This circuit is an Arduino without the Arduino, in that it has an ATmega8, ATmega88, ATmega168, or ATmega328 programmed with
the Arduino USB programmer code using the direct programming method outlined
here. It wasn't obvious to me, but the programmer identifier from programmers.txt is not the name, but the programmer prefix:
"arduinoisp.name=Arduino as ISP"
In the above example, the programmer name it is looking for is "arduinoisp". The board selected is any board that supports the
ATmega you are using. In my case, the ATmega8 is supported by the entry "Arduino NG or older w/ATmega8". Put the Atmega in
pretty much any board that has an ISP connector, and program the part as if it were an Arduino. It will burn the sketch without
the bootloader into the ATmega and then you can put it in your new programmer. The way I did it was to make a small board that
has a 10-pin ISP socket. I programmed the ATmega in the board, then used the 10-pin connector as the programming output
connector. The pinout is the same, and the pins are the same, with the exception of one signal - pin 5 of the ISP connector,
which is normally connected to reset, is to be connected to pin 16 on the ATmega.
Schematic Diagram
Parts
ATmega8, ATmega88, ATmega168, or ATmega328
10 conductor ribbon cable
10 conductor ribbon connector
6 position 0.1" single row header connector
Any of the dozens of available USB to TTL converters using the FTDI pinout
Three LEDs
7805 regulator
Reset switch
28-pin IC socket
Misc resistors, capacitors, diode(s)
Power connector
Notes
The target microcontroller must provide it's own power.
The pinout and type of serial connector is based on the specific type of converter you use.
