Getting Started with Analog Discovery 2

Something that I find incredibly helpful when deciding whether to purchase a product or not is the try before you buy experience.

That is, being able to know exactly what I'm getting before I get it.

Because of this I decided to share an unboxing experience in the form of an tutorial. This way those that are looking at an Analog Discovery 2, know exactly what comes in the box when you purchase it.

Attached to this step is the video version of this tutorial.

Step 1: Find the Waveforms 2015 Page

The first thing we're going to do is download Waveforms 2015. This is the software that runs the Analog Discovery 2. It is Mac, Linux, and Windows compatible.

If you don't have an Analog Discovery 2 yet you can still download Waveforms 2015 and run it in Demo mode, to get a feel for the tools. If you want to skip straight to unboxing, that's in step 4.

Go to store.digilentinc.com, the Digilent store, and click on the Analog Discovery 2 product page. This is the page in the very first photo in this tutorial.

Scroll down and click on waveforms 2015.

Step 2: Click on the Download Page Link

Now you should be on the Wavforms 2015 reference manual. Here you can find information about the features and how they work.

Click where it says "Newest Waveforms Software"

This will take you to the downloads page.

Step 3: Download the Correct Version

There is a table containing downloads for Mac, Windows, and Linux. Click on the download link that fits your needs.

Step 4: Unboxing

While that's downloading, we'll go ahead and go through what comes with your Analog Discovery 2.

The Analog Discovery 2 comes in a plastic project box with a cardboard ring around it.

Step 5: Unboxing

On the back of the cardboard ring is a brief description of the Analog Discovery 2 and what it can do for you. You can also see a sneak peak of the specifications that come on the cardboard insert inside the box. Those specifications can also be found on the Analog Discovery 2 Product Page.

Step 6: Unboxing

You can go ahead and take that cardboard insert off and recycle it. Unless for some reason you want to put it back on the box every time.

Step 7: Unboxing

Now that you've removed that cardboard ring you can see the Analog Discovery 2 in the box with the card board insert.

Step 8: Unboxing

Open the plastic project box, which is reusable by the way, and open the top flap. Here you will find all of the accessories that ship with the Analog Discovery 2.

Step 9: Unboxing

Here you can see the accessories that ship with the Analog Discovery 2. The 30 pin flywire connector that gives access to the oscilloscope, voltage sources, waveform generators, triggers, digital I/O and ground connections.

Step 10: Unboxing

Now I'm going to go ahead and take the Analog Discovery 2 out of the box.

Step 11: Unboxing

Notice the cardboard packaging inside the project box.

Go ahead and recycle that and never use it again. It's not meant to last and it takes up valuable space in your reusable box.

Plus if you don't take it out, you won't see what's behind it.

Step 12: Unboxing

Now that that's gone you can see the pin diagram for the Analog Discovery 2. This shows you which pins to go to the oscilloscope, waveform generator, oscilloscope, digital I/O and triggers.

Step 13: Unboxing

On the back of that card is the tools included in Waveforms 2015, the free software that can be used with the Analog Discovery 2.

Now that you've seen whats inside the box of the Analog Discovery 2, stayed tuned on blog.digilentinc.com for an unboxing video and videos on installing Waveforms 2015.

The Next Tutorials in the series cover how to install WaveForms 2015.

Click here if you have a Mac.

Click here if you have a Windows Machine.

Click here if you have a Linux Machine.