Recommendation Needed for Remote Programming?

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ka7ehk
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Posted by ka7ehk: Mon. Jan 11, 2021 - 06:22 PM
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Greets, Freaks!

 

As some of you know, I build and sell logging accelerometers ( http://www.orelectronics.net ). My brother works with me but is now 1500 miles away. I want to send him a logger and provide him a way to update it as I develop new software for it. He is a mechanical guy who is reasonably savvy around electrical stuff and has basic consumer-level computer skills. The accelerometer uses M328P and has a standard Atmel ISP (6 pin) connector. I can imagine AVRDUDE being useful but I've never used it and don't know how big of a challenge it might be.

 

I see several options:

 

1) Send him pocket programmers. That is slow and inconvenient at this end. Having to return them adds to the inconvenience.

 

2) Find, somewhere, a programmer like a Dragon and send him the hex file to burn into the unit using AVRDUDE. Some teaching required.

 

3) Get a low-end current model programmer, and set him up either with AVRDUDE or a minimum install of Microchip Studio. Teach him how to burn hex files with this setup. Studio seems extravagant.

 

4) Since debugging is not needed, maybe there is an Arduino hack to do the programming? Have not checked.

 

5) I see JTAGICE MkII programmers for sale on ebay. Would one of these work?

 

Maybe there are other options that I've not considered? What are your recommendations? 

 

Thanks

Jim

This topic has a solution.

 

Until Black Lives Matter, we do not have "All Lives Matter"!

 

 

Tags:

Tools, In-System Debuggers and Programmers, solved, atprogram, Atmel-ICE, MPLAB Snap, MPLAB X, PlatformIO, ATmega328P
Last Edited: Mon. Jan 11, 2021 - 07:53 PM
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jgmdesign
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This reply has been marked as the solution. 
Posted by jgmdesign: Mon. Jan 11, 2021 - 06:42 PM
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Send him one of Alank2's programmers and then all you need to do is email him a hex file

Your brother plugs that onto the is header and applies power after he loads the hex file to it and applies power. Takes three seconds to program a mega328

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ka7ehk
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Posted by ka7ehk: Mon. Jan 11, 2021 - 06:56 PM
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OK, I had forgotten that Alan's software handles the hex load into the unit. 

 

Sounds like a winner.

 

Thanks

Jim

 

Until Black Lives Matter, we do not have "All Lives Matter"!

 

 

Last Edited: Mon. Jan 11, 2021 - 06:57 PM
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gchapman
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Posted by gchapman: Mon. Jan 11, 2021 - 09:11 PM
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ka7ehk wrote:
... or a minimum install of Microchip Studio.
atprogram can be bundled with an optional GUI; context is PCBA test at the manufacturer.

ka7ehk wrote:
Studio seems extravagant.
Likewise MPLAB X though that has remote debugging and the MPLAB IPE.

IIRC, Microchip Studio has a TCP port capability.

PlatformIO has remote.

ka7ehk wrote:
... maybe there is an Arduino hack to do the programming?
fyi, AVRDUDE can run on a router.

ka7ehk wrote:
5) I see JTAGICE MkII programmers for sale on ebay. Would one of these work?
Yes though an AVRISP mkII clone would be a better fit.

 

P.S.

ka7ehk wrote:
He is a mechanical guy who is reasonably savvy around electrical stuff and has basic consumer-level computer skills.
re consumer-level, not for long.

Some former colleagues are mechanical engineers who became software engineers; likewise, aerospace, physics, math, ...

A best practice is code review; you now have a potential reviewer.

One can be educated in C by one's preferred textbook in approximately one month; OJT is code reviewing, you're the mentor and he's the mentee, practice (he'll be more than OK)

 

atprogram standalone utility

Using Atmel-ICE for AVR® Programming In Mass Production

AN2466 Using Atmel-ICE for AVR® Programming In Mass Production

Faster programming tools using SNAP | AVR Freaks

 

Remote USB Debugging Plugin Overview - Developer Help

Remote Development — PlatformIO 5.0.5a1 documentation

 

http://repo.onioniot.com/omega2/packages/packages/ via What is OPKG? | Onion Omega2 Documentation

 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=AVR+JTAG+ICE+XPII&_sacat=0

AVR JTAG ICE MkII Emulator for all AVR microntrollers (Kanda)

USB AVR JTAGICE XPII - Waveshare Wiki

Waveshare ATMEL AVR Programmer USB AVRISP XPII Compatible ATMEL Mk2 MKII Studio for sale online | eBay

USB AVRISP XPII - Waveshare Wiki

 

"Dare to be naïve." - Buckminster Fuller

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DocJC
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Posted by DocJC: Tue. Jan 12, 2021 - 02:28 AM
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So how many PCBs need updating?

 

Another option, not mentioned on your list, is for you to run a Remote Connect program, so that you connect to his PC, see his PC screen on your PC, and YOU run Studio / MPLab, etc., to click the right tabs and options, load the correct hex file, etc, while your brother only has to plug the target board into power, and connect the programmer's cable to the target board, which can be done while the two of your are talking on the phone.

After he watched you program a few boards he would likely be able to perform that task without your help.

 

Alan has a great little programmer!

 

If you wanted another option that uses Studio and MPLab you could use the Microchip SNAP programmers, which are occassionally on sale, and are inexpensive at baseline.

 

JC

 

Edit: Typo

Last Edited: Tue. Jan 12, 2021 - 02:29 AM
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ka7ehk
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Posted by ka7ehk: Tue. Jan 12, 2021 - 02:56 AM
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This is a single board which will be updated to maintain sync with my dev board here. He will do behavior and performance testing and check the operation with the desktop GUI.

 

I think that AlanK's programmer will be just the ticket. I forgot how easy it is to get the hex file into it.

 

 

Jim

 

Until Black Lives Matter, we do not have "All Lives Matter"!

 

 

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