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Sruk's avatar
Sruk
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4 days ago

Brand new USB-BLASTER 3 issues

A day ago I received a brand new and very expensive USB Blaster III from DigiKey with the following Serial Number: UB3000432

I have an issue using this device. The device is visible both in Win11 Device Manager and Quartus Prime Pro 26.1. After the device is properly connected to the PCB (I’ve tested 3 different boards) and powered on, the JTAG link is not established. All connections are correct, pinouts are aligned, and I even checked the conductivity of wires from board to Blaster module.

I've managed to get this log from Quartus:

!Error: JTAG chain problem detected
!Error: No device detected. Detected 1's at TDI pin.

The thing is that this same boards (chips) are visible to older USB Blaster in the same configuration. This was a sanity check.

Am I missing something that is not documented in the user manual?

Best regards

Board Debug
Fpga Devkit

6 Replies

  • Zvi's avatar
    Zvi
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    2 days ago

    Are you using a 1.27" pitch connector or a 2.54" pitch connector? Are you using the JTAG adapter?

    According to USB Blaster III user guide, the JTAG pins order of the 1.27" connector is different than the 2.54" connector(which was used by previous JTAG cables).

  • Sruk's avatar
    Sruk
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    10 hours ago

    Hi Zvi,

    yes I've read the user guide prior to using the Blaster3. Then I've checked the pinout and connected the adapter since I have original ALTERA JTAG pinout on my board. So the answer is: the pinout is correct.

  • Zvi's avatar
    Zvi
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    10 hours ago

    Hi Sruk,

    In case you use the adapter for 2.54" pitch header through the provided adapter, the pinout is the same as it was before.

    But what happens in case the developed board contains 1.27" pitch connector? and you connect it directly without the adapter?

    According to the User Guide, in this case the pinout is different.

  • Sruk's avatar
    Sruk
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    10 hours ago

    Hi,

    you are correct about the different pinout and that's why I only use adapter to interface my board. Otherwise, there would be incorrect signal relation - possible HW issues due to power/signal lines misalignment.

    Anyhow, the pinout was checked in advance and Blaster3 to board connection is valid in HW sense. The JTAG simply does not detect devices.

    Also, I'm curious, why is the Blaster3 box signed as "Engineering Sample"?

    Thx!

    • Zvi's avatar
      Zvi
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      9 hours ago

      About the "Engineering Sample" issue, I don't have a good answer.

      Maybe your box is part of a first batch which was an "Engineering Sample"?

      Maybe during manufacturing someone non intentionally signed the box as "Engineering Sample"?

      Anyway, I asked for the purchase team where I work to order such a cable.

      When it arrives, I will update you about the way my box is signed.

  • Sruk's avatar
    Sruk
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    8 hours ago

    Thanks Zvi,

    my order was from DigiKey P/N: 544-PL-UB3-CABLE-ND

    I would like to know if anyone from Altera team reads this?! :/