ATMega8 Arduino

This project enabled me to use an ATMega8 as an Arduino. I used an 8MHz crystal, as opposed to the internal oscillator, as my project required some precise timing. This project is all based on a Windows environment and using the Optiboot boot loader.

Step 1 - Edit the Makefile

Go to the Optiboot directory in your Arduino install. Something like C:\Users\Fred.Bloggs\Documents\arduino-1.0.1\hardware\arduino\bootloaders\optiboot. Now, use a text editor (I use Notepad++) to edit 'Makefile'. You need to add the lines shown below-

# ATmega8_8MHz
#
atmega8_8mhz: TARGET = atmega8_8mhz
atmega8_8mhz: MCU_TARGET = atmega8
atmega8_8mhz: CFLAGS += '-DLED_START_FLASHES=3' '-DBAUD_RATE=57600'
atmega8_8mhz: AVR_FREQ = 8000000L 
atmega8_8mhz: LDSECTIONS  = -Wl,--section-start=.text=0x1e00 -Wl,--section-start=.version=0x1ffe
atmega8_8mhz: $(PROGRAM)_atmega8_8mhz.hex
atmega8_8mhz: $(PROGRAM)_atmega8_8mhz.lst

atmega8_8mhz_isp: atmega8_8mhz
atmega8_8mhz_isp: TARGET = atmega8_8mhz
atmega8_8mhz_isp: MCU_TARGET = atmega8
# SPIEN, CKOPT, Bootsize=512B
atmega8_8mhz_isp: HFUSE = CC
# 2.7V brownout, Low power xtal (8MHz) 16KCK/14CK+65ms
atmega8_8mhz_isp: LFUSE = BF
atmega8_8mhz_isp: isp

Step 2 - Edit boards.txt

You now need to edit 'boards.txt'. You will find this in a folder something like C:\Users\Fred.Bloggs\Documents\arduino-1.0.1\hardware\arduino\. You need to add the following lines to the end of the file-

##############################################################
#
#  Source: http://www.indianbeantree.co.uk/wiki
#
atmega8_8.name=ATmega8 Optiboot (8MHz external OSC)
atmega8_8.upload.protocol=arduino
atmega8_8.upload.maximum_size=7680
atmega8_8.upload.speed=57600
atmega8_8.bootloader.low_fuses=0xbf
atmega8_8.bootloader.high_fuses=0xcc
atmega8_8.bootloader.path=optiboot
atmega8_8.bootloader.file=optiboot_atmega8_8mhz.hex
atmega8_8.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
atmega8_8.bootloader.lock_bits=0x0F
atmega8_8.build.mcu=atmega8
atmega8_8.build.f_cpu=8000000L
atmega8_8.build.core=arduino
atmega8_8.build.variant=standard
#
##############################################################

You will note that the baud rate is 57600, not 115200 as with most Optiboot images. I spent a long time trying to get other people's code to work until I tried lowering the baud rate. Only then was I able to upload sketches.

Step 3 - Make the source file

Open up a command prompt. Start=>Run=>cmd. then type in cd C:\Users\Fred.Bloggs\Documents\arduino-1.0.1\hardware\arduino\bootloaders\optiboot making any changes to the path name that are needed. In other words, the same path as in Step 1. Now type "omake atmega8_8mhz". If all goes well, this should make two files optiboot_atmega8_8mhz.hex and optiboot_atmega8_8mhz.lst in your Optiboot folder

 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 58A0-D531

 Directory of C:\Users\Fred.Bloggs\Documents\arduino-1.0.1\hardware\arduino\bootloaders\optiboot

06/04/2013  10:57    <DIR>          .
06/04/2013  10:57    <DIR>          ..
31/10/2012  11:43            34,011 boot.h
31/10/2012  11:43               324 makeall
06/04/2013  10:23            13,845 Makefile
31/10/2012  11:43               111 omake
31/10/2012  11:43                60 omake.bat
31/10/2012  11:43            22,344 optiboot.c
31/10/2012  11:43             1,467 optiboot_atmega168.hex
31/10/2012  11:43            19,585 optiboot_atmega168.lst
31/10/2012  11:43             1,388 optiboot_atmega328-Mini.hex
31/10/2012  11:43             1,467 optiboot_atmega328.hex
31/10/2012  11:43            19,588 optiboot_atmega328.lst
31/10/2012  11:43             1,401 optiboot_atmega8.hex
31/10/2012  11:43            19,802 optiboot_atmega8.lst
06/04/2013  07:14             1,475 optiboot_atmega8_8.hex
06/04/2013  10:23             1,401 optiboot_atmega8_8mhz.hex
06/04/2013  10:23            20,411 optiboot_atmega8_8mhz.lst
31/10/2012  11:43             1,932 pin_defs.h
31/10/2012  11:43             3,438 README.TXT
31/10/2012  11:43             1,636 stk500.h
06/04/2013  10:58                 0 text.txt
              20 File(s)        165,686 bytes
               2 Dir(s)   7,411,531,776 bytes free

Step 4 - Burn the bootloader

I used an Arduino Duemilanove as my ISP (programmer). There is a tutorial that shows how to connect this up - Using an Arduino as an AVR ISP (In-System Programmer). I used a breadboard set-up like this: Breadboard ISP.
Having connected up, load the Arduino as ISP sketch into your Arduino. Then change the board to ATmega8 Optiboot (8MHz external OSC), which should now be in your list of boards. Now, in the Tools menu, click on Burn Bootloader. You should now have an ATMega8 8MHz Arduino. Remember, this version needs an 8MHz Crystal. The first test you can do is to connect an LED with something like a 1K ohm resistor to pin 19 of the ATMega8 (equivalent to Arduino Pin 13). If you dab a ground wire to pin 1 (reset) you should see the LED flash three times.

Step 5 - Start programming

Now, all you need to do is to connect a USB to Serial adapter to your breadboard and you can use it like any other Arduino board. Upload the 'Blink' sketch and be amazed as your LED flashes on and off!