AVR-Chat

--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan" 
<stefan_trethan@g...> wrote:
> simple question, i want to use the SPI on the mega16 in DIL40.
> Normally if i want a device to be master only i'd tie SS_not high.
> 
> Now, i'm kind of tight on pins already, so i would like to use
> SS_not as a digital IO pin, i just want to be sure i can do that. .
> Please tell me if SPI will work correctly without using this pin
> for it.

As I read the documentation, you can use PB4 as a general output 
while using SPI in master mode.  Of course, you still need some way 
to drive the slave's SS/ input.

It also says, "If SS/ is configured as an input, it must be held high 
to ensure SPI Master operation."

This is from the 12/03 version of the Mega16 PDF, page 138.