Zeroplus LAP-C16064 logic analyzer review

[JuKu]

So, I bought a Zeroplus LAP-C16064 logic analyzer. I don't have a big need for a logic analyzer, nor am I an experienced user for such. But a 16 channel analyzer that can decode all the protocols I use (including showing the waveform of several I2S signals at the same time!) for 129€ plus shipping and accessories, I thought to check that out.

A smallish white box with an USB connection and color coded wires. Build quality seems ok, better than I expected. Nice semi-hard carrying case, too. No complaints here. Software installed ok and is stable, based on my limited use of it so far. The protocols are plug-ins, only a few are built in. The download from Zeroplus web site is painfully slow! Otherwise, I had no issues about installation of plugins either. But did I mention the downloads are slow?

The software seems adequate, and has more features than I need. It is not very easy to use, and some of the functions are counter-intuitive, but it gets the job done, kind of. I'm sure a logic analyzer heavy user would be frustrated with the software to no end, but I'm happy to see an SPI packet being sent with the values shown to me in hex numbers, and to see the response 500us later, again spelled out. The time ruler goes 1.84us, 11.84us, 21.84us... The screen is filled with fancy colorful items that I don't need or know what they are supposed to do, the explanations are in obscure logic and poor English... But it gets the job done, there are cursors to do measurements and it doesn't crash too often. So far, not once, but I've given it only a couple of days of light use. Stable enough.

Pros:
-Very good value for money
-Good build quality (but I didn't open it, it is just a plastic box. Hard to go wrong with that! :- )
-All the protocols you can imagine - and then a lot more
-Enough functions, at least for my use: You can see waveforms when a waveform display makes sense (I haven't tried that yet, though), rename channels, configure colors etc
-Good customer support: I've asked a couple of questions, and my e-mails are returned the next day, with answers. There is a cultural gap: I asked if something was possible, and Olivia answered "Yes!", but didn't tell me how. :-) Ok, knowing that the capability is there, I found it in a minute or two.
-Nice case, although I don't plan to travel with it - but I could.

Cons:
-Confusing software
-poor manual and help files. Ok, I don't speak English as my native language either and I write like an nerd engineer sometimes, too. But the material certainly is not written by a professional English technical writer!
-extremely slow download of protocols, like 48MB over a 6kB/s connection. (But I did got some, I just have to know a day before when I need to analyze a signal that I don't have the protocol plug-in yet

Summary: Very good hobbyist analyzer. For professional use, I would not recommend it other than occasional, not very demanding use - figuring out the software on daily basis would not be very productive. But for light, occasional use a good <130€ instrument is just great!

Overall score: 9+. If the budget is 150€ max emphasis is on value, so a full 10. Besides, the 16032 model with half the memory is <100€.

Links:
Zeroplus: http://www.zeroplus.com.tw/_en/products.php?pdn=3&pdnex=list#top_61
Tigal, where I bought it: http://www.tigal.com/brand/37

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Zeroplus or Tigal, other than a customer. However, if you are going to buy one because of this review, please send me a message first, Zeroplus will reward the recommender. :-) (http://www.zeroplus.com.tw/EDM/20110926/index-en.html)
Ti

[0xdeadbeef]

Though this was discussed before: the C16032, C16064 and C16128 all share the exactly same hardware, i.e. they have a 4.5MBit RAM (CY7C1347G) and can converted to each other by patching the ID in the EEPROM. Note: if you plan to do so, register the protocols for the patched devices, else they won't work after patching.

[DavidDLC]

0xdeadbeef,

How do you register the protocols for the patched devices ?

David.

[0xdeadbeef]

As I said, you need to register the patched device. Then you can select your protocols and get the license codes you can use to activate/register the protocols in the SW.
But as the license codes are only valid for the registered device, this has to be the same one that the software detects (and that the EEPROM reports).
Honestly, I forgot the details as I did this two years ago or so, but it was straigth forward (albeit the site was and still is terribly slow).