hi all, I have just got one of the following http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300587914146?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 installed the drivers all seems ok, but can't load code onto a 328p. I can load the code using my uno fine. This converter does not seem to put my chip in reset so the upload fails?
I've connected tx to tx, rx to rx, rst to rst and gnd to gnd but no luck?
What is Rst on the board? Do you mean RTS? You may need a 0.1 uF capacitor in series with the reset wire.
Hi Nick, I mean RST on the arduino and the RST pin on the programmer - as per this pin out
Try the capacitor anyway.
Ok thanks Nick, I'll see if I can find one to try
Hi, no luck with a cap in series with reset 
is there anything else I could try?
I'm noticing the data LED in the dongle is not lighting up at all?
Better solve that then. Without the board to hand it's hard to know what to suggest.
Shouldn't tx connect to RX? And RX to tx?
You might want to contact the vendor. They probably have more experience with this product than people here.
Check the Reset pin - it might be an input to the board and not an output.
Does the board a DTR pin you could jumper in instead? (I can't access the e-bay link from here).
switching the connections, rx tx etc does not seem to solve it
I have just looked into the DTR function, I think you are correct about the rst being an internal reset. Looking at the chips datasheet DTR is pin 28, but it does not look like they have broken it out on this board. I have soldered a wire and cap to the pin and it now resets the board fine and at the right point, but I'm still getting no data transmission? I'm wondering if it's faulty?
Thanks all
Try swapping Rx/Tx now that you have DTR working.
Ok I'll try that later when I'm home, thanks bud
after numerous attempts, I connected the grounds up and it works 
Yeah, ground would help.