🚧 THIS PAGE IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT 🚧
The Logic Analyzer feature in MACOBOX allows you to capture and decode digital signals from your target device. This is particularly useful for analyzing communication protocols like UART, I2C, and SPI without specialized equipment.
Connection Setup #
Connect your target device’s digital signals to the Logic Analyzer channels (D0-D7) on MACOBOX:
• Make sure both MACOBOX and your target device share a common ground
• Connect the signals you want to capture to the appropriate channels
• For UART: typically connect RX to D0
• For I2C: connect SDA and SCL to D0 and D1
• For SPI: connect MOSI, MISO, CLK, and CS to consecutive channels
Starting a Capture #
1. Go to the Logic Analyzer page
2. Configure the acquisition settings:
– Sample rate: Set the appropriate sampling frequency (e.g., 8 MHz for 8000000 Hz)
– Samples: Define how many samples to capture (e.g., 200000)
– Channels: Specify which channels to use (e.g., “D0-D7” or “D0,D1,D2”)
3. Select a protocol decoder if needed (UART, I2C, or none for raw capture)
4. Configure protocol-specific parameters if using a decoder
5. Press the Start capture button
6. Wait for the capture to complete
Protocol Decoders #
UART Decoder #
When decoding UART signals, configure:
• Baudrate: Communication speed (default: 115200)
• Databits: Number of data bits (default: 8)
• Stopbits: Number of stop bits (default: 1)
• Parity: Parity checking (none, even, or odd)
I2C Decoder #
For I2C protocol decoding:
– The decoder automatically identifies START and STOP conditions
– Shows device addresses (7-bit or 10-bit)
– Displays READ/WRITE operations
– Shows ACK/NACK responses
– Presents payload data in both HEX and ASCII formats
Raw capture #
If no decoder is selected, MACOBOX will save the raw signal capture as a Sigrok session file (.sr), which can be analyzed later with PulseView or other compatible tools.
Viewing results #
• View decoded data: See the interpreted protocol data directly in the interface
• Expand/Collapse packets: Navigate through captured transactions
• View HEX or ASCII: Switch between different data representations
• Export results: Download the capture in various formats
Export Options #
The Logic Analyzer supports exporting captures in multiple formats:
• Sigrok Session (.sr): Native format, compatible with PulseView
• CSV (.csv): Comma-separated values for spreadsheet analysis
• Binary (.bin): Raw binary data
• Hex (.hex): Intel HEX format
• VCD (.vcd): Value Change Dump format for waveform viewers
Tips #
• Sample rate selection: Use a sample rate at least 4x higher than your target signal’s frequency
• Channel selection: Only capture the channels you need to reduce file size and processing time
• Signal quality: Ensure clean connections and proper voltage levels (3.3V or 5V)
• Memory considerations: Higher sample rates and longer captures require more storage
• Ground connection: Always ensure a proper ground connection between MACOBOX and your target device