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The application will be reading parallel output from a couple of high speed ADCs and processing that data into a serial stream.
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How fast (clock rate) and what signal processing are you doing with the data?
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I would like to start with the UART. I believe that I will require the NIOS processor to do computational manipulation of the data.
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Since you have a background in micros, this is probably a good place to start. Though you do not need to have a NIOS II processor as a master. The JTAG-to-Avalon-MM bridge allows you to read and write from an FPGA design via the USB interface.
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There are many paths that can take all my time like studying the avalon interface specifications etc. I have to be efficient with my time.
I am looking for advice on what would be a reasonable path to take to to get going to avoid heading down dead ends or "rabbit holes".
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Learn how to use Modelsim, and learn how to write testbenches.
You should use Modelsim and a testbench to check that each of the components you design work, and then integrate them into a larger system and check that they work there. The Avalon master can be your NIOS core, or it can be the Avalon-MM BFM (bus functional model - a simulation only component).
If you get stuck, just ask questions.
Cheers,
Dave
Honored Contributor
