DAC34SH84EVM HSMC compatibility

Kang,

Thanks for the quick reply with that information.  Now that I know that I'm considering buying a new board that will be compatible with the HSMC connector on the Stratix V DSP kit that I have.  I noticed that TI has a repeater design using the DAC3482 and the ADS4229 evaluation boards.  Looks like this design uses the HSMC to ADC bridge along with the TSM1400, I already have both of those. 

My only  question is if I purchase the ADS4229 and the DAC3482 evaluation boards will they be compatible with both the TSM1400 and the Altera Stratix V DSP development kit with the HSMC connectors? 

I would like to set up the boards with the TSM1400 and existing TI firmware to interface the boards and implement a simple repeater for starters.  After familiarizing myself with the way that setup works I will replace the TSM1400 board with the Atera Stratix V DSP development board and write my own version of the firmware for it.  From there I can build upon the project and implement some processing prior to sending the data back out of the DAC. 

Thanks,

Larry

Larry,

The ADS4229 is compatible with the TSW1400EVM. It plugs directly into the board. You will have to check the schematics of the bridge card and the Stratix V DSP to make sure the ADC outputs map to the FPGA. I do not have the Stratix V DSP board information. Do you plan on using two TSW1400EVM's for your first test? I do not think you can use one with both the DAC and ADC at the same time with existing TI firmware. 

Regards,

Jim

Jim,

My initial plans are to replicate the setup in this application outlined in the TI SLAA545 application report which shows both DAC and ADC used simultaneously.  I previously obtained the firmware for this, I found it in a reply to someone else's question on the forum.  Is that application report still valid?

Regarding the second part of my question the DAC4249EVM webpage mentions it is directly compatible with the Altera HSMC specification which is what the Altera Stratix V DSP kit uses for the output.  I was concerned that I have previously purchased a DAC34SH84EVM that also specifies compatibility with the HSMC specification on the webpage but it was not due to the reasons that Kang mentioned in his response.  I wanted to know if the DAC4249EVM has been updated with the new connector as well.

Thanks,

Larry

I mistakenly referred to the DAC4249EVM in the previous reply, I was referring to the DAC3482EVM and wanted to know if it had been updated to use the newer connector so that it will be compatible with the Altera HSMC specification?

And also if I can still purchase the DAC3482EVM along with the ADS4249 and implement the setup in the SLAA545 Application Report with firmware provided by TI?

Thanks,

Larry

Kang

Great, I ordered the boards today.  Thanks for the detailed information on the mechanical fit and the picture.  I have the HSMC to ADC bridge and the Samtec HSMC cables but haven't been able to plug them into the Stratix V boards yet.  It was very helpful to see the picture with the exact setup I am putting together.

Thanks very much for all your help,

Hi Kang,

I've made some progress on this project and have been able to implement the repeater design using the TSW1400EVM along with the ADS4249EVM and the DAC3482EVM.

No I'm attempting to set things up as shown in the picture above that you sent. I have ran into a problem though, it looks like the HSMC B port which the ADS4249 and the ADC bridge are plugged into the photo is not the HSMC LVDS standard but rather the HSMC QDS standard which supports external memory devices or single ended CMOS interfaces. The HSMC A port that the DAC 3482 is plugged into through the cable above is the standard HSMC LVDS port.

Now I'm looking for a way to connect both the ADS4249 and the DAC3482 evaluation boards to the Stratix V development kit to implement the repeater design and a simple radar application. One option might be to run the ADS4249 in CMOS mode and connect it to the Stratix V development boards port B. An issue I see with this is that the ADC bridge is designed for LVDS signals with the clock and data lines closes routed in pairs. Do you think given that routing I would have issues connecting the board in CMOS mode and running at 250MHz as in the repeater design?

Another option might be to try and come up with a setup to connect both boards to the HSMC A port which is LVDS. This might work since the ADS4249 only connects to the receivers on the even numbered side of the connector while the DAC3482 only connects to the transmitters on the odd numbered side of the connector. Do you know if it would be possible to order a cable from Samtec that splits those signals out into to two connectors? Looking at the extension cable it looks like the odd and even signals uses separate cables between the connectors?

Any thoughts you could give me on other methods to connect both the ADS4249 and the DAC3482 boards to the Stratix V development board would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Larry

An update on this I have contacted Samtec and they can make a cable breaking out the Altera HSMC to separate receive (even pins) and transmit (odd pins) HSMC daughter board connectors to attach to separate daughter boards using just the one HSMC LVDS port on the Stratix V DSP development board.

I have that option if I need it but for now I am planning on running CMOS over the ADC bridge replacing the 0 ohm jumpers in the LVDS path on the ADS4249 with 22 ohm resistor packs. The bridge will connect to the HSMC B port which can be CMOS or the QDS interface. I may have to run at a lower clock rate in this configuration but at least it will allow me to check a few things out. I'll connect the DAC3482EVM using the extension cable to the HSMC A port.

If there is something obvious that I'm not considering please let me know but I think this will work.

I started a new post about the DAC3482EVM compatibility with the Altera DSP development board because I wasn't sure if anyone would see this post since it has already been flagged as answered. I ordered a new DAC3482EVM per the first response in this thread but it was delivered with the old connector which shorts the Altera HSMC power pins on every third pin. I would like to see about exchanging this board for one with the new connector that is compatible as soon as possible.

Thanks,
Larry

Hi Kang,

I did have a few correspondences with Eben on the DAC3482EVM we have that is incompatible with the Altera DSP board, at the time all he had in stock was the DAC3484EVM in the newer version. 

This was not a good match for me as I was using the board in the repeater example described in the TI app note slaa545.pdf as well as with my Altera DSP development kit.  My near term solution was to take a Samtec HSMC extension cable and cut every third wire at the point they are soldered to the connector.  With this cable I can now plug the DAC3482EVM into my Altera DSP development kit. 

I'm still interested in getting the DAC3482EVM with the newer connector when they become available so that I don't have to use the Samtec cable.

Thanks for your help,

Larry

Hi Larry,

Our board shop expects to deliver the modified DAC3482 EVM today. I will private message you to get your shipping info. Thanks

-Kang