).
  4. It is cheap.
  5. I bought the kit to support the open source community.

Programmer
You can’t see it but on the bottom of the pcb there is a (smd) FT232R chip, which “converts” the USB signals to TTL level rs232 which connects directly to the microcontroller. It works pretty well, but there are a few issues: The most important is that the FT232 has no EEPROM attached for the product and device Id’s. This means that if I change the USB port of the programmer then the number of the virtual comport it’s connected to changes and then I have to put it back in the FTDI driver or in my makefile’s. Another disadvantage is that the programmer sometimes fails to verify the microcontroller. This second “problem” could have been solved in the latest version of the software but I haven’t checked that yet (2009-12-31). It has been working pretty good for programming Atmel’s AVR controllers.
For more detail: Programmer using ATMEGA8 microcontroller


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

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