7 Jan
2006
7 Jan
'06
11:16 a.m.
True, but when you need it you REALLY need it. Like trying to find
a single-event write fault in the RL02 "circular" logic... no way
to do it with my 545 scope!
If the event can be made to 'occur to order' -- say you can apply a
signal to reset/trigger things, then you can, if you have a delayed
timebase (The 545 does IIRC), repeatedly trigger the circuit-under-test
from an external clock source, trigger the 'scope
from that too (external
trigger intput on the 'scope), and use the delay
controls to 'scrol
through' the signals on the circuit under test. A friend of mine uses
that to see what a microprocessor is doing -- continually reset it at
about 100Hx, and look at the bus signals with a 'scope.
A Tek 7D01 is an old but simple logic analyzer plugin
(16 bit, 10
ns sample rate) and can be inserted into several 7000 series
scopes when you're not using the vertical and timebase plugins.
It's perfect for debugging discrete logic. For microprocessor work
I'd prefer a 1240. There are obviously much better analyzers
available but for the money those two are pretty decent IMHO.
Again, make sure to get the pods. The 7D01 plugin can often be had
for $10 or less but the two pods and leads/clips can be several
times more expensive...
Mnay older analysers, including the &D01 and the Gould K100D, have
differential ECL inputs on the pod connector. If you get one cheap/given,
you can make up a kludge using TTL-ECL converters (10124 IIRC) to feed
TTL signals into the analyser. It probably won't go a full speed, the
thresholds will be uncertain, but it will let you grab, say, the address
bus of your old 8 bit micro. A lot better than nothing
It is clearly better to get the right pods.
-tony