Wanted: Altera Programming Unit (APU)

[Altera_Forum]

Does anyone know how to obtain an Altera Programming Unit (PL-APU)? Altera discontinued this item in Aug 2007, but there must be one still available.? 

Thanks jwiatrowski

[Altera_Forum]

I just did quick search, and didn't see any stock.. (Mostly because I hadn't heard of the PL-APU). 

 What can it do that the USB-Blaster is not able to accomplish?

[Altera_Forum]

Thank you for the quick reply. I was trying to get a backup programmer for our current one. I don't know much about the USB-Blaster, do you know if it can use the same files as the PL-APU? Or, are new files required to be created? i.e. PL-APU uses xxx.pof

[Altera_Forum]

The USB Blaster can definitely use program the .pof file. Basically it just has a 10 pin header that connects to the JTAG port/Active Serial pins of the device to program. 

 Are you programming an serial flash device for active serial mode? or are you programming specific Altera devices?  There's two standard headers for programming, both 10 pin headers that the USB blaster mates two, one is for programming the EPCS serial flash devices and the other for the JTAG programming of the devices themselves, so you may have to create a cable if you are use to using the PL-APU, but I think it should work.  The header pinouts can be found in any of the FPGA device handbooks.  Pete