AVR-Chat

Alrighty, I am trying to build a replacement dongle for my STK300 board, as 
I have had the same issues as most others have had using the stock dongle. I 
hopefully have not yet destroyed my parrallel port, I can still print off 
pages so I think it is alright still?? but don't want to keep testing fate 
each time I have to load some code.

Some of the sugested fixes include the use of analog RC filters on the SCK 
line, and using shorter cable runs. In the short term I plan to install a 
filter on my existing dongle, but I also plan to build an improved version 
as soon as I can identify exactly what the IC is, as in my dongle the part 
ID has been grinded away in order to make it fit properly into the housing. 
On the TI site, there are two versions of the octal buffers, one starts with 
CD, and the other with SN. Which is the right part to use? or does it even 
matter?

I run my software for the time being on my only working computer, which is 
my laptop. I am now afraid to even plug the dongle in anymore to this 
computer as I really don't want to blow the port ASIC. I guess one way to 
avoid this potential issue would be to either buy or build a proper 
programmer. I would prefer to build. Is there an easy to implement design 
available? using common parts that has features to protect the port/s used 
and is able to program a wide variety of AVR's, from the Mega to the Tiny? 
Something which does not use another micro would be ideal! but sticks to 
logic IC's instead. Thanks in advance for any help with this!!! jaydag71

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