Old, new or PC?

[Frio]

Yes, yes, I have read the sticky about searching the forum for questions like these

The issue is that for specific applications, the answers end up converging into different clusters and it takes a long time to search through all combinations of questions and answers...

At any rate, please bear with me, if you would.

I would like to purchase an instrument for two main purposes:
1) Analyze analog video signals, to diagnose issues with a machine that supposedly produces VGA VESA 640x480 output (~25MHz)
2) Analyze digital circuitry ahead of the DAC that produces said VGA output, and a variety of other digital busses that run at frequencies up to around 300MHz

I am vaguely aware of three main routes to achieve said results, and I would like to ask the experts here to weigh in on what makes the most sense (and bang for buck) with a budget of around $1500 (but I can be persuaded to spend some more if the advantage is substantial), or at least the pros and cons of each:

1) Old digital oscilloscope AND/OR logic analyzer, for example the Tek TLA714/715 (is it reasonable to analyze the VGA signal with a LA? perhaps with one analog and one digital board?)
2) New DSO/MSO from Rigol et al.
3) New PC-based combo of analog and digital scopes (are they fast enough?)

Thank you very much in advance!

Frio

[james_s]

Analyzing VGA signals is easy enough, but 300MHz digital buses? You'll need a relatively high end instrument for that. Are you thinking of serial or parallel buses?

[Fungus]

I would like to purchase an instrument for two main purposes:
1) Analyze analog video signals, to diagnose issues with a machine that supposedly produces VGA VESA 640x480 output (~25MHz)

Easy/cheap.

2) Analyze digital circuitry ahead of the DAC that produces said VGA output, and a variety of other digital busses that run at frequencies up to around 300MHz

Very expensive. You'd better be well paid for fixing whatever it is, if it's even possible to fix (what if it's a custom chip?)

[Frio]

Thank you everyone for your comments!

Noone answered directly whether a TLA714 with both a 7DX/7EX and a 7NX/7NAX work for me?

Cheers!

Frio

[RomDump]

No one answered directly whether a TLA714 with both a 7DX/7EX and a 7NX/7NAX work for me?

You may want to do some research before you commit to the "TLA7Dx/Ex Digital Storage Oscilloscope Modules".  I don't think the module behaves like a traditional oscilloscope but I may be wrong.

It may be better getting two separate devices.

--
RomDump

[RomDump]

Noone answered directly whether a TLA714 with both a 7DX/7EX and a 7NX/7NAX work for me?

2) no it wont work because 7DX is a motherboard... http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Only-the-Best-9-Athlon-Motherboards-With-The-AMD-760-Chipset,351-16.html

What are you talking about? The 7DX he is referring to is the The TLA7Dx Oscilloscope module for the TLA714. He wanted to know if he should buy a logic analyzer with an Oscilloscope module for the video project he is working on.

[james_s]

Well those big mainframe logic analyzers can usually be had pretty cheaply because it's not very often one has a need for those these days. Do keep in mind the probes can easily cost more than the unit if they don't come with it though.

I don't know anything about the scope plugins for them.

[Frio]

Noone answered directly whether a TLA714 with both a 7DX/7EX and a 7NX/7NAX work for me?

you dont get the answer because...
1) you just mentioned it..
2) no it wont work because 7DX is a motherboard... http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Only-the-Best-9-Athlon-Motherboards-With-The-AMD-760-Chipset,351-16.html
maybe you can describe it in more detail because no one can read your mind... cheers.

Actually I did mention it in the sentence "Old digital oscilloscope AND/OR logic analyzer, for example the Tek TLA714/715 (is it reasonable to analyze the VGA signal with a LA? perhaps with one analog and one digital board?)".
I was referring to the fact that the 700 series can host a combination of logic analyzer and digital oscilloscope (TLA7D1, TLA7D2, TLA7E1, TLA7E2) boards...
Sorry I was not more precise.

[Frio]

No one answered directly whether a TLA714 with both a 7DX/7EX and a 7NX/7NAX work for me?

You may want to do some research before you commit to the "TLA7Dx/Ex Digital Storage Oscilloscope Modules".  I don't think the module behaves like a traditional oscilloscope but I may be wrong.

It may be better getting two separate devices.

--
RomDump

Understood, thank you!

I will ask a question in the forum to know if anyone has experience using the DSO modules for the 700 series.

Frio

[james_s]

Maybe look for the user manual online? Or look for youtube videos?

The scope option on some of the older HP logic analyzers behaves pretty much like a DSO of the era. I'd have similar expectations for Tek, they practically invented the modern oscilloscope.

[Frio]

Maybe look for the user manual online? Or look for youtube videos?

The scope option on some of the older HP logic analyzers behaves pretty much like a DSO of the era. I'd have similar expectations for Tek, they practically invented the modern oscilloscope.

Thanks, I am trying to source information online, and I am sure the user manual gives all the required information, but it is huge :-)

If anyone on the forum can direct me to the appropriate information, it would save me a lot of time...

Frio

[RomDump]

Understood, thank you!

I will ask a question in the forum to know if anyone has experience using the DSO modules for the 700 series.

Frio

For a faster response, you may want to email Gerry Man, (a local Canuk), as he mentioned he has one of those modules as well as a TLA715 on his blog.

[Frio]

Understood, thank you!

I will ask a question in the forum to know if anyone has experience using the DSO modules for the 700 series.

Frio

For a faster response, you may want to email Gerry Man, (a local Canuk), as he mentioned he has one of those modules as well as a TLA715 on his blog.

Brilliant, thank you for the tip!