Serial programmer




  • ponyser / Avrdude compatible
    write AVRDUDE_PROGRAMMER = ponyser in your makefile if you are using WIN-AVR / avr-gcc and Avrdude.
  • Tested for programming at 3V and 5V. (tested with atmega168 and atmega164p).
    Even if 3V Zenerdiodes is suggested for 3V programming.

Bill of Material Serial Programmer

# Name SEK USD Supplier SE Supplier US
1 3 metre Serial-cable (DB9 Female - DB9 Female pin to pin) 49 / 2 www.clasohlson.se
1 BC547C NPN TO92 1.66 Elfa
2 BZX55/C5V1 1.34 Elfa
1 1N4148 2.31 Elfa
2 Resistor 10k Ohm 2.62 Elfa
2 Resistor 4.7k Ohm 2.62 Elfa
1 Resistor 22k Ohm 2.62 Elfa
SUM 39

SUM x SEK (y USD)

Debug info

If you get:
avrdude -p atmega164p -P com1 -c ponyser -V -U flash:w:test1.hex

avrdude: AVR device not responding
avrdude: initialization failed, rc=-1
Double check connections and try again, or use -F to override
this check.

avrdude done. Thank you.

make: *** [program] Fel 1

Compilation exited abnormally with code 2 at Fri May 30 02:40:40

Then you might need to lessen the load (increase the resistance) on your ISP pins (MOSI/MISO/etc). e.g. in my case from 150 Ohm to 1k.

E.g. MISO,MOSI.. pins to LED's to 150 Ohm resistors to VCC won't work if you try to program at 5V, but will work if you run at 3V instead. And then again, if you change to 1k Ohm resistors it will work at 5V.
  • Then I get

    avrdude -p atmega164p -P com1 -c ponyser -V -U flash:w:test1.hex

    avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

    Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

    avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e940a
    avrdude: NOTE: FLASH memory has been specified, an erase cycle will be performed
    To disable this feature, specify the -D option.
    avrdude: erasing chip
    avrdude: reading input file "test1.hex"
    avrdude: input file test1.hex auto detected as Intel Hex
    avrdude: writing flash (260 bytes):

    Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.70s

    avrdude: 260 bytes of flash written

    avrdude done. Thank you.

    Compilation finished at Fri May 30 02:52:59

    • Last modified: Fri May 30 03:16:21 Västeuropa, sommartid 2008