I am currently learning electronics. I recently bought an ATMega328 and an USBasp programmer to begin my learning. But I couldn't use the USBasp to program my chip. So I researched on other ways to program a AVR and I stumbled upon the idea of using a serial port to program it. I have a RS-232 port on my old desktop. I figured I could use it to program. But I couldn't figure how to do it. I have searched through the Internet. Some advise me to use a Max232 chip. I couldn't understand all of them. Below is a list of sites I have researched on this question:
Programming Atmega with serial port
http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/arduino-atmega328-hardcore
I want to know how to program the chip. Answers are appreciated.
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\$\begingroup\$ What was the problem with the USBasp? \$\endgroup\$Bence Kaulics– Bence Kaulics2015年05月25日 09:30:19 +00:00Commented May 25, 2015 at 9:30
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1\$\begingroup\$ The same error as this guy: electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/117384/… \$\endgroup\$Vishal Subramanyam– Vishal Subramanyam2015年05月25日 09:31:17 +00:00Commented May 25, 2015 at 9:31
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1\$\begingroup\$ i dont think programming using UART will be a better idea. what errors you are facing in USBasp. which software you are using for USBasp? \$\endgroup\$Aircraft– Aircraft2015年08月19日 06:47:22 +00:00Commented Aug 19, 2015 at 6:47
3 Answers 3
If you can afford buying an Arduino UNO board (about 20EUR, original, but you may find compatible ones which are cheaper), you can use it to program another Atmel MCU, in particular an ATMega328. See this article on Arduino as ICSP and this one (programming breadboarded MCUs with an Arduino).
I've personally done that and it is seamless (Arduino UNO programming a breadboarded ATMega328P, exactly as shown in that article). BTW, I was also able to burn a bootloader on that chip, since I bought some ATMega328 chips with no preprogrammed bootloader.
If your old computer has an LPT port, then all you need is literally 5 wires and the program called AVReal:
http://real.kiev.ua/avreal/langswitch_lang/en/; http://real.kiev.ua/old/avreal/en/adapters.html#FBPRG
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\$\begingroup\$ If you don't have a parallel port, there are lots of USB to parallel port cables on Amazon, starting at 5ドル or so. \$\endgroup\$tcrosley– tcrosley2015年08月19日 09:59:59 +00:00Commented Aug 19, 2015 at 9:59
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\$\begingroup\$ @tcrosley that program requires a "real" LPT port \$\endgroup\$ilkhd– ilkhd2015年08月19日 18:32:22 +00:00Commented Aug 19, 2015 at 18:32
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\$\begingroup\$ I wasn't sure, since the you had mentioned it needed only five wires. \$\endgroup\$tcrosley– tcrosley2015年08月19日 20:23:03 +00:00Commented Aug 19, 2015 at 20:23
You may use AVR910 programmer. It uses serial port on PC side and ISP port on microcontroller side. For compiler, you may use any compiler that support Atmel AVRProg (AVR910) programmer, for example CodeVisionAVR.
How to program: write code, compile, and program the chip. Make sure AVR910 selected in programmer setting.
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1\$\begingroup\$ The USBASP uses SPI, through a serial/USB interface on the PC. no difference here. \$\endgroup\$KyranF– KyranF2015年10月19日 02:06:36 +00:00Commented Oct 19, 2015 at 2:06