Re: FPGA Journal Article

"Kevin Morris" <kevin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1137096913.255199.239090@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I'm writing a feature article for FPGA Journal (www.fpgajournal.com)
> about FPGAs and the re-birth of the electronics hobbyist. My theory is
> that electronics as a hobby went through a "dark age" period, maybe
> from the early/mid 1970s until recently becuase of the inaccessibility
> and cost of designing with state-of-the-art technology. Radio Shack
> shifted their focus from 50-in-1 project kits and hobbyist parts to
> selling toys, cell-phones, and stereo equipment.
>
> Now, with the emergence of low-cost, high-capability FPGAs, development
> boards, and design software, I see a new age of hobbyist activity
> beginning (as often evidenced in this group).
>
> I'm looking for a few people that would be willing to express views on
> this topic for the article.
>
> I know, Austin will probably post a strong technical argument that
> Xilinx FPGAs are uniquely attractive to the hobbyist, somebody from
> Altera will send me a Cubic Cyclonium prototyping paperweight (they're
> very cool), and Actel and Lattice people will post just to remind us
> that they have low-cost kits too, but I'm primarily interested in some
> info from real, live, "working" hobbyists.
>
> Any takers?
>
I am actually not so hobbyist, but I have my fun some times


Spartan3E VQ100 on single sided toner transfer made PCB
http://xilant.com/content/view/35/2/

DIL24 (GAL like) Spartan3-100 based module works as
MMC card in card reader

http://xilant.com/content/view/33/55/

my FPGA protoboard pictures are lost unfortunatly

xilinx isnt actually the best for hobby because of the 3 power supplies
required
sometimes you can get it with 2 power supplies (if VCCIO is 2.5)

so all other vendors have an small advantage here, with the true single
supply
chips being the best, in generic it really looks like it may come to
DIY electronic rebirth again - if I can help here I would be glad -

there are so many thing any FPGA board can do because of
its reprogrammability

for true do it all yourself hobby bastler Lattice XP in TQ144
is possible the easiest to handle

so what info are you looking and what is it where you look
for takers ?

Actel has no low kits (no real low cost). for xilinx/lattice
kit prices start from 50USD 50EUR, for Altera has been same
all actel kits are 149USD+

the only interesting Actel thing is the Fusion starterkit and
that costs already 399EUR



--
Antti Lukats
http://www.xilant.com





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