How am I supposed to get lattice diamond?

[dlow]

Trying eevblog, because I don't know where else to turn. Maybe someone here can help.

Lattice's site seems completely fubar in arcane ways to me. I can't download diamond, I can't request a license, and the support ticket system doesn't appear to work (amongst other things). I've tried calling multiple lattice offices, emailed several addresses (webmaster@, lic_admin@ & helpdeskstaff@), and left voicemail messages, all with no response. One person actually said that it was "impossible for the website to be broken" and then laughed at me. Great customer service guys! Meanwhile, I have an FPGA sitting on my desk that I literally can't do a thing with. Unfortunately, I've had it for several months, so returning it isn't an option.

Based on the forum discussion here, I was at least able to deduce the correct url to download a current copy of diamond, so I now have version 3.8 of the software installed. However, I have no means to get a license and I assume the FPGA is useless without one.

When I click the link to request a license, free or otherwise, here, this is what I get: http://imgur.com/a/xcGsQ I get similar results for a lot of the other links like downloading software or filing a support request. Not a lot to go on there...


I've been getting this issue for well over a week now. I'm currently logged in and I don't have any emails from lattice that provide any context as to what's going on.

Anyone able to help here? Are there other options I can use other than diamond (my device is a machxo2)?

EDIT: Just to clarify, it's the license request links that aren't working. For example, the "request a Free License" link. Also, I am registered with the site and logged in (as you can see in the screenshot posted above).

[suicidaleggroll]

When I click the link to request a license, free or otherwise, here, this is what I get: http://imgur.com/a/xcGsQ I get similar results for a lot of the other links like downloading software or filing a support request. Not a lot to go on there...

I get a login page.  I don't have a Lattice account so I can't go past that, do you at least get there?
Have you tried using a different machine, OS, and/or browser to access their site?

[dlow]

I get a login page.  I don't have a Lattice account so I can't go past that, do you at least get there?
Have you tried using a different machine, OS, and/or browser to access their site?

Thanks for checking.

Yeah, I created an account a while ago and I'm logged in. Also tried with Microsoft Edge in addition to Chrome. Still no dice.

[PA0PBZ]

When I click the link to request a license, free or otherwise, here, this is what I get: http://imgur.com/a/xcGsQ I get similar results for a lot of the other links like downloading software or filing a support request. Not a lot to go on there...

When I click the here link this is what I get, so there must be something going wrong at your end:

[dlow]

When I click the here link this is what I get, so there must be something going wrong at your end:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/how-am-i-supposed-to-get-lattice-diamond/?action=dlattach;attach=290569;image

Yeah, that page works. It's the request links that are broken for me. You have to be signed in and click the "request a Free License" or the "Diamond Subscription License" Links.

[Scrts]

Did you try to access the website using plain simple Internet Explorer?

I have some difficulties accessing some websites at work - because my employer use hardware firewalls that filters some words or links... E.g. if there's word "ebay" in subject of the thread here - it's blocked.

[dlow]

Did you try to access the website using plain simple Internet Explorer?

I have some difficulties accessing some websites at work - because my employer use hardware firewalls that filters some words or links... E.g. if there's word "ebay" in subject of the thread here - it's blocked.

So far I have tried: Windows 10 Chrome, Windows 10 Edge, Windows 10 explorer, Windows 10 firefox, OSX Chrome, OSX Safari, OSX firefox and Android Chrome. No dice with any.

Here's a gif of what happens: http://imgur.com/a/9fkU7

[Dubbie]

I had this exact problem.

Turns out that after bugging them for a bit, I got the following email:

"We have received your email regarding your request to download software from our website.
In order to process it, we conduct reviews of the individual and company before granting access.
 
In this regard, can you please give us a background about the business of your company and explicate how our development board, license and software will be used for?"

I replied with the appropriate info and then everything magically started working and not giving strange errors.

[dlow]

I had this exact problem.

Turns out that after bugging them for a bit, I got the following email:

"We have received your email regarding your request to download software from our website.
In order to process it, we conduct reviews of the individual and company before granting access.
 
In this regard, can you please give us a background about the business of your company and explicate how our development board, license and software will be used for?"

I replied with the appropriate info and then everything magically started working and not giving strange errors.

I was afraid of that. So you can buy the chips, but they won't give you a way to program them unless they deem you worthy of their good graces? That's bonkers.

[julian1]

Consider buying a Lattice ICE40 variant. On Debian, a complete toolkit - yosys Verilog and icestorm is just an apt-get install away. It's sufficiently mature to synthesize soft-core cpus and keeps you focused on writing Verilog not learning the toolchain.

The simplest ICE40 kit is a $25 Icestick  https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lattice+icestick&source=lnms&tbm=isch

If it sounds extreme to be choosing hardware just to get access to a decent software toolchain - well that's exactly what I did. I tossed a couple of small xilinx dev boards in order to avoid bloated ISE and vivado.

[Dubbie]

Tell me about it.

At the moment I am trying to buy one of their Silicon Image IC's. You'd think I was trying to buy an ICBM for all the trouble it is.

R

[dlow]

:-(

Well, anyone know of any email addresses or phone numbers I can try? If I could just get in touch with someone... I'd prefer not to buy more hardware and I'm pretty happy with what I have, I just want to develop on it.

[Dubbie]

:-(

Well, anyone know of any email addresses or phone numbers I can try? If I could just get in touch with someone... I'd prefer not to buy more hardware and I'm pretty happy with what I have, I just want to develop on it.

I have PMed you the details of who I dealt with.


Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

[mikeselectricstuff]

This sort of situation can sometimes be resolved following a well-crafted tweet. Obviously depends how important the company thinks social media is but it's worked for  me on some occasions  with other companies.

[StuUK]

This sort of situation can sometimes be resolved following a well-crafted tweet. Obviously depends how important the company thinks social media is but it's worked for  me on some occasions  with other companies.

Yep, I agree... works wonders....

[ale500]

This happened to me too. Sometimes, specially on weekends, their site seems to be partially down. Once, not long ago, their licensing server had an expired license and the licenses you were getting were thus incomplete. I'd try later on, say in a couple of days. I waited a week for the new license!, but it is just for hobby uses.

[dlow]

Thank you all for the help!

I have PMed you the details of who I dealt with.
Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

Thanks! I sent him an email. With any luck, hopefully I'll get a response.

This sort of situation can sometimes be resolved following a well-crafted tweet. Obviously depends how important the company thinks social media is but it's worked for  me on some occasions  with other companies.

Thanks Mike (love your channel btw)! Yeah, I was hoping not to have to get that far into it, but you're right that I should try social media next if I don't make progress in the next few days.

This happened to me too. Sometimes, specially on weekends, their site seems to be partially down. Once, not long ago, their licensing server had an expired license and the licenses you were getting were thus incomplete. I'd try later on, say in a couple of days. I waited a week for the new license!, but it is just for hobby uses.

Man, that's crazy. It's been about two weeks for me since I first emailed them. Something is definitely up. I think either my account isn't activated or the website has issues. It's not just the license request that's not working. The download links, the support form, some document links and several other things are also giving this response when I click them.

[lujji]

I had the same problem when I first got my XO2 devboard. I kept seeing 'page not found error', description said that it takes 2 days to activate the account - same story after two days. Since then I had to register a dozen of fake accounts so here are some tips:
1. When registering you have to specify company name where you can write something like 'personal use' or 'unaffiliated'.  Always use a fake or real company name - this way the accounts I created were activated immediately.
2. Don't register your real MAC address - instead, generate a random one and spoof it on all the machines where you use Diamond.

[dlow]

I had the same problem when I first got my XO2 devboard. I kept seeing 'page not found error', description said that it takes 2 days to activate the account - same story after two days. Since then I had to register a dozen of fake accounts so here are some tips:
1. When registering you have to specify company name where you can write something like 'personal use' or 'unaffiliated'.  Always use a fake or real company name - this way the accounts I created were activated immediately.
2. Don't register your real MAC address - instead, generate a random one and spoof it on all the machines where you use Diamond.

Hah! I had the same theory. I assume there's someone in the background approving these things and they simply don't care if it's some random joe blow filling these out. I'm going to take another stab at it using your advice. Thanks!

[MagicSmoker]

This is only of tangential help to the OP, but I registered on Lattice yesterday using my actual business info and just d/l'ed Icecube2 a few minutes ago, installed it, and requested and received a license file. It does say on the license request web page that javascript is required for it to work.

[dlow]

This is only of tangential help to the OP, but I registered on Lattice yesterday using my actual business info and just d/l'ed Icecube2 a few minutes ago, installed it, and requested and received a license file. It does say on the license request web page that javascript is required for it to work.

What tha? I wonder if it's b/c I'm using a gmail email address.

[ebclr]

I get the Diamond and license is less than 10 minutes, simply register and everything will work just fine.

Without registration no software, simple as that

[dlow]

I get the Diamond and license is less than 10 minutes, simply register and everything will work just fine.

Without registration no software, simple as that

Check above. I provided a gif that shows what's happening. I have an account and I'm logged in.

[mikeselectricstuff]

On the few occasions I've done it, license has come back pretty much straight away, including out of business hours. 
It may be that there is some manual approval process for a new account perhaps ?

[ebclr]

Be patient, and check spam inbox