Docs: How to use the TinyLoadr Breakout


Introduction

This tutorial will show you how to use the TinyLoadr AVR Breakout to upload code to a DIP microcontroller in the built-in ZIF socket.

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Introducing the TinyLoadr AVR Breakout

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Shortly after I decided to make the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer, I had an idea for another project. While the programmer works well, some people prefer using their own AVR programmer, be it a cheap USBasp or an AVRISP mkII.

There are plenty of ATmega and ATtiny breakout boards, but none (that I could find) that supported multiple AVRs with a single socket. Since I already had the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer which does use only a single socket, I decided to get to work.

Read more to find out more about it, or visit my Tindie store to grab one for yourself!

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Build Instructions: Simon Says Game Kit v2.0

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These are the build instructions for the Simon Says game kit v2.0. While this kit is for beginners, these instructions assume that the user has a basic knowledge of soldering. If you do not know how to solder, then check out this great guide by Sparkfun before continuing.

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Introducing the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer

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I finally finished the next version of my TinyLoadr AVR programming Shield – and it’s not a shield. It’s a standalone USB programmer, so you no longer have to have an extra Arduino laying around. The best part? It’s the same price as the shield was!

Read more to find out more about it, or visit my Tindie store to grab one for yourself!

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Docs: How to use the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer

The current version with a USB-B connector.

The current version with a USB-B connector.


Introduction

This tutorial will show you how to use the TinyLoadr AVR Programmer to upload code to a DIP microcontroller in the built-in ZIF socket as well as how to upload code to a target PCB with an AVR on it using the ICSP headers.

Note: These instructions apply to all TinyLoadr models, regardless of USB connector or build number.

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Arduino-Powered Foosball Scoreboard (Part 2)

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This is part 2 of 2 in my post about my Arduino-Powered foosball scoreboard. Here’s a link to part 1.
After building the first Arduino-powered foosball scoreboard, I was really excited. I showed it off to coworkers, friends, and family, and I also posted about it online. I got some great feedback, and started thinking about ideas for a possible revision in the future. Eventually though, I kind of forgot about it and moved on to other projects.

About 8 months after finishing the scoreboard, I started revisiting the idea of a new version. When I looked at the ratsnest of wires, I was a embarrassed. Not only did the wiring look terrible, but the actual circuitry wasn’t well thought out. In fact knowing what I know now about electronics, I’m surprised the thing even worked as well as it did. After all, there wasn’t a single current-limiting resistor to be found in the whole project (seriously). It was going to need a major overhaul, but I was ready to make it happen.

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Arduino-Powered Foosball Scoreboard (Part 1)

Close up of the finished scoreboard.

This is part 1 of 2 in my post about my Arduino-Powered foosball scoreboard. Here’s a link to part 2.

At my office, we have a foosball table. There’s nothing really special about it. Rather there was nothing really special about it until last year. My boss and I play fairly often, and we had always joked that it would be cool to have the table keep track of the score for us, instead of us using the little abacus-style numbers on each end. I needed a new side project, so I challenged myself to build it.

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nRF24l01+ 2.4GHz Wireless Arduino Transceiver Code

The nRF24l01+ transceiver is a fantastic and cheap way to get your Arduinos talking to each other wirelessly. It’s also very easy to use thanks to some great libraries:

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“ArduinoISP Deluxe Shield” is now “TinyLoadr Shield”

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When I made the first prototype for my ATtiny and ATmega programming shield, I decided to call it the ArduinoISP Deluxe Shield. “ArduinoISP” came from the fact that it would rely on the ArduinoISP sketch in order to be useful, and the “Deluxe” part was because while there were already other ATmega or ATtiny programming shields out there, none could program as many different microcontrollers as my shield could.

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Monday Experiment: Bootloading an ATmega32u4 with Arduino

ATmega32u4 Breakout

A month or two ago I ordered some of Atmel’s ATmega32u4 microcontrollers to play around with. I was excited to get them, but at the time I was really busy at work, so I quickly forgot about them. Last Friday I received some TQFP44 breakout boards and decided to spend some time this past weekend getting the Arduino bootloader and some example sketches up and running on the ATmega32u4. Turns out, it was pretty easy.

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