Is there an inexpensive way to get started with GAL (Generic Array Logic) chips?

Question

GAL chips seem expensive to get started with, since programmers cost hundreds of dollars and even ISP cables aren't cheap.

Is there a cheaper way?

I've always heard it rendered as "Gate Array Logic". "Generic Array Logic" Is new to me. — Connor Wolf, Nov 05 '10 at 05:42
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_array_logic That's what they always called them in my EE classes. — samoz, Nov 05 '10 at 13:58

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 10 '11 at 23:41

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I'm not even sure GALs are still around today. CPLDs and FPGAs are preferred I believe, though I'm no expert. You can dig up development kits from digilentinc.com. There's a CPLD kit for $18 and the USB JTAG programming cable is $50. Those parts are Digilent C-Mod and JTAG-USB Cable. I believe the software (at least starter software) is free. Good luck!

edited Mar 10 '11 at 23:41

Jeff Atwood

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answered Nov 04 '10 at 23:00

AngryEE

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I just think it's a bit ridiculous that the programmers are more than twice as much as the kit itself. – samoz Nov 05 '10 at 13:57
Chips are cheap. Well, cables ought to be cheap, but there is a bit of intelligence in the cable. And it's proprietary. So yeah, it is a little ridiculous. – AngryEE Nov 05 '10 at 15:28
If chips are cheap, use a cpld to make a cpld programmer... posted as a joke, but that's actually what you will find inside a lot of them. Often the USB ones are an FT245 and the same CPLD previously used in the parallel version. – Chris Stratton Mar 12 '11 at 07:15

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 05 '10 at 00:12

Here is the schematic for a simple home-made PCB for experimenting with Xilinx XC9536 CPLDs. It has a connector for a Xilinx programming cable, a socket for a crystal oscillator and an LED, as well as a small prototyping area. The artwork file is available.

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 09 '10 at 19:06

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Standard GALs need funky voltages and waveforms for programming. Lattice do some 'ispGAL' products which added an IS interface, but unless you want to stick to DILs and/or 5V, low-end CPLDs are more capable and easier to program.

edited Nov 09 '10 at 19:06

Amos

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answered Nov 05 '10 at 10:33

mikeselectricstuff

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Daniel Grillo · Answer 4 · 2010-11-16T16:15:12.047

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A simple GAL programmer: http://elm-chan.org/works/pgal/report_e.html

And if you want to know how to program: http://www.rexfisher.com/Downloads/CUPL%20Tutorial.htm

edited Nov 16 '10 at 16:15

answered Nov 09 '10 at 15:31

Daniel Grillo

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2nd link defunct (but it's four years on so fair enough) – JustJeff Aug 03 '14 at 00:35

Is there an inexpensive way to get started with GAL (Generic Array Logic) chips?

4 Answers4