Atmel AT91SAM9260

[jsmoker]

Has anyone worked with the Atmel AT91SAM9260 or something similar?  I'm dumbfounded on where to start.  I just purchased a demo board for work, but I'm totally confused.  I've worked with a lot of PICs and dsPICs and it all seamed straight forward.  program a main C file, turn it into a hex load the hex with a programmer compatible with the model.  I'm seeing things for this chip like linux and MS pocket pc, JTAG, SAM-ICE, SAM-BA, etc.  I needed a single chip for a project which was much faster than a dsPIC but I think I got in over my head.

[JesseWelling]

I'd start Here : http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3870

And if you also want to get started on Linux for this I suggest Linux Link.
Check out the flyer: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/images/products/Icon_Acrobat.gif

I haven't done any real checking to see if the AT91SAM9's are supported, but I think Buildroot (Cross compile tool chain for embedded Linux and applications) and U-boot (Embedded Boot loader) is where you should go if you are looking to use Linux.

[jsmoker]

Yeah, I saw those sheets, but the problem is half of it is in greek.  Well, I understand the "product card" cause most of the items are just attributes just like a dsPIC, but I have no idea what a said "cross compile tool chain" is or how an embedded boot loader compares to a dsPIC.  Can I load the program on via the serial cable on the development board?  Is the JTAG connector just a way to debug a program?  If I just get the chip itself, how do I program it.  For the dsPICs I have a melabs programmer using the ICSP.  Is there an equivalent? Can I just get by with a serial port and a RS-232 to TTYL level adaptor (eg MAX232)? 

[Admin]

holy monkies! it has 208 pins!!!

ok so what I would do to program it is get this programmer:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=ATAVRISP2-ND
the programmer has 6 pins, and you just need to connect the matching pins on your microcontroller. miso to miso, mosi to mosi, ground to ground, etc.

dont worry about the bootloader . . . it will just complicate things and I dont think you need it anyway . . .

and then just follow this tutorial for programming AVR's
http://www.societyofrobots.com/step_by_step_robot_step4.shtml

now if you want serial data output/input, buy this guy:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=199

and attach the tx/rx lines to the rx/tx lines of your microcontroller.

i skimmed this really fast and left out some details, but i think this will get you thinking for a bit . . .

[TrickyNekro]

Would the STK500 ISP work with it???
If supported STK can be a very usefull kit!!!
I was a child of ghetto until a friend of mine gave me the STK!!!
And beleive me you can do some serious work with it!!!