AVRISP mkii target power error

[d13]

Hi everyone.  I'm having a problem using my AVRISP mkii.  I'm very new to this so please pardon any obvious problems that I may be overlooking.

Here's the setup:
AVRISP mkii
atmega8
AVR Studio 4 (build 528)
WinAVR

The problem is that whenever I try to do anything with the atmega8 through the isp I get a "No target was detected.  Ensure that the target has power".  The status light is initially off and stays solid red when I try to communicate.  I did the initial firmware update when prompted by AVR Studio when I first tried to connect to the ISP.  I also did a manual firmware update, but I still have the same problem.  I have a 4.7kOhm resister from RESET to Vcc.  I tried both a 1kOhm and a about 260ohm as well.  I am able to change the ISP Frequency and it is currently set to 125 kHz.

I have put up a few images of the circuit and a few AVR Studio screen shots.

http://corruptionexperiment.com/misc/mkii_error/index.html

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[rgcustodio]

Your ISP wiring seems to be correct.
Using your voltmeter, verify the voltage to the VCC pin it should be equal to your supply voltage (+5V in this case).

Nice work on the photos!
Good luck.

[d13]

Your ISP wiring seems to be correct.
Using your voltmeter, verify the voltage to the VCC pin it should be equal to your supply voltage (+5V in this case).

The voltage to VCC for both the atmega8 and the isp are +5v.  Also, just for kicks, I checked the ribbon cable and there doesn't seem to be any breaks in the cable.

Nice work on the photos!

Thanks!

[rgcustodio]

I have a 4.7kOhm resister from RESET to Vcc.  I tried both a 1kOhm and a about 260ohm as well.

Try to use a larger resistor. The data sheet specifies 20K - 100K as the value of the RESET pull-up resistor.

Verify your wiring again. In the third photo on your site, the value of VTarget should never be ZERO if you've wired it correctly.

[d13]

Try to use a larger resistor. The data sheet specifies 20K - 100K as the value of the RESET pull-up resistor.

Thanks for the suggestion.  I tried about a 87K, but it didn't seem to help.  The help file says that the LED would normally blink orange for a "Reversed target cable connection, or not correct pull-up on the reset line."

Verify your wiring again. In the third photo on your site, the value of VTarget should never be ZERO if you've wired it correctly.

I rechecked the wiring again, but I didn't find any problems.

Should the VTarget on the Board tab of the Connect dialog always read the voltage on the isp's pin 2 (VCC). (assuming GND is connected too.) For example, if pin 2 has +5v then VTarget should read 5v?  I'm trying to rule out a defective ISP.  I'm sure that pin 2 is +5v and the ribbon cable is good.

Thanks again for your help.

[rgcustodio]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I tried about a 87K, but it didn't seem to help.  The help file says that the LED would normally blink orange for a "Reversed target cable connection, or not correct pull-up on the reset line."

Yep that's correct. I actually have a setup which uses only a 22K resistor.

Should the VTarget on the Board tab of the Connect dialog always read the voltage on the isp's pin 2 (VCC). (assuming GND is connected too.) For example, if pin 2 has +5v then VTarget should read 5v?  I'm trying to rule out a defective ISP.  I'm sure that pin 2 is +5v and the ribbon cable is good.

Yep.

I really can't find anything wrong with your wiring. Maybe it's a bad ISP, but that's going to be a BIG MAYBE since it should've been captured by Atmel QA.

[d13]

Well, it turns out that I had the pins reversed on the connector.  For example, pins 1 & 2 were backwards, 3 & 4, 5 & 6.  The diagram that is in the help file is meant to be viewed as if you are looking down through the connector, but not as an overlay from the bottom. 

I was a little unsure about which resistor to use, but you helped me fix that before it even became a problem.

I really appreciate your help.