Hobby Components Ltd USB 24M 8CH 24MHz Logic Analyser, 1.1.16

This superb little unit works very well with the freeware PulseView software. I spliced into the USB cable to pickup a +5v supply (red wire) to simplify its use with 5V sensors, see attached pic with it connected to 433Mhz remote receiver also pic showing captured received signal pulses. Vary fast delivery from Hobby Components and a neat well-built unit - an absolute bargain.

I was pleasantly surprised by this little device. The build quality is pretty low (though surprisingly better than I expected for the £9 price tag). Though I did have to clean the plastic housing with a scalpel to make the lid fit properly. I've not tried it out with anything very taxing (it claims 24M Sample/sec – which is faster than you'd likely need for most applications); but for monitoring and diagnosing I2C / SPI / Serial (which is what most people will want it for) it works very well. Is it as good as one you'd buy for £250? No... But I'd say it favourably compares to anything else I've seen under £100. It's ideal for hobby or educational use (e.g. it's really cheap and it works!). If you're a pro then you'll probably want something a bit higher spec / more robust for the lab bench (but then someone else will probably be paying!) – but this would make a nice second unit: it's cheap enough that you can throw it in a field kit box without worrying about it. All in all, it's well worth the price.

Hardware is great. Up to 24Mhz sample rate (depends on PC performance). Software is the best part. I was using this to help set up i2C and CANBUS comms on a project. A scope is fine to check the signal is there, but using the PULSEVIEW software deciphers the signal and tells you what the messages contain and if there are any signal errors etc. Invaluable.

I was going to buy a more expensive logic analyser, but as my requirements were limited, I took a chance on this very inexpensive device. It arrived within six hours of ordering, so no complaints there, but when I opened the package the device and it leads were loose in a large Hantek plastic bag along with the anti-static bag which should have contained the analyser. The anti-static bag was already ripped open and its contents loose it the outer bag. Clearly the device was not new. Nevetheless I tested it on a function generator and on a SPI bus and it seemed to be OK. Connecting to the input pins is very awkward, but for £12 what can you expect. The open source Pulseview software is excellent and makes this logic analyser a very useful piece of equipment.

I've had this bit of kit for several months now and it is excellent! Does exactly what I need. I've used it at work and at home to debug I2C & SPI problems, spy on Modbus transactions. The free GUI is really good... very usable and the decoders are handy. I've even written some of my own for a couple of I2C devices to make looking at the traces easier, which really helped. Writing the decoders in Python is pretty straight forward and there are loads of examples and the docs aren't too bad either. Worth every penny!