AVR/Arduino

Development Boards MicroMod
1

Hi Guys,

I’m very new to embedded electronics.

I have some experience programming ATmega8’s on an STK500 with AVR Studio 4.16 using ATmega8 assembly

however, i want to get my own kit. as i want to start experimenting with various sensors

I was looking at getting an AVR STK 500 Compatible Programmer

and the 28 PIN AVR devleopment board. However im not sure how you access all the IO PINS on this?

or would someone recommend the Arduino Duemilanove? I really like the look of this, but dont want to learn Arduino C or use a IDE other than AVR Studio. can you run straight assembly on this platform?

also when you buy micros must you have the arduino bootloader burned into them?

and once you’ve programmed an arduino micro, can u take this micro out and then place it into a soldered circuit?

thanks for any help. basically a good guide to beginning my own embedded electronics would be great haha.

Matt

2

Yes, a 28 pin dip atmega128 or 328 can be programmed in an arduino ckt., then taken out and used in a ckt. of your own making, but your ckt. would still need attendant circuitry required by the original arduino: 5v regulated power supply, probably a 16mhs crystal or resonator, proper wiring. In fact, you can make an arduino of your own with the proper parts.

One of the easiest, and cheapest boards (an RBBB) to put together can be found here: http://www.moderndevice.com/products/rbbb-kit. You could buy the whole kit, use that one for programming, then buy one or more of the bare pcb’s to make imbedded arduino’s: http://www.moderndevice.com/products/rbbb-pcb.

I found that the easiest way to program one of those RBBB’s is to use a

USB to TTL serial adapter, I believe Sparkfun has a couple: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8165 or http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=718 (not sure, they’ve changed these things)

You can also buy atmega168’s / 328’s without an arduino bootloader: http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php?c=21

I used to use WinAVR TO program atmega’s, but since I’ve worked with arduino’s for the last year or so, I’ve forgotten how. Its a bit more complicated than arduino, but arduino’s are pretty much restricted to 168’s, 328’s and even older atmega 8’s.

PO’T

3

Thanks for the help.

I’ve been told that you can programme the arduino boards as an STK 500 by using a STK500 USB programmer plugged into it and using a Atmega328 without the ardunip boot loader.

is this true?

oh and is it also possible to turn off the 16MHz oscillator and run with the 8MHz internal clock on the arduino?

4

Short answer: Yes, it’s possible.