[sdiy] Logic Analyzers

[Neil Johnson]

MTG wrote:
> "Cheap", "DIY" and such for tools is just going to keep you farther away for
> using a tool for what you want to use it for.  I understand folks with spare
> time and limited budgets may want to go that route, but it's not without
> it's heartaches.  I say get solid tools, standalone where possible.

Like anything in life you get what you pay for (and by "pay" I don't
just mean money, your time also has value).

> Having said that, I have a LogicPort and have hardly ever used it for the
> type of protocol debugging that spawned this topic.

A great tool - I have one in my work kitbag (I think I have one
kicking around at home as well).  If you're careful and use the
features it can be a very versatile tool.  But outside of those limits
I have other tools (e.g., I2C bus analysers) for higher-level
analysis.

One area of compromise on these smaller LAs is in the triggering.  On
HP LAs of old you could set up quite complex trigger conditions for
catching nasty little bugs (IF this and NOT that OR 5 TIMES
somethingelse AND kersplat THEN trigger).  I have a 16702B for
heavy-duty bug hunts, and you can load up CPU disassemblers and
trigger on specific instructions.

Neil
-- 
http://www.njohnson.co.uk