USB Blaster (CPLD FPGA Programmer) - High-Speed Stability

If you're looking for an inexpensive alternative to the Intel/Altera USB Blaster to program FPGA/CPLDs, this isn't it. Software link in the Amazon listing is for v16 of the Quartus software used to program. Also tried with v13 and v23. Drivers for v16 wouldn't install on Windows 11 due to driving signing enforcement, even bypassing the signing requirement allowed the driver to install but Quartus never saw the device. Tried it on a Windows 7 and 10 machine as well, drivers installed and Quartus saw it, but failed to program, verify JTAG chain integrity, and even caused blue screens. I burned at least 12 hours today attempting to get this work on Windows 7, 10, 11 both on physical and virtual variants, swapped USB cables, ports, tried 3 versions of the software, zero luck on all fronts. It's not even heavy enough to be a decent paperweight. Look elsewhere for your Altera USB Blaster needs.

I go this to allow me to flash my Atari-compatible V4 Apollo computer. It works just fine. Bought two just in case.

It would seem that none of these clone blasters work with Quartus 20.X programmer. Tried many different ways and although it would recognize device ID it failed to configure/program. Others suggested trying openocd under Linux so I did, it was available as a prebuilt package 0.10.0. Had to create a simple config with just one line named maxiipgm.cfg: jtag newtap auto0 tap -irlen 10 -expected-id 0x020a20dd Then invoked with: openocd -f /usr/share/openocd/scripts/interface/altera-usb-blaster.cfg -f maxiipgm.cfg -c init -c "svf $1" -c shutdown Replace $1 with name of your svf file. You can convert to the needed svf file in the Quartus Programmer. This is for the Max II CPLD family which is popular for many small projects. You may have to change the ID above for something other than an EPM570. May work with Cyclone FPGA's but only to configure not to program an external Flash. If you are using Altera Cyclone or better you likely would be best getting the official Altera USB Blaster.

It works OK with a really short USB cable, but not if the cable is longer.

This product is completely worthless, at least out of the box. It causes a blue screen error "PFN_LIST_CORRUPT" on Windows shortly after being plugged in. Programming also doesn't work with Quartus Programmer on Linux. I'm not sure how this made its way to Amazon as a product without being tested at all. However, it's possible to fix it by re-flashing it with custom open-source firmware. If you search on Google for "altera blaster CH552G firmware", you should be able to find the custom firmware to install on it. With the custom firmware installed, this product will actually behave as it should with Quartus Programmer in both Windows and Linux.

Bit of a niche case but if you own a Apollo Vampire V4 accelerator card for the Amiga and need to flash the FPGA firmware, this sucker will do the job!

I plugged it to my laptop and it wasn't recognized as a new USB device. After trying several USB ports and PCs I finally found out that the USB cable was damaged; not broken put burned in its contacts, so I can say it is a second hand used cable. Next I used a new cable and this time my laptop found a new device but with no drivers. I had to try three times to install them manually; finally it appeared as a working device. First try from Quartus programmer, BSOD on Windows 10, second try the same. I removed the drivers and did a new install and like magic third time Quartus found the hardware without a BSOD. Autodetect hangs so I did a JTAG debbug, after a while of no responding a new BSOD. So, I couldn't get this one to work.

GREAT jtag interface for Altera FPGA, dirt cheap and works well. STM32f103 and a 74HC buffer inside if case you are curious. Quartus sees it as a USB blaster - no special drivers needed so they did some cool software trickery to make it work (not that you care) - it "just works"

Good