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3LionsCT's avatar
3LionsCT
Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
1 month ago

USB Blaster not available

Hi,

The USB blaster programs my Max 10 device fine until I plug in another usb cable that controls  a Rabbit micro-controller (FTI device) I am interfacing to the MAX10 device. When this happens I get the message "No Hardware" under hardware setup. I amusing Quartus 24.1 std.

I have tried the following:

  1. Changed the com port on the rabbit serial connection.
  2. Plugged the two cables into two separate powered USB hubs
  3. Reinstalled the USB blaster driver.
  4. Re-booted several times
  5. Tried a different USBB blaster device

Has anyone got any ideas? I need to run signal tap at the same time as the rabbit development program so need both working at the same time.

 

Thanks

Configuration

18 Replies

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    1 month ago

    ⁹Hi,

    as far as I'm aware of, there's a still unsolved incompatibility of Windows USB Blaster driver with standard FTDI FT232/FT245 driver.

    If I can't avoid to have a device with standard FT232 driver in my development setup, I use a different Quartus compatible programming adapter, Intel FPGA Download Cable II, USB Blaster III or Arrow USB Programmer II. Alternatively use none-FT232 USB-to-serial adapter.

    I believe it's possible to modify USB Blaster driver to make it work in presence of other FT232/FT245 driver, but apparently it wasn't yet done.

    Regards Frank

  • 3LionsCT's avatar
    3LionsCT
    Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
    1 month ago

    Hi Frank

    Thanks for getting back to me. It seems that this is a known issue. I’m glad it’s not specific to my setup

    Do you know if the USB Blaster II has this problem? I can’t seem to find where to purchase the usb blaster III and I can get the usb blaster II quickly from digi-key

    Thanks 

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    1 month ago

    Hi,

    my previous reply you are referring to is fortunately disappeared from the forum, don't understand why.

    The problem was discussed in several previous threads, I think latest here: USB Blaster is recnized on wondows but not on Quartus | Altera Community

    I reported that I'm using other Quartus compatible programming adapters like USB Blaster II (Cypress USB interface), USB Blaster III or Arrow USB Programming Adapter II (both FT2232H based). USB Blaster II is quite expensive and not continued due to Cypress chip EOL. It's built-in to to some Eval boards.

    It was also reported in previous posts that the problem should be fixed by newer FTDI drivers, but I can't verify right now.

    Regards Frank

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    1 month ago

    Hi,

    I see USB-Blaster with most recent driver usbblstr.sys  2.12.28 and FT232 serial port with ftser2k.sys 2.12.36 working in parallel.

    I conclude, it can work with some driver versions.

    • 3LionsCT's avatar
      3LionsCT
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      1 month ago

      Hi Frank, 

      Thanks for all your replies. I’ve tried several different usb blaster drivers with no luck. I’m stuck with the FTDI driver supplied with the rabbit development environment as they have not been updating their software for many years now. 

      It’s strange that we never hear from Altera on this matter?

      Terry

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    1 month ago

    Hi Terry,

    what's rabbit USB driver version? (Device control manager >>> driver details)

    P.S. Are they using a customized or original FTDI low level driver? Sure it can't be replaced by recent FTDI driver?

    • 3LionsCT's avatar
      3LionsCT
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      1 month ago

      Hi Frank,

      The driver I am using for the Rabbit is 2.12.36.20

      The USB blaster is using 2.12.28.0

      Not sure why that combination is working for you and not for me. I am on Windows 11 if that makes a difference?

      Terry

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    1 month ago

    Hi Terry,

    same driver versions work for me both with Windows 10 and Windows 11. There's apparently another factor but I don't know what it is. Is Quartus using 24.1 JTAG server? 

    jtagserver --status

    jtagconfig --serverinfo

    Regards Frank

    • 3LionsCT's avatar
      3LionsCT
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      1 month ago

      Hi Frank,

      See attached. Could the fact that I have two versions of Quartus installed be the cause of the problem? (see attached). I am using Quartus 24.1 standard to develop a project using the Max 10 device. I am also using Quartus Pro 25.1 (They are not running at the same time) to work on an Agilex 3 project.

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    1 month ago

    Hi Terry,
    that looks good. Unless you don't install manually, jtagserver of last installed Quartus version will be used. However if you have Quartus Std and Pro versions on your computer, you'll use Quartus Pro jtagserver because Quartus Std. server won't recognize some advanced FPGA.

    Regards
    Frank

    • 3LionsCT's avatar
      3LionsCT
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      1 month ago

      Hi Frank,

      I just tried my Windows 11 laptop which only has 24.1 installed and I get the same result. The programmer won't recognize the USB blaster when the Rabbit programming cable is connected. It looks like it must be unique to my setup

      Thanks for the help

      • Farabi's avatar
        Farabi
        Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
        1 month ago

        Hello, 

         

        I am sorry, I tried to understand your setup here. What is Rabbit microcontroller do and what its relation with USB Blaster II ? 

        Basically, USB Blaster II only use for Altera device. 

         

        regards,

        Farabi