How to Upgrade Firmware in USBasp Programmer

This is a video in which I show you how to upgrade firmware in USBasp programmers mainly ordered from China. This is an important procedure if you want to program ATtiny10, ATtiny9, ATtiny5 and ATtiny4 AVR 8-bit microcontrollers which are programmed using TPI programming interface.
The firmware upgrade also helps you to remove following warning from avrdude:
“avrdude: warning: cannot set sck period. please check for usbasp firmware update.”
You can download the latest firmware on www.fischl.de/....
🛠 Tools which I use in the video 🛠
➟ USBasp Programmer
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➟ 10-Pin to 6-Pin Adapter
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➟ 10-Pin Ribbon Cable
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➟ Soldering Iron
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➟ Lead Solder Wire
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➟ 900M-T Series Soldering Iron Tips
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➟ Precision PCB Holder
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➟ Pin Headers
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➟ Arduino Uno
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Stay creative and keep on tinkering 😊

[@titi08]

I use AVRs for a long time, but I've learn something with this video. Thank you !

[@pierpa_76pierpaolo]

My NANO and UNO boards are not responding to commands!!! Do I solve with this update?

[@vroberts1976]

The new Ardunio IDE from the MS store doesn't put avrdude in the same place. When I added the new location to the PATH avrdude was giving me access denied even on an elevated prompt. I had to remove it from PATH and install WINAVR with the "Add to PATH" option enabled to get it to work. Aside from that, top notch video!

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, you're absolutely right the new version has changed.

[@elodiecemoi3057]

Hello, How do you add the path shown at 2:34 of your video ? I mean when you have launched the "Environment variables" window, how do you ad the 2 lines of path (to the already existing "path" entry ?). Thanks

[@smurfro]

This is the only method that worked for me, thank you!!!

[@zeroampselectronics]

I'm glad that it helped.

[@t1d100]

Dear Zero Amps: Thank you so much for your efforts to share your expertise and teach us. It is much appreciated! Here is my problem... I can not get my (com) Port to activate in Arduino IDE Tools and Blink and Bootloader uploads fail. I used Zadig to load the libusbK driver and the USBasp device shows in the Device Manager as working properly. I have tried all other Zagid driver choices. Windows 10 OS. Target is ATtiny85. Arduino Tools Settings = Board;85, Processor;85, Clock; Internal 1Mhz. I have tried all of the different clock settings, internal and external. I am using the same programmer as you. I have not updated the firmware, yet. Firmware update questions... I am new to all of this and need to use the Arduino IDE. Please tell me how to update the firmware with the Arduino IDE. Secondly, I do not think that your video shows which programmer is attached to the laptop... The one with the new jumper, or without? Thank you for your help.

[@zeroampselectronics]

First, I would try Arduino UNO if it works or not.

[@TooSlowTube]

Are the command options for avrdude written down somewhere, in plain text? It doesn't seem to be on the fischl link, and I'm not confident in getting it right from squinting at the screen. Could you add it to the video description text?

[@sajeevsankaran4406]

Hi sir, Thanks for the video. I was looking for a easy version to program attiny10 chips. I downloaded the software but i was not familiar with avrdude. I downloaded AVRDUDESS and programmed a new USBASP with another one as mentioned in your video but with the AVRDUDESS which has graphical user interface. Now I am able to program attiny10 with the new upgraded USBASP using AVRDUDESS thanks Sajeev

[@zeroampselectronics]

Perfect, I'm glad it helped.

[@incxxxx]

Which one programmer you connect to computer usb during updating? This with connected pins JP2 or the othe one?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, the other one.

[@evertspies3345]

What if you only have one USBasp is it pissible to program using another method?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, you can use another type of programmer. You don't need to use the same one. I mean the same type. Good luck with upgrading!

[@pr0fessoro]

thank you, excellent explanation, i programmed mine usbasp under linux with same comnand, only path to firmware was different...

[@zeroampselectronics]

Thanks for sharing!

[@someguy1717]

Worked for me. Found a trick to get rid of the SCK warnings... After you upload code to 1st programmer, set fuses avrdude -c usbasp -p atmega8 -u -U hfuse:w:0xc9:m -U lfuse:w:0xef:m then, reverse the programmers and do same upload then again set fuses on that one. IF needed, reverse one more time, upload and set fuses. No more SCK warnings.

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, interesting that fuses could fix that. Thanks for telling us that fix.

[@navinnnax7802]

Hi, thanx for the great video. Anyhow i have few questions. 1) is there any issue if that warning pop out during uploading? 2) do i need another USBavr for this task? Thanks mate.

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, 1. If you don't want to use it for ATtiny10 programming it's not problem. 2. People also use other programmers or Arduino boards for programming the USBasp programmer.

[@Lkabouter]

Good instructions ! It worked well for me, so thank you !

[@zeroampselectronics]

Great to hear!

[@TomasHornych]

some things have to be done differently than described.. however, after a long research and after the successful execution of the final command, the programmed programmer is completely dead :-(

[@PegasusCZ]

Good tutorial. Thanks. Now it works :)

[@zeroampselectronics]

Thanks so much!

[@wintechblog6066]

Hello nice video!!Can I use an Arduino to flash the driver to the usbasp instead of a another usbasp?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, do you mean the Arduino UNO R3 board or any other?

[@wintechblog6066]

@@zeroampselectronics yes

[@someguy1717]

@@wintechblog6066 go into Arduino IDE, File->Examples->ArduinoISP and upload it onto your UNO then avr dude will use it as a programmer to program the USBASP (replace with the com port your UNO is on) avrdude -P -c arduino -p m328p -v -U flash:w:usbasp.atmega8.2011-05-28.hex

[@sayalijoshi5010]

Hello I want to use this method with arduino mega. On uploading, the message is display that done uploading. But there is no change on the mega. No blinking..Just yellow light glows..Constant.

[@zeroampselectronics]

Have you uploaded the blink program?

[@roshnivalder1394]

Thank you for this video this really help me.

[@zeroampselectronics]

Thank you!

[@RealDevastatia]

The answer to getting a bootloader onto a Nano clone keeps turning out to be "buy more stuff." I bought a USBasp to burn the Nano bootloader. But the USBasp needs a firmware update. The solution? Use a working Arduino to update the firmware. If I had a working Arduino, I wouldn't need the USBasp, would I? So let's say I buy another USBasp to update the one I already have. How do I know the second one is going to work? The actual solution appears to be: chuck all of the Arduino stuff in the dumpster and stick with ESP32.

[@Henry-sv3wv]

But is all your 5 Volts arduino stuff compatible with your ESP XD Or are you just shifting your problem from not working cheap programmer to not working cheap level shifters? :P

[@jonathanmonck-mason6715]

I have found exactly the same problem. I guess a lot depends on what part of the world you are in and what is available to you. Fortunately I only paid $5 for the USBasp as something to mess around with as a hobby instead of buying another working Arduino, but, yes, it is a bit frustrating.

[@hansellwilliams1564]

Hi thanks again for your brilliant videos, a pleasure to watch. A problem i have with 3x ASP's now is that... 1. the red led is on before the upgrade, and off after. 2. the hex file download executes perfectly, as at 3:50. BUT 3. the units become 'bricked', ie no communication with them at all, after the upgrade. Very confounding. Has anyone else experienced this (with the clones)?

[@zeroampselectronics]

So you're saying that after upgrading it stopped working, right?

[@Steven_Bennett_YT]

Very helpful - thank you

[@zeroampselectronics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@seferuzan3163]

Hi , i sold USBisp programmer from china , but my computer dedect it as usbhid device. İ cant do anything with programmer. Maybe firmware will be solution. But i have no another isp device that runnig good. Can i do this operation with arduino card? For example arduino uno or nano

[@henkoegema6390]

Yes, that's possible.

[@wicked_garry]

one question If You have UNO why you using for upgrade USBASP another USPASP ? Why don't using Arduino uno as programmer ?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi Garry, I couldn't find out how to easily do that. Have you tried that?

[@wicked_garry]

@@zeroampselectronics yeep Just load your uno as programmer from arduino ide. (Files=>samples >arduino ISP) This sketch made STK 500 simulator from your uno And you can use it as programmer in arduino ide And others (khazams,avrdudees etc) That's all

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, thank you for the tip!

[@wicked_garry]

@@zeroampselectronics np mate Thank You for Your video:)

[@bruceweight7319]

was one programer good and the other bad? I bought two programers, can I still use a bad one to burn the new firmware to the other bad one or do I have to have a good one and use it to fix the firmware on the one with the bad firmware?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, they weren't bad they just didn't have the latest firmware. Yes, it was possible to upgrade with the programmer with an old firmware the other one to the latest firmware. Good luck with upgrading!

[@bruceweight7319]

Thanks for the info. What I ended up doing as I was having a hard time adding the dos pathing commands to the system so windows would know where to find averdude I had already installed averdudess and just used it to burn the new firmware to them. Thought I had bricked them both but all went well once I figured averdudess out. I had used averdudess out for a Atmega 328p ham radio project firmware update. Thanks

[@Leetut]

How to upgrade fw using Mac? Can’t use uno because your last video wiped my uno boot loader 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, you can upload the bootloader back with a programmer or another Arduino board.

[@Leetut]

@@zeroampselectronics got a spare programmer, worked great, thank you🙏🏼

[@zeroampselectronics]

Glad to hear :-)

[@e-techstudio4797]

Can we use for isp programing such as ch341a

[@lessenplikas1936]

very helpfull, Thank you very much, Yeah. ;)

[@zeroampselectronics]

Glad it helped! Yeaaaah :-)

[@samimmallick9230]

Can u give me the firmware of usbasp which is present in atmega8 ? Because after firmware updated my usbasp is program only AVR microcontrollers i can not do program in AT89S52/AT89S51 . I need the old frimware of usbasp can you give me the frimware ?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, check this site www.fischl.de/usbasp/ on which are all versions released for the programmer. You can go one by one to find the one which will be working for you. If any issues let me know. Good luck!

[@brandondean961]

ty for sharing

[@habbygb4721]

hi ,i already update this lastest fireware,but still can't connect attiny10,i use GUI avrdudess to connect,i think is the same like you use cmd avrdude,can you help slove this problem,many thx

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, if your USBasp programmer is correctly upgraded to the latest firmware, you should check wires whether they are correctly connected. Do NOT connect others components to your ATtiny10 during programming. Only the USBasp should be connected.

[@zeroampselectronics]

I also recommend to check whether you are able to program any of your Arduino boards to check the USBasp programmer is working correctly and to isolate the problem. You can try that from Arduino IDE.

[@habbygb4721]

@@zeroampselectronics thx for you reply,i test use upgraded of usbasp to another chip,like mega32u4 ,that is ok,do you use GUI avrdudess to burn the attiny10?,thx

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, I don't use that tool and it might be your problem. Try to use avrdude directly for example the one which is delivered with Arduino IDE. That tool might use some older version of avrdude which doesn't support TPI which is necessery for programming ATtiny10. If it doesn't work with avrdude check again wires if they are connected correctly or you can also test it with a new ATtiny10. Maybe the one you have is faulty.

[@habbygb4721]

@@zeroampselectronics thx reply, can you show how to setup avrdude on c:\ to use? i install arduino gui on F:\ thx

[@marcelosoian]

Thanks for the video Ya?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Any time :-)

[@FreddyBNL]

Very helpful video's. Little advice 😊 sorry, but stop saying 'yah' sometime multiple times in one sentence 👍

[@zeroampselectronics]

Yeeeaaah, All right :-)))

[@basilandrea6840]

why you upgrade the USB programmer.

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, it didn't support ATtiny4, ATtiny5, ATtiny9, ATtiny10 programming.

[@BaronVonBiffo]

I like your videos but perhaps instead of playing that God awful 'music' you could speed up the bits such as when you were soldering or waiting for drivers to install.

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, you are right, in my future videos I have to speed up. I've got the same feedback from other people too. Thank for your feedback.

[@BaronVonBiffo]

@@zeroampselectronics Thank you. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing you do more with the Attinys.

[@tanoryjakaperdana1419]

Yea

[@zeroampselectronics]

Yeeeeeeaaaaah!

[@tanoryjakaperdana1419]

@@zeroampselectronics 🙈🙈🙈

[@francescostrano8314]

Buongiorno, ho comparto anche io un USBASP speravo di poter programmare un atmega64 che dicevano che supportasse..ma dopo aver installato i driver e molte suit per AVR sono rimasto deluso non programma un tubo....qualcuno sa dirmi se sono un coglione io?..ho non serve a nulla se non utilizzato con arduino? vorrei divulgarmi ma alcune cose devo scriverle..la suit che utilizzo con collegato MISO,MOSI, RESET E SCK E' EXTREME AVR... invece con collegato D0,D1,SCK,RESET uso PROGISP....ma nessun risultato..chi puo' aiutarmi a programmare un atmega64... grazie

[@tyrian869]

If you say Yeah one more time geeez

[@Henry-sv3wv]

mkay!

[@willwood3648]

Not very helpful for beginners

[@aivietang5058]

Not good. Not good.

[@StevenClements]

yah

[@dennisyildirim2708]

Can you explain Ya, why the fuck Ya we need another USBasp to program another USBasp when we have the fuckn ucb interface YA ?

[@zeroampselectronics]

Hi, that's a reasonable questions. For the USBasp programmers I don't know about any option how to do that without any other programmer. I've got another programmer which is called TL688 II Plus. This programmer is able to upgrade without any other. So, the answer is, that it really depends on a programmer you use.

[@dennisyildirim2708]

@@zeroampselectronics Thanks, can you advise and compare other standalone programmers (the ones that does not need another programmer to reprogram them) in a separate video for future? I could not decide between microcontroller's programmer, and atmel ice. I bought something called AVR ISP MKII for 35$, I highly regret doing so. Can't even upgrade it due to lack of documentation... I had to dig in through data sheets for 1 hour to figure out, and at the end I gave up upgrading its firmware....