Sale Ended - Digilent Analog Discovery 2 - $159 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TomWinTejas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2022, 04:18:05 pm
content: I'm not selling mine, but Digilent is offering them brand new at 60% off as part of their Cyber Week sale. Originally $399.00 and now $159.60. I believe it's today, Friday 12/2, only.https://digilent.com/shop/cyber-week-daily-deals

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 01:29:54 am
content: Quote from: TomWinTejas on December 02, 2022, 04:18:05 pmIt's an absolute steal at that price, I seriously considered buying a second one when I saw that. Without a doubt the handiest little electronics tool I've ever bought, I originally just got it for literally one task but have found myself reaching for it so often now

author: Xtremexp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 05:56:13 am
content: you can get additional 10% discount by using coupon code "NEWSLETTER"

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 07:11:57 am
content: Wow, very tempting. Pity the only shipping option to Australia is FedEx at USD50.Trying to tell myself I don't need one, as I have an AD1 and no shortage of other test gear.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 07:14:45 am
content: Quote from: Kean on December 03, 2022, 07:11:57 amI just paid $65 for FedEX to DKBut i had to .....Missed the Coupon code though

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 08:22:56 am
content: Hm never really was all that excited about those things but that's a deal, free shipping to the US too, decided to snag one.

author: pope
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 10:25:36 am
content: Quote from: bingo600 on December 03, 2022, 07:14:45 amWhat Coupon code? Supposedly, it doesn't need any coupon.I'm into analog audio electronics and I already have an analog scope and a generator, a siglent scope & AWG, an interface + software.Do I really need the AD2?I think not but please prove me wrong

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 10:45:02 am
content: Quote from: pope on December 03, 2022, 10:25:36 amNo, it doesn't NEED one, but:

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 11:20:41 am
content: I decided not to get one - but I convinced my brother to buy one for himself, and maybe one for my nephew.

author: _Wim_
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 03:06:25 pm
content: It appears the deal is finished...What a deal, but as I already have an AD1, I did not jump onto this.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2022, 06:35:13 pm
content: Frankly I think $399 is much too high a price and not worth it, the old price of $199 was about right and this sale was a nice discount off of that.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2022, 07:34:06 pm
content: Have to agree with James, and I love my Analog Discovery, have an original & a 2, but for what you can get now from Rigol & Siglent not to mention lesser brands, it is a tough sell. If you are just starting out and don't have much gear besides a DMM or two it sure does fill a lot of needs. The software is excellent as well. If they could figure out how to sell it for this price normally I am sure they would sell a bunch, but my guess is that they were just cleaning out excess inventory. During Covid AD's and plenty of other stuff was unobtainable and maybe they over reacted to the market.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2022, 08:09:30 pm
content: As I recall, it was $199 for a long time, then they suddenly doubled the price to $399. I understand the need to increase prices now and then but doubling overnight smacks of greed.

author: Anthocyanina
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 12:04:31 am
content: Quote from: james_s on December 05, 2022, 08:09:30 pmI think something happened between them and analog devices. A few months back i got my ad2, and on the bottom it doesn't say "ICs provided by Analog Devices" as you find in online pictures of it, but it instead says "Technology by Texas Instruments". Maybe analog devices was providing the Ics for free? as an educational incentive or something. If that was the case and something happened between them, now them having to pay (if they did get them for free before) would mean increased prices. This is all just guessing just based on what my AD2 says on the bottom

author: guenthert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 06:53:59 pm
content: Quote from: Anthocyanina on December 06, 2022, 12:04:31 amI doubt Analog Devices emits hardware for free. They sell their own evaluation boards at a stiff price.Rather what happened was that Digilent was acquired by National Instruments and NI just doesn't do cheap.

author: Anthocyanina
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 07:46:42 pm
content: Quote from: guenthert on December 06, 2022, 06:53:59 pmThat's why I call it a guess, but it's likely they wouldn't put "ICs provided by Analog Devices" if they were buying the chips, or buying them at full cost

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 07:53:14 pm
content: I wonder how many they're actually selling at $399 though? IMO it just isn't compelling at that price point.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 10:16:33 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 06, 2022, 07:53:14 pmI used to think that until I bought mine after briefly owning a Picoscope (and looking at other similar things in the similar price range) and honestly I think the price is justified once you begin to use it. The software is really, REALLY good and that's what the product really is* rather than the box itself (it's OK, but the lack of proper BNC connections really lets it down).Quick example:I bought the Picoscope in May, only to find out it didn't work for shit on Mac despite being advertised as a cross platform solution. Version 6 sucked, and version 7 was in perpetual beta with only the most basic functions sort of working. I was assured that the stable release was coming in September, October at the latest. I could wait, or I could send it back. We're now in December and it's still not done so I'm glad I chose the latter option.On the other hand, a while back I was setting up the function generator on the AD2 and thought it was annoying that you could only set output level in peak amplitude. I sent them a quick note asking if there was any chance in future they could add an RMS option there. I think it was less than 24 hours later I got a response with a link to a beta update where you could now choose from 6 different output level units. They're THAT responsive.The software has been rock solid for me, it's laid out really well and it's incredibly powerful. Of course I'd have loved if it was cheaper when I bought it (I hunted and the best deal I could get was nearly $600 thanks to Australia tax), but in practice $600 for a perpetual license bit of software* that kicks ass seems OK to me. I pay something like that per year for Fusion 360 and that sucks ass.* Yes, I realise the software is actually free and will work with sound cards and stuff like that. I'm not literally saying the software costs that much, of course you get the box for that price, just that the software is WORTH that much as a lab tool.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2022, 12:50:49 am
content: You'd think for $400 they could at least integrate a pair of BNC connectors, that would bump up the hardware cost by what, a couple dollars?I'm curious to try out the one I bought at the discounted price, it looks like a cool toy, but I have a BitScope DSO I bought years ago and I was never really happy with that, it's far less convenient than using a standalone scope. To me PC based test equipment never really lived up to the hype and promises.

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2022, 03:29:05 am
content: Yeah, it's definitely incredibly weird that they didn't at least put the scope inputs on BNC (or offer an insulated breakout box instead of a bare PCB). I'd have to think that's cost them a tonne of sales over the years

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pm
content: Well this showed up already but then I realized I don't really know what to do with it. I already have a multiple standalone oscilloscopes, a logic analyzer, AWG, counter, PSU, multimeter etc on my workbench. What is the killer app for the AD2 that makes so many people rave about it? I'm trying to decide whether to keep it or flip it on ebay to buy some other toy. Is there something unique or fun I can do with this that I can't do with my standalone instruments?

author: TomWinTejas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2022, 07:41:00 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pmI've got mine for portable use since I can use it with my laptop. I also bought the impedance analyzer and transistor curve tracer addons because I thought they might be useful... they were on sale earlier in the week. I don't see myself using it often, but I also didn't pay much for mine, I got it used before the prices were outrageous.. so I could definitely see someone flipping it on eBay.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2022, 08:05:11 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pmI put one on the cart and, before pulling the trigger, I realized the same thing as you: it would be lost in the middle of other equipment that I have, including very capable USB units such as the Kingst LA2016 logic analyzer and the Owon VDS1022i oscilloscope.At that price it might also be a hard flip if many in the US took advantage of the promo.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2022, 09:41:20 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on December 09, 2022, 08:05:11 pmYeah it was a limited time offer that seemed like a good deal and I kept hearing people raving about these things so I jumped on it, but now I realize it is pretty much just a much less capable version of gear I already have and the PC based TE is the stuff I use the least because it's cumbersome to juggle with everything else I'm using the PC for. I think I'll sleep on it for a bit and then decide what to do but I'm definitely leaning toward selling. I should be able to get back what i paid at least, there will be people that missed the sale.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2022, 10:43:39 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 09:41:20 pmIt indeed is a reasonable price for a road warrior that needs to carry a reasonable set of test gear - the AD2 wouldn't impose too much since a laptop would probably be already part of your set. For others, the use is more limited.But overall I am pretty sure you will lose nothing with your purchase - at this price the interest is still high.

author: guenthert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2022, 11:38:30 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pmIt's chiefly meant as educational aid, I'm sure (hence, I suppose, why NI was interested in Digilent), not for the already well equipped EE professional or enthusiast. I (the fairly, but not all that well equipped enthusiast) particularly like the signal analyzer feature. It works IMHO much better (not the least due to the larger screen on the PC) than on (entry level) stand-alone digital oscilloscopes; for one the noise floor is much lower (I'd think due to the 14 bit ADC). For audio application, I'd think a high end sound card would be the better choice, but I used the AD for finding the source of electric noise (~DC to ~15MHz).The SA feature of the AD I also used when repairing an old analog function generator. What looked like sine on an oscilloscope turned out to be anything but

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 12:15:12 am
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pmPerhaps the ability to script it, either using JavaScript within the supplied interface, or using an external application in C or Python via the API?Or maybe the other instruments, e.g. the spectrum analyser which makes use of the 14-bit ADC (not a crappy 8-bit ADC), or the network analyser.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 01:04:59 am
content: The network analyzer does seem moderately interesting, hmm. I already have a spectrum analyzer, although it's the RF kind and not suited for stuff like audio circuits.

author: Veteran68
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 03:51:04 am
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pmWell if you decide to sell it, I'd be interested in buying it for what you have in it plus shipping costs. I have an Owon HDS2102S on the way from Banggood just to have something portable, but would really like a USB device. I also have a couple of different LA's and semi-portable function generators but having one device in the laptop bag to handle most of those chores would be compelling.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 04:47:23 am
content: Here is an audio analyzer program for the AD:Audio Analyzer Suite - New Version Available - 1.0.0.76 -- TheStuffMadehttps://youtu.be/4d3hc-9zBaIFor the latest version see the notes in this video:Audio Analyzer Suite v 1.2.0.3 available for download -- TheStuffMadehttps://youtu.be/7yXUbU5bSGwThe guy has also written an impedance analyzer program:Impedance Analyzer v1.4.0.0 Available for Download -- TheStuffMadehttps://youtu.be/xRgviNyggNw

author: David Aurora
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 06:42:05 am
content: Quote from: james_s on December 09, 2022, 07:24:34 pmI guess it depends on what you actually do with your gear?Mine was bought (and is mainly used) as a CRT digitiser for my curve tracer. The scope section does the display, and the external hardware I made for it runs off the AD2 power supply so essentially all I do is load one of my templates and everything is up and running. Yeah I can do that with separate hardware, but it's more shit to set up and more work to recall, plus then if I'm capturing on a DSO I then need to transfer to computer at some point. This makes that whole process way easier/faster.I've also used it a bit with an audio interface for plotting frequency response/FFT etc. Way faster and easier than booting my old HP DSA in most cases, and also something I can easily set up anywhere without lugging a heavy/fragile hardware unit.It also goes in my test kit for recording studio callouts for similar reasons. I used to lug in a Tektronix TM5000 enclosure with a scope, signal generator and so on but now I just take this given I always take a laptop anyway.There are tonnes more things I can think of to use it for that I haven't yet. It's very much a Swiss army knife to me

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2022, 07:39:05 pm
content: I think I'll hold onto it for now and try out a few of these ideas, it wasn't really all that much money, doesn't take up a lot of space, and I typically take good care of my stuff and can keep it in pretty much like-new condition.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2022, 11:04:27 am
content: Well, that's a bit disappointing. While I paid $ 203 in total (see my reply above) they declared a custom value of $399 which costs me an additional € 50 in VATUndecided yet if I want to go into a fight with Fedex and the local tax authority

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2022, 03:57:29 pm
content: The original black case model was subsidized by Analog Devices and Xilinx and sold to verified EE students for under $100 US. I read where some schools made it an integral part of the course, like a text book. These units are almost identical to the zippy looking newer model, the difference being the low voltage power supply added when the case was redesigned and the price raised. Occasionally these old units pop up on eBay and if you are lucky can go for very cheap. I bought one like NIB for $50 shipped when no one bid on it. It is a great tool for learning and quite capable within it's specs. I have one on my bench all the time, setup on dual 25" monitors, which are a joy to my 70 year old eyes.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2022, 04:04:22 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on December 13, 2022, 11:04:27 amA question:Who "declared a custom value of $399" Digilent? Both Fedex and Customs must obey declared value of exporter's declaration. Declared value + shipping is then used as a basis for calculating value for VAT.I think you should take issue and complain but with those who wrongly declared on export. Digilent or export agent (Fedex?)

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2022, 04:36:09 pm
content: Digilent did, see below, already asked them for a proper invoice.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2022, 04:49:22 pm
content: They just replied:"Thank you for contacting us and bringing this issue to our attention. Please be patient with us while we figure out what happened and resolve the issue. We'll be in contact with you soon."

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2022, 06:28:09 pm
content: I actually like the look of the original black cased one better than the new one, not that I particularly care what it looks like.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 09:18:23 pm
content: QuoteQuoteThey handled it ok, case closed...

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 09:32:26 pm
content: Store credit though, now you have to find something else to buy from them that exceeds $100, and you'll have to pay the same sort of import duties on that purchase. I'd still be fairly annoyed.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2022, 09:59:38 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 15, 2022, 09:32:26 pmYeah I know, already browsing the store. They finally send me a correct invoice so I could try to fix the stuff with the local tax authority, not sure if it is worth the effort though.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2022, 05:13:13 pm
content: As to BNC connectors: They might need to be earthed but even without that, you would give up differential inputs as you do when you use the BNC adapter board. Sometimes the circuit is best viewed with differential inputs. I'm thinking about measuring transistor base current by measuring the drop across the base resistor and perhaps measuring collector current by measuring voltage drop across the collector resistor.I think the price went up when COVID hit because university students had to outfit some kind of personal lab for their studies. OTOH, I could also attribute it to outright greed on the part of National Instruments. I have both versions and they are excellent.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2022, 06:02:02 pm
content: Doesn't seem like you'd have to give anything up. The ability to plug in flying leads could be retained while having BNC connectors built in.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 10:33:05 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on December 15, 2022, 09:32:26 pmAnother offer just came in, I think I will take it:"Please let us know if you would like us to refund your credit card $50 USD instead of receiving store credit for the overpayment in customs fees. Fixing the issue requires a bit more that we expected, and you may run the risk of having the same issue with customs if you place another order from our website using your store credit. Please advise as to how you would like to proceed."And these guys seem to have a serious problem...

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 10:41:21 pm
content: I don't know that it's entirely their fault, some countries have all sorts of fees on importing things. In contrast when receiving foreign packages here in the USA I have never had to pay any kind of fee or tax, I think the threshold for that is somewhere up in the thousands of dollars in value.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2022, 10:51:41 pm
content: What I had to pay was the VAT, there's no import duty on goods like that. It's not completely their fault, it's the fulfillment company in Taiwan that made the mistake, I guess there's some communication problem between Diligent and that company. The good thing is that they took responsibility for the problem and offered several ways to solve it. - Would buy from them again -

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 12:43:38 am
content: Quote from: james_s on December 21, 2022, 10:41:21 pmIts $800,de minimis. Higher than almost every country.Having the invoice not match the payment made is kind of a concern in general.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2022, 06:15:07 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on December 22, 2022, 12:43:38 amI suspect for EU (the $190) , in the above link shows when "Import Tax" is to be paid.Two years ago most EU countries had a "Sales tax minimum value" , Ie. in DK $11, so they were letting everything below $11 enter for free.You could buy a few USB cables or 2 x arduino, and have it enter for free (below $11), not even sales tax.EU webshops where whining, because they couldn't charge $10..15 for a USB cable, and called it unfair competition. Since they had to charge the sales tax, and Ali/eBay didn't.So some new EU law removed all "Sales tax minimum values", for all packets arriving from outside EU.The VAT (Sales tax) limit is nowZEROas in "Every packet arriving from outside EU", you have to pay sales tax on the "whole service".That means both the product price and shipping price. And if product price is more than ~190 , then an additional "Import tax has to be paid"What is really killing us in EU land, is that the shipping company takes a "hefty fee" to claim the sales tax from the end user.Ie. a 5$ thingy from US with 5$ shipping would cost end user:10$ (goods) + sales tax 25% of 10$ =12.5$, and then ie. DK mail would add $22 in fee , for claiming the $2.5 in sales tax.So a $5 thingy would end up costing $34.5Same fee goes for UPS/DHL/FedEx etc ....My gues is thatthey all saw $$$ signs in their eyes, due to the new rules.1:Webshops thought a $2 USB cable from eBay/Ali would end up in $20+ , due to the sales tax claiming fee.And that they could go back to the old prices where a simple cable would cost $10+2:Amazon Europe(s) were prob. expecting some major sales boost too.Inter EU shippings have no taxes.3:With many thousands of packets arriving from China every day, DK Mail was prob. "dancing around" ... $22 in fee from everyone.All were prob. badly disappointed .....Ali/eBay could se that "small sales" would be killed by the sales tax handling fee.They extended their platform, to pre-claim the sales tax on sales to EU countries (if value is less than €150) , and register the sales tax payment on the shipping number. So those packages were cleared directly as sales tax already have been paid.My guess is that the €150 limit is where "Import Tax" would kick in.And therefore packages above that value must be processed by "Customs/Shipper" like in the old way.In the end:Real cheap packages below $11 , ended up costing EU'ians 20..25% more (sales tax)But from $11..150 we don't get the $22 sales tax claiming fee, on top of the sales tax.Above €150 .. Instruments or so ... Well the $22 doesn't "kill the deal"Hmmm ...Ended up being a long post, just to say thatNo packagescan enter EU wo. sales tax has been paid/claimed, the $190 is where theImport Taxkicks in on top of sales tax./Bingo

author: pope
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2022, 07:31:45 pm
content: Quote from: bingo600 on December 26, 2022, 06:15:07 pmNice post, thanks.