Other useful test equipment (was: RE: Scope use...)

From: Eric Smith <eric_at_brouhaha.com>
Date: Fri Jul 21 20:48:46 2000

> Another useful piece of equipment is a multi-channel
> logic analyzer. Most of these units can read out
> pulse-timing directly, and will provide an invaluable
> way to display TTL signal patterns and relationships.
[...]
> Also, I suggest that you stick to analyzers made by
> larger companies such as HP and Textronix. You'll
> have better luck finding docs and getting help
> from other hobbyists that way.

If you can afford them, the HP 1650, 1660, and 1670 series are good
standalone analyzers. They are based on the same technology as the
16500 series analyzer mainframes.

However, it is much more common to find the older 1630 and 1631
analyzers for reasonable prices. They can do 25 MHz state analysis and
up to 16 channels of 100 MHz timing analysis. (State analysis collects
samples synchronous to the edge on an externally supplied clock, while
timing uses an internally generated clock.) They have an HP-IB (IEEE-488)
interface for computer control.

The 1631 models add a 2-channel 200 megasample/second 50 MHz digital
oscilliscope.
                    
            max max
           state timing digital
  model channels channels pods scope recent ebay prices

  1630A 35 8 4 no
  1630D 43 16 5 no $200, $61
  1630G 65 16 7 no $200.50

  1631A 35 8 4 yes
  1631D 43 16 5 yes $460, $300, $395,


(Note that there is no 1631G; the same backplane slot is used for EITHER
the extra analyzer channels OR the oscilliscope.)

Make sure you get pods and leadsets; derate the prices accordingly if
those are missing. It's possible to make your own leadsets, but you
*need* the pods, as they contain active electronics.
Received on Fri Jul 21 2000 - 20:48:46 BST