Question about USB Blaster

[Altera_Forum]

is it possible to program Cyclone III without using the USB Blaster block, using FTDI chip (like FT2232) instead?  

 Also, besides the signals for JTAG (TCK, TMS, TDI and TDO), there are DCLK, ASDO, nCE and CSO, what are those signals for?

[Altera_Forum]

The FPGA can be programed in many ways 

- JTAG (USB Blaster + Quartus or a JAM player) - Active Serial/Parallel -- it loads it's configuration from a flash memory - Passive Serial/Parallel -- it's fed it's configuration by another device  See Chapter 9 of the Cyclone III handbook.

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for the quick response, 

 I am checking the threads of the forum and seems like there is no way to program the FPGA without purchasing the USB blaster module since is the only way to get the program inside the CPLD with the ALTERA protocol, and that was what I was looking for (a way to program the FPGA using USB ).  -Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   I am checking the threads of the forum and seems like there is no way to program the FPGA without purchasing the USB blaster module since is the only way to get the program inside the CPLD with the ALTERA protocol, and that was what I was looking for (a way to program the FPGA using USB ).   --- Quote End ---    Terasic sell the USB-Blaster for $50.  http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?language=english&categoryno=&no=46  If you are going to do any FPGA development, you really do need this cable. The Quartus software uses it not only for configuring the FPGA, but also as a communications channel and logic analyzer interface.  You can program the FPGA without a USB-Blaster, eg., using an FT2232, however, you have to port a standalone programmer tool such as the Jam STAPL player to do that. I suspect paying $50 for a USB-Blaster would be cheaper in terms of stress levels and your time. :)  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Hi  

Thanks for the advice, I will opt for the USB-Blaster solution. Thanks