Sub $1000 Logic Analyzer Comparison (Updated April 2012, but some info from 2008)
| Company Product | Channels | Scope? | Sample Rate int/ext |
Memory | Export? | SPI I2C 232 USB decoding |
Compression? | Recent software | Supports Linux? | Price |
| Link Instruments IO-3208A |
32 | No | 200/200 | 256k/ch | Yes | SPI I2C 232 | Yes | Yes | $750.00 | |
| Intronix LogicPort LA1034 |
34 | No | 500/200 | 2k/ch | Yes | SPI I2C 232 | Yes | Yes | No | $389.00 |
| USBEE AX Standard |
8 | Yes | 24Msps | >1 million samples | No | None | ? | Yes | No | $545.00 |
| USBEE AX Plus |
8 | Yes | 24Msps | >1 million samples | No | SPI I2C 232 USB PS2 | ? | Yes | No | $745.00 |
| USBEE ZX |
8 | No | 24Msps | >1 million samples | Yes | SPI I2C 232 USB | ? | Yes | No | $895.00 |
| Bitscope BS50U |
8 | Yes | 40Ms/s | 32k samples | Yes | None | ? | ? | Yes | Still sold? |
| Bitscope BS310U |
8 | Yes | 40Ms/s | 128k samples | Yes | None | ? | ? | Yes | Still sold? |
| Tech-Tools Digiview DVI-100 |
18 | No | 100mhz | 128k | Yes | SPI I2C 232 | Yes | Yes | $499.00 | |
| Rocky Logic ANT 8 |
8 | No | 500mhz no ext |
3k/ch | Yes | ? | No | Oct 2003 supported | No | $244.00 |
| Rocky Logic ANT 16 |
16 | No | 500/100 | 2k/ch | Yes | ? | No | Oct 2003 supported | No | $377.00 |
| Rocky Logic ANT 18e |
18 | No | 1ghz/100 | 8k/ch | Yes | SPI I2C | Yes | Yes | No | $488.00 |
| Asix-Tools Sigma |
16 | No | 50-200mhz | 15 million samples | Yes | 232 | Yes | Yes | Yes (through Wine) | $390.00 |
| Zero Plus LAP-16128U |
16 | No | 200/100 | 256k/ch | Yes | SPI I2C 232 | Yes | Probably | $299.00 | |
| ETC M611E |
32 | No | 100Msps/50 | 525k total | No | None | ? | Oct 2004 | No | $722.00 |
| Bugblat X34 |
32 | No | 500/200 | 6144 samples | Yes | None | Yes | April 2008 | No | $360.00 |
| Saleae Logic |
8 | No | 24mhz int only | 200M+ samples | Yes | I2C, Async Serial, SPI, 1-Wire, CAN, I2S, PCM, UNI/O, Manchester, and MP Mode | No | Yes | Yes | $149.00 |
| Saleae Logic |
16 | No | 12.5mhz@16 Channels | 10Billion? | Yes | I2C, Async Serial, SPI, 1-Wire, CAN, I2S, PCM, UNI/O, Manchester, and MP Mode | No | Yes | Yes | $299.00 |
| Dangerous Prototypes Logic Shrimp | 4 | No | 20mhz int only | 256k/ch | Yes | Multi-platform open source | $35.00 | |||
| Dangerous Prototypes Open Bench Logic Sniffer | 16/32? | No | 200mhz@16, 100mhz@32, int only | 8k@16,4k@32 | Yes | Multi-platform open source | $62.00 | |||
| 4 | No | 20MSPS int only | 256K/ch | Yes | UART, SPI, Maple Bus, Manchester, LIN bus, CAN, I2C, 1-WIRE | No | Yes | No | $79.00 |
As you may know from my amiga blog, I'm a electronics and computer hobbyist. I'm not an expert, or an EE, but I've played around enough to understand some of the basic underlying concepts. In trying to troubleshoot my evil creation that is a USB based amiga floppy drive controller, I've run into limitations with my existing equipment, which is basically a couple oscilloscopes. About 7 or 8 months ago, I purchased an Intronix LogicPort LA1034 which is one of the analyzers on the above list. I've been very happy with it, and my only real complaint is memory depth. There are always trade-offs, however, and the speed, number of channels, ease of use software, price, etc have been real nice. I've been looking around, and I noticed that many forums posts and discussions that talk about logic analyzers inevitably end up at "Get an HP/Agilent, or get a Tektronix." Or professionals that have this equipment at their disposal, whether it be at work, or at school. While they are undeniable leaders in the field, most of us normal people can't afford them. Even on EBAY they command crazy prices. So I wanted to put together a sub-$1000 list of logic analyzers that the rest of us can afford. They range from $244 - $900 and should address most needs of hobbyists around.
There has to be a cut off point, and my choice of $1000 was fairly arbitrary. This eliminates a number of companies products. First Tektronix's TLA5201B, which is the least expensive Tektronix offering, is ~$9500. Agilent's low-cost model 1690 series comes in at a paltry $7315. Note that these are "starting at" prices, usually doesn't include probes, etc. Tribalmicro offers the PA4032A at $1645. I also eliminated a few devices for not being in the same ball-park as far as cost vs features ratio. One, the poscope, costs roughly $200 w/ cables, but its sample rate is simply too slow for most of today's faster microcontrollers, memories, etc. The prices you see listed include some basic cabling -- no expensive probes need to be purchased as well.
Tektronix offers "The XYZs of Logic Analyzers" which is a very good 31-page primer on Logic Analyzers. I found it helpful and explained things very clearly without too much obvious bias towards their product line. It is amazing to see that some very inexpensive logic analyzers above have at least some of the fancy features offered by the bigger companies. I like to see the technology filter downward, and its nice to see commodity-like items with what-used-to-be high end features. Tektronix forces you to login, but maybe http://www.bugmenot.com might offer a reprieve.
I've also targeted devices whose primary function is a logic analyzer. Some of the products above, the USBEE's and the Bitscope's, have integrated oscilloscope functionality, which while they may be very good, were the not the purpose or goal of what I was looking for. I have not provided the typical analog specifications that you might be used to.
I've chosen to look at PC logic analyzers that attach via USB. Mainframe, or standalone, logic analyzers are simply too expensive, and you won't see any on my list. One product, the M611E made by ETC, appears to be parallel, and then uses a USB->parallel converter. This reeks of a "hack", and I don't like the fact that it isn't natively USB. If it gets the job done, then I suppose it shouldn't matter.
If I've missed any logic analyzers through my extensive googling, by all means, shoot me a link or a heads up so that I can add it.
Last, but not least, I've bound to have made some errors here. Please email me, keith at techtravels d0+ org, with any corrections. Please provide a web link, datasheet, or some document that backs up the claim. I've taken a lot of pains to ensure that this data in the chart is taken only from data sheets, web links, or from my actual use of the software packages.
The best place for feedback on this page is HERE.
Are you looking for oscilloscopes instead? Please check out the Open Circuits Oscilloscopes.