Recommended AVRs for 'gettting feet wet'?

[Robert Rolf]

The PIC 16F84 has been superseded by the 16F628, 16F648, 16F88 as the preferred
choice for beginner PIC projects.

What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for hobby projects?
What would you suggest as equivalents to the 12F (physical size)
and 18F (memory size) parts?

R

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[Kevin Rosenberg]

Robert Rolf wrote:
> What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for hobby projects?
> What would you suggest as equivalents to the 12F (physical size)
> and 18F (memory size) parts?

I'm not familiar with those PIC parts, but I'd recommend the ATMega168
(16K flash, 28-pin) as a modern, intermediate featured chip.  The 168P
is the picopower version if you need low-power RTC power down mode.


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[Chris McSweeny]

For a 12f size part, the atTiny45 is a great chip.

On 6/7/07, Robert Rolf <Robert.Rolf@...> wrote:

>
> The PIC 16F84 has been superseded by the 16F628, 16F648, 16F88 as the
> preferred
> choice for beginner PIC projects.
>
> What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for hobby
> projects?
> What would you suggest as equivalents to the 12F (physical size)
> and 18F (memory size) parts?
>
> R
>
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> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
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>

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[John Samperi]

At 06:20 AM 8/06/2007, you wrote:
>What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for
>hobby projects?

Well you have the Tiny series that start with 8 pins (something like
the Tiny13)
and the largest in that series is the Tiny2313 which is roughly
equivalent to the
16F628...but a lot better :)

In 28 pin size you can get the Mega48/88/168 which is an excellent range
starting at 4k of flash and 512 ram and EEPROM.

Then you have the 40 pin range like the Mega8535 etc. this particular
type has an upward range of chips that are also pin compatible like the
Mega16 and Mega32, the newer range of pin compatibles is the Mega164/324/644.

You may want to start with the Mega48/88/168 range, Digikey has a special at
the moment of a Dragon and an STK500 for about $50.00 which will allow you to
build your project (STK500) and do in circuit debugging with the Dragon.

Regards

John Samperi

********************************************************
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
11 Brokenwood Place Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153 AUSTRALIA
Tel. [phone]       Fax [phone]
Email: john@...
Website  http://www.ampertronics.com.au
*Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
********************************************************


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[Robert Rolf]

John Samperi wrote:

> At 06:20 AM 8/06/2007, you wrote:
>
>>What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for
>>hobby projects?
>
>
> Well you have the Tiny series that start with 8 pins (something like
> the Tiny13)
> and the largest in that series is the Tiny2313 which is roughly
> equivalent to the
> 16F628...but a lot better :)
>
> In 28 pin size you can get the Mega48/88/168 which is an excellent range
> starting at 4k of flash and 512 ram and EEPROM.
>
> Then you have the 40 pin range like the Mega8535 etc. this particular
> type has an upward range of chips that are also pin compatible like the
> Mega16 and Mega32, the newer range of pin compatibles is the Mega164/324/644.
>
> You may want to start with the Mega48/88/168 range, Digikey has a special at
> the moment of a Dragon and an STK500 for about $50.00 which will allow you to
> build your project (STK500) and do in circuit debugging with the Dragon.

Thanks for the recommendations John.
Nice savings on the bundle (about $100), so I ordered one.

Then I came across this page:
http://popsci.typepad.com/how20blog/2007/03/help_an_absolut.html

"Whether it's a marketing lapse or a brilliant design configuration
feature, beginners should be aware that Atmel Corporation does not
include several vital pieces of equipment in the AVR Dragon box.
...
Furthermore, you will be required to solder several components to
the AVR Dragon to enable it to work with the widest variety of
8-bit AVR products.
...
 From a beginner's perspective, the thought of having to "scratch build"
your commercial programmer might seem a little daunting. Actually,
the hardest part of this DIY venture is complete--once you purchase
the headers and ZIF. The actual soldering is tedious, but straightforward.
"

So there are a few surprises, but nothing a well stocked junk box can't handle.

Robert


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[John Samperi]

At 10:40 AM 8/06/2007, you wrote:
>So there are a few surprises, but nothing a well stocked junk box
>can't handle.

You will get a few of the "missing bits? in the STK500 box anyway :)
apart from the USB cable which you will need to get.

Having the STK500 you will not really need to use the Dragon's zif socket,
I have installed one but never used it.

In other words use the sockets on the STK500 to build your project and
use the Dragon for DW or JTAG debugging only, well may be you can use it
also as a programmer as well as the STK500.

Regards

John Samperi

********************************************************
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
11 Brokenwood Place Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153 AUSTRALIA
Tel. [phone]       Fax [phone]
Email: john@...
Website  http://www.ampertronics.com.au
*Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
********************************************************


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Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/838 - Release Date: 7/06/2007 2:21 PM


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[William Couture]

On 6/7/07, Robert Rolf <Robert.Rolf@...> wrote:

> The PIC 16F84 has been superseded by the 16F628, 16F648, 16F88 as the preferred
> choice for beginner PIC projects.
>
> What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for hobby projects?
> What would you suggest as equivalents to the 12F (physical size)
> and 18F (memory size) parts?

Just to get your "feet wet", how about the AVR Butterfly?

ATMega169
LCD display
Switch (4-way)
light sensor
temperature sensor
speaker
512Kbyte external EEPROM
RS232
and more.

About $20 from Digikey

Bill

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[William Couture]

On 6/7/07, Robert Rolf <Robert.Rolf@...> wrote:

> The PIC 16F84 has been superseded by the 16F628, 16F648, 16F88 as the preferred
> choice for beginner PIC projects.
>
> What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for hobby projects?
> What would you suggest as equivalents to the 12F (physical size)
> and 18F (memory size) parts?

And, something I just ran across in connection with the "cat cam" discussed
in another thread:

http://www.instructables.com/id/S5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/?comments=all

Bill

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[Kevin Rosenberg]

John Samperi wrote:
> In other words use the sockets on the STK500 to build your project and
> use the Dragon for DW or JTAG debugging only, well may be you can use it
> also as a programmer as well as the STK500.

John, that's what I've done as well -- especially using the dragon as
a USB-JTAG programmer for the device on the STK500.

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[Dave Lag]

William Couture wrote:

> On 6/7/07, Robert Rolf <Robert.Rolf@...> wrote:
>>
>>What do the AVR people recommend as good AVR parts to stock for hobby projects?
>>What would you suggest as equivalents to the 12F (physical size)
>>and 18F (memory size) parts?
>
> And, something I just ran across in connection with the "cat cam" discussed
> in another thread:
>
> http://www.instructables.com/id/S5H5UDWB5UEUKIKV8V/?comments=all
>
> Bill
>

add Step 0.0:
Go to the junkyard/basement and get a PC with a parallel port?
:)

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