No the only parts needed to build REX are all free with no time limit. http://tandy.wiki/Building_a_REX#Flash_the_Firmware
Those notes are for the linux version. I haven't tried on Windows or Mac. But the bullet points are the same. You want the LabTools subset of ISE 14.7, and the web-something license. You have to go through the hoops to activate it, but it's free and doesn't expire on whatever machine you activated. That particular version is the last one as far as I could tell, which supports the cpld or the programmer or both. Maybe some other newer package also does, but I couldn't tell from what passes for documentation on the xilinx site. -- bkw On Sep 26, 2017 8:18 PM, "Jim Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > > > > Ouch those delivery times are long! I bought my programmer from DigiKey, > > [...] > > should I build anything else :) Wonder why Canada has such long > > delivery > > times. I have noticed that parts destined for the US clear US customs > > in China > > Yeah, that's sort of par for the course for ordering things > internationally to here. :( Stuff I've had shipped from China usually > doesn't have a useful tracking number on it - it only tells me it's left > China and then many weeks go by before I get it. Stuff that has been > trackable has only hit customs once it reaches Canada, which shows that the > lengthy delivery day is between China and Canada - it's only a couple of > days after hitting customs before I get it. > > > While you wait you can load the programming software and explore its > > features. > > I tried this, but I didn't activate the license yet because it said it was > a 30-day trial and I can't be certain I'll get my programmer within 30 > days. (I don't know if this means I'm going to be screwed if I try > building more REX modules in the future, or what a permanent license > costs... I was under the impression that the software to flash the Xilinx > chips was free but maybe I misread). Anyway, I ran the iMPACT tool and > without a license or a USB device attached I don't think I could do much - > I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to need to do in that software and > I suspect I'm going to be asking for more help when it comes time to upload > the .jed file. > > > Powered USBs hubs are good and if you want to sacrifice a USB cable you > > can get the +5V from any good quality USB charger. I use USB chargers > > I think that's what I'll do when the time comes to program the completed > modules. > > > > > > > > jim >
