32-channel PC-based logic analyzers

"ernie" <ernielin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d7fe9825.0407221009.53f06e40@posting.google.com...
> > We use a couple of Rocky Mountain Logic Ant16 USB logic analyzers.
Works
> > very well and fits in your pocket!
> >
> > http://www.rockylogic.com/products/ant16.html
> >
> > I've only used one at a time and have never had more than 12-13 channels
> > going at once, but suits our purposes on our under 100MHz fpga boards.
Love
> > working on my board on my laptop with Byteblaster, serial port, and
Ant16 a
> > blazin'.
> >
>
> Hi Ken,
>
> I was actually thinking of purchasing one of the Ant16 analyzers too,
> but I couldn't find any reviews so I was hesitant.  So you don't find
> having only 16 channels limits your work?  I am trying to debug a
> memory bus so I thought that 16 channels would be inadequate.
>
> I was also wondering if you know anyone who's tried maybe using more
> than one Ant16 analyzer at a time, ie. if you plug in 2 Ant16s would
> the software recognize both at the same time?
>
> Thanks!
> Ernie

Hello,

I have used the Ant8 logic analyzer and for the money it is good value.
Obvisouly having only 8 channels limits what you can do.  The sample depth
of the Ant8 is quite small and so it is only suitable for slow signals.  I
haven't checked this, but I think the Ant16 has only half the sample depth
of the Ant8.  The software doesn't allow multiple Ant8/16 devices, so it
wouldn't be much use for 32bit applications.  As it's USB based the data
does not arrive continuously, so trying to combine devices would most likely
fail.  To conclude, the Ant8/16 logic analyzers are very good value for
money, but they are limited (in my opinion).

Hi Ernie,

I don't know.  I guess I'm lazy and I don't usually hookup all the address
or data lines.  The lower 2-5 is usually plenty for me. (I usually just want
to know if the address and data are stable before WEn or something, or how
long my interupt latency is, etc.)

Besides, have you priced a stand alone unit?  Even on ebay they're very
expensive.

My needs are probably modest, but the 2ns resolution has been enough for my
detailed timing and backing off to 10 or 20 seems to do fine for seeing the
big picture.  I think the max sampling is 500MHz.

I don't remember what I paid for it but my hardware consultant practically
kidnapped my first one (even though he has a big HP LA) so I got another one
for me.

I do wish they had one that was a little better for a little more money
(mainly could use a deeper buffer) but I don't see anything better that is
worth it for me.  I'm sure they are for others.

I have the new pico DSO on the way that is only 2 channel but has 1MB of
buffer with 10 GSps.

Ken

"ernie" <ernielin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d7fe9825.0407221009.53f06e40@posting.google.com...
> > We use a couple of Rocky Mountain Logic Ant16 USB logic analyzers.
Works
> > very well and fits in your pocket!
> >
> > http://www.rockylogic.com/products/ant16.html
> >
> > I've only used one at a time and have never had more than 12-13 channels
> > going at once, but suits our purposes on our under 100MHz fpga boards.
Love
> > working on my board on my laptop with Byteblaster, serial port, and
Ant16 a
> > blazin'.
> >
>
> Hi Ken,
>
> I was actually thinking of purchasing one of the Ant16 analyzers too,
> but I couldn't find any reviews so I was hesitant.  So you don't find
> having only 16 channels limits your work?  I am trying to debug a
> memory bus so I thought that 16 channels would be inadequate.
>
> I was also wondering if you know anyone who's tried maybe using more
> than one Ant16 analyzer at a time, ie. if you plug in 2 Ant16s would
> the software recognize both at the same time?
>
> Thanks!
> Ernie

ernielin@gmail.com (ernie) wrote in message news:<d7fe9825.0407221009.53f06e40@posting.google.com>...
> > We use a couple of Rocky Mountain Logic Ant16 USB logic analyzers.  Works
> > very well and fits in your pocket!
> > 
> > http://www.rockylogic.com/products/ant16.html
> > 
> > I've only used one at a time and have never had more than 12-13 channels
> > going at once, but suits our purposes on our under 100MHz fpga boards.  Love
> > working on my board on my laptop with Byteblaster, serial port, and Ant16 a
> > blazin'.
> > 
> 
> Hi Ken,
> 
> I was actually thinking of purchasing one of the Ant16 analyzers too,
> but I couldn't find any reviews so I was hesitant.  So you don't find
> having only 16 channels limits your work?  I am trying to debug a
> memory bus so I thought that 16 channels would be inadequate.
> 
> I was also wondering if you know anyone who's tried maybe using more
> than one Ant16 analyzer at a time, ie. if you plug in 2 Ant16s would
> the software recognize both at the same time?

I haven't tried the Ant16 yet, but I would be surprised if you
could span more than 16 signals for a trigger when using more than
one.  This would require some sort of hardware support and I see
nothing but USB coming out the back.

> 
> Thanks!
> Ernie