Compatible Xilinx USB Cables: worth to bother?

Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:04 pm   

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?

Sun Nov 27, 2011 10:11 pm   

On Nov 28, 5:04 am, 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.
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

Sun Nov 27, 2011 11:38 pm   

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

Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:08 am   

I haven't checked but I am pretty sure that the Xilinx download agreemen
doesn't allow you to do this. After all they do say that you cannot us
their
software to generate bits for anything other than a Xilinx part it would b
out of character if they let you use their firmware upgrades for
competitors product.

BTW: where did they get the bits that are shipped with their probe? I'
sure they put together a crack reverse engineering team that was so goo
that it came out to be bit for bit identical to a rom dump of the xilin
product.


This isn't a technical question. It is a personal morality one.


John Eaton





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Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:59 am   

mistaken), AFAIK.


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

Mon Nov 28, 2011 12:13 pm   

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_at_iname.com> wrote in message
news:javm1e$nm0$1_at_speranza.aioe.org...

Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:11 pm   

On 11/28/2011 12:13 PM, scrts wrote:


Giuseppe Marullo

Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:05 pm   

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

Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:34 pm   

On 11/28/2011 4:05 PM, scrts wrote:

Too good to be true.

Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:35 pm   

Sometimes the reason that they can offer their product at such a discoun
is
because instead of paying a design team to create the product they simply
copied straight from the original manufacturer. This is piracy and i
nothing
more than stealing. I can get you a great price on an iPad if your willin
to
ignore the fact that it is stolen and I am fencing it for pennies on th
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 tha

functions the same but you can build and sell for a lot less money. Th
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


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Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:40 pm   

Here is a $50 alternative that is supported by Xilinx. Support for
this cable is built into ISE 13.2 and later, and previous versions by
installing a plugin.
https://www.em.avnet.com/en-us/design/drc/Pages/Digilent-JTAG-HS1-Programming-Cable.aspx

In our testing at Avnet, we found this cable to be as fast or faster
than the Platform Cable USB-II. This is especially noticeable when
performing indirect Flash programming. You can order these cables
online or through your local Avnet/Silica office.

Bryan

Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:41 pm   

On Nov 28, 9:11 am, Giuseppe Marullo
<giuseppe.marullonos...@iname.com> wrote:

How about "Altera USB Blaster eBay"?

Rick

Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:32 pm   

On 11/28/2011 6:40 PM, Bryan wrote:

Bryan, glad to know. Tomorrow I will be in Avnet/Silica to attend a free
seminar near Milan on the little LX9 board, the board which has the most
elusive documentation on the net (or off the net, because of the several
broken links, or crashes even when attempting to register).

While there, I will ask about the cable.

Giuseppe Marullo

Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:55 pm   

Xilinx part, hence the question.

Giuseppe Marullo

Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:55 pm   

On 11/28/2011 9:32 PM, Giuseppe Marullo wrote: