Hi to all!
The title says all!
From several days I'm reading multiple tutorials (from the official site to others).
I want buy a virgin ATmega328p (and/or some others Attiny85/84), load the Arduino bootloader, put the Arduino in the desk (!) and upload sketches directly on the mC.
For the bootloader upload, I think that there is no issue, following the official guide.
But, if I remove totally Arduino, what I need to buy?
I live in Italy, and buy from USA is not an option, for times and duty taxes. I don't know If I can put link to amazon. I saw basically a
If I buy one of them, they are all that I need to connect the breadboard to the PC and via Arduino IDE (1.6.13+) upload a new sketch?
Sorry for noob question. They cost only 5/7€, but I don't want buy useless tools!
PS They are selectable 5v / 3.3v to feed power to breadboard (and so to the Atmega) at 5v or 3.3v (if for example I use modules/sensors rated for 3.3v, all right?)
For serial programming (bootloaded atmega) both devices seems to be good. First one is more usual. Both use FTDI chip, just IC package is different and USB connector is different too.
I use FTDI Basic clones from www.tinyosshop.com, with on board header to select 3.3V or 5V IO, available with micro-B USB or mini-B USB connector.
And Mikroe483 from www.mouser.com when I want to install one onto a board, also with a voltage select header.
Both use legit FT232 chips, no driver problems. You can see both below:
@sineverba,
You need a Programmer to install a Bootloader before you can use a USB/Serial adapter (FTDI FT232 or otherwise) to download code into a chip.
The Programmer lets you set the Fuses (for an external 16 MHz crystal; there are 3 fuse bytes, High, Low Extended that are normally programmed), and you can also select File:Upload Using Programmer to load a sketch without having a bootloader installed.
The Amazon part in Reply #3 is a Programmer.
The FTDI part will let you send/receive via the Serial Monitor for Serial.print and debugging. A Programmer will not let you do that, is does not connect to the Rx/Tx pins of the microcontroller ('328P).
The second one doesn't have DTR on the connector so it won't do auto-reset. This means you'll have to manually reset the microcontroller at the right time every time you upload a sketch using the adapter. I'd definitely get the first one. Just FYI, you can get those for <$2USD w/ free shipping from China on eBay or Aliexpress from China. They might have a counterfeit FTDI but you can still make them work fine. There's really no guarantee the Amazon one has a genuine FTDI chip either.
I said on the connector. The first one has the standard FTDI pinout which will be much much more universally useful than that "SunFounder" abomination. I don't know why on earth they decided it would be a good idea to go off and create their own pinout when everyone else has managed to decide on a standard(other than the pin 6 RTS/DTR thing which doesn't make any difference for our purposes). Unless there's a significant price difference I think it's clear the first one is the best choice. Since I've already pointed out you can get the first one for <$2 there's no way that will be a consideration.
I buy a virgin Atmega328P, without the bootloader.
I burn the bootloader (8MHZ in reality) on the chip <=> I can do this with Arduino UNO R3, just tested now.
I don't want remove ATMega on Arduino. So, I want buy an item that let me upload, from Arduino IDE, the sketches on the ATMega.
What's that item? The FTDI? Of course on my PC I have USBs, not serial ports.
Thank you! And sorry for my newbie!!!
Once you've installed the bootloader (using Arduino running Arduino as ISP, or another ISP programmer - I recommend the cheap USBAsps from ebay), what you need is a USB serial adapter that breaks out the DTR pin. These are sometimes colloquially referred as FTDI adapters, as for a long time, these were all based on FTDI chips - however nowadays most of these are based on the CH340G, which serves the same role as an FTDI adapter (I advise avoiding FTDI ones, since it's impossible to tell over the internet if you're getting a real FTDI adapter, or a counterfeit one that won't work - google ftdigate for the gory details).
The ones I linked above are the ones that I use - they have the correct 6-pin pinout that the old ftdi cables used (and which many boards, like the pro mini, are designed to work easily with), and they have a 3.3v / 5v switch on them that actually works. Some USB Serial adapters have a different arrangement of pins, or don't even break out the DTR pin. Since the DTR pin is required for autoreset (to upload sketches without a precisely timed press of reset button), avoid units that don't have it (note - RTS pin (not RST) is okay if it doesn't have DTR - the IDE tries to use both).
