need equipment advise to analyse I2C - SMBus - SPI ... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: hifihifi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 01:54:39 pm
content: I am looking for a device (connected to pc) that can analyse I2C - SMBus - SPI ...Price must be under 500$ but around 200$ would be nice.I will use it to analyse laptop battery I2C and things and don't know for now. Sow SPI is not needed if it is not possible for that price.The device must can act as a reader, master is on the test-equipment what I want to read, thus it must be pasive mode. If the device can ask as master it is handy, but not a must be.Some examples:http://www.totalphase.com/products/aardvark-i2cspi/http://www.totalphase.com/products/beagle-i2cspi/http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Bus_PirateA good filtering for the data like this is what I like to have:Looks like the open source project can do much, but no easy to use software.Share your comments and experiences !

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 02:09:27 pm
content: We use the Beagle quite a lot for for I2C debugging at work, great little device.

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 02:39:27 pm
content: I have the Ardvark on my desk and find it handy. I don't remember what the Beagle does that the Ardvark doesn't. I think the main reason I went with the Ardvark was the demo board for our device had example code for the Ardvark. That was worth the money in time saved to get rolling.I'm about to write some Linux/Android device drivers for two I2C devices on my current project and will be trying the Ardvark, a Logic 8 and I2C on the Rigol DS4k scopes. It will be interesting to see which is the most useful.

author: hifihifi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 06:14:36 pm
content: As I read the Aardvark can only be used as slave or master, this is not what I need.The Beagle is not to play as slave or master, but to listen only. That is what I want.If there is a device the can do both I will glad to know :-)

author: dc101
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 06:28:58 pm
content: I briefly had the Zeroplus Logic Century LAP-C 16128+ (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A6897AU) But ended up returning it because it was a pain to get it to trigger correctly and it also wasn't real time. Maybe it was operator error?I figured if I had to mess around with my scope to get the trigger levels right then I might as well get the scope upgrade instead.The software was pretty good and had a vast library of protocol support. Build quality was excellent, it was a nice product, just didn't fit my needs.

author: crusader66
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 06:45:05 pm
content: I used a NI USB-8451 a few years ago. I think it is in the price range you mentioned.

author: hifihifi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 07:05:42 pm
content: This looks great for small price!http://www.saleae.com/logichttp://www.saleae.com/logic16I am wondering if this works real time.Am I correct that the Beagle works realtime and the Saleae.com not ?

author: BJH
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 07:17:35 pm
content: http://www.ikalogic.com/ikalogic-products/scanaplus-9-channels-100mhz-logic-analyzer/

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 07:37:46 pm
content: I use the highend Beagle USB 3.0 analyzer daily and it's a great bit of gear. The software is pretty good. Much better than a Saleaeaeaea in my opinion

author: dc101
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 07:39:01 pm
content: Quote from: hifihifi on March 02, 2014, 07:05:42 pmNot according to the video:http://www.saleae.com/logic/videosI don't think there's many inexpensive SPI/I2C decoders that do real time.

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 07:48:55 pm
content: Quote from: hifihifi on March 02, 2014, 07:05:42 pmYou're correct.The Total Phase Data Center, the GUI for the Beagles, is great to work with. I haven't used the I2C/SPI Beagle, but I have used the USB480 Beagle.I've also used the Saleae Logic. It has very primitive triggering (read: almost none), but comes with a pile of protocol decoders, which makes it a more versatile choice if you don't know what else you're going to get into.(edit: fix typos)

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 09:57:54 pm
content: Quote from: BJH on March 02, 2014, 07:17:35 pmlooks interesting in their demo/video:pretty reasonable price toohttp://www.ikalogic.com/ikalogic-products/scanalogic-2/

author: hifihifi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 08:39:00 am
content: looks nice, found also this one:http://www.i2ctools.com/products.html#USBtoI2C_EliteCan handle device specific but I don't find if this can handle/capture all traffic to analyse ?