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ATMEGA8L
Development Board
USER GUIDE

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Introduction
The Atmega8L is a wonderful board for the beginners to work on, it is better than
Arduino being used by beginners to get started in the field of firmware designing. It has
almost all the basic module onboard to be used by the developer. You can also interface
external devices using relimate wire with this board. The I/O pins of the microcontroller
have been provided for the same purpose. The developer can learn to program LEDs,
interface motors, interface LCD and other devices with the help of the developer guide
provided by TechieNest along with board or can join TechieNest Classroom training
program being organised at their centres to enhance their learning, and develop
wonderful projects

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The Atmega8L Development Board consists of the following parts:

1. The Power Supply circuit 2. The Programming circuit

3. The Motor Driving circuit 4. The LEDs

4. The LCD interfacing circuit

5. The I/O pin connector

6. The microcontroller

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The Board works in two modes

1. The Programming Mode:

In this mode the Board/microcontroller is ready to accept a program. In order to

burn any program in the flash memory of the microcontroller, you should make
sure that the board is in programming mode. To bring the board in programming
mode, you need to follow the following steps;

a. Make sure that the programming switch is in the ON state

b. Press the RESET button after the switch is in ON state

This will bring you board in self programming mode, where it is ready to accept
the program hex file, and write it into its flash memory.

2. The Execution mode

In this mode the board executes the program written in its flash memory. In
order to bring the board from programming mode to execution mode, you need
put the programming switch on the side opposite to ON position i.e.

Board Specifications:
1. The 4 LEDs are connected to the lower nibble of the PORTB i.e. PB0-PB3
2. The input pins of L293D i.e. Input 1-input 4 are connected to lower nibble of the
PORTB i.e. PB0-PB3
3. LCD can be connected to any PORT with the help of 6 wire relimate, the write/read
pin of the LCD have been permanently grounded for write operation.
4. A maximum of 4 different analog/digital sensors can sensor be connected to the
sensor pins as soon it the detailed board diagram.

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Installing the WinAVR and AVR Studio 4.0

Install “WINAVR” by clicking on the setup provided in the software folder in the CD provide
along with this board and give positive responses for all the windows that appear thereafter. Be
careful not to install, AVR Studio before WinAVR, as this will cause error while compiling to
program.

Steps to install WinAVR are as follows:

Step 1: Click on WinAVR icon

Step 2: Click “OK”

Step 3: Click “Next”

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Step 4: Click “I Agree”

Step 5: Click “Next”

Step 6: Click “Next”

Step 7: Wait till installation is complete

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Step 8: Click “Finish”

Install AVR Studio4 after installing WinAVR by following the following steps:

Step 1: Click on the “AVR Studio 4” icon

Step 2: Click “Next”

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Step 3: Choose I agree with the Rules and Click “Next”

Step 4: Click “Next”

Step 5: Click “Next’

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Step 6: Click “Install”

Step 7: Wait till the Installation get finished

Step 8: Click “Ignore ”on the message window that erupts

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Step 9: Let the Libraries be installed

Step 10: Click “Finish”

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Let get Started with Program writing in AVR Studio 4

Follow the following steps to write your first program in AVR Studio:

Step 1: Go To Start  AVR Atmel Tools AVR Studio 4, You will get the following window:

Step 2: Select “AVRGCC”, then the project name tab will get activated, click on it and right the
name of your project (without any space i.e. it should be continuous). Make sure that the two
check box are checked and the location where the file is located is known to you, if it not known
to you, please change it to some known directory where you can easily locate the project folder.
Then click “Next”

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Step 3: Select “AVR Stimulator” and the target device as “ATmega8” and click “Next”.

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Step 4: This open the programming window, where you can write your program as shown
below:

Example Window with All Led blinking Program:

Click on the Build tab and choose “Build and Run” to generate the .hex file of the code/program.

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The result of the build will be available at the bottom of the window as shown below. Any
syntax error detected by the complier will also appear in the window otherwise it will show
“Build succeeded with 0 warning”

After this your required .hex file is available in the folder created previously at the start of AVR
studio. Locate the .hex file and burn it into the flash memory of the microcontroller using
HIDBootflash software.

Before using HIDBootflash, make sure that the development board is in programming mode,
until the development board is in programming mode, HIDBootflash will not detect the
development board hence you will not be able to load your code into microcontroller.

Follow the Step to burn a program into the ATmega8L development board.

Put the programming switch in the

ON state and then press the reset
switch once to put the board into
programming mode, before
detecting the board in HIDBootflash

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Burning the hex file into the microcontroller flash memory

Step 1: After the development board is put into programming mode, click on the
“HIDBootflash” icon, a window will appear as shown below:

Step 2: If the device (development board) is in programming mode, HIDBootflash will

detect the device and will show it as “Device Detected”, as shown in the figure below:

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Step 3: Load the .hex file of the code, as shown in the figure

Step 4: Verify that “Reboot AVR” check box is checked.

Step 5: Burn the .hex file into the flash by clicking the “Flash Device” button in
HIDBootflash.

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Precautions:
1. Never connect any device with the board power ON. Always switch OFF the power
supply before connecting any device with the board.
2. Be cautious while handling the LCD, it is the most delicate part of the complete kit.
3. Always remember to programme the board after putting the board in programming
mode.
4. Always run motor with Adapter supply.
5. Never interrupt the circuit while the program is being transferred.

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