New Product - BlackIce Mx

[Folknology]

Sorry guys nothing I can do about it, that's the way Tindie works (This may change later when I have time to build my own webshop or something, but I just don't have the time for that yet). On the plus side I buy a lot of the components for each build in USD so in real terms I don't actually loose 2 conversions.

For now best to use Tindie as is unless it's wanting to purchase several at once,I will look into ways of improving this over the summer, any ideas or pointers appreciated..

[Ntl]

ce40 HX4K - 4K Luts (8K for Yosy), 80/(128)Kbits BRAM, 2 PLLs, NVCM

HX4K datasheet contains 3520(~4K) logic cells. I don't understand what "8K for Yosy" means? And I also want to know why HX4K? why not HX8K with more than twice as many logical cells?

[Folknology]

It's actually 8K silicon limited by the lattice tools to 4K, Yosys addresses all of the resources, enjoy..

[r.miller]

On the plus side I buy a lot of the components for each build in USD so in real terms I don't actually loose 2 conversions.

Globalisation saves the day

[Folknology]

I have now completed shipments of the first batch of known wait listed orders. I am pretty sure their are still quite a few out there that have not been converted into orders, I would be interested to know of anyone how was on the wait list but hasn't been notified that BlackIce came into stock?

For those that did convert you should get notifications from Tindie about shipments I have made in the last couple of days, many will be receiving BlackIce Mx and addons over the next few weeks and days - enjoy..

[lawrie]

I have just received my board, and the trail example is running.

The blink example currently does not build. Line 27 should have led[3] not led[0].

The make files would be improved by including:

stty -F /dev/ttyACM0 raw

for the upload. And by using nextpnr rather than arachne-pnr.

[Folknology]

The blink example currently does not build. Line 27 should have led[3] not led[0].

Oops forgot to change that when I switched it back from blue led, fixed it now

The make files would be improved by including:

stty -F /dev/ttyACM0 raw

You only need to issue that once when you plug in the BlackIce Mx not every time you make/upload..

[Folknology]

for the upload. And by using nextpnr rather than arachne-pnr.

I consider this expert right now, for ease of use the getting started uses IceStorm tools

I need to look at moving it all to Nextpnr but it's hard with APIO right now and I need a path that is multi-platform..

[Folknology]

Does anyone know how 'stty -F /dev/ttyACM0 raw' can be added to run at board plugin?

[lawrie]

You should be able to do that with a udev rule.

[BigEd]

Does it do any harm to do it before each use?

[lawrie]

You only need to issue that once when you plug in the BlackIce Mx not every time you make/upload.

Unfortunately I am having to plug and unplug it many times as most of the uploads from my VirtualBox system (which worked fine for Blackice II) are failing and you cannot quit the cat statement with Ctrl-C. Adding an stty does not cost much and avoids problems if you have forgotten to do it.

[Folknology]

stty -F /dev/ttyACM0 raw

Added to make files and committed..

[Folknology]

Unfortunately I am having to plug and unplug it many times as most of the uploads from my VirtualBox system (which worked fine for Blackice II) are failing and you cannot quit the cat statement with Ctrl-C. Adding an stty does not cost much and avoids problems if you have forgotten to do it.

This is strange any clues as to why?

[lawrie]

Not at the moment. It works on native Linux. There is no output on /dev/ttyACM0 when it hangs.

I have got used to using VirtualBox on Windows as my Windows laptop is much faster than my Linux desktop.

[Folknology]

lsusb reports:
* BlackIce II - Bus 001 Device 125: ID 0483:5740 STMicroelectronics STM32F407
* BlackIce Mx - Bus 001 Device 124: ID 0483:5740 STMicroelectronics STM32F407

So product/vendor codes the same

[Folknology]

Even when I dig down with -v and then diff the outputs there isn't any changes apart from device number obviously

[Folknology]

@lawrie To be honest I haven't tested with Virtual Box as don't have it installed, I do have a new laptop with Windows on that I might be able to try this on at some point. For the moment it is worth filing and issue on the IceCore repo (Not BlackIce MX repo as that's just for the carrier).

PS also include the version of OS you are using (Windows and Linux in the VB)

[lawrie]

Issue raised - https://github.com/folknology/IceCore/issues/1

[Folknology]

Thanks @lawrie I also setup a new BlackIce Mx/IceCore feedback thread rather than overload this one..