Getting Started with the X34

Download and run the bbxins.exe software installer.
Plug in the X34 module. When this is done for the first time it immediately causes the operating system to prompt you for the location of the necessary USB drivers. The installer will have placed these in the drivers subdirectory of your Bugblat application directory.
Run the bbx application to verify the installation. The installer will have left shortcuts on your desktop and in your Start menu.
If you would like to use the Frequency and Event Counter software, download and run the bbxfcins.exe software installer.

Now you need to connect to the target circuit via logic grabbers, set the acquisition parameters, and acquire some data. Check the help file for the application program.

Drivers

Bugblat hardware uses USB chips manufactured by FTDI. Our application software accesses the hardware via drivers provided by FTDI - we use the FTDI D2XX family of drivers. Drivers are included in the installation package, and the most recent drivers are available via the FTDI web site here.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP and Windows Vista drivers are packaged up with a CDM prefix - for example, CDM_2.0.0.zip or CDM_2.0.0_x64.zip.

Windows 98 and Windows ME drivers are packaged up with a D prefix - for example, D30104.zip.

Software Versions

Software versions available on this web site are:

bbxins.exe Logic analyzer software, current release, dated 11 August 2008.
bbxfcins.exe Frequency Counter software, current release, dated 31 July 2008.

Troubleshooting

Here are some hints on dealing with the most common problems seen by Bugblat users.

Use the latest software release!
Remember that the X34 is not galvanically isolated. This means that they must be connected to a target circuit which has the same ground reference as your PC. If you suspect that this is a problem, one solution is to drive the logic analyzer from laptop computer.
The X34 has 100Kohm series resistors in their input circuits and impose a minimum load on the circuit being inspected. Inevitable the X34 input circuit has a small input capacitance, which must be charged or discharged on each transition of the input signal. This requires a brief input current rush of a few milliamps, and you will get anomalous readings if your circuit cannot drive the current. For instance, a rising edge will be delayed if the test circuit cannot supply enough current to transition the logic analyzer input promptly.
Ensure that the signal being inspected meets the minimum input specification. For instance, the default X34 input threshold is 1.4V, but an input signal needs to exceed the threshold by a significant margin before the signal is properly recorded.
Check the latest Product Notices here.