Don’t use parallel port programmers. Notoriously unreliable and incompatible with PC OS.
use a pre-programmed AVR with a serial port bootloader. Or get someone to program one into chips you have. PM me and I’ll do so.
Or buy a preprogrammed chip w/serial bootloader. Or pre-programmed with a full virtual machine - such as zbasic.net’s modules/chips.
Best bet: Purchase an Atmel ISP for USB.
That’s exactly what I am doing now, shelling out bigger bucks for a USB programmer. Ill be sure to let you know if that cures my problems
Buy an Atmel ISP mk2. The official version is the only way to go
Your reset voltage is still concerning.
I would get a real programmer such as the AVRISP2 or AVR Dragon. They are not too expensive, USB based, and really work, unlike many of the hack jobs…
/mike
yep just bought a AVRISP2 from digi. Will have it by thursday, wish me luck!
Well, good luck! Unfortunately, as a rule the fastest way to solve a problem is to spend money on it.
Also: Don’t connect your reset pin directly to VCC, or your programmer won’t be able to pull it low when it needs to. Use a single 5 - 10kohm resistor between reset and VCC.
And 2.5V on the reset pin is definitely not right. While you’re waiting for your new programmer try to sort that out on your breadboard.
Silly observation, but, are you sure the button on the breadboard is not accidentally rotated 90 degrees? I bought the kit from SFE but I’ve never been happy with how badly it fits in the breadboard and it’s real easy to put in wrong or with a bad connection.
HURRAY it works! The new AVRISP mkII programmer kicks that stupid parallel port programmer’s butt! Worked first try with the exact same circuit I had been trying to program for the past week. Thanks for your help guys!
I am having the same issue with my used atmega168. I am working with one of Ocean Controls DC motor PID speed controllers and I would like to customize the application (which they allow but I have yet to get myself up to speed). I am using a usb avrisp on com 3. I’ve made several attempts and it will never enter program mode. The atmega168 was previously used and I am wondering if it is locked(protected) because of the programming that it contains from Ocean Controls. My board is the one created through the SFE tutorials (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutori … ials_id=93).
Is it possible that the chip is locked? I am very new to this.
Ask Ocean Controls?