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+[[PageOutline]]
+
+# dev-bridge board
+In the process of developing the [wiki:AlphaBoardComponents] design, the project has made what is known as the "dev-bridge board".
+
+This is a board, 100x70 mm, with about 2/3 of the components intended to be on the Alpha design. What is missing is basically the FPGA and it's supporting circuits.
+
+To date, the dev-bridge board has been used to implement and validate the FMC based interface that will be used to connect the ARM and the FPGA on the Alpha.
+
+Schematics and layouts are at [user/ft/stm32-dev-bridge/hardware/rev01](https://wiki.cryptech.is/browser/user/ft/stm32-dev-bridge/hardware/rev01).
+
+High resolution pictures of rev01 of the dev-bridge board are attached at the bottom of this page, but the following should be more than sufficient to read the silkscreens.
+
+[[Image(dev-bridge_rev01_front_medium.jpg​)]]
+
+[[Image(dev-bridge_rev01_back_medium.jpg​)]]
+
+Here is the board mounted on the Novena, attached to the programmer:
+
+[[Image(IMG_9983s.jpg)]]
+
+Note that it's rather bigger than the Netgear enclosure I use to transport the Novena. (Not only does it protect the board, but I have this superstition that TSA is more comfortable with a home gateway than a bare motherboard.)
+
+Also note that the dev-bridge board is connected to the Novena by the
+high-speed expansion connector, which forms a bit of a pivot point.
+As Pavel says, "High speed and mechanical reliability are not very good
+friends usually."
+
+For that reason, I highly recommend stabilizing the board by bolting it to
+the Novena with a 5mm spacer. There are two through-holes that line up
+with mounting holes on the Novena, one at the corner and one next to the
+wifi connector. I've found that even one bolt is enough to stabilize the
+board.
+
+Finally note that the board traces come rather close to the through-holes, so
+you want to avoid scraping them with the bolt head or the nut. I happen to
+be using a countersink-head bolt, which is beveled toward the shaft, but
+it's probably even better to use a nylon washer.
+
+All the software, as well as flashing instructions, are at [wiki:GitRepositories/sw/stm32].