What's your opinion about this Logic Analyzer(USB Saleae 24M 8CH 2013)? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2013, 07:49:17 am
content: Hi guysi want to buy this logic analyzer:Logic Analyzer USB Saleae 24M 8CH 2013 chip with a buffer chipwhat's you opinion about this? is it good/suitable?

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2013, 07:53:06 am
content: Looks like one of those clone (rip-off) units. A real one is over $100 and entitles you to use their software in a moral way.

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2013, 09:02:47 am
content: Thanks David for reply,A real logic analyzer is really expensive. So, i think i can use of it in some case and it can solve some problem.in your opinion, can i upgrade it for high frequency?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2013, 10:08:08 am
content: No.24MHz is its maximum capability. The Saleae design uses a single commercial chip and is not upgradable.Look at what other Chines LA's have to offer before buying a Saleae clone.$100 will buy a far more capable product in terms of sampling speed and inputs.

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 08:59:29 am
content: Thank you Aurora,also my mean was that can i hardware upgrade(or maybe it's better i say improve) this Logic Analyzer?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 12:24:59 pm
content: Quote from: Aurora on August 16, 2013, 10:08:08 amSure, but do they provide good software? Most of the software from the low-end Chinese companies barely qualifies for usable. 24 MS/s is not great, but good enough for many 8/16-bit MCU interfaces. Your average I2C sensor, SPI EEPROM or LCD connected to a PIC/AVR is not going to be any faster than 12 MHz. I think the fastest SPI speed for many of these micros is 4 MHz or so. 8 inputs is usable for serial buses and many parallel LCDs. Now if you want to work with FPGAs or work with 32-bit micros with fast interfaces (eg. USB 2 Hi speed), then I'd agree that something like the Intronix LogicPort, or maybe even the Zeroplus logic analyzers, would be a better choice.Quote from: rozeh on August 17, 2013, 08:59:29 amForget it. These logic analyzers are limited by the USB bus. The only way to increase sampling speed would be to essentially design a logic analyzer from scratch.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 02:18:17 pm
content: alm,I agree BUT.... the Saleae is not a cheap option if the genuine product is purchased. For what it offers it seems expensive. I am not going to open up a debate on using unofficial hardware with Official Saleae software but some have said such is immoralI am getting on well with the 400MHz 32 channel Hantek 4032 that cost me GBP140. There are the open source software projects to consider as well.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 03:33:50 pm
content: I agree, the Saleae is expensive, and I don't support the clones that rely on Saleae to do all the hard software work. The majority of the work is clearly in the software (and the case), since it is obvious that the electronics design is essentially a Cypress USB SoC devboard with some input protection. The nice aluminium case and EZ-hook probes (at least in the old version I got, I think they now use cheaper alternatives) are also worth a fair bit. This is much nicer than the acrylic case and sorry excuse of a probe cable offered for the OLS, for example.Since software is the only way of interfacing with a USB LA, I consider it a critical component. For similar reasons why Dave hated some of the scopes he reviewed (for example the Tek MDO, or the Hantek/Owon): what good is the hardware if the software makes you pull your hair out everytime you use it? And the Saleae software is quite nice to use, although development has been slow and they should really implement some missing features. Last time I tried the Zeroplus software, I hated the interface and considered it barely usable. Haven't tried the Hantek software, but from what I remember you weren't too happy about it either. The Intronix software is okay, but the LogicPort costs almost $400.So for your average PIC/AVR/MSP430 development I consider the Saleae and Usbee SX the best options, despite the poor specs. If someone came up with decent hardware (like the Hantek) and good software for sub-$200, then that would be a killer combination. I don't expect the Rigol/Link/Hanteks of this world to come up with decent software, however.I like the Sigrok project, but I don't think the GUI is anywhere close to competing with the commercial options. Do they have protocol decoding in the GUI yet? Once that becomes a good alternative, then you can essentially buy any LA they support based on specs.

author: sorin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 03:52:50 pm
content: $9 including shippinghttp://www.banggood.com/USB-Saleae-24M-8CH-24MHz-8Channel-Logic-Analyzer-Latest-Support-1_1_15-p-74101.html

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 04:40:29 pm
content: Quote from: sorin on August 17, 2013, 03:52:50 pmThese shameless dickbags even brand it "Saleae"... Screw them. You don't need a logic analyzer that badly. As alm said, the real work is in the software. Pay for it.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 10:10:51 pm
content: Overall, I find the Saleae software to be quite useful. The inbuilt protocol decoding has saved me a lot of time. Well worth the money IMO. The hardware is nicely made and works well for general work I want it for. (DMX, SPI, remote controls, etc)I did buy one of the el-cheapo Chinese bits of hardware a few years ago. It was the biggest pile of poo and I threw it away once I saw how poorly made it was and how it relied on the Saleae software. The seller I bought it from was very vague on what software it came with and I fell for it. Shame on me for falling for that.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 11:17:35 pm
content: I honestly wish there was a $25 to $50 software package for those who wanted to buy the good software but not the expensive hardware. (Maybe provide a software key with every piece of hardware shipped so you get the software free.) People would still buy the Logic/Logic16, because it's a decent instrument, but those who can live with a cheap alternative (e.g. higher jitter, poor ESD protection, 3.3V only) still support the developers of the software. I think they're shooting themselves in the foot by having the lowest option start at $149.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2013, 11:24:11 pm
content: As was mentioned, the vast majority of that price pays for the software. The hardware already costs almost nothing. Yes, it's the hardware that they make you pay for (I like that model, actually, so you can download the software and try it out first), but I promise you the software developers get a very good chunk.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2013, 01:15:33 am
content: The Saleae leads and micro-hook probes are really nice.

author: Spikee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2013, 03:51:41 pm
content: I and alot of my fellow students use this device and it just works. On the 24Mhz range it will freeze up but everything below that just works.At college we also have the genuine one and it is better built , better performance and more expensive. But you give some money back to the people that took the time to design it. Also we only have 2 at college and they ware always in use so that's why I and others chose for the cheap china one.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 02:12:52 am
content: The micrograbbers with the Saleae clones just fall apart in your hands.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 02:17:11 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on August 18, 2013, 04:00:33 pmThere is an plugin SDK available with examples. You do need to download Visual Studio (I think) top compile them but that's free.