Logic Analyzer needed

I'm looking for a logic analyzer with I2C/SPI/UART decoder capabilities 
(even CAN if possible) and I've found some portable USB devices that may 
fill my needs.

Here are two of them:
Intronix LOGICPORT - http://www.pctestinstruments.com/
DigiView DV1-100 - http://www.tech-tools.com/dv_dv1.htm
USBee Ax-Pro or DC - http://www.usbee.com/products.htm (but they cost 
much more, even if DX got CAN Decoder)

Have you try these before?
Are there other devices?

Thanks

On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:36:56 GMT, djordj <djordj@despammed.com> wrote:

>I'm looking for a logic analyzer with I2C/SPI/UART decoder capabilities 
>(even CAN if possible) and I've found some portable USB devices that may 
>fill my needs.
>
>Here are two of them:
>Intronix LOGICPORT - http://www.pctestinstruments.com/
>DigiView DV1-100 - http://www.tech-tools.com/dv_dv1.htm
>USBee Ax-Pro or DC - http://www.usbee.com/products.htm (but they cost 
>much more, even if DX got CAN Decoder)

I use the Logicport as my main logic analyzer. Does what I need, takes
up little space, cost is right. Haven't used the I2C capability yet
but the serial and SPI decoders work well.

For CAN, look at the Peak Systems PCAN USB gizmo. Pretty sure I got
mine through http://www.gridconnect.com/usbcanin.html. The included
software is fine for basic bus monitoring and they provide an API to
tie the device into your own custom applications.

djordj <djordj@despammed.com> writes:
> Intronix LOGICPORT - http://www.pctestinstruments.com/

I have the Logicport, and have used the I2C, SPI, and UART decoders.
I wish it had a 1-wire decoder, and that the UART decoders either (1)
auto-detected the baud rate, or (2) could be sync'd together so I
don't have to change all the decoders if I change baud rate.  You set
up one decoder for each line you're monitoring, so for a full SPI you
need two decoders - one for Tx, one for Rx.  Same for UARTs.  You also
must specify a chip select line for SPI.  You can, however, attach
multiple decoders to a single line, which is handy when you want to
see both ASCII and hex values at the same time, or if you have an SPI
bus with multiple chip selects.

The only real drawback with it is the 4k sample buffer, which is
enough for 99% of my needs (esp with compression enabled), but
occasionally when I'm watching a serial data stream or 1wire
transaction, more RAM would be nice.

The adjustable trigger voltage is nice; I've used it to hunt down
glitches and ripple.  The 500MHz setting is great for glitch hunting
and edge timing.

The 40-pin connector is just the right size to plug in an IDE cable,
too, which is handy, as you can see in this picture:
http://www.delorie.com/electronics/alarmclock/20070809-calgary-overview.html

The cable makes the logicport "breadboard compatible" and I can just
unplug the whole cable if I need to use the logicport anywhere else,
without having to reconnect all the individual wires later.

The save/load features work as expected; I have configurations for
each of my prototype and test boards, like an RS-232 breakout I built.
Prints are nice, but it helps to use the dark-on-light screen theme so
that the printout resembles the screen, otherwise the colors aren't
always readable (it won't print a black background, just light colors
on white).

There are six "cursors" you can place, and measure time or frequency
between them.  The precision of the sampling period seems to determine
the number of significant figures they're displayed in, which is nice.
Handy when checking clock speeds or UART baud rates.

I haven't upgraded my software in a while, so there may be other neat
features I don't know about, too.

DJ Delorie formulated the question :
> djordj <djordj@despammed.com> writes:
>> Intronix LOGICPORT - http://www.pctestinstruments.com/
>
> I have the Logicport, and have used the I2C, SPI, and UART decoders.
> I wish it had a 1-wire decoder, and that the UART decoders either (1)
> auto-detected the baud rate, or (2) could be sync'd together so I
> don't have to change all the decoders if I change baud rate.  You set
> up one decoder for each line you're monitoring, so for a full SPI you
> need two decoders - one for Tx, one for Rx.  Same for UARTs.  You also
> must specify a chip select line for SPI.  You can, however, attach
> multiple decoders to a single line, which is handy when you want to
> see both ASCII and hex values at the same time, or if you have an SPI
> bus with multiple chip selects.
>
> [CUT}
>
> I haven't upgraded my software in a while, so there may be other neat
> features I don't know about, too.
Thank you very much for your answer!
So I think I'm going to buy the LogigPort for I2C/SPI/UART.

"djordj" <djordj@despammed.com> wrote in message 
news:Yf20j.176967$U01.1210172@twister1.libero.it...
> I'm looking for a logic analyzer with I2C/SPI/UART decoder capabilities 
> (even CAN if possible) and I've found some portable USB devices that may 
> fill my needs.
>
> Here are two of them:
> Intronix LOGICPORT - http://www.pctestinstruments.com/
> DigiView DV1-100 - http://www.tech-tools.com/dv_dv1.htm
> USBee Ax-Pro or DC - http://www.usbee.com/products.htm (but they cost much 
> more, even if DX got CAN Decoder)
>
> Have you try these before?
> Are there other devices?
>
> Thanks

We use the Digiview and have been very happy with it.  It has the decoders 
you want, plus can combine parallel signals and display hex equivalents. 
Well worth the money.

Scott

On Nov 18, 1:36 pm, djordj <djo...@despammed.com> wrote:
> I'm looking for a logic analyzer with I2C/SPI/UART decoder capabilities
> (even CAN if possible) and I've found some portable USB devices that may
> fill my needs.
>
> Here are two of them:
> Intronix LOGICPORT -http://www.pctestinstruments.com/
> DigiView DV1-100 -http://www.tech-tools.com/dv_dv1.htm
> USBee Ax-Pro or DC -http://www.usbee.com/products.htm(but they cost
> much more, even if DX got CAN Decoder)
>
> Have you try these before?
> Are there other devices?
>
> Thanks

I have both the LogicPort and the USBee.  The LogicPort is wider,
faster, cheaper, and easier to use.  With the Mictor adapter, it's
perfect for 99.9% of my analyzer needs.

So far every time I've used my LogicPort at a client site one of the
client engineers has wound up buying one.

If you really need a CAN decode for the LogicPort, it would be easy
enough to create it.

My subjective opinion,
G.

djordj wrote:

>Intronix LOGICPORT - http://www.pctestinstruments.com/

way too little memory!

>DigiView DV1-100 - http://www.tech-tools.com/dv_dv1.htm

We are using it, it works really great! 10ns resolution even with very
long measurements. One disadvantage is the fixed threshold, you might
want to buy the (more expensive) DV3400 if you have other than 3,3..5V
logic signals.

Oliver
-- 
Oliver Betz, Muenchen (oliverbetz.de)