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Project logs / Cheap DIY Usb Blaster compatible programmer
I've been trying to get my hands dirty with programmable logic for a while now and naturally at some point I faced with the reality that I needed a programmer. For some semi-random reasons I am inclined towards Altera devices rather than the more popular Xilinx . My choices were; Buy an Altera USB Blaster ($300 !), buy a Terasic USB Blaster clone ($50 + shipping from Asia), get some Chinese clone on ebay ($10 - $30). Actually $10 also includes shipping and looks like a great deal. However I did not want to wait for 2 weeks for shipping.
Anyway while searching online for DIY options, I came across this page which shows a very simple looking one with a PIC18 on it. It is in Japanese but, google translate was my friend :) I was not sure if it would work but I had a 18F2550 laying around (plus I had built a Pickit 2 clone a short while ago) and decided to give it a shot. To my surprise it actually worked.
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This is sort of an older version. The new one is using a cheaper 18F14K50 (but I did not have that). It is only 3.3V compatible but that can be easily handled by adding some level shifters. It's a simple design with just the micro and some passives but I can share my Eagle files if anyone is interested.
Here's the link to the original page (I am using Chrome so it automatically prompts for translation to English):
http://http://www.sa89a.net/mp.cgi/ele/ub.htm
p.s. The board on the right is my Max V CPLD board which I plan to post about soon (it is a two sided board with non-solder via's, more on that later ;p).