Rigol DS1052E for logic analysis

[eenewbie]

I'm interested in analysing some logic running at 5MHz for jitter or glitching. It's just a one-wire serial protocol but I'd also like to view some other stuff on an 8 bit bus running at 80MHz. I would like to know if the Rigol DS1052E would be feasible for this task. The "D" version with the logic analyser is about 4 times more expensive. How difficult is it to analyse logic using only the analog side of an oscilloscope? I've never used an oscilloscope outside of the classroom.

I know I'll run into limitations at 80MHz with only a 50MHz scope and two probes... Do you think it's worth it to buy the "D" version and avoid the hassle of trying to use the "E" version for logic analysis? I want something that will not let me down as I take on more challenging projects, but at the same time I don't want to give up a huge chunk of cash all at once on a hobby. The USB logic analysers are neat but they all have a low sampling rate or are just as expensive as the Rigol anyway.

Thanks for your opinions,

eenewbie

[Mechatrommer]

if you are talking about one single wire logic only, have you seen my thread? (i posted a PC App to do the Logic Analyzing there and the process/command discussion on how to develop such App). Since 1052e is 1GS/s at some certain appropriate time/div setting, my theoritical logic speed it can achieve is 1G/5 = 200Mbps. 5 is my own choosing factor which mean each bit will be stored as 5 points/samples. if i really desperate for bps speed, i can try capturing at 3 or even 2 points only per bit (500Mbps) but will be less reliable and more difficult to get the correct bit value esp for many 0s or 1s in series. but so far i dont have any system near those speed to do the reliability test. or can anyone suggest? SATA, IDE or those PC high speed bus? i dont have a better skill at testing it, i dont want to blow things up. as for higher Hz, the scope will still be able to show that, except attenuated. 1052 still can be modded to 1102... so far.

[alm]

The logic analyzer option for the Rigol scope is fairly expensive and I think the reviews on RCgroups weren't too positive (don't remember exact details). Another option might be the Intronix LogicPort, it's cheaper than the Rigol logic analyzer option I believe, it's connected to a PC with a much larger screen and more capabilities, and the specs are pretty good.

A DSO will make an OK logic analyzer as long as you only need two channels and don't need advanced triggering / protocol support (at least the cheap DSO's, more expensive scopes tend to have these features).

[Mechatrommer]

intronix 34 channel... http://www.pctestinstruments.com/ same price as rigol.

[tyblu]

Don't think you'll be able to touch the 80MHz bus. If it's sending a repeating signal (ASCII "UUUU...", for example) then you can undersample to stretch it. Has anyone tried that with the Rigol (with appropriate probes)? There would be aliasing, I 'suppose..