> > > If you are happy to stray from the fold then a close to zero cost > solution with vast utility can be achieved. Thanks Russel, :) Us heretics need to stick together! The most basic AVR programmers operate from a parallel port (for those > who remember what that is) and typically a 74HC244 IC and a few parts. The BA1FB programmer just used resistors. I don't think he's updated it for the later devices, but it works nicely on the smaller chips, like the 2343 which IMHO is a nice introductory chip, having ram, rom, timer, and a few I/O, and the 8 pin "one chip wonder" applications are pretty nice. > > Maybe you can do the same with PIC, but the point is that people can and > do with AVRs. I did an LED blinky on the 2343. I always said I wouldn't ever do that, but actually it was to drive two lasers on a sattelite in different morse code blink patterns concurrently (cooperative multitasker) so I thought it had sufficient 'cool factor' to outweigh the rest. If one wanted to, one could adapt my "fuser" (on the T11 group) to a larger AVR, and turn that into a chip programmer easily enough. Add serial support, and follow the standard AVRISP protocol. Just remember to ALWAYS program the CKOPT fuse unless you KNOW that you know better. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist