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Tons of Value for the Electronics Hobbyist
Posted by Peter Hanson on 30th Dec 2018
I deliberated long and hard before deciding to purchase this pricey product given the availability of some attractive budget digital oscilloscopes for only a hundred dollars or so more. However, in the end I went with the AD2 for the following reasons:
• Electronics is and will remain just a hobby for me. It is, however, a vast domain. Given that the AD2 is more than just a USB oscilloscope, as a mixed signal multi-function test and measurement instrument it will allow me to explore and dip my toes into many different aspects of this domain. Granted, should I decide to specialize and drill down more deeply into any given area may require additional investment in equipment in the future.
• The internal FPGA architecture of the AD2 allows for the simultaneous use of its various test-bench features in real time with minimal impact on performance.
• The general specs are amazingly good for its entry level price point to the world of digital oscilloscopes and other test equipment.
• Most of the analog and digital circuits I will likely be building in the foreseeable future fall within the ±25V, 700mA/500mW (channel/total) input and output ranges of the AD2.
• The free Waveforms software user interface looked phenomenal as it should be with such a USB-based product.
• There are a wide variety of online resources and user community forums available for the AD2.
• Very positive independent online test-bench reviews of the performance of the oscilloscope and wave generator functions.
• The compact design, quality and solid build.
• A 30% Cyber Monday discount sealed the deal.
If you find yourself seriously considering the AD2 for any of the above reasons I highly recommend you also consider the BNC Adapter Board and oscilloscope probes (Digilent SKU: 410-361, 460-004) which significantly expand the analog bandwidth of the oscilloscope function from 9MHz to 30MHz and the bandwidth of the waveform generator from 9MHz to 12MHz. According to Digilent, this is the optimal setup that allows maximal AD2 spectral performance. The flywire kit included with the AD2 is a cheap, easy-to-use probing solution. However, the kit reduces the bandwidth of the scope and is susceptible to inducing noise and crosstalk from adjacent circuits.
I also recommend adding an external 5V, 2.5A switching power supply (Digilent SKU: 300-031) and breadboard adapter (Digilent SKU: 410-361). Adding the external power supply increases the maximum output to 700mA/2.1W (per channel). The breadboard adapter comes with a half-sized solderless breadboard which when attached provides a prototyping surface directly secured and connected to the AD2.
After using the AD2 for slightly over a month, I can report the following.
Learning curve: never having had the opportunity to work with real oscilloscopes and other test equipment (apart from a DMM), I found the online tutorials and QuickStart videos on the Digilent website very helpful in getting up and running with the AD2. The ability to download and run the Waveforms software and its associated Help file on a demo basis prior to purchase also gives you a real opportunity to explore and experience the features, functions and operational capabilities of the AD2. The reference manual only provides limited technical information, so learning how to use the AD2 is mostly a DIY exploration project and falling back on the online tutorials, videos and forums when stuck. These resources provide a readily accessible on-line electronics learning “university” including formalized lectures, lab exercises and project-based learning modules.
Utility & User-friendliness:
- The free Waveforms software is easy to download and is available directly from Digilent.
- After a few initial frustrating failed attempts, setting up and calibrating the AD2 was relatively straightforward with online tutorials and videos available for assistance. But you must pay very careful attention during the measurement input process not to accidentally miss any polarity signs, decimal points or voltage measurement units that will lead to input error warning messages forcing a restart of the process.
- The layout of the Waveforms software user interface really highlights and facilitates the fully integrated operation of the 13 different functions of the AD2.
- The software works with the FPGA to control all the functional blocks of the AD2, including setting parameters, acquiring data, and transferring and storing data. It greatly facilitates the acquisition and transfer of data in a variety of formats including text, CSV, audio and images between all AD2 functions and external sources.
- Navigating the drop-down menus requires a little patience at first but with practice becomes routine.
- The waveform generator function is easy to use and can be used to drive the other functions of the AD2 as well as provide a variety of pre-set and customizable signals for external circuit and component testing.
- The built-in math functions for measurement and data crunching plus the ability to write scripts to customize the operation of various measurement functions makes the AD2 an extremely powerful analysis tool.
Impact on my ability to understand the functioning of electronic circuits and components: the AD2 provides a window to see “inside” what’s going on with electronic components and circuits in real time. As such it helps electronic theory to come “alive” in front of your eyes. It has and is continuing to take my understanding of electronics to new levels.
Bottom Line: best suited for those looking for a versatile diagnostic tool that will help them to improve their understanding of and quantitatively explore the world of electronics at an undergraduate college or university level. It isn’t cheap, but the AD2 delivers a lot of value for the money in a small package. However, for those who are already fairly knowledgeable and technically inclined (and prepared to invest a little more), some budget oscilloscopes and other test equipment may be a better option, especially if working with more complex or powerful circuits. As for me, the AD2 will be helping me to unravel electronic “mysteries” for many years to come.
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Excellent buy. High potential to electronics teaching-learning
Posted by Asfur Barandica on 6th Dec 2018
Analog Discovery II has been an excellent tool for class demonstrations and project development. I recommend your purchase to students, professors and researchers.
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Easy to the point
Posted by Bob on 16th Oct 2018
Delivery (from Taiwan to the Netherlands) was no problem (although I was really scared for Fedex :P). Im a total newb on electronics, but I got it working in no time and solved the problem where I needed it for. The tool WaveForms looks and feels awesome and is intuitive. Thank you sooo much for this product! I will also recommend it to my collegues, so be prepared for orders :).
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RE: Logic Analyzer part is pretty much unusable
Posted by attila on 23rd Feb 2018
WaveForms v3.7.12 adds data compression which lets you capture low and high speed signals together.
https://forum.digilentinc.com/topic/9043-capturing-both-uart-and-spi-data-on-analog-discovery-2/?do=findComment&comment=27866
For deep logic analyzer buffer see the Digital Discovery.
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Logic Analyzer part is pretty much unusable
Posted by Chetan on 16th Feb 2018
The reason i bought AD2 was to have a high speed analyzer capable of capturing both Analog and Digital signals.
I have not completely tested the Analog part but the Digital signal Logic analyzer for sure is unusable.
It cannot capture low speed and high speed signals together.
Refer to this link in the discussion forum for more details.
https://forum.digilentinc.com/topic/9043-capturing-both-uart-and-spi-data-on-analog-discovery-2/#comment-27505
Do not buy this product if you are looking for a good logic analyzer. May be its good on the analog side!!
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Outstanding Hardware and Software
Posted by Unknown on 5th Feb 2018
I have had my Analog Discovery 2 for about a week and am very pleased. I usually struggle to find products that have Linux support!. Being able to use different functions (e.g. siggen and scope) simultaneously is quite convenient.
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Great device, needs arm64 software package
Posted by Sean O'Byrne on 3rd Feb 2018
Really capable device, for the money. Add a little linux computer and a touchscreen, put them all in a box and you have a decent oscilloscope. I recommend it to students in my instrumentation course as it has everything you need when learning. The one thing I'd really like to see is an arm64 package, or better still open-sourcing the linux code. The Odroid C2 would run this device really well if I could compile the waveforms software on it.
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Versatile Bench Instrument
Posted by Raymond H Colton on 19th Jan 2018
I just purchased the AD Ver 2 after having Ver 1 for several years. The performance has been very good except maybe when you are trying to generate and/or view very low voltages. But what you get for the price is truly remarkable. I also have the BDC breakout board that proves very helpful when trying to connect to more standard connectors (e.g., BNC). Wish they made a wire cable that only connected to the scope, wavegen and power pins. All those extra wires just get in the way.
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Where have you been all my carrer
Posted by Unknown on 15th Dec 2017
When I read the description I thought it sounded good but then I started using it and realized it's awesome. Besides teh Scope, pattern generator and logic analyzer, I really love the protocols. Sometimes I need to interface with a chip on my board and I would normally have to program an Arduino to allow me to talk to a SPI or I2C device. Now I just plug in this thing and I can quickly try out a few commands or write a small script to do it.
I must say the scripting environment can be improved. I would also like to see the Python API with official I2C support. You could argue that I might dock a star for these gripes but they are so small compared to what I can do with the tool.
I've bought my dad one of these and I might buy myself a second just so that I don't have to keep taking it home.
This is really worth the money.
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Excellent device
Posted by Unknown on 29th Nov 2017
Works great! Good for play
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Love it. So flexible. Would be amazing with 4 analog in and out
Posted by Brendan Simon on 23rd Oct 2017
This does everything you need (analog in/out and digital in/out).
If this had 4 analog in and 4 analog out it would be totally amazing -- Could have a 4 channel scope and could do things like 3-phase (or 4) waveform generation (instead of having to PWM digital outputs)
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Amazing Tool
Posted by Unknown on 28th Aug 2017
I am an Electrical Engineering student and can say hands down this is the most versatile and useful tool I own. If the Analog Discovery II had just the network analyzer it would still be worth the money. I am one of few students at my school that can test the frequency response of the circuits I create from home. The network analyzer is very useful when creating filter circuits, especially when the filters are tunable and I need to dial them in. Additionally, every time I implement circuits that communicate via SPI, I2C, or UART I have a known good tool to interface with the suspect circuits allowing me to more easily identify where errors may be occurring. Furthermore, because you can send and receive with common hardware protocols it is easy to quickly spin up a debug interface via UART. Additionally, the logic analyzer is great and has a programming interface so you can write a custom protocol analyzer when reverse engineering communications or decoding more obscure protocols. Lastly, it is small and USB powered so I just have it in my electronics tool bag and can analyses and inspect most things I run into without having to take a circuit to a well-equipped workbench. If you get the Analog Discovery II I would recommend also getting the expansion circuit that has the four BNC connectors so you can use probes with the oscope and function generator. Thank you so much for creating this tool and having a software interface that is so easy to work with.
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Great for a home setup.
Posted by Mark Bauer on 23rd Apr 2017
I teach electrical engineering. We are looking at using the Analog Discovery 2 for student use in several of the classes. I have been playing with this thing for several weeks and am very impressed with all it can do.
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Really Cool
Posted by Unknown on 29th Jan 2017
It's all the things stated above. In my lab courses I'm so used to everything being much bigger. Although these don't have the same capabilities as the bigger, clunkier, more expensive machines, these are really cool especially for a learner like me.
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Decent scope, waveform generator and logic analyzer in one.
Posted by M on 29th Dec 2016
This is a decent scope and logic analyzer, and the price is right.
What is good:
* You get a scope, logic analyzer, signal generator, low amp variable power supply. That is a lot, and the price is good.
* The software is pretty good, but takes a little clicking around to learn.
Some minor gripes:
* On the MAC, the FTDI driver from diligent is a "blocker", that sometimes interferes with the OSX one, so you have to reboot before you can use your other FTDI items. This cost me a day to try to get the Analog Discovery 2 to work.
* The scope or logic analyzer are not quite fast enough for 20 MHz signals, which is what my AVR chips run at. Frequencies of 5 MHz (may be 10 MHz) are OK.
* If you are not careful, there is cross talk on the inputs, so your scope signal is not so clean. With a bit of attention it gets better.
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Best USB oscilloscope I've seen
Posted by Kevin Karplus on 14th Dec 2016
I've played with the Analog Discovery 2 for a couple of days now, and it seems to be an excellent combination of a good-quality oscilloscope, dual function generator, and programmable dual power supply. The hardware is the best I've seen in a USB oscilloscope, with very clean signals and low-jitter triggering. The 14-bit 100Msample/sec resolution makes a huge difference.
The Waveforms 2015 software seems good, but I wish it had a written user's manual, as some of the functionality is a bit mysterious, and the API reference manual is no help in figuring out the GUI.
More details on my blog at https://gasstationwithoutpumps.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/fet-miller-plateau-with-analog-discovery-2/
https://gasstationwithoutpumps.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/fet-i-vs-v-with-analog-discovery-2/
https://gasstationwithoutpumps.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/loudspeaker-impedance-with-analog-discovery-2/
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Don't search anymore
Posted by Marc Tison on 16th Nov 2016
I am a second year electrical engineering student and got this item recommended by a friend while I was looking for an oscilloscope.
If you are reading this review and you too are looking for a oscilloscope, don't search anymore. This is the EE swiss knife you need.
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Absolutely incredible product
Posted by Chris on 8th Nov 2016
So I am a junior year electrical engineering student, so I'm not an industry veteran or anything like that. But I do enjoy building all kinds of projects and am passionate about circuits and design.
One of my instructors recommended the Analog Discovery for our lab assignments, and I opted not to buy one (trying to save money.) My lab partner had one, so we used his. On the first lab assignment, after seeing all the things it could do I decided to buy one.
When it arrived, in true nerd fashion I ripped into the packaging and hooked it up to some test circuits. Within an hour I was able to analyze MIDI logic data which I had never been able to do before, and I just cannot overstate how useful this thing is.
It has a great oscilloscope, a versatile function generator, DC supplies, logic analyzer and more. The only complaint I have about it is that the DC supplies and wave generator only go up to +5v/-5v, but since this thing is USB powered that is actually quite incredible in itseld because USB is 5v dc, and this thing can output double that in peak to peak voltage.
I would HIGHLY recommend this thing if you are a student or even a hobbyist. A good oscilloscope will run you about $400 or more, and this thing has a great oscilloscope plus so much more.
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Best update to my tech bench yet.
Posted by Andrew B. on 29th Oct 2016
"I wish it could ..." is not a thought that has occurred to me
while using the Discovery 2. It is producing answers for development work, as well as real measurements for real problems. I might need another one.
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Digilent Analog Discovery 2
Posted by Unknown on 29th Sep 2016
Such an amazing multi function lab in your pocket! No way you can beat the price for the function. Thank you Diligent!
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Analog Discovery 2 Pro Bundle $299.99
Analog Discovery 2 Maker Bundle $349.00
BNC to Minigrabber Cable $9.99
