LA1016, LA2016, and LA5016 Logic Analyzers Cost as Low as $75

I remember 10+ years ago, when my managers argued whether buying a logic analyzer, because some of its functions could be done by an oscilloscope, and logic analyzers were selling for a few thousands dollars at the time. Fast forward to 2014, it’s now possible to acquire lower end logic analyzers that connect to a PC for as low as $75 thanks to products such as LA1016, LA2016, and LA5016, all supports 16-channels and respectively 100, 200 and 500 Mbps sampling rate.

Key features and specifications:

• Input channels – 16
• Max Sampling Rate: LA1016: 100M; LA2016: 200M; LA5026: 500M
• Measurement Bandwidth – LA1016: 20M; LA2016: 40M; LA5016: 80M
• Min pulse width – LA1016: 20ns; LA2016: 12.5ns; LA5016: 6.25ns
• Hardware memory size – LA1016/LA2016: 1Gbits; LA5016: 512Mbits
• Hardware sampling depth – LA1016/LA2016: 50M/channel; LA5016: 32M/channel
• Max compressed depth – LA1016/LA2016: 10G/channel; LA5016: 5G/channel
• Input voltage range – -50V ~ +50V
• Input impedance – 220KΩ, 12pF
• Threshold voltage
  • LA1016/LA2016: low level < 0.8V, high level > 1.6V
  • LA5016: low level < 1.0V, high level > 2.0V
• PWM
  • LA1016/LA2016 – 2 Channels;  0.1 ~ 20MHz;  frequency adjust step: 10ns; pulse width adjust step: 5ns;  output voltage: +3.3V; output impedance: 50Ω
  • LA5016 – 2 Channels;  0.1 ~ 12.5MHz;  frequency adjust step: 8ns; pulse width adjust step: 8ns;  output voltage: +3.3V; output impedance: 50Ω
• Standby current – LA1016: 130mA; LA2016: 150mA; LA5016: 300mA
• Max operating current- LA1016: 260mA; LA2016: 300mA; LA5016: 550 mA
• PC Connection – USB 2.0/3.0 compatible
• Dimensions
  • LA1016/LA2016 – 95mm x 55mm x 23mm
  • LA5016 – 117mm x 79mm x 24mm

Windows XP/Vista/7/8 software and user guides (English and Chinese) can be downloaded here, Jiankun Virtual Instruments Suite can decode UART (RS-232/485/422), I2C, SPI, CAN, DMX512, HDMI CEC, I2S/PCM, JTAG, LIN, Manchester, Modbus, 1-Wire, Simple Parallel, PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse, UNI/O, and USB1.1 protocols

A protocol SDK is also available so that you can write you own program to interface with LAx016 logic analyzers.

I first got tipped about these three logic analyzers by CoreWind pointing me to UUtools website selling the tools for $99 to $199, but after a quick search I found out these were also sold on SeeedStudio for $75 to $168, and further research led me to “Kingst  Instruments and Meter Store” on Aliexpress which sells LA1016 for an ultra low $44.10 including shipping. {Update: As mentioned in comments, the $44 logic analyzer is not LA1016, but another lower cost version without PWM. LA1016 sells for $80 on that shop]. The picture of LA1016 board shows it’s based on an Altera Cyclone IV FPGA, combined with a Cypress chip for USB communication.

Kingst could be the maker of the logic analyzer, as the SDK, software and documentation download links point to kingst.org website, which ends up being a forum in Chinese only, and related to these products, and some other electronic lab tools. It looks like LA1016 may have been available at least for one or two years, but I could not find reviews on the web.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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