Pocket AVR Programmer

Description: This version uses an SMD 5x2 header. This is a simple to use USB AVR programmer. It is low cost, easy to use, works great with AVRDude, and is tested extensively on a Windows desktop. Based on Dick Steefland's USBtiny and Limor Fried's USBtinyISP.

We've gotten a big response from Mac and Linux users having problems. We use this programmer extensively on a Windows box and love it. However, this is a low-cost programmer designed for those on a tight budget. For out-of-the-box compatibility with other operating systems and machines, checkout the AVR ISP2 USB programmer from Digikey.

This programmer works really well for ATmega168 and ATmega328 and should work with all the AVR micros supported by AVRDUDE. We've played a bit with the ATtinys but we cannot guarantee that this board will be compatible with anything but ATmega168/328.

This board is buffered and power protected so that you can do some really evil things to the programmer without killing it. It is fast! Comparable speed to the AVR ISP2 USB programmer from Digikey. One of the greatest features of this board is the ability to power the target (up to 500mA) from the programmer.

To use this programmer, attach to a Windows machine and install the drivers listed below. Open a command prompt. Assuming WinAVR (and therefore AVRDUDE) have been installed, type:

avrdude -c usbtiny -B 1 -patmega328 -U flash:w:main.hex

Be sure to include the "-B 1" flag as this will significantly increase the programming speed! You may need to change -p flag to your appropriate microcontroller. You can setup a tool and hotkey in Programmers Notepad to do this automatically.

Features:

• Standard AVR ISP programmer
• ATtiny2313 with USBtiny firmware preloaded
• Buffered output
• PTC fuse protected power
• Programmer can power target
• Supports ATmega168/328 and many others
• Two status LEDs
• Both 10-pin and 6-pin targets supported (cable included)

Documents:

• Schematic
• Windows Driver

Open Source Hardware: We like to share. The original engineering files are available for mass hackery.

• Firmware based on USBtiny (type 'make all' in the spi directory). I've found that the compile only works with older versions of WinAVR (20080430).
• Eagle Files (Licensed under CC v3.0 Share-Alike)