Society of Robots - Robot Forum

General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: Mechanik on January 17, 2012, 04:20:44 PM

Title: Using alternative programmer for $50 robot - compatible?
Post by: Mechanik on January 17, 2012, 04:20:44 PM
Hi,


Just looking at ordering a programmer for my yet-to-be-built $50 robot.

I wish to know would this AVR programmer work just as well?

http://www.robotshop.com/world/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Cyt-95&lang=en-US (http://www.robotshop.com/world/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Cyt-95&lang=en-US)

I've already ordered all the standard parts on the tutorial list - it's just this programmer I intend to get that's different. Though don't know anything about it's comparability for this tutorial.

Advice much appreciated 
Mechanik.
Title: Re: Using alternative programmer for $50 robot - compatible?
Post by: charlie_ehler on January 27, 2012, 12:28:54 PM
Mechanik,

I'm a beginner too, and was curious about the programmer you found so I looked it up.

Here's a link http://piotrstrzalka.cba.pl/AVRUSBaspSocket.pdf (http://piotrstrzalka.cba.pl/AVRUSBaspSocket.pdf) to the pdf file on operation and compatibility and on page three the first controller listed is the ATmega8 controller used for the $50 robot!

So, you apparently found a cheaper alternative to the $35 programmer option for USB port computers.  It's too bad I just ordered the more expensive one or I would be on it already!

Charlie

Title: Re: Using alternative programmer for $50 robot - compatible?
Post by: Chypsylon on January 28, 2012, 07:37:53 AM
The programmer you've found is actually a copy of the popular usbasp ( http://www.fischl.de/usbasp/ (http://www.fischl.de/usbasp/)). It works flawless with (nearly) every controller of the avr-series. You can find them on eBay for as low as 4€ (i ordered mine there some time ago as well) ;)

It is really sufficient in the beginning, if you really want to spend more you should invest in an Atmel AVR Dragon or similar which is also capable of other programming protocols