Hi, I see on Ebay cheap USB Cables(40-60USD) that claims to be compatible with the Xilinx ones. I don't understand wich one, if any, they emulate (DLC9G). Do they work? Are they supported on latest webise under Win7 64bit? Wich cable they are compatible with? TIA, Giuseppe Marullo PS: Two examples: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xilinx-Platform-Cable-USB-CPLD-FPGA-USB-download-cable-/270627772572?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f02ac189c and PPS: Someone could please explain the 7 vs 6 pins thing?
Compatible Xilinx USB Cables: worth to bother?
Started by ●November 27, 2011
Reply by ●November 27, 20112011-11-27
On Nov 28, 5:04=A0am, Giuseppe Marullo <giuseppe.marullonos...@iname.com> wrote:> Hi, > I see on Ebay cheap USB Cables(40-60USD) that claims to be compatible > with the Xilinx ones. I don't understand wich one, if any, they emulate > (DLC9G). > > Do they work? Are they supported on latest webise under Win7 64bit? Wich > cable they are compatible with?They are clones of Xilinx USB-JTAG cables. The one I've had a look at was a clone of the DLC9G. The circuitry is a 100% clone, so the XIlinx SW cannot distinguish it from a real DLC9G. This means that it is 100% compatible with the Xilinx SW, including accepting firmware updates that Xilinx release from time to time. Unfortunately the build quality is much lower than the Xilinx original cables - the unit I examined worked just like an original until the USB A socket in it broke after a few cable insertion / removal cycles. This was repairable, but an annoying waste of time. Your mileage may vary. Stephen Ecob Silicon On Inspiration Sydney Australia www.sioi.com.au $49 Spartan 6 board with 32MB DDR DRAM ? http://www.sioi.com.au/shop/product_info.php/products_id/47
Reply by ●November 27, 20112011-11-27
> They are clones of Xilinx USB-JTAG cables. The one I've had a look at > was a clone of the DLC9G.Stephen, thanks for your answer. So they can be a [cheap] alternative, now the last question: what's up about the 6 vs 7 pin debate? Is it really needed? I see also a breakout board, does it make a difference? Thanks in advance. Giuseppe Marullo
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
>On Nov 28, 5:04=A0am, Giuseppe Marullo ><giuseppe.marullonos...@iname.com> wrote:>They are clones of Xilinx USB-JTAG cables. The one I've had a look at >was a clone of the DLC9G. >The circuitry is a 100% clone, so the XIlinx SW cannot distinguish it >from a real DLC9G. This means that it is 100% compatible with the >Xilinx SW, including accepting firmware updates that Xilinx release >from time to time.I haven't checked but I am pretty sure that the Xilinx download agreement doesn't allow you to do this. After all they do say that you cannot use their software to generate bits for anything other than a Xilinx part it would be out of character if they let you use their firmware upgrades for a competitors product. BTW: where did they get the bits that are shipped with their probe? I'm sure they put together a crack reverse engineering team that was so good that it came out to be bit for bit identical to a rom dump of the xilinx product. This isn't a technical question. It is a personal morality one. John Eaton --------------------------------------- Posted through http://www.FPGARelated.com
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
> This isn't a technical question. It is a personal morality one.John, why would it be a personal morality one? >software to generate bits for anything other than a Xilinx part it >would be The adaper does contain a Xilinx part at least (A spartan 3A if I am not mistaken), AFAIK. >out of character if they let you use their firmware upgrades for a >competitors product Given that their cable is 6x the price of the boards I would like to use, they can be smart and allow this. I don't pay 300USD for their cable: stil remain a user of their chips. I want the original one if I need better quality and support: I get their one and pay for a better product. Anyway, I am not a layer but as long it is your, you can force/crack/destroy it once paid it full. *No*DCMA*yet*here.* Giuseppe Marullo PS: first time I got caught by FPGA police. I was thinking it was peculiar to ham radio, LOL
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
I use Altera USB Blaster clone from eBay for ~10USD. Works perfectly: drivers are exact the same as for original device, programming speed is also the same, but the best thing is that the clone is nearly 3-4 times smaller and has mini-USB connector. "Giuseppe Marullo" <giuseppe.marullonospam@iname.com> wrote in message news:javm1e$nm0$1@speranza.aioe.org...> >> This isn't a technical question. It is a personal morality one. > John, why would it be a personal morality one? > > >software to generate bits for anything other than a Xilinx part it would > >be > The adaper does contain a Xilinx part at least (A spartan 3A if I am not > mistaken), AFAIK. > > >out of character if they let you use their firmware upgrades for a > >competitors product > Given that their cable is 6x the price of the boards I would like to use, > they can be smart and allow this. > I don't pay 300USD for their cable: stil remain a user of their chips. > > I want the original one if I need better quality and support: I get their > one and pay for a better product. > > Anyway, I am not a layer but as long it is your, you can > force/crack/destroy it once paid it full. *No*DCMA*yet*here.* > > Giuseppe Marullo > > PS: first time I got caught by FPGA police. I was thinking it was peculiar > to ham radio, LOL
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
On 11/28/2011 12:13 PM, scrts wrote:> I use Altera USB Blaster clone from eBay for ~10USD. Works perfectly:Thanks, could you kindly post an example of what I need to search? Giuseppe Marullo
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
> Thanks, could you kindly post an example of what I need to search?ebay.com -> search "altera usb" E.g. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USB-BLASTER-CABLE-CPLD-FPGA-JTAG-Altera-Programmer-/110767654671?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ca44470f
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
On 11/28/2011 4:05 PM, scrts wrote:>> Thanks, could you kindly post an example of what I need to search? > > ebay.com -> search "altera usb" > E.g. > http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USB-BLASTER-CABLE-CPLD-FPGA-JTAG-Altera-Programmer-/110767654671?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ca44470f > >Sorry to ask, but is this supposed to work for Xilinx too? Too good to be true.
Reply by ●November 28, 20112011-11-28
> >> This isn't a technical question. It is a personal morality one. >John, why would it be a personal morality one? >Sometimes the reason that they can offer their product at such a discount is because instead of paying a design team to create the product they simply copied straight from the original manufacturer. This is piracy and is nothing more than stealing. I can get you a great price on an iPad if your willing to ignore the fact that it is stolen and I am fencing it for pennies on the dollar. Now there is a lot of overhead built into the prices from a large company. It is quite possible to reverse engineer and create a "clean room" design that functions the same but you can build and sell for a lot less money. The entire ibm pc-clone market did this. I would want to see who designed this probe before buying. The guys that can do that stuff like to brag about it. It is also possible that Xilinx never designed that probe and simply went to an OEM to rebrand one of their products. In that case you could get a better deal if you go straight to the source. Either way I would want to know something about the manufacturer. John Eaton --------------------------------------- Posted through http://www.FPGARelated.com
