USB AVR programmer

[thaking]

Hello all,

I want to buy usb avr programmer(already have PIC programmator), and i want know if this one is "good":

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-ISP-Programmer-ATMEL-AVR-ATMega-ATTiny-/320573674418?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa3ae13b2

Many thanks for advice.

[EEVblog]

I use the AVR ISP MkII and it works well and is cheap.

Dave.

[allanw]

I'm sure it'll do the job if you want it as cheap as possible.

[thaking]

I use the AVR ISP MkII and it works well and is cheap.

Dave.

This one is much better, from my first one(up), because also support AVR studio. It's cost 39$.

[alm]

I second the AVRISP Mk.II recommendation. It's an officially supported product, and very reliable.

Another interesting option for the hobbyist is the Atmel AVR Dragon (also an official Atmel product with AVR Studio support). It's slightly more expensive than the AVRISP Mk.II, but has more features. The advantages are that it supports debugging (both JTAG and debugWire, the 32kB limit has been removed) and high-voltage programming (useful if fuses are screwed up or you disabled the reset pin to gain an extra GPIO). The disadvantage is that it feels less like a professional product: it's just a bare board without case or cables. The first version (without mounting holes) had some reliability issues, the new version (more than a year old by now) with mounting holes is much better in that regard.

Install the latest version of AVR Studio and open the tools help for up-to-date documentation on these programmers.

[Vexer]

I honestly don't know why anybody uses cheap third party programmers for AVRs. I struggled with a parallel port programmer for a couple months until I got an AVRISP MKII. Just download AVR Studio and WinAVR and you are ready to start coding!

[Varal]

I know Dave's gonna call me an idiot for this but make your own one I've got a self-made USBasp and i run it under eclipse (yes that java developing tool) It has a good avr plugin with decent support. Plus i prefer eclipse over avr studio because it has line numbering and configurable fonts (dunno why, but I just can't work without it)

Please note that USBasp doesn't do any parallel programming JTAG related things but is a good choice for a beginning though. (You'll need another programmer to program the firmware into the ATmega included in the project but that's another story)

Here's the main site for the programmer: http://www.fischl.de/usbasp/

And on this site you can find the board layout which I've used: http://diy-elektronika.pl/202-usbasp-programator-avr-na-usb (It's polish but the links are clearly placed on the bottom of the page:) )

[alm]

Plus i prefer eclipse over avr studio because it has line numbering and configurable fonts (dunno why, but I just can't work without it)

Note that you can also use Atmel programmers with Eclipse (I'm sure you know that, but thaking may not).

(You'll need another programmer to program the firmware into the ATmega included in the project but that's another story)

That's actually a significant issue unless you have a friend with a programmer or buy some sort of kit. I found this a neat solution. He uses the FT232 to bit-bang the ISP protocol for programming the ATmega on the programmer (this is really slow, but you only have to do it once). But I would still recommend the AVRISP Mk.II (or Dragon) over this if you have the budget. It really helps for beginners if they can trust the programmer.

[Mechatrommer]

I use the AVR ISP MkII and it works well and is cheap.
Dave.

i cannot find the original in ebay. i ended up buying 3rd party which looks similar to original poor atmel marketing

[Varal]

@alm
eclipse still needs avrdude for programming anything so I'm guessing I can use as many programmers as avrdude supports?

[TopherTheME]

I use the AVR ISP MkII and it works well and is cheap.

Dave.

+1 It's also supported by Arduino so you can bootload ATmega's with it.

[alm]

i cannot find the original in ebay. i ended up buying 3rd party which looks similar to original poor atmel marketing

Huh? Since when did eBay became the official or only distributor of electronics parts? I can't find the LME49990 (low noise op-amp) on eBay either, does that mean National does a bad job distributing these? No, because Digikey has ~300 in stock and about ten days lead time. Digikey has about 3000 AVRISPs in stock, Mouser about 500. Most other distributors like Newark, Farnell and RS probably also have stock. EBay is fine for obscure/obsolete parts or cheap jellybean stuff, but it's usually much easier and faster to add it to an order at one of the big distributors. You can combine shipping (or they might ship for free depending on the amount), and the chances of counterfeit or rejected parts are much lower. You're also sure that they're new and that they have a proper datasheet.

eclipse still needs avrdude for programming anything so I'm guessing I can use as many programmers as avrdude supports?

Indeed, which includes all (current) Atmel programmers, plus many unofficial ones.

[Bored@Work]

@alm
eclipse still needs avrdude for programming anything so I'm guessing I can use as many programmers as avrdude supports?

Only that most of these programmers are outright shit. Go with an original AVRISP MkII if you value your time.

[Mechatrommer]

i cannot find the original in ebay. i ended up buying 3rd party which looks similar to original poor atmel marketing

Huh? Since when did eBay became the official or only distributor of electronics parts? I can't find the LME49990 (low noise op-amp) on eBay either, does that mean National does a bad job distributing these? No, because Digikey has ~300 in stock and about ten days lead time. Digikey has about 3000 AVRISPs in stock, Mouser about 500. Most other distributors like Newark, Farnell and RS probably also have stock. EBay is fine for obscure/obsolete parts or cheap jellybean stuff, but it's usually much easier and faster to add it to an order at one of the big distributors. You can combine shipping (or they might ship for free depending on the amount), and the chances of counterfeit or rejected parts are much lower. You're also sure that they're new and that they have a proper datasheet.

i bought my pickit2 from UK seller in ebay (with lots of free chips), no wonder lots of people talking about PIC instead of Atmel or other brand mcu. i'm a bit reluctant to buy from a specialized dealer in the net, there is only limited shipping option and i have to expose my CC NO everytime. i'm afraid i will hit a phissing site someday. with ebay, my card is safe with Paypal.

ps: last time i checked with digikey and mouser, for some reason, i dont know why i didnt manage to buy from them.
and luckily it seems my 3rd party programmer is upgradable/detected from AVR Studio, just like the original. Not sure what will be the difference so far.

[alm]

i bought my pickit2 from UK seller in ebay (with lots of free chips), no wonder lots of people talking about PIC instead of Atmel or other brand mcu.

Feel free to use PICs, they're fine MCUs, too. Although I think that's off-topic in a thread about an AVR programmer.

i'm a bit reluctant to buy from a specialized dealer in the net, there is only limited shipping option and i have to expose my CC NO everytime. i'm afraid i will hit a phissing site someday. with ebay, my card is safe with Paypal.

ps: last time i checked with digikey and mouser, for some reason, i dont know why i didnt manage to buy from them.

IMO, specialized distributors are the best way for electronic parts, much more selection, better information, and shipping tends to be cheaper (for me at least, no clue about Malaysia) since you can buy it all from the same distributor as opposed to ten different eBay sellers. I trust Digikey and Mouser more than I trust Paypal. Plenty of stories of Paypal screwing up people's accounts, none about Digikey or Mouser as far as I know. As long as you don't do stupid things like buy from a link in an unsolicited email, phishing isn't that much of an issue, IMO. And the advantage of CCs is that you can dispute any fraudulent charges, at least in this part of the world.

There are plenty of alternatives for Digikey and Mouser, some outside the US (like Farnell).

and luckily it seems my 3rd party programmer is upgradable/detected from AVR Studio, just like the original. Not sure what will be the difference so far.

If it works fine, good for you. I don't think it's very nice to use Atmel's code without permission, and wouldn't bet on their reliability (although it might be just fine).