WTB/WTT: 32 Channel min, logic analyzer under $125 (CAN) (AB) Calgary - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 05:16:18 am
content: Hi, I am looking for a 32 channel minimum logic analyzer that would be fast enough to debug a SNES (Super Nintendo). Preferably with the breakout cables/pods. I do not want to spend much money but I do have some older video games and electronics and computer parts that I can also trade for it. I would prefer to get it locally if possible (I live in Calgary). I am thinking along the lines of one of the old heavy HP units. Also it must be able to decode into hex format. Also it can be not working but depending on the fault I would only be willing to spend at most $50 for such a unit.

author: tyguy2
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 04:05:59 pm
content: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xlogic+ana.TRS0&_nkw=logic+analyzer&_sacat=0

author: Isad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 05:57:48 pm
content: ]U wont do anything with that price point there are 16ch ones for 70$but for 32 ch for 50$ is a bit to low probably somone on the forum has somthing.But still its low.Idk what hex so this might not even be what your looking but somthing like this might help.eBay auction: #330916512110

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 09:48:41 pm
content: Quote from: tyguy2 on June 10, 2015, 04:05:59 pmAre you personally recommending all of those (even the 8ch ones)?I think it's a given that most people can do an ebay search on 'logic analyzer' and similar. I understood that the chap was after a pointer to a specific thing, or preferably someone's own possibly not-working thing. I am thus puzzled by your uncommented link and would be grateful if you could enlighten me as to how it was in any way useful.Thanks

author: tyguy2
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 09:49:59 pm
content: I wouldn't touch those with a mile long pole

author: tyguy2
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 09:51:23 pm
content: You never know with some people, I've seen people who didn't even know what Amazon was.

author: tyguy2
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 10:13:01 pm
content: I believe Dave has done a few Logic Analyzer reviews.

author: tyguy2
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 10:36:07 pm
content: http://www.amazon.com/Hantek%C2%AE-4032L-150MHz-Channels-Analyzer/dp/B00QK2PQXS/ref=sr_1_3?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1433975584&sr=1-3&keywords=32+channel+logic+analyzerThis is the only thing I could find remotely close to your budget.

author: Silveruser
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2015, 10:56:46 pm
content: If you're not already, check out Gov of Canadahttps://www.gcsurplus.ca/mn-eng.cfm?x=1&snc=wfsav&vndsld=0&sc=ach-shopTest equipment does show up every so often (along with wrecked RCMP cars). Sometime it goes for low dollars, sometime not, bid what you think it's worth to you and take your chances. I picked up a HP1651B in Halifax not too long ago for not very much at all.

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:07:43 pm
content: Thanks for the links, I will check them out. In the meantime I have found two different logic analyzers that are within my price range but I am not sure that they will do what I want them to do. Here are the links:http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HP-1660A-Logic-Analyzer-Lot-C100-/391073591882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b0dcd724a#ht_402wt_1125and this onehttp://logicsniffer.gadgetfactory.net/index.php?n=LogicSniffer.Hardware. The HP one will need repair but I am hopefull that it will just be a problem with the video output. The logic sniffer I am not sure if it will be fast enough and if it will translate the 8-bit data lines to hex or not. Here is a youtube video of what I am hoping to be able to do with SNES but the user is doing it with a old PC:. It also will help to show what I mean by convert it to hex. Note this is just one of the youtube users that I follow.

author: Isad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:25:12 pm
content: The HP one looks pretty good but do you even know if it powers one it might turninto somthing overpriced.About the second one idk anything.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:37:39 pm
content: QuoteGiven that I know diddlysquat about the SNES, what kind of speeds are you needing?The HP one I would be reluctant to spend limited funds on - for all you know, there may be nothing inside the case, or it's all just ash in the base. You might strike lucky, of course, and on the plus side there are the pod cables. But doesn't look like there are any pods (you can make your own if necessary, although they won't be as nice as the proper HP ones).I have a 1650 which I haven't bothered to list on Ebay since the last one I saw, working with cables, probes and manuals, went for £46. This is in the UK, but we rarely see the big and cheap stuff that seems to flood the US Ebay. I would be tempted to hold out for a working one, or at least one with a known fixable fault.

author: tyguy2
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:46:45 pm
content: To be honest, if you're looking to fix your SNES, it would cost you less to just buy a new one than to buy a Logic Analyzer.

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 03:11:19 am
content: I think the processor of the SNES runs at 3 to 4 Mhz but there is a 24 Mhz master clock as well. You have a point about the HP scope. I have found another one Link:http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-1960A-LOCIC-ANALYZER-WORKS-NEEDS-VIDEO-FIXED-VINTAGE-/221759679513?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a1e82c19#ht_1219wt_1125that has a different problem but does come with probes and if I use this reshiperhttps://www.shipito.com/I can get it for around $100 I think. Here is a link to another one as well:http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-1662A-68-CHANNEL-LOGIC-ANALYZER-Excellent-Condition-/111691946814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a015bdb3e#ht_1536wt_1363that I can get for around $100 as well. I am not sure if the 1Kbit of sample memory is going to be a problem or not though. The SNES is not the only project that I am going to need a logic analyzer for. I am also trying to write code for a video processor (for a portable DVD player screen) that is controlled by I2C and have not been able to get it working so far. The other reason I want to get the SNES working is because it is one of the original version ones that has the separate sound module and can be moded for component output. At some point in the future I may want to combine these two things to make a portable SNES.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 10:21:02 am
content: That second link looks much tastier to me1kbit can be limiting depending on what you're trying to do. I believe that the HPs can use transitional capture, so rather than capture 1k clock cycles it will capture 1k events. Great if there is not much activity over a (relatively) long time. Of course, it is miniscule when compared with the likes of Logic or other modern kit, but the HPs have very good triggering facilities: instead of just capturing a ton of data and then finding the bit you want, you zero in on the bit you want by being clever with the triggering.The HPs won't decode I2C (although they would trigger on the various protocol states very well), and the capture length could well be limiting if you decode manually, but it's doable. It will keep you off the streets, anyway

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 03:34:15 pm
content: I think that I will continue browseing eBay for good deals that will meet my needs ( greater then 1Kb of sample memory and a 35 Mhz capture speed or greater (10 times faster then the SNES processer). And get one of the $10 8 channel 24 Msps USB things for the I2C bus.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 04:40:08 pm
content: Sound like a plan

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 02:13:11 am
content: Well I got a HP 1661C for less then $100. So this topic can be closed.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 10:30:30 am
content: Nice. That should keep you busy for a while