ATMega168 + parallel port dongle

Development Boards MicroMod
1

First of all, I’ve been a programmer for a long time and enjoy doing low-level harware operation, but I’m pretty new to the world of fiddling with actual electronic components.

So, I bought the [ATMega168 and [parallel dongle programmer from sparkfun here, but I have yet to get any sort of response out of it.

My first try was PonyProg, except that it doesn’t specifically support the 168. I tried selecting the other chips in the ATMega16 line that it does support, but always get “Device missing, or unknown device (-24)”, which also happens if there is nothing connected at all.

Second try was AVRStudio, but it doesn’t let me select the LPT1 port at all (just gives 9 COM ports, even though my machine only has one).

Third try was AVRDude, which does seem to recognize LPT1, but give an error message, "avrdude: ser_open(): can’t set buffers for “lpt1"”. I’m running Windows XP with the parallel port set to SPP mode, and giveio installed.

Also, my setup is very minimal. Just the chip mounted on a small perf board with an 8MHz ceramic oscillator, the cable connector pins routed directly to it, powered by a CR2032 (3V).

Anyone have any ideas I could try, or similar experiences?](AVR STK Parallel Port Dongle Programmer - PGM-00013 - SparkFun Electronics)](AVR 28 Pin 20MHz 16K 6A/D - ATMega168 - COM-07957 - SparkFun Electronics)

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similar experience here. In fact, was coming to the forum to see if anyone knew of ATMega168 PonyProg support - how to get it or how to make it? I would like to stick with PonyProg if possible.

I use the Olimex AVR-P28 with ATMega8 with PonyProg and the STK serial dongle - works great. Swapping the mega8 with 168, I just found that PonyProg has no support for it…was kind of surprised.

AVR MT 128 with PonyProg also works great. Still would like to get mega168 support from PonyProg.

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Update on this, I just got my ATtiny13 to flash successfully using AVRDude with the direct connection cable described here [http://www.bsdhome.com/avrdude/. I haven’t tried it on the mega168 yet, but I’m guessing it will work too. In any case, I can start writing code now, and that’s all I really needed.](http://www.bsdhome.com/avrdude/)

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I have only used a parallel port cable to program the atmega168. It is 5 wires

and some resistors I think… it works great! First thing I do is set my fuses

and put a bootloader on, then just program it through the serial port.