Logic Analyzer Suggestions

[Fred.Amoson]

I am needing to get a logic analyzer for some of my projects. I've been looking around and these are my top picks:

Intronix LA1034 LogicPort - $389.00 - https://www.pctestinstruments.com/
-34 Channels
-500 MHz

Digiview Logic Analyzer - $499.00 - https://www.tech-tools.com/dv_main.htm
-18 Channel
-100 MHz

ANT8 - $224.00 - https://www.rockylogic.com/products/ant8.html
-8 Channels
-500 MHz

The Intronix says it has built-in interpreters for I2C, SPI and RS232 protocols. Could someone explain a little better what that does? I am familiar with all of the protocols, I just don't know what they mean about the built-in interpreters.

Those are my current top choices and I am leaning towards the Intronix. If you have any opinions over any of these, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[3v0]

A raw logic analyzer produces timing or state info.

With software they can provide a higher level view. In the case of RS232 instead of seeing the start, data, parity, and stop bits you would see the actual data transmitted as numbers and/or ascii.

When probing a micro you can use software to see traces processed by an inverse assembler. Given the right language package you can even see high level language statements included in the trace.

I have no experience with these affordable analyzers. They may include the tools so that you can even write code to post process you own traces. I feel this roll-your-own feature is more important then the ability to post process any given protocol.

EDIT: Having written the above it came to me that this may be way too much to ask of sub $1000 units.

Compare the speed in state and timing mode. Take a careful look at the triggering. It can make the diff between capturing what you need to see and not.

 

[bloody-orc]

I have ANT8. Very good little bugger.
If you need to look at 3v3 systems too, then ANT16 is a better choice as ANT8 doesn't see very well below +4V. But it does to 40V

 

[Fred.Amoson]

Thanks for the info/suggestions.

I will be doing a lot of 3v stuff, I should have mentioned earlier.