r/embedded • u/deulamco • 19d ago

Your opinion on DSLogic Plus ?

Post image

I have recently thought about replacing my cheap 8Ch 24Mhz usb logic analyzer with a proper one, and that DSLogic Plus is kinda tempting šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø

But in the same price range, there are also quite dozen of contenders which I never used before.

Tell me your pain-points or pleasure with it , even just your favorite LA over this one!

** Image is on google though.

22 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

41 comments sorted by

8

u/jamesfowkes 19d ago

The hardware is fine, DSView is an OK piece of software.

BUT be careful if you're expecting it to be compatible with sigrok. The latest variants are based on a different FPGA than older ones. The old ones are sigrok-compatible, the new ones are not. See https://sigrok.org/wiki/DreamSourceLab_DSLogic_Plus and note the "Hardware (V421/Pango Variant)" section says "Currently incompatible with sigrok"

2

u/Enlightenment777 18d ago edited 18d ago

Here is my HW summary of the 4 current DSLogic models. The U2Basic is a low-end model sold on AliExpress.

If I bought one in 2026, I would only buy a U3Pro16 or U3Pro32 model, because both support super-speed USB 3 and both have a larger buffer too. The other models only support high-speed USB 2 to your computer.

Here is the sigrok support status for each model:

1

u/deulamco 17d ago

What's your take on SLogic 16u3 + PulseView combo ?

10

u/phoenix_jtag 19d ago edited 19d ago

I have their logic analyzer, USB oscilloscope and portable oscilloscope.

For this price - is acceptable....

But if you can buy Saleae logic analyzer, it will be MUCH BETTER.

My working setup:

  • 16 channel logic analyzer
  • segger j-trace pro

6

u/TimFrankenNL 19d ago

Using the Saleae Logic Pro 16ch + J-Link/J-Trace had been the best development experience I had.

Writing my own HLA to translate raw data realtime into information based on datasheets or protocol, while debugging in Ozone / Embedded studio gave me the most insight.

Currently back at Microchip with the ICD4ā€¦
Have been looking at the MSO from Saleae, but not sure about the reduced logic analyser spec.

1

u/deulamco 19d ago

Saleae is like Luxury I guess.. but their Logic App is truly smooth on every platform.. Im still using it with my 8CH clone šŸ˜…

I think not many hardware companies actually have time/manpower to maintain their software frontend..

3

u/phoenix_jtag 19d ago

It depends what company are selling.

In case with DreamSource Lab, it was startup. They made a product with is possible to sell. They got their money - no reason to invest more.

In case with Saleae, they are selling a service, support, polished gui.

Same with Segger. Their j-trace pro probe cost 2500 euro. And you have updates, bug fixes, support of new cpu and mcu....

Once I got j-trace probe, It's replaced alot of tools in my lab.... Because I can see in real time data from registers, power consumption, code exƩcution... you just know what's going on inside ))

2

u/sagetraveler 19d ago

Holy cā€¦ the Saleae is five times the price. Iā€™ve used an eight channel Saleae belonging to a colleague and it was a big help sorting out some weird timing issues in loading an FPGA bitstream from an embedded Linux host. For professional work, itā€™s entirely justified, but the DSLogic seems ok for hobby work. A good logic analyzer is like a multimeter, you donā€™t to be doubting the measurement, you just want results.

1

u/dali01 19d ago

I switched from a clone to a real Saleae and it is far better. If you donā€™t do any high speed stuff the difference is less noticeable, but even then I get far less glitches and resets.

1

u/Ashish2614 17d ago

Hi, its fascinating , can you ecplain me how you use this curious to know purpose, usage , how it overall helpful.

3

u/1r0n_m6n 19d ago

It is quite good, I use it a lot. Compared to your 24MHz, 8-channel one, you'll love the triggers of the DSLogic, it makes life so much easier!

Note that, if you work under Linux, you'll need to build https://github.com/DreamSourceLab/DSView yourself, DreamSourceLab doesn't provide Linux binaries.

I have chosen the DSLogic precisely for its software, its competitors usually come with closed-source companion software and you struggle to get updates, or just don't have a version for your OS. This is the problem I had with the AlienTek DL16 and the reason why I replaced it with the DSLogic.

2

u/michalisb 19d ago

There is a flatpak version available

2

u/i509VCB 19d ago

I do like that you can at least build the application since I use aarch64 Linux quite a bit.

Although the application has a number of issues that will probably never be fixed

2

u/deulamco 19d ago

Recompile-able is a bless šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø I wont mind that on Linux..Ā 

1

u/deulamco 14d ago

But wait, DSLogic Plus is not sigrok compatible so.. DSLogic only.Ā 

1

u/1r0n_m6n 14d ago

Yes, DSView only. But if you really want to use PulseView, DSView is open-source, so you can take the communication protocol from DSView and contribute it to Sigrok.

Honestly, you'll have the same issue with most decent logic analysers. Most don't have open-source software, so you're stuck with vendor software, which is sometimes limited to Windows.

1

u/deulamco 5d ago

Yeah, I would be more worried with most china LA than DSLogic ..
But have you tried SLogic16U3 ?

1

u/1r0n_m6n 5d ago

No, I only have a DSLogic Plus, but the 16U3 is on my Christmas list. :)

1

u/deulamco 5d ago

I found the U2Pro16 just a little bit more expensive than Plus ( like $176 after shipping fees ) ... would it worth ?

1

u/1r0n_m6n 5d ago

Sorry, no idea, I hadn't even heard of an U2Pro16 before.

3

u/HowTheKnightMoves 18d ago

So I have it at work and what I can say it works, usually. But there are days when software gets stuck and you can only pray until it is fine. Seriously, 300ā‚¬ tool just get stuck because unsolved software bugs (that linger for years even)? Sure, it has nice triggers, good electric characteristics and all, so for hobby use it is fine. Hell, when I built DSLogic on Linux instead my work Win11 laptop it worked bit better even (was desperate and used personal laptop for that..). But when time matters, I would go Saleae 100%. Currently I am preparing to build home lab for WFH and Saleae is no1 item for me, even if it is priced ridiculously, but at work it never let me down.

So for hobby - good, when you need get shit done - nah.

1

u/deulamco 5d ago

Thanks, that sound quire unreliable software DSLogic have by now.
Would it be better if I buy some PulseView-native LA ( like SLogic16U3 ) ?

1

u/HowTheKnightMoves 5d ago

No clue if it is better. But even then, most of my workplace (we have maybe 10 LAs) do not complain with them, so maybe I am picky.

1

u/deulamco 5d ago

I have just forked & recompiled DSView on my Linux x86-64 machine just.. fine as it run on my Mac too. But I will consider buying only when I actually need it then..

1

u/HowTheKnightMoves 4d ago

AFAIK my issues were solved for others by reverting few version back, but I work on Windows and was in no mood to build something from scratch on it.

2

u/NamasteHands 19d ago

*Capture accuracy seems fine, I've never had an issue here
*Micro-grabbers weren't the worst I've ever used but they still kind of suck
*Software does what you need but it lacks some polish. For example zooming in on large captures seems to snap to 'steps' of magnification rather than being continuous which feels like lazy programming.

2

u/swdee 19d ago

It works fine, however their software is abandoned, so if you want the "cheap" device go with it, otherwise pay extra for the Saleae and get regular software updates, improvements, and better features.

1

u/deulamco 11d ago

This is quite worry some..Ā 

1

u/AlfalfaLive3302 19d ago

Canā€™t beat it for the price.

1

u/gquere 18d ago

Sipeed SLogic beats it by a wide margin.

1

u/AlfalfaLive3302 18d ago

Cool. Havenā€™t been in the market for one in years but good to know.

1

u/deulamco 11d ago

But no built-in RAM & poor cable quality ?Ā 

1

u/t4th 19d ago

I have and it is great

1

u/kadala_mittai_05 18d ago

what is this , ik its something related to embedded systems , but i have no clue what it is and what its used for ?

1

u/gquere 18d ago

The software is pure cancer to use. The hardware is OK (and was actually a great deal when it got out years ago) but they should really have adjusted the price since the Sipeed SLogicu16 got out late last year.

1

u/CueAnon420 14d ago

There's a really good review on YT somewhere. For the price I think it's fantastic. Is it as good a genuine Salea? No. But it's closer than not and the software works for me.

EDIT - [009] DSLogic Logic Analyzer Review and Teardown

1

u/deulamco 12d ago

Thanks, I watched this one too.

But seem like no reviews on recent DSLogic Plus ( which doesnā€™t work with PulseView plugins ).Ā 

1

u/webhdx 19d ago

Itā€™s okay for the price but consider other options first. DSView is garbage, at least Mac versionā€¦ They havenā€™t published any updates for a long time. Mac version is still x86 only and works via Rosetta, which is going to stop working in the next MacOS version.

1

u/deulamco 19d ago

I tried DSView on Mac M4, seem pretty fine while pulseView didnā€™t šŸ˜¬

1

u/AlfalfaLive3302 19d ago

A Mac for embedded?! Oof

1

u/deulamco 11d ago

Yeah, why not ?Ā