Analog Discovery + Tina Design, what do you think about ?

[legacy]

Digilent in collaboration with Analog Devices and Xilinx has released a new toy: it's name is Analog Discovery

Overview
The Digilent Analog Discovery design kit, developed in conjunction with Analog Devices Inc., is the first in a new line of all-in-one analog design kits that will enable engineering students to quickly and easily experiment with advanced technologies and build and test real-world, functional analog design circuits anytime, anywhere - right on their PCs. For the price of a textbook, students can purchase a low-cost analog hardware development platform and components, with access to downloadable teaching materials, reference designs and lab projects to design and implement analog circuits as a supplement to their core engineering curriculum.
Engineering schools have traditionally had to build and maintain centralized teaching labs. These labs, with their specialized equipment and trained lab assistants, are expensive and hard to maintain. With the Analog Discovery design kit, we're helping schools build distributed labs - labs that can be found in dorm rooms, cafeterias, libraries - anywhere students want to work.
Analog Inputs
AD9648 dual, 14-bit, 105 MSPS, 1.8 V dual analog-to-digital converter
2-channel differential (1 M?, 24 pF), ±20 V max
250 ?V to 5 V/division with variable gain settings
50 MSPS, 5 MHz bandwidth, up to 16k points/channel record length
Analog Outputs
AD9717 dual, 14-bit, 125 MSPS, low power digital-to-analog converter
2-channel, single-ended, arbitrary waves up to ±4 V
50 MSPS, 5 MHz bandwidth, up to 16k samples/channel
Standard and user-defined waveforms
Sweeps, envelopes, AM and FM modulation
Power Supplies
2 fixed +4.5 V (+50 mA) and –4.5 V (+50 mA)
Digital I/O
16 signals shared between logic analyzer, pattern generator, and discrete I/O devices
100 MSPS, buffer size is 4k transitions per pin
Crosstriggering with scope channels
Software
Waveforms software: full-featured GUI for all instruments
Windows XP or newer
Linux and OS X versions soon
Package Content
Analog Discovery
Waveforms software
References
Manufacturer: Digilent Inc.
Manufacturer part name: Analog Discovery Developed with Analog Devices
Manufacturer part code: ANALOG-DISCOVERY

From digilent product description you can see this document (pdf), which is is a reference for the Analog Discovery's electrical functions and operations. This reference also provides a description of the hardware's features and limitations.


Additionally it seems you can buy Analog Discovery plus an academic version of Tina Design Suite, which is called Tina Student Edition and has the following limitations

It has the same features as the educational version except that the max. circuit node and PCB pad numbers are limited to 100. Hierarchical and Team Design, Version Control, RF models given by S-parameters, Network Analysis, Parameter Extractor, Stress Analysis, Steady State Solver and the HDL debugger are not included.

TINA Design Suite is a powerful yet affordable circuit simulation and PCB design software package for analyzing, designing, and real time testing of analog, digital, HDL, MCU, and mixed electronic circuits and their PCB layouts. You can also analyze SMPS, RF, communication, and optoelectronic circuits; generate and debug MCU code using the integrated flowchart tool; and test microcontroller applications in a mixed circuit environment. A unique feature of TINA is that you can bring your circuit to life with the optional USB controlled TINALab II and LogiXplorer hardware, which turns your computer into a powerful, multifunction T&M instrument. Electrical engineers will find TINA an easy to use, high performance tool, while educators will welcome its unique features for the training environment.

What do you think about this idea and this product ?

As far as i understood t should be good for smaller circuit under 5Mhz of bandwidth and with less 100 nodes, the whole priced at less than 240 euro (VAT applied and shipped)

[ktemkin]

This has been discussed here before:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/new-analog-devicesdigilent-analog-discovery-board/

I'm faculty of a large-ish university, where we assign these as part of the "lab kits" used by students taking our online summer courses. They're fairly good instruments for students who otherwise wouldn't have access to lab equipment at home-- especially at the student price of $99-- but they definitely aren't a replacement for a proper lab setup.

Other thoughts:

• The software that comes with the kit is pretty nice; usually, the software is what lets down a USB scope. The software seems pretty well-featured, and isn't horrid to use-- the software isn't buttons-and-knobs friendly, but it is very usable.
• The scope seems to work well. By itself, the kit is uses simple fly-wires instead of proper probes, which means that you can see a fair amount of capacitive coupling between channels. This goes away if you use their BNC adapter board-- but it's external and costs extra; and you'll need proper probes to use it.
• The scope doesn't feature any built-in AC coupling-- which isn't a huge deal, as you can accomplish this yourself external to the scope. The BNC adapter board has a capacitor in series with the BNC probe for "AC coupling"-- you can short this out with a jumper to DC couple the input.
• The scope's inputs are differential-- which is a nice stand-out feature, though you'll still have to be careful not to exceed the common-mode voltage rating of the inputs (+/-50V).
• The built-in arb works (by 4k-points at 14-bit / 100MSPS), but is limited by the analog output bandwidth. The output appears to be unterminated.
• The logic analyzer very, very limited-- which makes it useless for many applications: you only can capture 4k-samples at a time, by default. If you're willing to temporarily disable the other features of the device, you can reconfigure the internal FPGA to get 16-kS.
• The bode-plotting "network analyzer" feature seems to work well. in its limited frequency range. Screenshots below.
• The power supplies are extremely limited: they're only rated for 50mA on each of the two fixed 5 and -5V power supply rails. You can generate DC reference voltages with the arb, but don't expect to be able to load the arb significantly.
• The voltmeters are just okay; you should be able to do better with a handheld multimeter. In our courses, we give them a variety of current-sense resistors, and let them save themselves the extra money to get a decent DMM.
• They do provide a just-okay free electronics course centered around the device, including labs.

Screenshot of the Bode plotter examining a 150R/100nF RC flow-pass filter (pole at approximately 10.6kHz), since I happened to already have one on hand:



For your reference, here's what that should look like:




Bottom line: They definitely don't seem like they'd be worth 240 Euros ($330 USD / $350 AUD)-- you could get a fair amount of used lab equipment for that price!

[legacy]

it may be/be not

i have bought
- a brand new Rigol DSO 100Mhz 2 channels with an integrated LA for 700 euro shipped VAT applied (from a Rigol reseller)
- a second hand Rigol Wave Gen 40Mhz 2 channels with USB module for 170 euro (from a friend of mine)
- a second hand LA/C 50Mhz 16 channels with USB module and protocol analyzer for 160 euro (from a friend of mine)
- a brand new double Power Supply 2x30V/5A with RS232 and USB control module for 250 euro (from a local reseller)


btw, what about Tina Design Suite ? What do you think about ?
I am reading that i can have a discount for the Basic Edition, which means, 100 euro for this

It has the same features as the Classic Edition, except that the circuit size is limited to 200 nodes. Global Parameters and HDL extensions are not allowed. For home and small business use only!

it sounds good for home use, and it sounds nice for the 1200-problems-and-examples-pack, doesn't it ?

[GrandTheftAuto4life]

I got the Analog Discovery a while ago and it's very nice tool.

But i would prefer a real scope sometimes, i like knobs, sliders and buttons

[legacy]

For europe, the right price should be

Code: [Select]

1xDigilent Discovery 213,90 euro
Shipping ___________  10,60 euro
Total ______________ 224,50 euro
(tax included)

I am talking about the version (DIGILENT ANALOG DISCOVERY ¦ STANDARD) who does not require any academic license: i was a student years ago, now i am not, so i can't have any academic discount.

mirifica store

[Dongulus]

The device offers great value for students and beginners. The bandwidths of the oscilloscope and function generator are fine for fundamental circuits and the probes are convenient for interfacing with breadboarded circuits. However, I have found that the Analog Discovery is very easy to outgrow after graduating from breadboards and dev kits.

I bought one last year at the academic price because of a course I was enrolled in on Coursera. I wanted it because at the time because I didn't have bench space to work with and I really needed some equipment to work with. It's served me well, but as of now I have a full bench setup with plenty of room and I'm really hurting for a real oscilloscope.