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New Logic Analyzer — Parallax Forums

New Logic Analyzer

PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
edited 2011-05-11 10:02 in General Discussion
I thought it might have been a Super Secret product Parallax was working on, but no:

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Components/Hardware/tabid/156/ProductID/743/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

A nice product, but could something like this be incorporated into the PropScope with a new expansion board? Hanno could work his magic on the firmware, and the hardware would be a minimal cost.

I like the I2C, SPI and serial decoding. Something we have been asking for on the PropScope. After all, it was available on the Basic Stamp awhile ago.:

http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?ProductID=175

Comments

  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-04-05 11:59
    For $30 one can do some of that stuff (only three channels, though) with the Microchip PICkit 2 programmer/debugger. The software for it includes the logic analyser.
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2011-04-05 12:01
    Very interesting. It's the Logic from Saleae and appears to cover the hole (and then some) left by the discontinued BSLA.

    It uses the same basic chip as the BSLA and the USBee SX (at $20+ more than the Logic).

    Either one of the three is extreeeeeeemly useful during debug.


    Glad to see the addition,

    DJ
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-04-05 12:04
    'Looks like a nice, well-made unit for the money, so long as its 24 Msps sample rate fits the user's test needs. (No one is likely to need more than its 10-billion-sample memory, though. That's nearly seven minutes worth at the maximum rate!) Someone needs to remind Salae that Parallax is a distributor, though:

    -Phil
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-04-05 12:14
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    Someone needs to remind Salae that Parallax is a distributor, though:

    -Phil

    Noticed that too Phil. Since Parallax just posted sale today, don't know when Salae updates their site.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-04-05 13:49
    I have one of these logic analyzers. I like it but it's the first and only logic analyzer I've used so I don't know how it compares with others.

    It's very nice to be able to make sure pins are doing what you think they are.

    One thing I've noticed is this analyzer doesn't like cheap USB cables when capturing at high data rates.
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2011-04-05 14:15
    Hi Duane - I use the USBee SX and have run into similar capture speed limitations. Not sure if it's the USB cable or something else getting in the way. Either case, I can't capture at the highest speed and have to settle for the second highest...which, fortunately, is quite fast enough for my projects.

    DJ
  • KyeKye Posts: 2,200
    edited 2011-04-05 19:43
    I have one of these. they are nice.
  • Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
    edited 2011-04-07 07:57
    I have had 2 of these for over a year now. Been through many iterations of software updates. The latest version works very well. I especially like the decoding options. Makes troubleshooting and analysis very easy. The unit is very small, compact and durable.

    Another aspect I like is the ability to save sessions. You can then share these sessions with others, all they need to do is install the free software. Works great for collaborative efforts.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-04-07 13:24
    Looks like these were a hit. Parallax sold out of the first lot they had in a couple days.
  • Tom.in.MarylandTom.in.Maryland Posts: 17
    edited 2011-05-09 06:18
    Please advise to me?

    I am trying to learn serial communication, especially I2C, and SPI to start with.

    A month ago when I was at Fry's I bought a parallax chip (have'nt done anything with it yet but) started looking at the Parallax website, and stumbled into this Logic Analyzer.

    I am looking for advise/recommendations, would this device be helpful in my learning the serial comm's? I dont see much in the manual about the hardware or even the software, is this for advanced users? How long has the product been out? Ar there other serial analyzers that I should be considering?

    I have Windows 64bit machine and Ubuntu Machine, how well does the software run on these platforms?

    Isn't this kind of like the old logic scopes?

    Thanks in advance for your input on this matter.

    Tom

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  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-05-09 06:23
    The Microchip PICkit 2 programmer/debugger is cheap, and comes with simple logic analyser software for looking at I2C, SPI and RS-232 signals.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-05-09 13:11
    The PICkit 3 has dropped that nice little logic analyzer program. If you can get a PICkit 2, good, but Microchip dropped support.

    Leon wrote: »
    The Microchip PICkit 2 programmer/debugger is cheap, and comes with simple logic analyser software for looking at I2C, SPI and RS-232 signals.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-05-09 13:20
    Tom,

    From playing around with the software, it looks pretty good. I don't own the hardware yet. But if Parallax believes enough in carrying it, I'm sure it's a good product. And not a bad price.

    I was hoping Hanno would get some serial decoding on Viewport (http://hannoware.com/viewport/), but that may come down the road sometime.

    BTW The software seems to work OK on Windows 7 Professorial 64 Bit.
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-05-09 13:29
    Publison wrote: »
    From playing around with the software, it looks pretty good. I don't own the hardware yet. But if Parallax believes enough in carrying it, I'm sure it's a good product. And not a bad price.

    I was hoping Hanno would get some serial decoding on Viewport (http://hannoware.com/viewport/), but that may come down the road sometime.

    BTW The software seems to work OK on Windows 7 Professorial 64 Bit.

    I've been using one of these for quite a while now (long before Parallax starting carrying them) and I've been very happy with it. I'm also running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit but I've used it under 32 bit XP and 7 as well.

    My only complaint, and this is very minor, is that it is so small and light that sometimes I have trouble keeping it in place on my desk/workbench. A stiff USB cable will drag it around. A piece of tape solves this problem. :)
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-05-09 13:40
    Thanks for the review schill. Hope it helps the OP.

    Oh wait. I'm the OP. :)

    Hope it helps Tom.in.Maryland.
  • JasonDorieJasonDorie Posts: 1,930
    edited 2011-05-09 17:48
    Tom - I too have one of these units, and use it on a Windows Vista 64 bit machine with no problems. The software is pretty intuitive to use, and has a simple but functional and clean interface. I'm quite happy with it.

    It's also worth mentioning that it has a bunch of analyzers for the most common serial protocols, like SPI, I2C, and standard serial. If the device being probed is communicating with one of these, the software will decode the protocol and display things like "Start bit", "Stop bit", "Char 0xA9", and so on superimposed over the samples on the display.
  • Tom.in.MarylandTom.in.Maryland Posts: 17
    edited 2011-05-11 10:02
    JasonDorie wrote: »
    Tom - I too have one of these units, and use it on a Windows Vista 64 bit machine with no problems. The software is pretty intuitive to use, and has a simple but functional and clean interface. I'm quite happy with it.

    It's also worth mentioning that it has a bunch of analyzers for the most common serial protocols, like SPI, I2C, and standard serial. If the device being probed is communicating with one of these, the software will decode the protocol and display things like "Start bit", "Stop bit", "Char 0xA9", and so on superimposed over the samples on the display.

    Thanks, I've taken the leap into it, I never bought anything from Parallax before (except for the chip I picked up at Fry's) hope to recieve it soon and I will make some videos with it.

    I will be attending a seminar in Somerset NJ next week put on by Tektronix called "The Power2Solve" website is here ...

    brief description of the seminar...

    http://tek.eetimes.com/courses.html#1

    "Embedded designs are becoming more complex with advances in performance, density, and power efficiency. Learn how Tektronix oscilloscopes can speed up your development by getting to the root of your embedded design challenges in the area of digital system analysis and debug. This session will cover the basics of digital system debug including techniques for properly triggering an oscilloscope and isolating infrequent events."

    I am really not planning on buying a $10,000 scope from Tek but hope to learn something and possibly this Logic Analyzer can do some of the tasks that will be demonstrated with the fancy scopes.

    Anyway I want to thank Tek, I just won an IPAD from them for my video entry into their contest... link ... http://mytektronixscope.com/

    hope all is well and again thanks for the info everyone, Tom

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