Argh. I just discovered that my ByteBlaster MV clone can't program an EPCS configuration PROM, but the ByteBlaster II can.
Google led me to a web forum that suggests an MV can be converted to a II, but I haven't been able to find any details.
Does anyone know if it's possible to convert a ByteBlaster MV into a ByteBlaster II, and if so what the details are?
Thanks,
-Nevo
A brand new USB-Blaster from the people that make it for Altera is US$
80 delivered.I would thing the conversion process would be:
1) Sell old one on eBay. 2) Buy new one.G.
A true ByteBlaster II is built up of discrete transistors to be able to program the really low voltage targets. The MV uses HC logic buffers. If I remember right, the II also has 2 more control lines than the MV and a slightly different pinout. Each one is also "keyed" with some unused IO pins shorted to allow detection by Quartus.
Your best bet is to build a II-clone with HC buffers. It's only a few dollars in parts. I put one on this board:
In the PDF schematic it's on the upper left. Many of the values aren't critical.
-- Ben Jackson AD7GD http://www.ben.com/
You could convert an original ByteBlaster to a ByteBlaster MV just be changing the eight-bit buffer in it (from an LS to an HC family I think). However, as others have said, the ByteBlaster II is a different beast with extra features.
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