Hello,
I felt compelled to register, just to respond to your post about the Digilent box of tricks. I bought one, more out of curiosity than anything else. Since then I've bought another 5, and passed them to colleagues. I am blown away by the capabilities of this device, even at the full $199.00 price (I'm in the UK and get them from Farnell for £127 + VAT)
For the record, I'm a professional electronics engineer (have been since 1991), developing medical devices.
I've tried a few USB oscilloscope type devices in the past, and have always been left pretty dissatisfied. The only USB instrument I actually use (and like) is the Intronix Logicport.
Your points about the connector are kind of valid, but for the vast majority of the intended audience (students and hobbyists) connection of a proper (BNC) 'scope probe isn't essential. It comes with a cable loom that is easy to connect to anything as required. If BNC connection is needed then it's not a big deal to splice up a connector. Certainly in my experience the signal integrity is fine. Sure, if you need microvolt resolution then maybe it's not the ideal tool, but it's not intended for that anyway.
I have even decided to include a pin header on suitable future board designs to allow me to just plug the AD straight on to the board for debug and test.
Your point about documentation is valid, but things are improving. When I got hold of the first device (around August, I think) there wasn't much about. However, since then more and more is appearing on the web. Here are some links that might give you more information:
http://www.analog.com/en/university/course-materials/topic.htmlhttp://www.engr.usask.ca/classes/EE/221/lab/2012/Lab3_MOSFET%20IV%20Characteristic.pdfhttp://dangerousprototypes.com/2012/12/04/analog-discovery-teardown/http://dangerousprototypes.com/2012/04/25/digilents-analog-design-kit/(I am the Stephen Casey who has posted there)
The software (Waveforms) was something that I had reservations about. But, it's absolutely fine for what it is. Certainly not 'Mickey Mouse'. It would be great to have LabVIEW drivers for the board, but sadly I haven't found anything on that yet. There is an interface to Matlab:
http://www.mathworks.co.uk/matlabcentral/fileexchange/38113-digilent-analog-discovery-support-for-data-acquisition-toolbox-r2012ar2012bBut I know nothing more than the detail in the link. I reckon NI are paying Digilent to
not release a LabVIEW driver
Why not download Waveforms and have a 'play'? (it doesn't require functioning AD hardware connected, and will even work with the PC audio interface, within the obvious limitations of that).
I have already asked Dave to do a review. Maybe one day he will...
The fully differential 'scope inputs make it even more useful - Particularly for students I imagine, who may struggle with the concept of every measurement on a 'normal' scope being ground referenced.
I also love the fact that I can throw it into my laptop bag and barely notice I've got it with me.
So, my recommendation is to get hold of one and try it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. And, if you are, I don't think you'll struggle to sell it!
Hope this helps to convince you (and others) that this is a great little box of tricks! For the record, I have no affiliation whatsoever with any interested party. I'm just a happy customer.
Cheers.
Steve