I also switched from PICs to AVRs years ago - at the time I was interested
in performance in a small package and AVRs far outstripped PICs (and still
do). Initially I continued using assembler, but whilst I still have some
legacy stuff it's also a long time since I've done anything new apart from
in C.

Anyway, I have a Dragon, and it works fine for what I do - for through hole
devices it has space for a ZIF socket for programming which you patch to
the Dragon's programming pins - you can just use individual patch wires,
but I made up specific patch cables for my common use. For onboard
programming you simply patch from the programming pins to an onboard
programming connector. It does all normal forms of programming - SPI, JTAG,
PDI etc. so there's no obvious reason you'd need anything else.

Chris

On Mon, Oct 9, 2017 at 6:48 PM, David C Brown <dcb.home@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks
>
> AVR studio looks attractive but my main problem is in understanding the
> hardware programmers/debuggers.   The JTAG ICE doesn't seem to be availab=
le
> and anyway was a COM port device so not suitable.  There is a ATMEL--ICE
> (USB) that looks promising but there is also the cheaper Dragon which I
> don't really understand..  Guess it is over to the AVR forums
>
> __________________________________________
> David C Brown
> 43 Bings Road
> Whaley Bridge
> High Peak                           Phone: 01663 733236
> Derbyshire                eMail: dcb.home@gmail.com
> SK23 7ND          web: www.bings-knowle.co.uk/dcb
> <http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~dcb>
>
>
>
> *Sent from my etch-a-sketch*
>
> On 9 October 2017 at 14:08, Van Horn, David <
> david.vanhorn@backcountryaccess.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > AVR Studio has always been my tool of choice.  The Jtag Ice is very
> > useful, but not essential.
> > I think you'll find it a refreshing departure from the PIC.  I started
> > using the AVRs back when the 8515 was new, and never did PIC developmen=
t
> > again.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Could anyone give me any direct advice on getting started or direct me =
to
> > the better of the overwhelming  number of web resources?
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________
> > David C Brown
> > 43 Bings Road
> > Whaley Bridge
> > High Peak                           Phone: 01663 733236
> > Derbyshire                eMail: dcb.home@gmail.com
> > SK23 7ND          web: www.bings-knowle.co.uk/dcb
> > <http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~dcb>
> >
> >
> >
> > *Sent from my etch-a-sketch*
> > --
> > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> > View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/
> > mailman/listinfo/piclist
> >
> > --
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> > View/change your membership options at
> > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
> >
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