iCE40HX-8K Breakout Board not uploading

[Dennis Kuit]

Hi,

I have apio installed. The environment works fine with ICE-stick. I use Verilog.

I initialise with: apio init --board icestick

I executed:  apio drivers --ftdi-enable 

I use:  apio upload (to transfer & load the built code)

So the toolchain works fine with the iCEstick over FTDI

My Question:

If I hook up an iCE40HX-8K Breakout Board, I can not upload, why?

I executed in the workdirectory apio init --board iCE40-HX8K (no problem)

Also, if I execute : apio system --lsftdi then I see the FTDI is live:
===

Number of FTDI devices found: 1
Checking device: 0
Manufacturer: FTDI, Description: Dual RS232-HS
====

Why do I get an Error: board iCE40-HX8K not connected ...

Do I have to specify somewhere that is must use FTDI?

[Obijuan]

Hi!

Lattice changed the signature of some of their boards, so they were no detected anymore in apio stable (0.8.1 or older).  This issue has been fixed in the development verions (apio 0.8.2)

Please install the development version and try again

You can find more information on how to install the development version on this link: https://github.com/FPGAwars/apio/wiki/Apio-development-version

Best regards,

Obijuan

[Dennis Kuit]

Well, I just got it working.

The "desc" description in the block "iCE40-HX8K"  in boards.json is erroneous.

It doesn't match what is offered as an interface for uploading.

Originally Apio says in the "desc"  a "Lattice cable bla bla bla" but this field should be "Dual RS232-HS"

So - for completeness - now the fragment/entry of concern in the boards.json file is modified to :

-------

  "iCE40-HX8K": {
    "name": "iCE40-HX8K Breakout Board",
    "fpga": "iCE40-HX8K-CT256",
    "programmer": {
      "type": "iceprog"
    },
    "usb": {
      "vid": "0403",
      "pid": "6010"
    },
    "ftdi": {
      "desc": "Dual RS232-HS"
    }
  },

------

And it works like a charm.

I hope this solution helps others, because it is very, very hard to find.

For Google some index-able hints to help others:

"Error: board iCE40-HX8K not connected"

"Problems instantiating on ice40 board"

"FTDI does not connect, board not recognized by Apio"

"Problems uploading  iCE40 in apio"

"error Breakout board"

"iCE40-HX8K-CT256 error uploading ftdi"

Thanks for your response any way. :)