100 MHz Logic Analyzer which is way overpriced! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: pascal_sweden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2014, 10:02:06 pm
content: This is a 100 MHz Logic Analyzer with a list price of 3000 USD. Why is it so expensive? =)http://www.globalspecialties.com/test-equipment/diagnostic-instruments/item/14-3600.htmlThis Logic Analyzer seems to be exactly the same as the SA8320 from Wellzion:http://www.wellzion.com/Products/Signal_Generator&Analyzer/Stand-alone_Logic_Analyzer/Stand-alone_Logic_Analyzer/SA8320/The SA8320 from Wellzion sells much cheaper on Ebay:http://www.ebay.de/itm/SA8320-32-Kanal-Logik-Analysator-Logic-Analyzer-mit-USB-und-RS-232-OWON-Rigol-/141131146654?pt=Mess_Pr%C3%BCftechnik&hash=item20dc12659eAlthough cheaper (1000 EUR), that is still a lot of money for a 32-Channel 100 MHz Logic Analyzer =)I actually compared the specs from both Logic Analyzers, and they are 100% identical!Wellzion SA8320 specs: (listed for 1000 euro)http://www.wellzion.com/manager/ue/asp/upload/20140710/14049843106983396.pdfGlobal Specialties Model 3600 specs: (listed for 3000 USD = 2300 EUR)http://www.globalspecialties.com/test-equipment/diagnostic-instruments/download/860_74fa2c866a218995b4e870b233f63ce2.htmlSomeone is taking a huge margin here (1300 EUR delta price difference).Global Specialties focuses on the educational market. The customers are universities and colleges with big budgets =)Even 1000 EUR as such is way too much, as for that money you can get a nice Rigol MSO2000 series scope with LA functionality. Good luck to the Ebay seller

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2014, 10:26:18 pm
content: 100Ms/s and only 260ksamples of memory for $3000? What year is it? 1980? Not even some bus decoding?? I'm outta hereSelling this kind of crap is criminal.For that kind of money you definitely can get a real (used) logic analyser from Tektronix or Agilent. Or a new MSO which will do 99% of the logic analyses functions you'll ever need.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 01:36:57 am
content: Bloody hell. Get a used 167xx on ebay, slap in one or two acquisition boards and for 400$ youll have a machine that runs circles around these toys.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 01:46:15 am
content: blah blah know what you're buying blah blah.ANYONE (and I do mean anyone) can avoid overpriced stuff like this if they simply exercise a little patience and spend a bit of time learning.Also, I believe that if someone has the money to burn, and is not willing to be patient and do the tiniest amount of research, that sellers have theobligationto take advantage of them.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 02:24:16 am
content: Quote from: pascal_sweden on October 19, 2014, 10:02:06 pmGlobal Specialities way once a good source of a lots of electronics odds and ends. However, if you look at the front page of their web site now, it looks like they have move completely to the educational market. Education is always a good place for setting high prices.

author: LoyalServant
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 02:34:31 am
content: Quote from: coppice on October 20, 2014, 02:24:16 amNothing surprises me anymore when it comes to education.It's expensive for a reason.. this is one of those reasons.Have to agree with @Rigby, and would go further.. if [insert institution of higher learning here] fails to research their kit they also deserve to get ripped off.Here in the states they are flush with cash. They would spend 3 times that on the same instrument and not even bat an eye.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 03:25:54 am
content: Quote from: LoyalServant on October 20, 2014, 02:34:31 amEducation needs a Smedley Butler.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 03:30:27 am
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on October 20, 2014, 03:25:54 amWasn't he a total failure at changing any of the crooked practices he fought against?

author: Pinkus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 07:34:15 am
content: It is only thelist priceof $3000. By this the sales man can offer the purchaser a discount of 50% if they buy two ..... and who can say "no" to a 50% discount....Want a good logic analyzer? With professional software (but sometimes crude interface)?Get an Intronix Logicport for $389. Best bang for you buck if you want something really good. Though, if you only do some I2C logging, a cheap Saleae would be sufficent for you.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 08:58:56 am
content: Quote from: Pinkus on October 20, 2014, 07:34:15 amSaleae are hardly cheap.For the price of an 8-channel Saleae you can get a RIGOL DS1054Z. That can do I2C decoding (2 I2C buses) ... plus you get a free oscilloscope.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 11:21:47 am
content: Quote from: Pinkus on October 20, 2014, 07:34:15 amI disagree. Better spend that money on an entry level MSO (with protocol decoding). I have used the Logicport but the memory is way too small for anything serious. Even with compression enabled you run into memory limits quickly.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 01:02:31 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on October 20, 2014, 03:25:54 amEducation requires at least 110/220V tolerant probe inputs, at least if it is used in high schools. Don't underestimte the destructive power of bored high school kids.

author: Creep
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 02:33:49 pm
content: What in the world might be a target subject in HIGHSCHOOL that requires a friggin logic analyser? Maybe (but just maybe) I would understand that under some circumstances if a teacher could show the logic analyser in action, but dear lord, I can't imagine what kind of experiments in highschool would need a LA.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 08:42:12 pm
content: Quote from: Creep on October 20, 2014, 02:33:49 pmEven 40 years ago my school had oscilloscopes that we could use at lunchtime for our own fun and games (they were very occasionally used in advanced physics classes, but I forget the reason).Times change, robotics are here, LAs become less irrelevant.

author: Creep
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 10:01:28 pm
content: Guess I live in the wrong country then. I graduated from the top gymnasium in the country and I've never heard of any scopes being available to students for poking around. Not even sure if any of the schools own a scope.Well, maybe in some sort of robotics club or something, it might be usefull.At any rate, a scope or an LA in a highschool evoirment sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Can't imagine how any school would sign up for anything of the sort. Expecially 40 years ago, when scopes cost a boatload of money.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2014, 11:05:37 pm
content: Quote from: Creep on October 20, 2014, 10:01:28 pmWe all live in the "wrong" country, different countries being wrong in different waysQuoteWell, we were taught how to use them, and never damaged them. There was far more fragile equipment around than scopes.Besides, only knowledgeable geeks used them; by that time I had been building electronic circuits for a decade.My school was a normal state provincial "grammar" school, but they became "politically incorrect" and disappeared not long after I left.QuoteI doubt they were the most expensive equipment around.There was certainly far more dangerous equipment and chemicals around, e.g. van der graaf generators, large lumps of sodium and potassium, radioactive sources, liquid mercury. And everybody used most of those.