Saleae 8 bit logic analyzer Clone

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a23 ... 9479427685

The same part on New Egg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 2C512S0593

Not the same quality but is it good enough for the 6502?

Even cheaper: http://dx.com/p/logic-analyzer-w-dupont ... ack-148945
$11,50 free shipping
Reviews are quite good, many references to Saleae software compatibility.

24 MHz is not very high as sample rate, but low clocked lines (couple of MHz) will be fine.

Only 8 bits? No separate timing channel? Ouch. Yes, it's cute, and it might be interesting for a small-scale AVR project, but I was thinking that having about twenty-six data lines and a separate timing channel was cramped for 6502 work (just enough to be able to watch sixteen address lines, eight data lines, RWB, RESB, and the phi2 clock). Sample rate aside, with only eight lines total I think that you're probably going to be scrambling to try and get enough data to figure out what's going on.

Then again, what do I know? I'm very inexperienced with the whole hardware thing, and have only used my logic analyzer about twice.

Funny thing is I designed and debugged POC without a logic analyzer. I used only my trusty B&K logic probe (which is some 20 years old) and an old Beckman 20 MHz scope, the latter which croaked a few years ago and got replaced with an H-P 275 MHz unit. I've been working with this stuff since back before the Intel 8008 was on the drawing board and have never used (or had a fulminating lust for) a logic analyzer. I wouldn't buy one even if it was only one dollar, shipping included.

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Having never used a logic analyzer is a sign that you dont really know what you are talking about, but also that you dont need one, since POC is impressive!

In fact, I build my first 6502 systems in the 80ties with just a home made 3 channel logic probe and a multimeter to check for broken connections. So yes, it can be done, but in those days I would very much have liked to ahve access to one of those very expensive digital scopes/logic analyzers I worked with at the electronics lab at university. I just could not afford a scope.

If you dont have any equipment, this little inexpensive device can be very useful. Even with 8 channels you can check a lot. Especially for serial connections like I2C or async serial, two or three channels is enough and this device is often fast enough.

Nah, most of the time 4 to 8 lines are more than enough to monitor. If you really need to check all lines of the 6502 you have serious design problems.

I have the original Saleae Logic Analyzer. Yes it is rather expensive. But they did such a nice job with the software (especially they have Mac OS X support) that I think it is a shame to go for cheap imitations and download the software for free. The value of this solution is definitively the software. On the other hand, this is not a professional tool either. As a logic analyzer it lacks many features you expect from real analyzer. Especially regarding input signal and logic level. Also 8-bit is on the minimal side. As a hobbyist solution it is ok and as Hans said if you need more than 8 lines to debug a 6502 system you have a design problem and looking at 16 or 32 confusing signals will most probably not reveal the real issue. But in real environments 16-bits and 50Msamples/sec is the minimum you use.

I have never used the Saleae to debug a system. I mostly use it for reverse engineering

I have the sixteen input Logic 16 and agree. It's a lovely system. Really nice software (great to see versions on all 3 platforms). I especially like the serial protocol decoding which was handy when writing my bitbanged SPI code. Can't say I've used other LAs though... Maybe they all have that.

Can't say I've used the clones, and agree it does seem a tad "wrong"... Somehow.

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