digility

I want to get a USB hub because my laptop doesn't have enough USB ports. I'll connect a keyboard, mouse, a USB cable for UART communication, and another cable for programming the FPGA. So let's say I connect 4 USB cables. What concerns me is that ultimately these 4 USB inputs are connected to the same USB port at the final. In this case, would it be possible to both program the FPGA and communicate via UART through the same USB port? and at the same i will be using keyobard, mouse I hope I've explained it clearly. As far as I've researched on the internet, a USB hub should be of high quality, meaning it should be able to provide high power (some USB hubs can be powered by an adapter). However, the question I'm asking is a bit more specific. Because UART is a serial communication protocol. I don't know the internal structure of USB, but I don't think we can perform parallel processing. Please correct me if I'm wrong. @asmi @zygot

Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Synthesis (UG901) Here is the information: 'When FSM_ENCODING is set to "auto", the Vivado synthesis attempts to select the best-suited encoding method for a given FSM.' So, does Vivado automatically encode using the most performant FSM method when we design a finite state machine? It encoded the state machine I wrote within a single flip-flop as a Sequential State. How is this possible?

Does Xilinx recommend a specific type of Finite State Machine (FSM)? Is it more performant to write it as one process, or with next state logic? I've searched online, but mostly found answers from individual users.

What is the highest resolution we can achieve by connecting Basys 3's VGA port to a VGA monitor? For example, can we get 720p output? Can we display a black and white image on the screen? i mean my image isn't containing RGB information. But including gray values between 0 and 255. its 8 bit image.

Firstly, I apologize for the delayed response. In the provided link, it mentions that the BasyS3's UART speed can go up to 12Mbaud without using any external module: Even if it's as low as 1Mbaud, it should be more than sufficient for my needs as I'll be processing a single image. My image is 512x640 16 bit and no color information(no rgb), roughly 5 million bits. With a 1Mbaud UART, I can transfer the image into the FPGA's memory in about 5 seconds. I consulted with my professor, and he confirmed that UART would work for this project. What are your thoughts? My question iş how to automatically send all pixel values of the image to the FPGA via the terminal. Manually entering each value is not feasible. I've seen commands for this in Matlab and Python. I'm sure you've used Matlab or Python. Do you have knowledge about this? I'm considering storing 512x640 pixels in the FPGA's memory. @zygot @asmi

Hello, I have an image processing project. I've already implemented this project in software, where I upload an image, apply filters, perform histogram equalization, and enhance the image. Now, I need to process the image using an FPGA. What is the most ideal way to achieve this? I have a Basys3 board, and should I use UART communication protocol to obtain the pixel intensity values of the image? If necessary, I can also use boards like Arty A7-100T in the laboratory. What I essentially want to learn is how to transfer an image into an FPGA? @asmi @zygot

Hello again, and thank you to the three friends @asmi @zygot @artvvb who shared their thoughts on the subject. I am also delighted to see over 20 responses to the topic. I hope that I can truly embark on a successful and stable journey in the field of FPGA or DSP. After conducting extensive research for a while, I decided to purchase the Basys3, and I have placed an order. I opted for a brand-new product, not a second-hand one. So, why did I choose Basys3? Well, the primary reason is that it is reasonably priced and comes equipped with "trainer peripherals" that I believe will be beneficial during the learning process. Additionally, it has 4 PMOD inputs, a VGA output, and a USB port, providing me with the flexibility to undertake various general-purpose projects more comfortably. I believe the Basys3 board will serve me well for a long time. If needed, after I improve my skills, I'm planning to sell it and get a new FPGA board that suits my needs. I also took note of your opinions on Python and Matlab. I truly think both Python and Matlab will be extremely helpful for DSP-related tasks. I already had a rough idea of what Matlab is, but now I'm considering actively using it. That's all, thanks.

I didn't fully understand what you said here. Can you clarify? Why are you suggesting me to learn Python? I also didn't grasp the examples with numpy and matplotlib. Did you recommend them for processing digital signals? Currently, I only know some C language. About Cmod, I'm not thinking to buy it. I would buy Basys3 instead of it. There's no huge price difference anyway.

Thank you for your response. I'm not sure if you've read the whole conversation from the beginning, but I would like to know your general opinion on the subject. The more diverse opinions, the better for me. I am someone interested in FPGAs and I want to do digital signal processing with FPGAs. My budget is limited as well. In this case, do you think I should improve myself without buying any board or should I buy an affordable one like Basys3 and upgrade it later?

I'm so sad to hear this. I am a beginner who wants to get started. Even if my answers to your questions may seem silly, please don't stop supporting me. If I need to give a general answer to why I persistently want to buy an FPGA board, it's because I feel compelled to do so. In a few months, when schools reopen, I will choose FPGA courses as electives. Our instructor will ask us to work on a project using an FPGA. While there are FPGA boards available in the laboratory, I want to have one at home for more comfortable practice. But I need the board's itself because I will connect an PCB (for example PMOD) to board.There are multiple FPGA courses offered, and the course content isn't limited to just digital signal processing with FPGAs. Some courses focus on explaining how FPGAs work. I will also take those courses because I have a genuine interest in FPGAs beyond just digital signal processing. The reason I want to buy an FPGA isn't solely for processing digital signals; it's also because I have a passion for FPGAs themselves. It's a different aspect that intrigues me. I didn't say that the most crucial thing for processing signals with FPGAs is the number of DSP slices on the FPGA. However, I considered it as a factor, and having more DSP slices could be beneficial. At the beginning of our conversation, I mentioned expensive boards like Nexys A7, which I was initially considering buying. However, following your advice, I decided to opt for a more affordable board. There is still so much I need to learn about FPGAs initially, and I believe that some cheap board will be sufficient for a long time. If needed, I plan to purchase PMODs to extend its capabilities. I didn't fully understand what you meant here. But as far as I can tell, according to your view, you want me to work on projects for free before buying a board and improve my skills in this field. You are suggesting that it would be more logical to purchase an FPGA board that fits my needs after reaching a certain level. You believe that buying a cheap board and supporting it with PMODs would be more costly and impractical. Is that correct? Yes, you are right. However, due to the reasons I explained in the second paragraph, I am compelled to buy a board. PMODs are much more cost-effective compared to the FPGA boards themselves and can be acquired gradually over time. I don't think it will be so difficult to cover these costs. What is more, I am thinking of making some simple copies of PMODs myself by purchasing the necessary components. For example, I can create something similar to a PMOD DAC by using a more affordable DAC integrated circuit. To do this, I will use spirit of salt and hydrogen peroxide. When the time comes, I might consider selling my current board and getting a new one.

Yes, a friend of mine warned me about this. For instance, we want to buy Basys3 as second-hand. I want to ensure that the board is functional and free from any permanent damages. Is there a way to find this out? I'm currently leaning towards Basys3 because the student price is more affordable. The Arty S7-50 exceeds my budget a bit. Thank you for the link to PMOD. Is the reason for your suggestion of Arty S7-50 due to the availability of example projects with this PMOD? Would I face difficulties in finding resources while working with Basys3? I'm talking about using PMOD stuff with Basys3 not Basys3 itself. @JColvinI would also like to hear your opinions on this topic.

I hope too. I believe that what matters is to make a start and carry on. To continue without giving up, with confidence. Unfortunately, the "Nexys Video" FPGA exceeds my budget as well. I also liked the Zybo Z7-20, but it is also beyond my budget. I'm primarily considering getting an Arty or Basys 3. However, the problem is that I want to buy them second-hand, and I haven't been able to find a reasonably priced Arty/Basys 3 board. I found a Pynq Z1 at a reasonable price. What are your thoughts on this board? It has the same FPGA as the Zybo Z7-20. The number of PMODs is limited, but it has HDMI input/output and audio output ports. My biggest concern about the Pynq Z1 is that I might have difficulty finding resources. I'm not sure, but this worries me. I don't think I'll have much use for the built-in processor and Python-related features. I don't understand the difference between the part I enclosed in red and the PMOD inputs. It is referred to as the 'Arduino/chipKIT Shield Connector,' but can't we do the same things here as we do with PMODs using GPIO pins? Can't we use it with any microcontroller, or does it have to be an Arduino specifically? Are there any difference in speed between the PMOD input and the inputs enclosed in the red box?

Thank you to both of you as well. I respect the opinions of both of you. So @asmi I would also like to hear your opinion on this matter. I currently don't have a clear roadmap. However, I'm interested in working with FPGAs for digital signal processing and communication projects. I understand that I will probably need to grasp the working principles of FPGAs before diving into more complex projects. I need to start with some basic projects. My budget is limited, so as a first FPGA board, what do you recommend? Do you have any specific suggestions? It doesn't have to be Digilent. I'm open to different recommendations.

I'm not starting completely from scratch. I am a university student and I have knowledge in electronics and DSP. The same goes for communication systems. However, my knowledge is currently limited to what I have learned in school. I am constantly working on improving my knowledge in both electronics and other areas. But yes, I have very little knowledge when it comes to FPGAs. Okay, I will listen to you. The most expensive product I will buy is the Basys3. But can I really learn something without a board? I don't think the learning process will take that long. After learning digital design and knowing the Verilog language, can't we start doing small projects? For example, I want to connect a temperature sensor and a light sensor. I don't think it's possible to simulate these without a board. Of course, different projects can be done with simulations. The other question is, would it really be advantageous for me to purchase Digilent's product? I think using Vivado would be better. Besides, I can also support my projects with PMODs. There are also much more affordable products from different companies. For example, Xyloni from Efinix is really cheap FPGA board.

@zygotthank so you much for your answer. Maybe you'll be upset with me for saying this, but actually, I don't have a specific roadmap in mind. First and foremost, I want to understand how a FPGA works. Then, I would like to work on DSP and communication projects. However, as I mentioned, I don't have a specific roadmap in mind. It's important for you to suggest an FPGA because it's highly likely that I won't have the opportunity to upgrade to a higher model for a long time. Currently, the FPGAs within my budget are Pynq Z1, Zybo Z7-10, and Nexys A7-100T. I cannot afford more expensive FPGAs. I know that each of them has its own advantages. All of these boards will most likely suffice for a long time. However, I still don't want to make the wrong decision. For example, I'm considering purchasing the Pynq Z1 board, but it has a very limited number of PMOD connectors, and I don't want it to cause problems for me in the future. The Zybo Z7-10 has HDMI and microphone inputs/outputs that I think will be useful for my needs. Additionally, it has a considerably larger number of PMOD connectors, but the FPGA on this board is smaller compared to the others. Unfortunately, my budget doesn't allow me to go for the Zybo Z7-20 model. On the other hand, the Nexys 7 A7-100T has a sufficient number of PMOD connectors, but it doesn't have all the inputs and outputs that the Zybo Z7-10 has. There is a solution to all these problems, of course. For example, if our board doesn't have a VGA output, we can solve it by connecting a PMOD, but that would be both expensive and inconvenient.