Recommended Jtag Programming Cable For Xc2c64a Cplds

[Alex]

A customer has asked the following question. Can someone help? 

 

"I am designing my own boards and I need a programming that I can plug into a header. I am targeting Coolrunner II XC2C64A CPLDS. What cable would you recommend?"

 

 

[Cristian.Fatu]

My suggestion is to design a JTAG header on your board. Using the JTAG header you can use any of our programming cable to program your CPLD.

Still, you should consider the header type you want to use, knowing that:

- there are cables like JTAG USB Cable http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,395,523&Prod=JTAG-USB that only offer 1x6 JTAG connector

- some cables offer both 1x6  and  2x7 connector, like JTAG HS2 Programming Cable http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,395,1052&Prod=JTAG-HS2

- there are cables like JTAG HS3 Programming Cable http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,395,1298&Prod=JTAG-HS3 that only offer 2x7 JTAG connector

 

Overall, I think that you should go for the above mentioned JTAG HS2 Programming Cable.

On the other hand, you should also consider including the programming solution on your design, using a Surface-Mount Programming Module like http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,395,1053&Prod=JTAG-SMT2.

[LowellWeeks]

Much appreciated, thanks.

Lowell

[EngApache]

Hi Cristian,

On your recommendation to Lowell:

"On the other hand, you should also consider including the programming solution on your design, using a Surface-Mount Programming Module likehttp://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,395,1053&Prod=JTAG-SMT2."

    Do you mean that JTAG-SMT2 works on CoolRunnerII devices?. For sure on data sheet JTAG-SMT2-NC states under "Devices supported" : CoolRunnerII, but no "Devices Supported List" is included in JTAG-SMT2 datasheet. Main Digilent page shows  characteristics (software and hardware) offer by  JTAG-SMT2 are more comprehensive than JTAG_SH2, JTAG-SH3. For this reason, I want (and because I'm a beginner in CPDLs and FPGAs) to get JTAG-SMT2; indeed, I need CoolRunner II support device. 

Thank you.

[jpeyron]

Hi EngApache,

The JTAG-SMT2 works with the coolrunner II. There are only a few familys of cplds that the JTAG-SMT2 doesn't work with and the coolrunner II is not one of them.

cheers,

Jon