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Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:18:31 -0700 (MST)
From: Warren Block <wblock@wonkity.com>
To: Ian Smith <smithi@nimnet.asn.au>
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Cc: embedded@FreeBSD.org, "Wojciech A. Koszek" <wkoszek@FreeBSD.org>
Subject: Re: USB AVR programmers for FreeBSD 8
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On Sun, 31 Jan 2010, Ian Smith wrote:

> On Sat, 30 Jan 2010, Warren Block wrote:
>
> > Has anyone used the USBTiny AVR programmers with FreeBSD 8?  For example:
> >
> > http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9231
>
> I just had a look at this.  If you read through the user comments (and
> the blurb at the top of the page) it seems to be pretty iffy on Mac or
> Linux; even they suggest you might be better off with something like:
>
> http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=ATAVRISP2-ND
>
> Seems to me the extra ~$20 might be well worth it?

Probably, although I'm not looking at doing any volume, just wanting to 
experiment.  There are a couple of suggestions in those comments like 
adding the zener diodes present in the original design or slowing down 
transfers.

The USBasp looks interesting, and it has those zener diodes, but some 
comments said it had trouble with USB hubs.

There are also several ways to set up an Arduino as an AVR programmer, 
and the additional cost over the USBTiny is low.  The FTDI USB chip on 
an Arduino should be pretty robust.  Certainly FreeBSD can talk to it.

-Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota USA