I'm need to get a logic analyzer, and I'm looking for recommendations. Here are the criteria:
I want to keep the cost below $7500.
I don't forsee the need to look at buses faster than 200 MHz, and most of the signals I want to see are much less than that ( < 50 MHz).
I want to be able to capture and save the data to a PC. It needs to be in a format I can decode under Linux - so proprietary Windows-only software is no good. As long as I can decode the file format, it will be fine.
I'd like to have an ethernet interface.
I don't need more than 60 or so channels. I could get by with much less.
I've looked at the HP/Agilent 16500 and 16700 analyzers, and they might work. I'm concerned about decoding the capture files. A few years ago I remember trying to find info about them, but couldn't. (I didn't try very hard, though.)
I've also considered those combination Oscilloscope/Logic Analyzers from Agilent (54645d, 54622d, etc). They appeal to me since they have a scope built in, but it doesn't look like they have a good way to dump the data to a PC (only RS-232 or GPIB)
Any recommendations?
What other logic analyzers should I look at?
Are there any problems with the 16500/16700 series analyzers I should be wary of?
Thanks.