WinAVR upgrade to newer AVRdude?

[mtdoc]

I'm playing around with WinAVR for the first time using this usbasp programmer.

When writing a hex file to flash avrdude gives the following warning line at the start:

avrdude: warning: cannot set sck period. please check for usbasp firmware update.

It then goes on to write to flash without any apparent problem.

Now, since I just bought the usbasp, I'm assuming the firmware is relatively current. In any case I can't update the firmare since I don't have another isp programmer.

I'm not sure whether that warning is something to be concerned with or not.

I'm wondering if the issue is that the most current version of WinAVR available is 5 years old (WinAVR-20100110) and uses avrdude version 5.1 (the usbasp programmer says to use with 5.2 or newer - though avrdude does list it as a supported programmer)

I tried updating WinAVR with the most current avrdude (6.2) using the directions found here but then I get a the error line:

avrdude: syntax error at C:\WinAVR-20100110\avrdude.conf:999

So my question is: Should I just stick with WinAVR with avrdude 5.1 and not be concerned about the inability to set sck period?  or is there a better way to update WinAVR to a newer version of avrdude?

[sleemanj]

Now, since I just bought the usbasp, I'm assuming the firmware is relatively current.

Nope.

That's the classic warning message you get from USBAsp devices out of china because they use an older firmware which doesn't support modifying the clock rate on the fly. 

Most of them don't even have a jumper to put it into slow-clock mode by hardware.

Upgrade the firmware, if you have a working ATMega handy, just use the ArduinoISP to burn it.

It's not a problem to ignore the warning provided your target device is already running fast enough to handle the normal speed, but if you want to program (or at least burn fuses) on devices which are slower out of the factory (eg, ATTiny, Mega8 etc) you need to be able to reduce the clock speed.

[Psi]

For like 7 years i used the direct printer port method for flashing avr's.
Just becasue it always works and required nothing but wire

I have a avrisp mk2 now but i still have/use programming jigs that plug into the printer port of my server

[mtdoc]

That's the classic warning message you get from USBAsp devices out of china because they use an older firmware which doesn't support modifying the clock rate on the fly. 

Most of them don't even have a jumper to put it into slow-clock mode by hardware.

Upgrade the firmware, if you have a working ATMega handy, just use the ArduinoISP to burn it.

Ok -thanks,  I'll update it.  and doh, of course - I can use the Arduino ISP!.  Thanks for the info.