Re: Digital O'scopes: Sampling Rate vs. Sample Storage Space

On Aug 16, 8:31 am, Joerg <notthisjoerg...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Rich Webb wrote:
On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:28:23 -0700 (PDT), soda...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

What is the relative importance of sampling rate versus sample memory
in a digital oscilloscope?

I'm looking at two candidates: one has a sampling rate of 2GS/sec, but
only 2.5K of sample memory, while the other samples at only 400MS/sec,
but has 1M of sample memory.

For debugging microcontroller systems with typical peripherals (I2C,
SPI, ADC, LCD), which is more important, sampling rate or sample
memory size?

For your stated purpose, I'd say that a better candidate would be a
logic analyzer. Whereas PC-based, USB-interfaced o'scopes tend to be a
bit underpowered, similar logic analyzers are often cost effective and a
good fit for a home/hobby lab. Hit Google for "usb logic analyzer" for a
long list of candidates. My personal favorite (which gets a lot of use
developing professional products as well) is the Intronix logic analyzer
fromhttp://www.pctestinstruments.com/. This one includes "interpreters"
for RS-232, I2C, SPI, and CAN protocols; very handy.

A logic analyzer cannot easily detect marginal line conditions such as
overshoots, reflections, marginal levels, bus contentions. I'd go with a
scope.

I'd second that.

Logic analysers are handy tools, but NOT as good a scope. You can't
beat seeing the true probed digital signal instead of a 0/1 that the
logic analyser thinks it sees.

Dave.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Digital Oscopes: Sampling Rate vs. Sample Storage Space
    ... in a digital oscilloscope? ... only 2.5K of sample memory, while the other samples at only 400MS/sec, ... SPI, ADC, LCD), which is more important, sampling rate or sample ... Hit Google for "usb logic analyzer" for a ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Digital Oscopes: Sampling Rate vs. Sample Storage Space
    ... only 2.5K of sample memory, while the other samples at only 400MS/sec, ... SPI, ADC, LCD), which is more important, sampling rate or sample ... Hit Google for "usb logic analyzer" for a ... long list of candidates. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Digital Oscopes: Sampling Rate vs. Sample Storage Space
    ... only 2.5K of sample memory, while the other samples at only 400MS/sec, ... SPI, ADC, LCD), which is more important, sampling rate or sample ... Hit Google for "usb logic analyzer" for a ... long list of candidates. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Digital Oscopes: Sampling Rate vs. Sample Storage Space
    ... What is the relative importance of sampling rate versus sample memory ... in a digital oscilloscope? ... I'm looking at two candidates: one has a sampling rate of 2GS/sec, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)