BeScopeBundle - Tip for those who want to buy an FPGA development board
jac_goudsmit
Posts: 418
I just found out that Arrow sells something called the BeScopeBundle which consists of the BeMicro CV ("supported" by the Propeller source code) plus a plugin board that you can use as an oscilloscope. It's only $1 more than the BeMicro CV ($50 instead of $49).
Last I checked, Arrow was almost out of BeMicroCV (3 in stock) but they still have plenty of BeScopeBundles (246 in stock at this time). Worth the extra dollar, I would say.
===Jac
Last I checked, Arrow was almost out of BeMicroCV (3 in stock) but they still have plenty of BeScopeBundles (246 in stock at this time). Worth the extra dollar, I would say.
===Jac
Comments
In the folder at the bottom of the page, a next BeMicro FPGA board is announced: the CV-A9, which is the largest Cyclone V (300K LE). I wonder, Parallax is developing a board with the A-7, being the biggest one that is supported by Quartus free web edition. A9 requires subscription edition. Change of policy??? Or a trick to lure people into paying for Quartus??
Time to get some more BeMicros
Yes, impressive ADC specs, and almost for free...
*50 MHz analog bandwidth
*250 MSPS per channel using AD9286 with simultaneous sampling
*Programmable gain amplifier with three gain settings
*Input range adjustable up to ±60V (10x probe setting, lowest gain)
*Resolution as low as 12 mv/LSB (1x probe setting, highest gain)
*2.5 MHz and 5 MHz square-wave generator output
- Windows GUI written in python (source code included)
The source code will make it easier to convert to other languages.Shipping to Italy was expensive ($40+), so at first I ordered two.
Then I changed my mind, and grabbed one BeScope bundle + one DE-Nano, to be on the safe side: I see that the 5CEFA2F23C8N has an HW memory controller, but I'm not sure it's supported with the free Quartus.
This board seems to be yet another revision, it's upgraded to 1Gbit DDR3, but has still the A2 (not the A7).
But hey, as someone already said, that price is good for the analog board alone.
I wish I knew about it before ordering my CV's... ah well, I can always use another scope/CV.
I just got a call from Arrow letting me know that their supplier will only release one of these with an order. I had ordered a pair (like nuns, development boards should come in pairs) - they are sending me one and refunding me the difference. He had said I could probably order another at a later time so it's not like they track them *THAT* closely.
Considering they sell the scope board by itself for $45, the probably don't want too many people buying the $5 BE micro option.
I ordered 2 of these as well but the order is stuck and PayPal shows it as pending. I'm chatting with Arrow now to sort it out. Ah, they have submitted the order for me now, all done. Shipping was about $45 so I it just wouldn't be right getting just one!
@Jac: Thanks for the tip mate!
I was thinking about a group order from Oz.
Perhaps I should email Arrow.
Meanwhile, anyone in Aus after one+ to share the shipping to Oz? I have emailed ozpropdev, tubular and Drac.
Maybe later tomorrow, I will email Arrow with a question about a group order from Oz and see what they say.
See if others are interested in joining in. Rogloh?
We have 5 in Oz. Anyone else here in Oz who wants one PM or email me today.
Arrow came back this morning and said:
Thank you for placing order WEB-SO1111779 on Parts.Arrow.Com. The supplier has informed us that they are only able to allocate 1 pieces per order for part:
BESCOPEBUNDLE
Did you want to proceed with 1 piece or did you want to cancel the order?
So obviously it would be better to group buy then, can I order two then Ray.
If you need that screen shot the NSA could probably send you a copy
http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/contacts/
LOL
I haven't taken delivery of the kit yet (Fedex has it on the truck) but according to the reference manual the software has to be downloaded and there is no CD listed as a part for the kit. Maybe there will be a CD but just in case, here's the link for the download:
http://www.arrownac.com/solutions/bescope/downloads/BeScope_Installation_package_8-7-14.zip
I note that a search for BESCOPE on the Arrow website will direct to a http://parts.arrow.com/bescope. The url containing the software link is http://www.arrownac.com/solutions/bescope/.
There goes another two hours of my life.
This kit was tempting enough that I bought two on separate orders with no difficulties. I didn't try doing two at once since the second one was a considered afterthought.
It should be very educational since it has the python source code for the display and an archive of verilog files for the DE0-NANO. It requires Quartus 14 to unpack the archive. I don't know if the unpacked project can be back ported to Quartus 13 for those still running XP on various systems - like me. I'm hoping it's a good intro to using QSYS for a life size but still digestible project.
I think getting two 8bit AD converters that will run at 250 mega samples/second on the NANO and actually max out at 500 mss coupled with input amps and attenuators is a fabulous deal for an extra dollar.
I will let you all know when i know.
thoth,
Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum.
I don't know Python but the source code is interesting, Threading and FFT etc, I'll have to look to see what a pickle(import pickle) is. I'll probably end up in a pickle just trying to understand it.
import threading
import thread
import time
import errno
import os
import socket
import wx
import wx.lib.agw.knobctrl as KC
import wx.lib.agw.floatspin as FS
import re
import pickle
from matplotlib.backends.backend_wxagg import FigureCanvasWxAgg as FigureCanvas
from matplotlib.backends.backend_wxagg import NavigationToolbar2WxAgg as NavigationToolbar
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
from matplotlib.ticker import MultipleLocator, FormatStrFormatter
# Written By: Ryan Belanger: ryan.belanger@nck-research.com
# Matt Chabot: matt.chabot@nck-research.com
Website:
http://nck-research.com/
Welcome
nCk Research provides innovative solutions to network access and visibility issues for networks ranging from small workgroups all the way through large enterprise datacenters. Our products boast some of the highest port and feature densities in the industry allowing for large scale reductions in occupied rackspace and power consumption. Couple that with our innovative monitoring solutions and IT managers and analysts will have unprecedented awareness of the real time functionality of their network leading to reductions in cost and increased network uptime.
It sure looks great.
:cool:
The bitfile for the BeMicroCV loaded into the board without a problem.
But following along with the user manual, it says a tcl script called "beserver.tcl" should be in the app archive, but actually it isn't there.
I've tried searching the arrow site and the whole web with no luck yet.
Apparrently it's a tool from Altera supposed to permit communication thru the USB programming port.
But I'm afraid that script is modified from the generic one (that should come with both full Quartus and the stand alone programmer).
If anyone already solved this problem, please report back!
Ordered...
Agreed! I just ordered one too! Frankly, even if you aren't looking to buy an FPGA, this bundle is a *steal* as an oscilloscope.. The ADC IC alone is upwards of $40 from digikey! Even with the volume pricing that Arrow surely got, I just don't see how they're able to sell this bundle for $50.
No matter, what a win for us!
And it also includes a x10/x1 switchable 150 mhz scope probe that sells for $30 on alibaba! This is certainly a loss leader for Arrow and its partners.
I looked at the verilog files and it's all greek to me but it looks like I can struggle a lot and learn a little. I found it interesting that the dram connections are included but the lines are "stubbed out" so it appears they had some intention of hooking this up to allow local trace storage.
The test of a good scope is its triggering ability and the triggering on this unit is rock bottom simple - positive or negative edge. But there's no reason to think that much more advanced triggering can't be added. The scope verilog takes up less than twenty percent of the FPGA resources so there's lots of room to add enhancements.
The big plus for me is that it provides working example of a project that has been put together with qsys and it also has been instrumented with signalprobe. I need to see if they've figured out how to bring signalprobe info back on the same jtag lines that are communicating with the python display code. Sounds like serious magic to me.
Best educational $60 I've spent in a good while.
If there are no I/O's left on the two 40 pin connectors, there is still that 80 pin edge connector...
Just got "the call" from Arrow... only 1 per order.
The kit comes with an adapter that plugs into the 80pin edge connector but it only seems useful for the ADI addon boards since the connector it presents is even worse in terms of oddness and density than the edge card connector. I don't think ADI makes a general purpose breakout board since they are making these boards to allow evaluation of their products.
The scope board does have through holes for the 40pin connectors. Theoretically one could desolder the connector(s) and replace them with ones with long wirewrap pins but that seems frought with peril and a nasty way to spend one's time.
One possibility would be to make up a breakout board that sits between the BeMicroCV and the scope board. It would use 40pin socket connectors with long wirewrap tails. I've found those on eBay but they cost a lot compared to the ones with normal length pins. The single width variety are popular for Arduino shields and can be put side by side to simulate a two row connector.
I need to check but I think there are lots of lines left over. The scope interface is basically a 7 bit data bus, some control lines and a clock. There's not much to it. The data bus uses the differential lines on the second connector so the 8 bit data bus uses 16 lines.
Ooops. Just checked the schematic - 16 lines of the non differential connector are used and the rest are pulled to ground so the breakout board might have to use staggered connectors thereby allowing the ground connections on the scope board to be disconnected. Actually a staggered approach solves the problem rather well I think. Can use normal cheap connectors that way.
I like the idea of a mixed signal scope!
Looks to me like it would be possible to have the scope logic connect up internally to a 4 cog P1v with room left over. Two cogs could work the two channels, one for communication and one for administration. Use channel B for the scope and there are still some lines left for channel A even if allowing for 8 digital inputs for the mixed mode.
The breakout board will also allow protecting the mixed mode inputs with clamps since the FPGA is pretty sensitive to overvoltage.
Lots of possibilities.
Oh MY! I thought those pins were just remapped from the 2 - 40pin connectors!
Looking at the board schematic I see it has 60 additional lines EG-P1 to EG-P60. Wow, that really changes what can be done with the board...
Fortunately I have a lot of the 40 pin stacking connectors in stock, as I use them in my products... and my EZasPi 300 prototyping board, by a fortuitous coincidence, stacks perfectly on top of the BE/CV!
If I find a reasonably priced mating connector for the 80 pin edge connector, I might make a breakout (to two 40 pin 2x20 .1" headers) for it... would anyone be interested?