USB blaster Altera vs Terasic version

[Altera_Forum]

Hi all, 

 I came across two of this items, physically both looks about the same but when i looking this deeply in term fo support level, there is some differences as come from different company. So any one are using Terasic blaster instead of Altera one? as look like Terasic one looks cheaper..  Best from FAN.

[Altera_Forum]

i say just purchase the Altera build USB blaster, there fore there will be no excuse for Altera site to reject your request to support your issue when come to some complex debugging issue pairing with other vendor USB blaster.

[Altera_Forum]

Terasic blasters have worked just fine for me in the past...

[Altera_Forum]

My Terasic Blaster works OK.

[Altera_Forum]

Terasic better! cheaper.

[Altera_Forum]

I am using USB blaster from Altera so that I could get them to support.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  i say just purchase the Altera build USB blaster, there fore there will be no excuse for Altera site to reject your request to support your issue when come to some complex debugging issue pairing with other vendor USB blaster.  --- Quote End ---    Agree with Pororo. It would be easier for them to debug if you are using their blasters. You can also go to their Field Application Engineer if there is any issue with your purchased USB Blaster. Anyone can comment on the support level of Terasic blaster?

[Altera_Forum]

how do we usually get technical support from terasic? through e-mail?

[Altera_Forum]

Can we still fail issue to Altera for non Altera built board?

[Altera_Forum]

you can.... but like our friend vinhael mentioned, easier for debug with own built tool.

[Altera_Forum]

Altera dont really care whether you're using a $50 programmer or $150 if you're going to buy $10000s of chips!

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Altera dont really care whether you're using a $50 programmer or $150 if you're going to buy $10000s of chips!  --- Quote End ---    Best answer of the year ! :D

[Altera_Forum]

Agree with Tricky. If you volume is high, the support level will be high as well.

[Altera_Forum]

i guess i should just take the Altera one, so there is no excuse from them not to support my when come with some issues. asking me to deal with Terasic.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  i guess i should just take the Altera one, so there is no excuse from them not to support my when come with some issues. asking me to deal with Terasic.  --- Quote End ---    Wise choice, as i believe you are not buying 100K chips customer category, else you don't give a damn to spend your time in this free of charge forum consultation. You can choose to complaint your issue to Altera then.Right?

[Altera_Forum]

I've always had a very high support and short response time with our FAE from Arrow, which contacted Altera directly each time it was needed. And we don't buy 100k chips per year, probably not even 1k. 

And if you have an issue, it will most probably not be with the USB Blaster itself.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Can we still fail issue to Altera for non Altera built board?  --- Quote End ---    I dont think Altera will entertain the case on non-Altera built board. They will refer you to the board manufacturer.

[Altera_Forum]

agree! with the statement above

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  I dont think Altera will entertain the case on non-Altera built board. They will refer you to the board manufacturer.  --- Quote End ---    is the board manufacturer helpful? good support? or might be pointing us back to Altera at the end of the days like ball kicking.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  is the board manufacturer helpful? good support? or might be pointing us back to Altera at the end of the days like ball kicking.  --- Quote End ---   any one experience this before? any other reference?

[Altera_Forum]

We are talking about a very theoretical problem here. Usually when you contact Altera's support it is when you have a problem with one of their FPGAs or CPLDs. Issues related to the USB blaster itself are very rare. (except for fried drivers, which can happen sometimes on the Altera blaster but not on the Terasic or EEBlaster IIRC)