[Mep-dev] MEP FPGA development station

[Michelle]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to pay some attention to and invest some time in developing code that will define an FPGA for our modem. I'm reasonably confident that an ARM (like in the Beagleboard) is a good choice of processor, but we'll still need a modem, and it's not going to code itself.  :+)

So, the good news: I was able to get a long-term loan of an FPGA development kit that will serve at least as a starting point and at best a complete development station. 

Here's a summary writeup on the Xtreme DSP development kit from Xilinx that we've been given to use on MEP:

http://www.design-reuse.com/news/3144/xilinx-nallatech-ship-xtremedsp-development-kit-fpgas.html

Xilinx 2V2000 Virtex-II FPGAs are the target device. Virtex II are an older version of Xilinx's high-performance Virtex line, which are now at version 4, 5, and 6.

However, with conversion tools, newer FPGAs can be targeted with any code developed for the VirtexII. This kit was free - it's a long-term loan from Qualcomm for the project.

Here's a datasheet for the Virtex II family. Ours is the 2V2000.

http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/data_sheets/ds031.pdf

Here's a User's Guide for the Virtex II FPGA family:

http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/user_guides/ug002.pdf

We were able to set the station up for local and remote development, so your bit file can be loaded remotely, if you would like to participate. And, I hope each of you will consider participating! If you've always wanted to learn how to make an FPGA, then this is a great opportunity. If you know your way around programmable logic, then we would appreciate your help, advice, and critique/review of work produced. 

If you have an idea for the modem, or would like to work on another programmable logic project for MEP, then you are more than welcome to use the station. I'm happy to help coordinate.

If you have a lead on another FPGA development station that might be available for work on MEP, please let me know - while we can get a lot done with one, the more stations available, the better. 

More soon,
-Michelle W5NYV