FNIRSI has listed the DLA-16 Plus and DLA-32 Plus, USB 3.0 logic analyzers with 4 Gbit of hardware memory and sampling up to 1 GHz. The FNIRSI store page shows the DLA-32 Plus at $259, marked down 40 percent from $432, with an extra coupon for 10 percent off. The page calls out up to 32 channels, 120-plus protocol decoders, and a 4-channel PWM output.
Channels and sample rates
A logic analyzer records many digital signals at once and lets a user decode protocols such as I2C, SPI, and UART. The two models differ in channel count. The DLA-16 Plus has 16 channels and the DLA-32 Plus has 32, and the sample rate falls as more channels are used. FNIRSI says both models sample at 1 GHz on one channel and 8 channels, the DLA-16 Plus reaches 500 MHz on 16 channels, and the DLA-32 Plus reaches 250 MHz across 32 channels.
Streaming mode trades speed for duration. The DLA-16 Plus streams up to 125 MHz on 16 channels, and the DLA-32 Plus streams 32 channels at up to 50 MHz. Buffer mode captures into the 4 Gbit on-board memory at the high rates. Roll mode shows waveforms live. USB 3.0 supplies up to 5 Gbps of transfer to the computer.
Triggers and decoders
Both models trigger on rising edge, falling edge, high level, low level, and any edge. The DLA-32 Plus adds serial and parallel triggers, with up to 16 configurable parallel trigger levels. The software includes more than 120 protocol decoders, plus support for custom protocols. The analyzer also provides four PWM outputs at 3.3 V, from 1 Hz to 20 MHz, useful for generating test signals.
The page lists a 4 Gbit buffer and a "reliable high-speed capture" block diagram showing an FPGA, 4 Gbit DRAM, and 128 Mbit flash. It also states 40 V input protection. FNIRSI offers manuals and firmware downloads on the page.
The memory arithmetic shows what the sample rates mean in practice. 4 Gbit is 512 MB. If each sample stores one bit per channel, a 32-channel capture at 250 MHz fills the buffer in roughly half a second, and a single channel at 1 GHz lasts about four seconds. Stream mode, at 50 MHz on 32 channels, writes to the computer instead, so the capture is limited by disk space and USB bandwidth, not by the on-board buffer.
Price comparison
The competition includes Saleae's Logic line, whose software is widely used in hobby and professional work, and Sipeed's SLogic analyzers. FNIRSI's pitch is sample depth and channel count at a lower price. The $259 figure is a promotional price against a $432 list, so buyers should check the current price before ordering. The store page also lists a model selector for the 16-channel version, but the price shown here applies to the DLA-32 Plus.
Rated sample speeds also depend on the number of channels in use, so a 32-channel capture will be much slower than the 1 GHz headline. Anyone considering the analyzer for fast buses should check the sample rate for the channel count they actually need.
The protocol decoder library is the other half of the value. A logic analyzer's raw output is a stack of digital waveforms, and decoders turn those into readable bus traffic for I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, and many others. FNIRSI lists more than 120 decoders, including custom protocol support, and a multi-window software layout. The 40 V input protection noted in the diagram is useful for someone probing a board that might have a higher-voltage rail near the digital pins, though a logic analyzer's inputs are for logic-level signals and should not be used on AC line power.
The product photo shows what ships in the box: the analyzer, a bundle of color-coded test clips and probes, a carrying case, a USB cable, and a printed manual. The page also carries warranty and price-guarantee tabs and a coupon code for an extra 10 percent off, which stacks with the markdown. FNIRSI sells the analyzers in 16-channel and 32-channel versions, and the sample rates quoted for each differ, so the Plus model name matters when comparing against the older DLA-series units.
The markdown takes $173 off the $432 list price, and the coupon code shown on the page would lower it further.
Sources and image credits
- FNIRSI DLA-16 Plus / DLA-32 Plus logic analyzer
- Images: FNIRSI product materials
