Digilent Analog Discovery 2 Review - Workbench Wednesdays

[@malgailany]

Very useful instrument. I worked on a CAN bus for Automotives and needed to demonstrate the voltage quality as well as the digital messages on both CANL and CANH signals. Our Keysight oscilloscopes needed a differential probe to show both CANL and CANH. My Analog Discovery (AD )was able to show both signals on the 2 scope channels as well as the CAN messages on the logic analyzer simultaneously. The two scope channels of the AD are differential which is a huge plus.

[@bald_engineer]

I am very glad you mentioned differential inputs. Thank you. I added some more comments regarding why they matter here: www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-94199/l/workbench-wednesday-18-digilent-analog-discovery-review?ICID=workbench-wed-episodes#comment-246711

[@manoelbarrosmarin2698]

Thanks a lot for this nice review!! I have just one comment about the current limit of the power supplies. It is mentioned in the user guide that this device features programmable current limit for the user power. However, I have not tested the this feature by myself... 6.2. Analog Supplies Control During USB mode, the FPGA constantly reads from IC21 the current value through R173. (Optionally displayed on Main Window/Discovery or Status button). A warning is generated when exceeding 500mA (Status: OC = Over Current). If a value of 600mA is reached and Overcurrent protection is enabled (MainWindow/Device/Settings/Overcurrent protection), WaveForms turns off IC20 (ADP197) shown in Fig. 24 and IC27 shown Fig. 25, disabling the analog blocks and user power supplies. 6.3. User Supplies Control ... Inrush current limiting control Adjustable current limit Foldback current limiting Automatic retry or latch-off on current fault Programmable current-limit timer for safe operating area (SOA) Power-good and fault outputs Analog undervoltage (UV) and overvoltage (OV) protection ....

[@rainerkufferath4400]

Thanks a lot. Yes this device includes a lot functions, we use it in our university. Verry good video for our students.

[@Elecifun]

Hello, can I use the AD2 to measure low powered BTL outputs without buying differential probe kits?

[@andreaswaldherr7008]

Thanks for this great product overview!

[@PankajYadav-hr8tp]

Nice video ... please make one on keysight vs fluke dmm(top models) and also for data logging instruments

[@camelCased]

In some stores the Pro kit somehow is even cheaper than a bare AD2 😀 Still, I'm deciding between AD2 and Picoscope. Currently, I have a cheap OSC482 and it would be enough for me, but the software is clumsy, I cannot find any way how to access the signal after it has been paused by a Single trigger. I see my desired signal in preview thumbnails of cached data, but I just cannot find any way to load any of them into the main view for inspection. So counterintuitive. AD2 zooming might be so easy and natural. I hope.

[@jakemajeski4027]

Did you ever decide?

[@도둘리-i7k]

Thanks for sharing this nice product!

[@scottstorck4676]

In the video it is said that it is for 3.3v CMOS but is 5v tolerant. I mostly work on older electronics which are 5v TTL or 5v CMOS. (For example old video game console or pinball PCBs .) Is this logic analyser still a good choice? Are there any problems when using it on 5v devices?

[@scottstorck4676]

@@bald_engineer Thanks for the reply. :D Sorry about the double post, I wasn't sure where I might get an answer. The short answer you gave me on the element14 website, is that there shouldn't be any problems. However if someone else is wondering, they should go check out your answer in full.

[@JeremyCook]

Nice review!

[@soufianetommy921]

Would you show an example of how to wire it to a circuit in a breadboard e.g Shift register .

[@andrewhannay]

With regards to the waveform generator is there a way to program the 2 analogue outputs so they automatically generate signals on power up or do you always have to program it via a PC every time I want to generate the sgnals?

[@xX420NateSukks69Xx]

Watching this in 2021, the price of the Pro Bundle is now $420. Is this still the best option for hobbyists and students? Portability is not so much an issue for me, should I buy several cheaper machines instead of this jack of all trades?

[@yanasosnovskaya864]

it depends on application. If you want to save time, and some device doing all of this stuff in one device, it looks a good instrument. If you buy a several boards doing the same functionality, unless you are experienced engineer or embedded system programmer, you gonna have a lot of trouble to make it work together. Full size similar equipment will cost a lot, one cheap oscilloscope cost like 400$+.

[@MAYERMAKES]

whoops that bundle is a lot of bang for the buck!

[@nicknameBOB]

There is also a discount for students if you by it from NI webpage

[@cheesecake667]

Very good video, thank you!

[@davidunderwood3605]

Would be great if was Android devices compatable for the phone use. Also too bad they did not add a micro card slot for additional memory capacity. But the lack of controlling currents and adjusting the voltage to custom settings for testing certain diodes not good.

[@yanasosnovskaya864]

Which devices can work together in the same time?

[@stevematson4808]

Just got it delivered. Where do I download the software and what software version for the digilent analog discovery 2, great video btw.

[@bald_engineer]

Digilent's website.

[@stevematson4808]

@@bald_engineer thank you I suppose that I will be looking for something called Digilent 2.0 ?

[@bald_engineer]

@@stevematson4808 The software is called Waveforms.

[@jaimecaballero2577]

Amazing review Thanks!

[@saisrikargollamudi7892]

Sir, where were you last Wednesday?

[@saisrikargollamudi7892]

You should also review analog devices adalm2000 , that is much cheaper than this.

[@technics6215]

Someone needs to make reviews for ADALM kits. I own ADALM1000. I bought it for precision voltage/current source, but software is horrible - it doesnt work well on my Windows 10 with Python 2.7). Digilent is waaaaay better.

[@camelCased]

And also there are Picoscopes.

[@tm-uz7md]

A serial stream only needs one pin and you had several. WTF

[@bald_engineer]

Yes. It is a common use-model. I was simulating simulate serial occuring with some other activity. It's pretty common to trigger on either a digital signal or a serial message and look at the other one to see what was happening.