Forum Discussion
New ContributorMAX 7000 Read/Write Program
Regular ContributorAre you trying to use a third party programmer solution (like Xeltex, EEtools) or an Altera/Intel solution?
IIRC MaxPlus v9.0 is the last version of the Altera software able to READ MAX7000 series device .POF files from the device.
I use QuartusIIWeb 13.0sp1 with a standard Altera USBblasterII to program MAX7000S/A devices that are JTAG programmable. No adapter required. Can be programmed in circuit on the board. QuartusIIWeb 13.0sp1 is the last version to support the MAX7000 series and is able to write/verify .POF files BUT NOT READ .POF files from programmed devices.
I develop the code for the MAX7000S series devices I use in verilog using QuartusIIWeb 13.0sp1 and then program them via JTAG using the mentioned Altera USBblasterII pod attached to my 10p JTAG header.
A third party programmer that can independently read/write MAX7000 series devices is going to be a pricey solution. Expect to spend $1000-$1500 for a programmer and adapter(s).
New ContributorI'm open to any solution that gets me able to read and write to these devices. That price would not be an issue, but if there is a first party solution I would prefer that. If the MaxPlus v9.0 is the software I need to do that, would the same UsbBlasterII that you are using be all I need on the hardware side?
- ak6dn
Do you REALLY need to be able to read the program POF file in devices back? Or would it just be 'nice'?
Because if you DO, you are limited to MaxPlus v9.0 software for reading POF files back from programmed devices. Don't recall what Win OS MaxPlus v9.0 requires; probably WinXP 32. Likely Vista. Windows 7 I don't know. Likly not Windows 10. I don't recall if MaxPlus v9.0 supports the USB Blaster. It might require the prior generation Max Blaster which is a real parallel port based device.
OTOH, I use QuartusIIWeb 13.0sp1 for EPM7xxxS which supports compiling source verilog to POF, programming devices, and verifying devices. BUT IT DOES NOT SUPPORT READING POF FILES FROM DEVICES. It also works with USB Blaster devices and clones (I use the TerASIC USB Blaster clone).
I run QuartusIIWeb 13.0sp1 on Win7 64b and Win10 64b 1909 and it works just fine.
So be aware of what you are asking for. You may unnecessarily complicating your setup.
- AdamStone
I need to recover the POF file from the device so that I can put it on new ones. The company this work is being done for is supposed to provide the POF files, but is struggling to get them located and sent out due to Covid layoffs. Reading the program myself was my solution to that. Focusing more on the writing, I think I would need an adapter of some sort. These CPLDs are programmed off board for this project, so the boards they are going on have no port for a USB blaster II cable to connect with. Would these adapters from Intel work with your setup to get me writing capability? Mine specifically would be for the EPM7128A so the adapter I'm looking at is PLMQ7000-100NC.
- ak6dn
That adapter (PLMQ7000-100NC for an EPM7128A in a TQFP100 package) is flagged as obsolete at all distributors I can find. You may find it surplus/used somewhere (like eBay?). This adapter is ONLY for use with the Altera Programming Unit (PL-APU) or the PL-ASAP2/PL-MPU (an IDE add in board!). Both are also flagged as obsolete. So unless you already have these I think you are SOL.
There are current third party programmers that still support Altera EPM7k devices in programming adapters OUT OF CIRCUIT. So you would have to remove your TQFP100 devices from your board(s) to program or read them.
Xeltek (www.xeltek.com) has programmers (eg, SuperPro 7500) that support the EPM7128A device and with the appropriate TQFP100 adapter would allow programming/reading/writing/verifying your EPM7128A device. It is a currently available product from them.
Personally I would go with the third party programmer solution if you can't come up with the original POF files from the manufacturer. It will be the only way to reliably duplicate existing physical parts.
If you have the POF file ideally programming the boards via a 10p JTAG header would be optimal, but if the original board is not designed to allow that it is probably not a reasonable option.
Good luck.
