Re: [avr-chat] avrdude : chip not responding

[Peter]

> The cable is 3 meter long, but before using it, I fed it with a 50KHz
> square wave, looking at the output with the scope, and the wave form was
> perfectly intact.
We had Problems with Cables that long. it seems to work sometimes, and doesn't 
work other times.

> I have wired the AVR as simply as possible : Vcc/Gnd (5V regulator +
> 100nF accross the chip's pins), and left pin 30,31&32 unconnected.
I think you must connect the AVCC and AGND Pins, even if you don't want to use 
the ADC.

> Reset pin gets a simple RC circuit with components values (R:20K,
> C:22nF) pulled from the avr-libc PDF documentation.
> I didn't put the external quartz, as the datasheet states that the chips
> are shipped with the 1MHz internal RC oscillator enabled.
Yes, thats correct, and works with no Problems for me.

> Parallel cable has 1K resistors on clock and data lines but not on the
> Reset line, as suggested by Brian on his web site...
1k is maybe a little high. Try changing the resistor on the MISO line to 330 
ohms - I had strange problems programming Atmels with the parallel port on my 
notebook when that resistor was to high.

Don't worry! Your Mega32 almost certainly isn't broken!

Regards,

Peter