> Sorry to ask such a basic question.  After 20 minutes on Google I gave up.
>
> What is a logic analyzer?  And how is it different from an
> oscilloscope?

        A logic analyzer is a simplified oscilloscope with many more channels. All
a logic analyzer cares about is one or zero, anything in-between is shown as
either one or zero. While a scope is usually only a few channels, logic
analyzers can have thousands of channels. Also logic analyzers can have VERY
complicated triggering conditions, while with a scope you are usually
limited to an edge with some sort of delay.

        Logic analyzers are indispensable when it comes to debugging complex
digital circuits, usually when dealing with many wires (i.e. a PCI bus).


        Unfortunately they are often a little on the expensive side. If you're
interested in building one for yourself have a look at the one I built:

http://repatch.dyndns.org:8383/pic_stuff/logan/

TTYL

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Herbert's PIC Stuff:
http://repatch.dyndns.org:8383/pic_stuff/

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