On 3/14/2023 1:00 PM, Jonathan Chapman via cctalk wrote:
On HP: yes, perhaps. I used one of those back at DEC, in the mid 1980s. Nice
machine, but my suspicion is that I'd run into the small memory problem again
that plagues me with the Philips/Fluke analyzer I use right now.
We use several HP analyzers around here, all from the 80s. Even the "small"
ones are 72 channel and more than sufficient for all your old computer needs. The big
ones have Ethernet and will talk X11 across the network, which is super handy.
As stated previously, I agree with this. the 16500/1670X units have
replaceable cards for LA options galore, and the 16717s I have are
2MB/4MB capture length. If you capture based on a 1MHz clock, that's
multiple seconds of capture. If that's not enough, feel free to put a
16760A card in for 68 channels of 400Mhz timing and 64MB of storage. If
you halve that and use 34 channels, you can get 800MHz timing, and I
think 128MB of storage, if I read the specs correctly. You can also
trigger off the 16530/31 DSO card, or the 16521/22 function generator.
If X scares you, VNC is available on these, which is what I use. The
trigger syntax is odd but powerful.
Before getting my first HP 1650, I had an older Sony/Tektronix that suffered from the
"not deep enough capture memory" issue. Haven't run into that with the HPs yet,
especially the big HP 16500 series. I've found that if I'm running out of memory depth,
I'm probably not hooked up right.
I find I get lazy given how much I have. Probably not good practice,
but it happens.
I'll admit that I had higher hopes for the sigrok stuff, but maybe it's
just me. I have a 34 channel LA here that can use the sigrok tools, but
I've found my self continually frustrated by the entire system not
working or the data not being represented well so I can debug. So, I've
shied away from the sigrok in lieu of either using the absolutely
simplistic (but fast to set up) Saleae App or delving into the
16500/1670X unit to get what I need.
As to this comment:
On 3/14/2023 3:57 AM, Alexander Huemer via cctalk wrote:
The Chinese knockoffs of those are working beautifully and cost next to
nothing compared to the original. $50 vs $1300. Considering how well the
software works and how much memory depth you get, it is really amazing.
I use one of those[1] since years with great pleasure.
Those USB LAs are so cheap that there isn't a good reason not to have
one in the desk drawer.
I have misgivings. As a person who loves a bargain, Alexander has a
valid point, and I considered adding it to my initial response
(confession, as Alex does, I own one of them). But, as some who worked
to bring a product to market only to see people on forums say "Skip
buying it from Jim for $$$$, you can build the same thing by yourself
for $ from AliExpress parts or buy this eBay knockoff for 2X$", I will
admit that is somewhat infuriating. If the hobby community is not
willing to pay a bit of premium to support those who bring out the
products that benefit the community, the designers will get disgusted
and leave. Thus, I'd say if a Saleae is something to pursue, try to buy
one from them, to support their awesome GUI, and then drop by eBay and
grab 2 or 4 of the knockoffs to put in your toolbox or travel debugging
rucksack.
Jim
--
Jim Brain
br...@jbrain.com
www.jbrain.com
