What is the cheap and good way to make a serial (RS232) programmer for AVR atMega and atTiny? There are several circuits in the Internet, but which one is better?
I'd like to be able to program my controller from Linux and Windows using some standard tools.
I've previously had good success using the (free!) Pony Programmer software and dongle. They provide schematics for the hardware, which was simple and seemed to do the trick.
Haven't used the linux version of the software for some time but the windows version seemed to do everything that it needed to.
Try the Serial port AVR programmer (DASA) Kit from Adafruit Industries. It's only $7.50, is very popular with the Arduino community, and she provides step by step instructions for assembly on her personal site.
If you don't want to build it yourself, Sparkfun Electronics has several serial programmers available for a bit more money.
If usb can be used, I really don't think the original programmer (AVR ISP mkII) is that expensive, the pricing today was about 34$.
http://onlinetps.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=188 This Serial Port AVR Programmer is a serial port dongle compatible with PonyProg and other programming software. It does not require any external power supply; it takes power from your target board. The dongle attaches to your PC via a standard DB9 serial port Information:
This Serial Port AVR Programmer Programmer is most inexpensive AVR programmer on the market. It works with the great free AVR programming software - the Pony -Prog you can always look at the list of the supported devices on this link as it grows every month.
Supported Device
ATmega103, ATmega161, ATmega163, ATmega 323, ATmega128, ATmega8, ATmega16, ATmega8L, ATmega16L, ATmega64, ATmega32,ATmega64L, ATmega32L, ATmega162, ATmega169, ATmega8515, ATmega8535, ATtiny12, ATtiny15, ATtiny26, ATtiny2313,ATtiny13, 25, 45, 85, 261, 461 And lots more..........