Mixed Signal Oscillascope under $1000 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: amit
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 12:56:57 pm
content: Hello all,I need some good Logic Analyzer tool , but my budget is only $1000 , i need to debug a board with mainly SMD parts on it , mainly I2C lines and also some other digital signals , frequency is not more than 10 MHz , but i want a tool that can be used even with somewhat higher frequencies for future projects , i think a good MSO will be better suited for this purpose , i have seen positive review of DS1052E from rigol on eevblog , but thats an oscillascope , DS1052D is MSO from same company , also somewhat costly Rigol ds1102d is it a good , which one is better ,there are PC based logic analyzers available for a fraction of cost , but i don't think they come with good probes which can be attached easily to SOIC parts pins

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 01:04:54 pm
content: How about a Rigol DS2072 (hacked into a DS2202) plus a saleae logic analyzer

author: amit
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 07:14:28 pm
content: Have ordered open Logic sniffer , is saleae logic worth the etc money ?i was thinking of buying standalone MSO , Rigol DS2072 is oscilloscope , a cheap oscilloscope is available from Agilent DSO1052B but it has very less bandwidth and memory depth compared to Rigol DS2072

author: DaveW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 09:02:30 pm
content: The DSO1052B is just the Rigol DS1052E rebadged; may as well get it from Rigol directly! The DS2072 is a much better scope

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 19, 2013, 10:11:53 pm
content: The DSO1052B isn't based on the DS1052E, but on another Rigol model with less memory.The Saleae Logic has been discussed multiple times on this forum. Google should be able to find the older threads. The consensus is usually that the specs aren't very impressive, but that the build quality and software is quite good, unlike many competitors with faster sampling rate and more channels.Here is a recent thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what's-your-opinion-about-this-logic-analyzer(usb-saleae-24m-8ch-2013)/From what I remember, the Rigol DS1xxxD MSOs were not very well received here and on rcgroups.com. I think this was discussed in 2010 when these scopes were still fairly new.

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 20, 2013, 01:38:35 am
content: Quote from: amit on August 19, 2013, 07:14:28 pmBuy both, depending on the task at hand you will need either high speed multiple channels or low speed long sample time.

author: amit
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 20, 2013, 12:45:09 pm
content: My Test Circuit is powered at 1.8 volt, thats not supported either by OLS or Saleae Logic , Logic 16 from Saleae supports 1.8 volt but is priced at 300 $ ,that's why an MSO could be useful , because Logic Analyzer part will not minimum voltage limit , anyway 2 channel DSO will not be that useful , 4 channel DSO will be somewhat more useful

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 20, 2013, 05:29:29 pm
content: Quote from: amit on August 20, 2013, 12:45:09 pmYou will want to build your own level shifter board then. Trust me, you do not want to use a MSO as your only means of debugging logic stuff. MSO's have neither the memory depth (Saleae), channel count (OLS) or interface for this kind of work. And let's not even get into the issue of decoder license prices for MSOs, Logic debugging on MSO's are a nice-to-have but you WILL feel the pain if you are stuck with one as the ONLY tool available.

author: amit
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 20, 2013, 10:56:34 pm
content: Thanks for advice , I will go with DS2072 and Saleae Logic , although DS1102E is available for less than half the price , but DS2072 seems to be much more advanced than 1102E , if needed optional I2C decode is possible in it for around 200 usd , which is 1/10 th of what Agilent charges for that feature in its oscilloscopes

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2013, 11:04:37 pm
content: Quote from: amit on August 20, 2013, 10:56:34 pmThe 2072 is an excellent scope, no doubt. And the decode option (with I2C, PSI, and RS232) is a good deal too, but just for the record the DSOX2EMBD (I2C and SPI) decode option for the Agilent 2000 series is only about 2.4 times (not 10x) the price charged by Rigol (Agilent's price is $500). Congrats on the new scope and LA - let us know how it goes when you get them.

author: amit
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 21, 2013, 09:08:54 am
content: Thanks for the info about Agilent 2000 series , i saw i2c license price for a different modelhttp://www.home.agilent.com/en/pd-748302-pn-N5423A/ic-and-spi-serial-data-decode-option-for-infiniivision-6000-and-7000b-series-oscilloscopes?&cc=IN&lc=engAnother Question , if 74LVC4245 is used in input of Saleae Logic to translate 1.8 volt Logic levels to 3.3 volt will it work seamlessly ,

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2013, 10:30:32 am
content: You'll be fine, at the sample rate SL works at the timing delay introduced is negligible and completely moot if you buffer all 8 channels.