It’s time to make the sad but exciting announcement that we only have 400 Analog Discovery‘s left. After this we are unable to continue to make the original Analog Discovery.
Normally in this situation we would make a migration guide, showing you the differences between the Analog Discovery original and Analog Discovery 2, WaveForms 2015 and WaveForms legacy, as well as teaching you how to switch between. In this case we don’t need to!
This is because no matter which version of WaveForms you have you can use either the Analog Discovery or Analog Discovery 2. So if you have an Analog Discovery and want to use the new software you can do that! If you have existing courseware using old software and need to get more units, you can buy the Analog Discovery 2 and continue to use the same software, no changes required!
However, in case you do decide to make an upgrade, let me highlight the differences. First, some differences between the Analog Discovery 2 and Analog Discovery. There are several upgraded specs, as well as additional features.
| Analog Discovery | Analog Discovery 2 | |
| Price | 259 | 279 |
| WaveForms Compatibility | Mac, Windows, Linux, and WaveForms 2015 or Windows with WaveForms Legacy | Mac, Windows, Linux, and WaveForms 2015 or Windows with WaveForms Legacy |
| Capabilities | ||
| Oscilloscope | 2 channel, 14 bit, 100MS/s, 5MHz Bandwidth, +-25V differential | 2 channel, 14 bit, 100MS/s, 30MHz+ bandwidth, +-25V differential |
| Waveform Generator | 2 channel, 14 bit, 100MS/s, 5MHz Bandwidth, +-5V differential | 2 channel, 14 bit, 100MS/s, 12MHz+ bandwidth, +-5V differential |
| Network Analyzer | 1Hz to 10MHz, Bode, Nyquist, and Nichols plots | 1Hz to 10MHz, Bode, Nyquist, and Nichols plots |
| Spectrum Analyzer | 2 channel, noise floor, SFDR, SNR, THD, Harmonic measurements and more | 2 channel, noise floor, SFDR, SNR, THD, Harmonic measurements and more |
| Voltmeter | 2 channel, +-25V | 2 channel, +-25V |
| Data Logger | Logging DC, True RMS, DC RMS, and math functions |
Logging DC, True RMS, DC RMS, and math functions |
| Logic Analyzer | 16 channel, 100MS/s, 3.3V CMOS | 16 channel, 100MS/s, 3.3V CMOS and 1.8V or 5V tolerant |
| Pattern Generator | 16 channel, 100MS/s, 3.3V CMOS | 16 channel, 100MS/s, 3.3V CMOS |
| Digital IO | 16 channel, virtual buttons, switches, LEDs, 7-seg, progress bar, Slider | 16 channel, virtual buttons, switches, LEDs, 7-seg, progress bar, Slider |
| Power Supplies | (-) channel -5V, (+) channel 5V, at 50mA | (-) channel 0 to -5V, (+) channel 0 to 5V, 500mW via USB, 2.1W via Aux supply, up to 700mA per channel |
| Protocol Analyzer | UART, SPI, I2C, more protocols in the Logic Analyzer | UART, SPI, I2C, more protocols in the Logic Analyzer |
| Script Editor | JavaScript Interface | JavaScript Interface |
| Triggers | 2 | 2 |
| Customizability | WaveForms SDK available for Custom Applications | WaveForms SDK available for Custom Applications |
The main differences being the upgraded power supply, and highly improved mechanical design (no more broken USB ports). If you want to learn more about the Analog Discovery 2, make sure to check out the getting started guide.
But enough about the hardware, in case you decide to upgrade the software, which I highly recommend, here are the differences.
| WaveForms Legacy | WaveForms 2015 | |
| Compatibility | Windows | Mac, Linux, Windows |
| Oscilloscope | X | X |
| Waveform Generator | X | X |
| Power Supplies | X | X |
| Voltmeter | X | X |
| Data Logger | X | |
| Logic Analyzer | X | X |
| Pattern Generator | X | X |
| Static IO | X | X |
| Network Analyzer | X | X |
| Spectrum Analyzer | X | X |
| Protocol Analyzer | X | |
| Script Editor | X |
Some key differences including the added tools, increased compatibility, user interface improvements as well as some improvements to user experience.
Whatever the case maybe, it’s time to bid farewell to the original Analog Discovery. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to comment below or post at forum.blog.digilentinc.com.
Hi,
got an AD2 – my goal: using Impedance Analyzer for Analog Discovery (http://www.thestuffmade.com/ImpedanceAnalyzer).
Unfortunately, AD2 isn’t recognised by Impedance Analyzer for Analog Discovery.
Impedance Analyzer for Analog Discovery seems to be created using legacy AD.
Was the USB protocol modified when going from legacy to AD2?
If yes: any change to get a legacy?
TIA
Ulli