EEVblog 1552 - Digilent Analog Discovery 3

[EEVblog]

A first look at the new Digilent Analog Discovery 3, plus teardown.

00:00 - Unboxing the new Digilent Analog Discovery 3
02:23 - New features
05:00 - The price and comparison with a benchtop scope
06:19 - Teardown and comparison with Analog Discovery 2
10:18 - Nice design touches
https://digilent.com/blog/whats-different-with-the-analog-discovery-3/
12:01 - In operation using the Waveforms software
14:04 - Different product support and modes
16:25 - Highest resolution possible
18:12 - Lets feed it up it's own clacker...
21:30 - Check THIS out!
23:30 - The Help system
24:51 - The Power Supply
27:08 - I can't possibly demo all the features. Spectrograms, Persistence, Eye Diagrams, Histrogram, FFT's
28:04 - OMG you can ramp and modulate the Power Suppply! Let's try this...
32:24 - It's useful, but not universally useful.
32:22 - The timebase scale is kinda annoying
34:41 - Adding NOISE to the PSU!
36:47 - Let's SHORT this sucker...
38:49 - Have you tried turning it off and on again?
39:55 - Is this a bug?
40:49 - Dumb arse Dave
42:05 - Measurements
43:57 - Check this out!
44:40 - FFT
45:33 - 3D spectrogram
48:49 - Conclusion

[Fungus]

Yes, you can use it with a sound card for free.

[rpro]

As Dave pointed out, the software is incredibly good. In addition to features Dave has shown, I especially like the properly labeled axes for multiple channels, fully featured mouse control (e.g, you can use the mouse wheel if you like to change scales super fast). Dragging works as expected, to drag waveforms, to rotate 3-D views, to change scales, in (multiple) zoom windows, etc. It has fully featured math channels. The SA has peak/minimum holds, multiple averaging modes, multiple measurements (like THD), multiple marker modes, etc. There is also a network analyzer and other tools, all with many useful features.
 
You can download it for free and see what all it can do (with its various built-in DEMO devices) and use it for real (for free) with a sound card (internal or USB). Actually you can use two cards if you like, 1 for Scope and 1 for Wavegen, with 2 (up to 4) channels each. The software runs on Linux/Windows/Mac and Raspberry-Pi-4. 

RIGOL AND SIGLENT TAKE NOTE: This is how software should be. This software has been great for years now, and yet Digilent releases new beta versions with enhancements several times per month. Their support (done via a users' forum) is incredibly good, with same-day responses.

I don't know what the economics of their hardware pricing is, but if it were cheaper, everyone that ever uses a scope would most probably own one.

[tggzzz]

As Dave pointed out, the software is incredibly good.

I like it too, but the linux variant doesn't have the 3D XYZ display (only 2D XY).

Another point is that the API is documented, so you can create your own scripts in JavaScript, C, glass TTY etc. That leads to the possibility of simple ATE setups, and to (limited range) component testers/plotters.

[attila]

Hi Dave

- Press F1 to switch to the Help tab and locate info about the currently focused control.
- The Filter channels can be configured after pressing the green arrow "more channels" under Channel 2 in Scope.
- With the default “USB Power” “Stop with AUX” option, removing AUX will reset the device. With the "Always ON" option, the device does not restart and indicates the USB voltage after disconnecting the AUX due to the minimal back-power of the AUX eFuse.
- Thank you for the review and noticing the "C4" typo in Wavegen/Type.

[David Aurora]

Hi Dave

- Press F1 to switch to the Help tab and locate info about the currently focused control.
- The Filter channels can be configured after pressing the green arrow "more channels" under Channel 2 in Scope.
- With the default “USB Power” “Stop with AUX” option, removing AUX will reset the device. With the "Always ON" option, the device does not restart and indicates the USB voltage after disconnecting the AUX due to the minimal back-power of the AUX eFuse.
- Thank you for the review and noticing the "C4" typo in Wavegen/Type.

This guy right here is the best sales pitch for Diligent that I've come across.

Multiple times now I've gone to the Diligent forum with a dumb question or feature request and 3.7 nanoseconds later Atilla posts an answer or an update. Absolutely amazing product support.

[EEVblog]

Yes, you can use it with a sound card for free.

 

[aeberbach]

Picked up the Discovery 3 when this thread was young - just to say Digilent have some pretty big discounts on breadboard, cases, extensions, accessories to suit right now. They claim up to 70% off if you sign up for SMS spamming.

[Veteran68]

Just got their SMS today offering 40% off of AD3's. I picked up the AD3 Pro bundle for $245 shipped, which is a great deal.

[Fungus]

Just got their SMS today offering 40% off of AD3's. I picked up the AD3 Pro bundle for $245 shipped, which is a great deal.

That's a good deal for the bundle (AD3+BNC board+two probes, right?)

[Veteran68]

Just got their SMS today offering 40% off of AD3's. I picked up the AD3 Pro bundle for $245 shipped, which is a great deal.

That's a good deal for the bundle (AD3+BNC board+two probes, right?)

Yep.

[phs]

About Digilent policies:  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/black-friday-sales-logic-analyzers/msg5197167/#msg5197167

Currently they require you to create an account and agree to their legal terms before you can download the software required for the AD3, and possibly other products.  No other TE company requires this to my knowledge.

[Anthocyanina]

you can download the latest version from their forum with a direct download link, no need for an account. but, with hos responsive they are regarding user suggestions/questions/bug reports, i would say the account is worth the minor inconvenience to access the best customer support in the T&M field