can bus analyzer micro chip APGDT002 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: stern0m1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2019, 02:23:06 am
content: Is there any open source software that works with the can bus analyzer micro chip APGDT002?Thanks

author: dustooff
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2019, 10:44:15 pm
content: Hi,I was just trying to get my APGDT002 going again after a few years of not using it.The Microchip PC application was actually open source, but it suffered from a few bugs.This guy ...below, had updated the app and fixed a few bugs, was then quite usable.https://www.microchip.com/forums/m851044.aspxHTH

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2019, 11:19:54 pm
content: I researched that Microchip tool, plus their little two-board tool, and bunch of others from other sources several years ago. Seriously, none are up to the task. They have trouble with higher data rates (as in "anything over 125K"), or their software is laughable, or something. It was always something. All those tools are now sitting in a pile in the corner, unused for years.I ended up choosing the PCAN tool series from Peak. They're in Europe but they have a US distributorhttps://phytools.com/collections/usb-interfaces/products/pcan-usb-adapterthat is absolutely top-notch in terms of support. As in, they have intelligent and informed staff who actually understand the products they rep, real live people answer the phone andcall you backand everything.The PCAN tools have an entire suite of software that goes with them. The basic tool is free, but that doesn't mean it's underfeatured. You can watch CAN messages, set filters to make things more sane, capture data to log files (which I often then import into Excel for analysis), generate your own messages which can be transmitted manually or on programmable intervals... essentially everything you'd want to do for basic to mid-level CAN work. Beyond that, they have paid versions of the tools that presumably offer even more features, but I haven't needed them so far. They also have an API/driver so you can use their interfaces with your own software - something we WILL be doing in the near future. I believe that API/driver package is also free for the downloading.So far we've bought our original, and then two more of these PCAN's from PhyTools, making one in R&D, one in Production, and one for field work. They work great - what more needs to be said?I strongly urge you to stop wasting time with lesser CAN tools and take a serious look at the PCAN devices. This is the single best suggestion I can offer to anyone considering work with CAN.(Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with any of the named companies except as a very satisfied customer.)EDIT: I forgot to mention Peak offers several models of these PCAN tools. The more expensive units start adding FD support, optoisolation, etc. Basically pay for what you need, don't pay for what you don't.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2019, 07:14:51 am
content: PEAK can is a full package supplier, including analyzer software. You can also look at Kvaser for high quality hardware and software. Main advantage of Kvaser is the ability to run multiple applications at once on one physical interface.Last time I checked a few years ago PEAK wasn't able to do this.Add BUSMASTER, and you're probably fine too.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2019, 12:56:09 am
content: x2 on Kvaser, sorry I didn't mention them. I don't have any personal experience with them but they appear very professional. Either Kvaser or Peak will serve you well.

author: SparkyFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2019, 04:39:06 am
content: There´s plenty of manufacturers, but if you insist on open source software this is hard.Open Source Logic analyzers might get closest but usually do not send data on CAN.It´s not as if there are licenses for doing so, it is just that you have to have the bandwidth on the PC interface (could mean up to 1MBaud per CAN Interface raw) and this usually requires to come up with a homebrew protocol that includes configuration information and reflects the features of the hardware. Some offer APIs to this - which is cool, but usually Windows only.As long as it is just downstream that´s all relatively easy, but when it comes to real time capability this becomes a problem because if you´d need to respond by sending a frame through the application within a short amount of time (like time out after 150ms) buffers and slow protocols do not help with that.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2019, 01:33:09 pm
content: Quote from: IDEngineer on May 21, 2019, 11:19:54 pmAgree 100% +1Altough we opted for a kvaser interfacei use a combination of the free canKing from kvaser (for quick things) and the equally free BusMaster (for when i need more advanced features and logging. You can't really log with canKing..)