[SOLVED] Atmel AVRISP mkII is the only budget programmer without comprimise?

Other Hardware 3rd Party Boards
1

having a great time!
hope that subject doesn't upset.
I'll be getting a USBtinyISP at some point I hope.... yet for now:

The Atmel AVRISP mkII In-System Programmer (ATAVRISP2)
has been out for a long time, the AVRDragon board needs lots of
extra cables and makes it doubly illogical for me as I'm green.

Has the Atmel AVRISP mkII been out for so long it's not
the leader anymore? OR is it so simple it's age is irrelevant somewhat?

The USBtinyISP works with Atmel® Studio 6 and Atmel® Studio 5
though there's emulations going on and compromises. Not that I'm a
stranger to the beauty of less and compromises.

Still, seems at 34 bucks the AVRISP mkII and an UNO R3
would be logical and then i can get into micro-projects
where it's just a 328P and as little as possible.

So, I keep trying to talk myself outa the programmer to find the most
full-on way, basically where I'd be if I was doing this for years
already.

It's the bootloader that needs the programmer right?
as for the code I can up it using a FT232RL USB to Serial Breakout Board
or similar with just the 328 and a few parts on breadboard.

OR, to get the bootloader AND the code onto an empty 328P
I can do ????

I'm not trying to fall into a hole timewise though I am asking
if there is a solid way that uses the arduino to program another arduino.

AND, UNO to non-UNO? 2 UNO? one whatever and ... ?

I expect that the USBtinyISP will be high on many lists for this.

AND so, will i every want to use Atmel® Studio 6 and Atmel® Studio 5 ??

To get myself running I'm figuring that the UNO R3, an AVRISP mkII,
and bunch of parts (329P's etc) for barebones in-circuit/project standalones
is logical.

OR? what am i missing? I want the least expensive (obviously) most
flexible, and non-obsolete non-buggy items.

Sorry about the ramble. Just about to place an order and
something's nagging me to find out if I've missed anything
on easily getting bootload AND code on blank 328Ps
thereby allowing me to re-use my system to make more 328P.

So, right now my system would be:

  • AVRISP mkII
  • UNO R3 (love a non-UNO as well!)
  • parts: a few 328Ps, crystals and the rest.

The AVRISP mkII's gonna be around for a while right? There's nothing else more compatible, right?

Sheessh, sorry again, what a ramble. PARTS will help me to relax soon! :slight_smile:

2

Ioflex,
Do a search for Optiloader, very easy to use to bootload from one Arduino to another. One of the regulars here, WestfW, wrote it and we all owe him many thanks.
TomJ

3

Thanks Tumbleweed.

I had a recollection that Optiloader was the default bootloader for the UNOs or at least R3.
Or perhaps I'm not accurate or it's a modified version used.

searching now

wondering what if any linitations Optiloader comes with.

Able to use Atmel's software etc.

And if I'm using 2 Arduinos to program and load bootloader
is it wise to have a non-UNO and an UNO?

All this is towards being able to do the very cool and inexpensive
bare-bones, only what's needed, chips and a few parts thing.

UPDATE: this is getting very interesting, foggy still yet very interesting.

limitations to this route? 2 Arduinos. (besides the wiring of course)
I'm gonna need to figure out that I assume rightly? that the bootloader
is non-standard and stays IN the programmed chip, this does or does not affect
what software can be used to program?

Or perhaps one MUST use optiloader to load the bootloader AND the sketch?

What benefits are there to one UNO and the Atmel programmer?

UPDATE 2: appears that optiboot IS the R3's stock bootloader now, hence the
feature of more space for code. correct. yes.

AND, that optiboot is only for loading the bootloader, which I guess
means that I can put the chip into the arduino and program it WITH
the atmel software OR any other software that normally works
with an UNO R3?

Optiboot does not interfere with what software can be used to program
it's only for upoloading the bootloader. yes?
?:-]

4

I wrote some UPDATES above.
Though now it appears I'm confused about UNO R3 and it's bootloader

optiloader is used to reprogram an arduino after which the arduino
must be reprogrammed as it's now programmed to be, a bootloader ONLY programmer!

as a bootloader ONLY programmer it will will program a blank 328 that's on a breadboard, or homemade shield ... or in a second arduino???

optiboot is the new boot code which is found in the UNO R3 right?

are they one and the same OR different?
ie. is the bootloader that optiloader ups the same as what's in an UNO R3 ??

And secondly, thank you for reading, I'm also trying to stumble across info as to whether
the various? bootloaders affect what software can be used to upload sketches
use for programming. specifically, would like to be atmel software compatible.

Sorry for not getting it.
won't be long now i hope!

QUOTED:
Optiloader is a sketch designed for bulk upgrading of Arduino board
bootloaders using another Arduino as a device programmer.

THIS IS the regular R3 bootloader that it programs to a blank 328 correct?
optiboot is what we end up with on the once blank 328?
Or is it some other bootloader?

WHEW: nutty or what. I figured it out. Or someone did!

Optiloader is a sketch designed for bulk upgrading of Arduino board
bootloaders using another Arduino as a device programmer. It stores
multiple copies of the optiboot bootloader in program flash memory.