Honored ContributorI am using MAX+PLUS II trying to program EPM7128STC100-15. I have a USB Blaster download cable. I can not install the driver. The instruction on Altera website does not apply because it's for Quartus software. Can I use USB blaster with Max+plus software? If yes, how do I install the driver? Thanks.
Occasional ContributorFor a simple solution with running Max-plus under Windows XP you might like to look at VirtualBox.
This is a discussion on accessing a LPT device from within a virtual machine, it might assist in understanding the issues at hand.
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=54187
Otherwise, perhaps get an old PC with a real LPT / Centronix interface!
Frequent ContributorRunning WinXP in VirtualBox will get you a running version of MaxPlusII but it does not help the LPT port access issue.
Even if you have a VirtualBox LPT port it still needs to be connected to a real physical LPT port for the ByteBlaster programmer dongle.
I think WinXP on a legacy motherboard with an LPT port is the best option.
Maybe a PCI card LPT adapter will work, IDK first hand; it depends if the MaxPlusII driver can handle other port addresses besides the standard ones on a motherboard.
I don't think a PCIe parallel port will work, nor a USB parallel port adapter either.
A MasterBlaster serial interface cable would seem to be the most amenable to using on more recent hardware, but I have never used one of these and don't know if it is supported by MaxPlusII. The MasterBlaster user guide (attached) only references early versions of QuartusII (prior to 8.1) as being supported and does not mention MaxPlusII at all. So it might be a dead end.
From the documentation:
Occasional ContributorHi Gents/All,
Thank you for helping me along in this project of mine, and it is sincerely appreciated.
I can see the merit in every thought expressed in each of the responses received so far.
I also have to add that I am running MAX+PLUS II version 10.2 on Windows 11, and it has compiled and simulated very well so far; the only issue left now is for me to configure the EPF81500AQC240-2 by using a ByteBlaster, and ultimately burn the Configuration data in the EEPROM (EPC1PC8, or EPC1441PC8, EPC1213PC8 or EPC1064PC8); and this is where the Parallel Port (LPT) issue has surfaced. As I understand all the response received thus far, the Programmer and the ByteBlaster will not work unless I return to an old machine running Windows 2K or XP the latest or earlier. Also, the MasterBlaster documentation kindly provided seems to refer to Quartus; would this apply to MAX+PLUS II version 10.2 as well?
Please, kindly confirm if my understanding here is in line with your response.
Gratefully appreciative.
Savvy Eagle
P.S. The USB to LPT adaptor arrived yesterday, and as some of you advised, it has not worked sadly!!!
Thank you.
Honored ContributorI don't know if you can use the USB Blaster with MAX+PLUS II software, but the Quartus II Programmer also supports the EPM7128STC100. You could install the Quartus II Programmer instead if you cannot get the MAX+PLUS II software to work.
Honored ContributorThere is only EMP7128ST100. Is it identical to EPM7128STC100? I will look for the part number specification to see what "C" stands for. Thanks Kevin.
Occasional ContributorHi there,
I am trying to programme my Altera FLEX81500AQC240-2 using a USB Blaster, but with no success so far. I am also looking to programme the EEPROM (EPC1PC8, EPC1213PC8, EPC1441PC8 or EPC1064PC8) to go with with the EPF81500AQC240-2 when I am done with verifying my VHDL Code. Could anyone, please, help me with the Drivers using MAX+PLUS II and where I can source the right Programmer Hardware? I have bought 1 USB Programmer and 2 USB Blasters so far and none of them has worked so far. Please, help !
Kind regards
Savvy_Eagle
Frequent ContributorTo my knowledge the MaxPlusII software never supported the USBBlaster/II programmer hardware.
All the MaxPlusII software doc I have (latest is v8) only refers to the ByteBlaster, ByteBlasterII, and ByteBlasterMV programmers.
They are are parallel LPT port interfaced devices.
Also referred to is the MasterBlaster cable, which is a serial port interfaced POD for programming.
The doc for it mentions that it can also connect via USB, but it basically just using a standard USB to serial cable to do that.
Latest OS described in any of the install guides is WindowsXP.
So you are using really really old software (MaxPlusII) and it needs really really old programming hardware to go with it.
Occasional Contributor
Super ContributorHi,
most USB to Parallel Port Converter on the market or USB docking stations do not work for this purpose because they don't emulate low level access to LPT adapter registers.
An exception is this old DIY project (only German, unfortunately) USB-zu-Parallel-Umsetzer
Some USB-to_LPT bridges support low level register access beyond IEEE-1284 standard, but even if the chip hardware can, the function isn't necessarily implemented in Windows driver.
I would primarily try with a hardware LPT driver, e.g. PCIe card installed in your desktop or ExpressCard for a notebook computer.
Frequent ContributorI agree with FvM on their response and almost 100% assuredly your USB Parallel Port converter will not work.
The software driver in MaxPlusII wants a real parallel port at 0x378 to bit bang. USB converters don't do that.
You need a PCI card (not PCIE) or preferably an old PC with a real physical parallel port running WinXP.
Occasional ContributorHi FvM,
Thank you for the information you provided about the USB-zu-Parallel-Umsetzer.
I wrote to the email address link in the page of the materials associated, to Henrik, enquiring about how to get hold of this Cable, using my private email address, but I have not received any response. Would you be able to assist with this at all?
Many thanks for your help
Eagle_Savy
Super ContributorI'm not sure about PCIe LPT interfaces. The may offer port register virtualization, but I didn't yet check. The other point is that Max+plus II ByteBlaster driver is supporting 32 Bit OS only, it won't run on 64-Bit Windows. WinXP or even Win2K would be my first choice.
Frequent ContributorFor what its worth, there is a new in box sealed Altera MasterBlaster pod and accessories for sale on Ebay right now.
Kind of pricey, though. Ref https://www.ebay.com/itm/185927379972
Occasional ContributorOccasional ContributorHi AK5DN,
Just to let you know that I've tried to purchase this MasterBlaster; but the Seller would not ship to United Kingdom where I am.
Any suggestion of how I could get around this, please anyone?
Thank you.
Savy_Eagle
Frequent ContributorOk, no problem. I just bought it via BuyItNow on Ebay.
We can communicate direct from now on, email me at ak6dn@arrl.net
and we can arrange the further details via email.
Super ContributorHi,
there's hope that MasterBlaster over COM port is even working in recent Windows versions because it doesn't rely on outdated drivers.
I wonder which protocol is used by MasterBlaster, if it's as simple as USB Blaster we could write an emulation driver or setup a small uC as MasterBlaster clone.
Occasional ContributorHi FvM,
Thank you for a very encouraging response; now I can't wait for the MasterBlaster in order to move to the next step. As soon as I receive it I'll let you know.
Kind regards
Savy_Eagle
Frequent ContributorI received the MasterBlaster from the eBay seller. It is a complete kit, new in box, still sealed.
So I opened it up and it has both serial COM port and USB port interfaces, so I tried out the USB side.
I could not get it to be recognized on my Win10 QuartusII 13.0sp1 setup (that is the oldest I have).
Per the Altera documents Quartus 8.1 was the last version to support this device, so not unsurprising.
I did also open it up a take a picture of the PCB. It is an incredibly complex design inside, much more so than the follow
on USBBlaster/II series which was just an FTDI232 USB chip, an EPM7K cpld, and some buffers and drivers.
This MasterBlaster has a large FLEX10K FPGA, one appears to be a Motorola CPU, a large EEPROM, what appears to be a Cypress
USB interface, and a number of smaller buffers and logic devices. Backside is just a few small discretes. At the bottom is what
appears to be a 6-12V to 5V switching power supply (or it can work from the 5V USB power also).
So I can see why Altera EOLed this device in favor of the much simpler/cheaper UsbBlaster/II series PODs.
Super ContributorSuper ContributorHi,
I didn't yet test the tu-chemnitz USB2LPT solution. But according to reports it does proper LPT port register virtualization and thus should work. The driver software is still maintained and supports Windows 11. Problem is however that MAX+plus II and also Quartus ByteBlaster don't have 64-Bit kernel drivers. You need to run a 32-Bit OS to use MAX+plus II or Quartus with ByteBlaster. According to above posted link, this can be also a virtual machine on VirtualBox.
