Logic Analyzer Recommendations?

I can't answer the other questions, but I use a couple of 54622Ds at work. *Great* devices for standalone diagnostics but the PC integration is not fabulous. Unfortunately there are vendor wars of some kind going on, which make it unlikely you'll find a fully "open source compatible" interface format.

You hit the nail on the head. Grab a 16500B (much cheaper than C) with network interface and a 16550(100mhz state/500mhz timing) card and you should be up and running for less than $500. If you need state (instead of timing) then you might have to go up to a 16700. You can control them via telnet, NFS, or FTP so it shouldn't be a problem to get the data and then work with it. Docs are very good and I have most of them in PDF if you want to take a look before buying. Scope modules are available also so you have one chassis that does everything.

Feel free to email me with any questions.

Mike

Have you considered any of the PC based LA's on the market (e.g. those at Link Instruments

Cheers,

-- Alf Katz snipped-for-privacy@remove.the.obvious.ieee.org

That's what I'm afraid of. I don't understand how it could hurt a vendor to provide a description of the data format.

Where's a good place to pick one up? I've seen them on ebay, but I've been burned buying used test equipment in the past. I've looked at companies selling used equipment, but their prices are quite a bit higher.

Is ethernet standard on the 16500B or does it require an expansion card?

I looked at Agilent's website, and this looks like it will do everything I need. Thanks.

I would consider them, but they only work with Windows as far as I can tell. It's not that I'm some anti-MS bigot, but I do all my work in Linux, and I don't want to have another computer just to run some piece of test equipment.

Ebay is pretty good, I've bought several and had very good luck with them. Lan is not standard, but the expansion cards are pretty rare so plan on buying a mainframe with lan. I actually have a 16500B with lan and other goodies for sale, contact me via email if you are interested (legodude {at} hammycorp {dot} com).

Mike

Just to clarify here. Many 16500Bs come with either the ethernet/video or ethernet/high speed modules so you shouldn't have trouble when buying one in the first place. Just don't plan on buying one without the lan module then adding it later.

Mike

Search for test equipment companies that sell used. Might cost more than Ebay (actually they may also be on Ebay) but they probably will supply a limited warranty or dead-on-arrival warranty at the minimum.

although I'm not the OP, I have considered PC based solutions, i.e. DigiView

Oliver

I haven't used the DigiView but, on the subject of PC-based systems, I do own one of the Link Instruments LA-4xxx series models. Usually use it, via the USB option, with an older notebook PC on the workbench. Works as advertised; no complaints. They are responsive to customers; emails get answered and a couple of suggestions/recommendations I made a while back were incorporated into releases pretty quickly.

I'd buy it again.

Look like reasonable value if you don't need too many channels, or too much speed. I'd consider one, but read through the manuals to find out what "up to" means, and what width/speed/depth tradeoffs there are. Like Rich, I've only experienced the LA-XXXX series from Link.

Cheers,

-- Alf Katz snipped-for-privacy@remove.the.obvious.ieee.org

Looks interesting, but it doesn't appear to have an external sample clock input. That's a very useful feature if you want to look at a synchronous bus.

-a

Looks interesting, but it doesn't appear to have an external sample clock input. That's a very useful feature if you want to look at a synchronous bus.

-a