31 May
2006
31 May
'06
3:40 p.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
Tell me about it. About 10 years ago I was looking at the Xilinx XC6200
series -- this being one of the few FPGAs that were 100% documented (the
configuration bit pattern was documented, you didn't have to use the
Xilinx tools). They were discontinued before the UK distributor got any.
That, I am afraid, is one reason I avoid programmable logic chips. By the
time I've finished the design, the darn chip is unavailable.
That's the big problem. Even though you
probably could replace one of
these ASCIs with a modern FPGA suitably programmed, since you don't have
the specs of it, you have a very long day ahaed of you.
FPGA's and CPLD's seem to be going obsolite even before the datasheets
are printed or even updated on the web. The main problem with programable logic is that almost all the software is
windows based that
is low cost. Allmost all the high priced stuff is unix based and very
closed source in most aspects.
And that's the other reason I avoid them. Well, and the fact that it
takes me longer to design, debug, and program a device with those tools,
than to hand-wire a 1-off board of TTL-ish logic chips.
-tony