Hi FrankT - that is a very interesting coincidence. Nice image you posted with your project signals labeled. It looks like maybe you pasted together two different screen shots (one DSO and one LA), or were they shown on one screen at the same time as you triggered and captured the samples? This idea of analog and digital integration with simultaneous viewing has me fascinated.
Per a comment made by jpb, I'm wondering what the possiblities are of using outputs from both a DSO and a LA to simultaneously view (and manage?) triggered events on one (computer) screen?
Hi jpb,
It sounds like you are in the "separate LA's are not only less expensive but potentially better" camp. I'm almost there but per my comment above I'm still trying to get my head around the virtues (or lack thereof) of simulataneously capturing and viewing analog and digital signals. Having said that you ask very reasonable questions: what is the budget, bandwidth, frequency, samplying rate required/wanted?
If I could answer those questions I would - but in my case I'm more on a journey than seeking a particular destination. I have a moderately good understanding of IT but a lesser understanding of electrical engineering - so I'm coming at this not so much to build anything in particular but rather to learn more about the intersection between underlying analog discreet ciruitry, some IC-based digital circuity, plus firmware and software .
My approach has been to dabble with some elementary projects (so far mostly with Arduino Uno breadboarding) and to slowly assemble some test equipment (Techtronix 2247A, Fluke 179, BK4040A, Korad 3005P) . I'd really like a BK 8500 electronic load
I doubt that I'm going to do lots of high speed firmware development or debugging - but I enjoy the learning process and it revolves around basic electronics plus computing and networking hardware and software. I find tools that help visualize cause and effect and that can confirm or dispprove a hypothesis are interesting and exciting.
So, I'm not sure about what specs I am likely to need. The Arduino Uno only operates at 16MHz but a Rasberry Pi operates at 700MHz (and for sure CPU and other devices are only going to get faster). As for protocols, I'd like to examine I2C, SPI, maybe some basic RS232, maybe CAN - the problem is I don't know what I don't know and what I will want to know
As for the budget, I can get my head around a $400k DSO and if need be a $800-$1k DSO. Likewise, I could potentially justify a $300-$500 LA. If it turns out that a better solution is a $2500 or $3k MSO I could get my head around that too. Some people buy vintage hifi gear, camera gear, or boats, or cars - when compared to these things a couple thousand dollars or so doesn't seem like alot, but I'd like to avoid investing in something I'm not likely to use - but I also don't want to dampen the learning process for lack of tools that can provide meaningful insight.
Learning should be fun
and sometimes you have to invest in tools
Long story short: What are the chances that with an Intronix LogicPort and a Rigol 2072 a DUT could be simultaneously probed for analog and digital signals so that upon triggering of either the analog or the digital signals that both the analog and digital signals could be displayed (and ideally reviewed and analyzed interactively) in a synchronized manner on a nice landscape computer monitor? And if the DSO + LA (+ computer) isn't the right answer, what's a recommended entry point with a MSO that will get flexible single (MSO) screen viewing and interactive analysis?Thanks for any questions or suggestions.