Dongle issues and q&a
2006-03-28 by Jay Dagenais
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 _________________________________________________________________ Don't just Search. Find! http://search.sympatico.msn.ca/default.aspx The new MSN Search! Check it out!