Hello ! I'm going to buy this book http://amzn.com/1449355781 and start to learn programming ATmega 168A in C. In the books component list i found some alternatives for an ISP programmer which you need to programm your microchip. Here are some:
1.An Arduino and six wires makes a totally workable flash programmer.
- An original arduino is quite expensive but affordable. Will a fake arduino copy work as a Flash programmer ?
2.USBTinyISP
- I don't have a soldering iron and not planning to get one for a while.
3.USBasp, from BaiTe in China
-In the book it says that i need to flash the firmware into the AVR in the programmer. I don't really know what it means.
4.USBTiny, tiny version from ehajo.de
- Same as previous option
5.A homemade programming spider, which plugs into a breadboard around the AVR chip and connects up the programming, power, and reset pins the right way every time. If you’re at all handy with a soldering iron and perfboard, you should make one of these.
- Again, i don't have a soldering iron.
I don't know what option to choose. Seems like options 2 and 5 won't work for me att all since i don't have a soldering iron. Options 3 and 4 are not completely clear. Option 1 is the most expensive one but easyest, may be a fake arduino copy would work as a Flash programmer ? I don't know. I would be happy if someone could educate me at this stuff with ISP programmers.
