uP hobbyist kits

[JosephKK]

I am looking for enough kit to do maybe two or three projects for PIC andAVR.
Target price, about $100 for each vendor. Works in Linux or Linux/wine preferred.
Also some small LCD displays if not included. I can go higher $ but prefer not to.

 

[Tim Watts]

I am looking for enough kit to do maybe two or three projects for PIC and
AVR.
Target price, about $100 for each vendor. Works in Linux or Linux/wine
preferred.
Also some small LCD displays if not included. I can go higher $ but
prefer not to.

STK500 is the defacto for AVR 8's (Mega/Tiny). Need STK600 or similar for
AVR32. STK500 works beautifully under linux (it's an intelligent board so
RS232 is not a bit-bang timing sensitive interface, thus works with random
USB-RS232 adaptors too). Supports so called low voltage and high voltage
(rescue mode) programming - some cheap knock-offs might not. 80 quid UK, so
hopefully within your budget in dollars.

avrdude for programming and fuse blowing devices. GCC for compilation and
linking. Ubuntu linux has all the required packages in the main repos.
Shouldn't be any issues with other linuxes.

I'll leave PICs to someone else, except that GCC does not target PICs and is
unlikely too. SDCC I *think*???

 

[Nobody]

I'll leave PICs to someone else, except that GCC does not target PICs and is
unlikely too. SDCC I *think*???

gcc isn't available for 8-bit PICs, and sdcc's PIC support is pre-alpha
quality.

There is a Linux CLI tool for driving the PICKit2, though, as well as
an assembler/disassembler/linker (gputils).

 

[JosephKK]

gcc isn't available for 8-bit PICs, and sdcc's PIC support is pre-alpha
quality.

There is a Linux CLI tool for driving the PICKit2, though, as well as
an assembler/disassembler/linker (gputils).

Cool. Lots of stuff i had not found on my own. Thranx. Open for more.

 

[JosephKK]

STK500 is the defacto for AVR 8's (Mega/Tiny). Need STK600 or similar for
AVR32. STK500 works beautifully under linux (it's an intelligent board so
RS232 is not a bit-bang timing sensitive interface, thus works with random
USB-RS232 adaptors too). Supports so called low voltage and high voltage
(rescue mode) programming - some cheap knock-offs might not. 80 quid UK,so
hopefully within your budget in dollars.

avrdude for programming and fuse blowing devices. GCC for compilation and
linking. Ubuntu linux has all the required packages in the main repos.
Shouldn't be any issues with other linuxes.

I'll leave PICs to someone else, except that GCC does not target PICs and is
unlikely too. SDCC I *think*???

That is a bit steep. I will consider it.

 

[JosephKK]

I've had good luck with AVRISP mkII (49$ Digikey) and a dev board from
Olimex.
But I'm running windows. If the AVRSTUDIO software comes in a linux
flavor, you'd be all set for
49+29+Shipping...

Steve

It seems that Atmel has decided to graft itself onto the gcc toolchain
for AVR32 development. I think that the STK1000 is required for this
though.

 

[Tim Watts]

That is a bit steep. I will consider it.

What - price of STK500?

There are cheaper ways if that's an issue. Lot's of 3rd party bits and bobs
will support ISP low voltage programming too and if you are desperate
enough, you can jury rig a parallel port to bit bang the things.

http://www.captain.at/electronics/atmel-programmer/

 

[JosephKK]

What - price of STK500?

There are cheaper ways if that's an issue. Lot's of 3rd party bits and bobs
will support ISP low voltage programming too and if you are desperate
enough, you can jury rig a parallel port to bit bang the things.

http://www.captain.at/electronics/atmel-programmer/

Thanks but i am so not into bit banging with a PC, that is what uCs were
invented for.

 

[Tim Watts]

JosephKK <[email protected]>
wibbled on Monday 15 February 2010 00:38

Thanks but i am so not into bit banging with a PC, that is what uCs were
invented for.

Then you'll want the STK500 (there are newer versions, called ), a clone or
maybe a USB/RS232 to ISB bridge - all of which have some intelligence. Maybe
I misread you (is 80 quid give or take too much?).

This is probably the cheapest option if you don't need a development board
with sockets, leds etc as such:

http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=145

25 quid and presents as an STK500 to the PC (so everything will talk to it)
and presents an Atmel standard ISP header (well, both of them) at the other.

However, it doesn't appear to support High Voltage programming, so if you
mess up the wrong fuse you won't be able to rescue the device.