Connect USB Blaster to Altera Live Design Evaluation Board ( LPT )

Hi, I have the same board and now I'm buying the USB blaster cable so I will run into the same problem, did you find a solution?

Regards

Googling for "Altera Live Design Evaluation Board" shows an Altium kit.

Could you post the schematic.

From the ones I found, it looks like they only have a parallel port connector, rather than the recommended 10-pin header.

You can make an adapter to take the TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO signals between a 10-pin socket and a DB25. You'll also need a ground, and a power signal for the buffer inside the USB-Blaster. You'll want to connect to the PP_HARD_Txx signals. For the power, use one of the other data signals that are pulled up to VCC. The USB-Blaster buffers won't draw much power.

Send a complaint to Altium. Perhaps they have an adapter cable.

Cheers,

Dave

Hi,

Today I got my Terasic USB Blaster cable and I got it working with the LiveDesign board.

first, in the USB blaster cable I removed the 10 pin ribbon connector and replaced it with individual flying leads, this is only to make it easier to connect each pin to the board.

Then I connect:

USB Blaster (10 pin) -> LiveDesign (J1C 26pin)

1 TCK ------------------> 2

2 GND ------------------> 25 (you can use any pin from 25 to 18)

3 TDO ------------------> 11

4 VCC ------------------> 3.3V located at JP2

5 TMS ------------------> 3

9 TDI ------------------> 8

Note that pin 4 (VCC) is connected to a different header because the J1C connector doesn't provide 3.3v.

Now, this works perfectly with Quartus II ver. 9.1. I use windows 7 64 bits.

However when using latest Quartus ver 11 then sometimes it detects the cable, sometimes it doesn't. I can't understand why. But 9.1 works flawlessly. I already tested several projects and they all load ok.

I use LiveDesign board with Cyclone I FPGA.

For the drivers, I just use the ones that come with Quartus under ...\Altera\11.0\quartus\drivers\usb-blaster

Good luck to all

e.

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Today I got my Terasic USB Blaster cable and I got it working with the LiveDesign board.

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Great!

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Now, this works perfectly with Quartus II ver. 9.1. I use windows 7 64 bits.

However when using latest Quartus ver 11 then sometimes it detects the cable, sometimes it doesn't. I can't understand why. But 9.1 works flawlessly. I already tested several projects and they all load ok.

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When it doesn't work, does the USB-Blaster still get listed in the Programmer when you edit the hardware settings?

I've noticed it act a little flakey, but I have not bothered to track it down either.

Cheers,

Dave

USB Blaster is not listed in the HW settings, that's the problem I was talking about.

I did the test with a Max II evaluation board. Tonight I'm working with the Cyclone II LiveDesign board and Quatus 11 works ok (?????).

But 9.1 works ok always.

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USB Blaster is not listed in the HW settings, that's the problem I was talking about.

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When it disappears, does the Windows Device Manager show an "Altera USB-Blaster" still?

I'm not sure what the issue is, but at least if we make a note of what happens, others can comment on whether they see the same issue.

Cheers,

Dave