Logic Analyzer Recommendations?

[Jay Monkman]

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.

 

[Lewin Edwards]

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)

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.

 

[Michael Dombrowski]

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.)

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

 

[Unbeliever]

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.

Have you considered any of the PC based LA's on the market (e.g. those at
Link Instruments www.linkins4.com)?
I've successfully used these before in a financially constrained
environment.

Cheers,

 

[Jay Monkman]

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.

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.

 

[Jay Monkman]

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

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?

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

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

 

[Jay Monkman]

Have you considered any of the PC based LA's on the market (e.g. those at
Link Instruments www.linkins4.com)?
I've successfully used these before in a financially constrained
environment.

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.

 

[Michael Dombrowski]

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?

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

 

[Michael Dombrowski]

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

 

[Not Really Me]

In <[email protected]> Michael Dombrowski


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.

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.

 

[Oliver Betz]

[...]

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

although I'm not the OP, I have considered PC based solutions, i.e.
DigiView (http://www.tech-tools.com/). Any comments on this?

Oliver

 

[Rich Webb]

[...]

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

although I'm not the OP, I have considered PC based solutions, i.e.
DigiView (http://www.tech-tools.com/). Any comments on this?

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.

 

[Unbeliever]

although I'm not the OP, I have considered PC based solutions, i.e.
DigiView (http://www.tech-tools.com/). Any comments on this?

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,

 

[Andy Peters]

although I'm not the OP, I have considered PC based solutions, i.e.
DigiView (http://www.tech-tools.com/). Any comments on this?

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

 

[Andy Peters]

although I'm not the OP, I have considered PC based solutions, i.e.
DigiView (http://www.tech-tools.com/). Any comments on this?

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