XILINX Spartan 3E 1600: Problem with serial port and hyperterminal

[lefti]

I have a project and I can't send messages to hyperterminal using the serial port. For example I write a very simple program who prints a message using SDK 13.2 and message is not appeared the first time I program FPGA. I have to program FPGA again and again and then the message appears (it sometimes appears after 20 programmings). The "DONE" LED lights up but hyperterminal shows nothing. When I used Spartan 3E starter kit, I didn't have this problem. Could you help me please? Thanks.

 

[barry]

We're missing some information. The spartan does not have a serial port, you must have some other hardware you're not telling us about. Is the FPGA supposed to be sending a message to hyperterminal? Did you design the serial interface in the FPGA? Is your baudrate right? Did you simulate your design?

 

[lefti]

I mean the DCE port and I use a 9-pin serial cable. The message maybe printed to hyperterminal but after 5 or 20 tries. Braud rate is right.

 

[joelby]

Have you looked at the signal with an oscilloscope or logic analyser to confirm that it really is right?

 

[barry]

You are still not telling us anything. Did you simulate it? Did you look at your signals with a scope (as joelby suggests)? Is your handshaking configured properly? Are your voltage levels correct? What is your "DCE port"? The Spartan does not have a "DCE port", you must have some other hardware you're not telling us about.

 

[mrflibble]

He probably means the serial port on the Spartan 3E starter kit he's using. Other than that, yeah, all the above by joelby + barry. ;-)

And in case it didn't register ... DID YOU SIMULATE IT? @_@

Oh yeah, and check your signals with the ole scope for bonus points. Not as if I am repeating things here. But hey, stochastically this repetition of the obvious is needed so there you go.