> 
> 
> I would use a hardware device, such as a FPGA for the 80Mhz 
> work. Then 
> I'd use a cheap PIC
> to interface to the FPGA and buffer to an RS232 or USB/Serial Host.

Probably don't even need the PIC if you go with the FPGA.  UARTs and
relatively easily done in VHDL (or Verilog) and there are USB IP cores
available for some of the larger FPGAs.  Both paid and
copyleft/freeware.  Or write your own, if you have the time.

And if you feel you still need a microcontroller, Xilinx has the
PicoBlaze core (free and fun) plus a larger one (paid) but its name
escapes me and an ARM core.  Altera also has free and paid
microcontroller IP cores.  Lots of third party
microcontroller/microprocessor cores too.

Rob

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