Post by thread:Proboard logic analyzer

I got the logic analyzer from ProBoard today. This is the $199 24 channel device discussed here in the Piclist before. I ordered the 8K sample upgrade ($39) and they threw in for free an extruded aluminium box (listed as a $39 value). My impressions: basically it's exactly as advertised - it is well made, uses pretty standard components (the memory is not FIFO chips, but 20ns 6264 skinny-dips). The on-board clock is a 50MHz canned oscillator in a socket. I did not get (and they told me this in advance) the 115200 baud feature - this is apparently coming imminently - they did supply an extra crystal apparently to replace the 8051's current crystal for the new baud rate when I get the new software. Printed doco is sketchy, but there is a much more extensive read.me file on the disk, along with 3 different user interfaces. I've only briefly played with it, but it came up with no trouble, and appears to do just what it's supposed to. The user interface is VGA graphics, but ran happily in a full-screen DOS box under Win95 (haven't tried it under NT 'cos my NT machine has no spare serial ports). A couple of gripes; the case is of limited value since with the board in it, you can't readily get at the reset button (== terminate capture) nor can you get at the external clock input (it's just a pad on the board - you have to solder a connector to it). There appears to be provision for pre- rather than post-trigger sampling, but the doco says it's not a supported feature yet. Overall I'd say that it's good value for money, and if, like me, you have occasional use for logic analyzer but can't justify spending $000's on one, this would be a good buy. Clyde -- Clyde Smith-Stubbs | HI-TECH Software, | Voice: +61 7 3300 5011 spam_OUTclydeTakeThisOuThitech.com.au | P.O. Box 103, Alderley, | Fax: +61 7 3300 5246 http://www.hitech.com.au | QLD, 4051, AUSTRALIA. | BBS: +61 7 3300 5235 HI-TECH C: Compiling the real world...

Clyde Smith-Stubbs <.....clydeKILLspam@spam@hitech.com.au> wrote: > I got the logic analyzer from ProBoard today. This is the $199 24 > channel device discussed here in the Piclist before. > .... > Overall I'd say that it's good value for money, and if, like me, you > have occasional use for logic analyzer but can't justify spending > $000's on one, this would be a good buy. Clyde: Good info... Maybe I'll pick one up. By the way, I notice that no one's mentioned another really good source for high-ticket test equipment: Electronics swap meets. There's one in TRW's parking lot in Los Angeles, for instance, where all sorts of equipment can be had VERY cheaply. For instance, there was an Arium ML-4100C logic analyzer just like my old one ($8000 new) for $150 INCLUDING a couple of $900-retail pods. Most of the stuff at these swap meets is sold as-is, but there are a lot of vendors who run their operations as real businesses and will take returns if the equipment doesn't work. At TRW, there are usually a few people with generators set up so that you can actually plug the equipment in and test it before you buy. If you don't know of any local swap meets in your area, find a ham-radio operator and ask him (I know, I know... Those guys ARE a little weird, but if you're lucky, you won't have to talk to them for very long). -Andy Andrew Warren - fastfwdKILLspamix.netcom.com Fast Forward Engineering, Vista, California http://www.geopages.com/SiliconValley/2499

{Quote hidden}>Clyde Smith-Stubbs <EraseMEclydespam_OUTTakeThisOuThitech.com.au> wrote: > >> I got the logic analyzer from ProBoard today. This is the $199 24 >> channel device discussed here in the Piclist before. >> .... >> Overall I'd say that it's good value for money, and if, like me, you >> have occasional use for logic analyzer but can't justify spending >> $000's on one, this would be a good buy. > >Clyde: > >Good info... Maybe I'll pick one up. > >By the way, I notice that no one's mentioned another really good >source for high-ticket test equipment: Electronics swap meets. > >There's one in TRW's parking lot in Los Angeles, for instance, where >all sorts of equipment can be had VERY cheaply. For instance, there >was an Arium ML-4100C logic analyzer just like my old one ($8000 new) >for $150 INCLUDING a couple of $900-retail pods. > >Most of the stuff at these swap meets is sold as-is, but there are a >lot of vendors who run their operations as real businesses and will >take returns if the equipment doesn't work. At TRW, there are >usually a few people with generators set up so that you can actually >plug the equipment in and test it before you buy. > >If you don't know of any local swap meets in your area, find a >ham-radio operator and ask him (I know, I know... Those guys ARE a >little weird, but if you're lucky, you won't have to talk to them for >very long). > >-Andy > >Andrew Warren - fastfwdspam_OUTix.netcom.com >Fast Forward Engineering, Vista, California >http://www.geopages.com/SiliconValley/2499 > >They are weird, but they can also read capacitor codes; be nice to them, they're a dying breed :(