USBee SX Logic Analyzer - Recommended!
Q*bert
Posts: 59
I have been waiting for the PropScope to make its debut as I have no doubt it'll be a nice device.
But, I'm having a blast with this stuff and I'm trying to learn as quickly as I can.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so I decided to pick up an inexpensive logic analyzer to better understand what's going on.
I narrowed the choices down to the Saleae Logic (www.saleae.com/logic/) and the USBee SX (www.usbee.com/sx.html). Both are around $150, and I've read good things about both.
After playing with the software for the two in demo mode I finally decided to go with the USBee SX. It can also generate signals and it seems a bit better supported, though the software with the Saleae Logic is a little more intuitive.
I just received it a few days ago, and yesterday I spent some time looking at I2C communications between the Prop and the DS1302 clock on the Prop Pro Development Board.
Wow! It really works well and it is very helpful to be able to actually see the data going back and forth.
I'll probably still get a PropScope when it comes out if only for the analog features, but in the meantime I give the USBee SX two thumbs up!
Craig
But, I'm having a blast with this stuff and I'm trying to learn as quickly as I can.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so I decided to pick up an inexpensive logic analyzer to better understand what's going on.
I narrowed the choices down to the Saleae Logic (www.saleae.com/logic/) and the USBee SX (www.usbee.com/sx.html). Both are around $150, and I've read good things about both.
After playing with the software for the two in demo mode I finally decided to go with the USBee SX. It can also generate signals and it seems a bit better supported, though the software with the Saleae Logic is a little more intuitive.
I just received it a few days ago, and yesterday I spent some time looking at I2C communications between the Prop and the DS1302 clock on the Prop Pro Development Board.
Wow! It really works well and it is very helpful to be able to actually see the data going back and forth.
I'll probably still get a PropScope when it comes out if only for the analog features, but in the meantime I give the USBee SX two thumbs up!
Craig
Comments
What do you think of the test leads and clips supplied with the USB SX? Are they long enough? Good quality?
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Bad spellers of the world untie!
The leads are fine. The clips plug into the leads, so if you are only using a few channels you don't have to deal with the bulky unused leads/clips. The clips seem to be well made. The leads are about 10" long, so you could span 20" max if you had to.
I have attached an image showing it capturing one instance of communication with the DS1302 clock. The blue vertical line (X1) marks the beginning of the command byte from the Prop to the clock. The light blue line (X2) marks the end of the command byte. The command is $81 which tells the clock to return the "seconds" portion of the current time. The next eight pulses are the clocks response.
Very cool to a beginner!