Looking for a simple SPI analyzer? Capture and decode SPI packets on any computer.


spi analyzer


The SPI bus or Serial Peripheral Interface bus is a synchronous four wire serial communication that can work in full duplex. The protocol uses the master/slave approach where the master device initiates the data frame and generates the clock.

As with I2C bus SPI allows multiple slave devices which are selected with the chip select lines.




Compared with the I2C, the SPI provides a higher data transmission rate. The clock frequency may reach 5 MHz (depending on the connected devices); moreover, during each synchronization clock, a data bit can be transmitted and received simultaneously. The main use version presupposes that the interface connects one master device with one or several slave devices. The interface can also be used to conduct exchange among several microcontrollers, allowing several master devices on the bus, but the protocol to grant access is not standardized.

The interface has 3 mandatory signals (the fourth wire is GND): SCK (Serial Clock) - sync signal by which the master device strobes each data bit; MOSI (Master Output Slave Input) - master device output and slave device input data and MISO (Master Input Slave Output) - master device input and slave device output data. Additionally, the SS# (Slave Select) or CS# (Chip Select) signals can be used: The slave device must react to the interface signals and place output data on the MISO line only when this signal is low; when it is high, the MISO output must be placed into the high-impedance state. Using the SS# signals that are generated by the master device separately for each slave device, the master can select one of the slaves for a partner in the transaction. This results in a hybrid bus topology: With respect to the SCK, MOSI, and MISO signals, the topology is of the bus type; while with respect to the SS# signal, the topology is of the star type, with the master being the center.

SPI Analyzer is a device which samples bus lines and decodes SPI packets. SPI analyzers are built into advanced oscilloscopes while most popular are stand-alone devices which connect to the PC via USB or similar port. Some SPI analyzers also support other serial buses like I2C, RS232 or CAN and some can act as an SPI host adapter (master). The simplest SPI analyzer can capture and decode SPI communications up to 10 MHz.

NeoMore High Performance and Low Cost Logic Analyzer

This is a compact universal logic analyzer. It connects to the USB port of a PC which also powers the analyzer. The user interface is a Windows application, supports 34 channels at 500 MHz and includes also a RS232, I2C and SPI analyzer. The analyzer features color coded leadtips, instant wire activity display, channel naming, channel grouping, storage compression, external clock with qualifier, selectable sample and hold time and CSV data export.

Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer

This is universal low cost I2C/SPI analyzer to capture and display I2C and SPI traffic in real time. With a high performance bus it provides reliable monitoring at high speeds. It can monitor SPI bus up to 24 MHz and can diplay I2C, SPI, and MDIO packets in real-time. The actual SPI capture performance depends on the speed of the CPU and the SPI bus throughput, but in typical applications 24 MHz bus can be captured ana analyzed. The software is Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X compatible.

Intronix 34 Channel La1034 Logicport Logic Analyzer

This is an advanced analyzer with 34 channels sampled at 500MHz. It connects to a USB port which also provides power to the analyzer. It includes qualified state-mode sampling with adjustable setup/hold window, multi-level sequential trigger capability, built-in RS232, CAN, I2C and SPI analyzers, high-speed sampling, sophisticated trigger capabilities and real-time sample compression and more.

TechTools DigiView DV3400

This logic analyzer with included capture and analysis software provides many advanced features like asynchronous RS-232 and RS485 serial communication analysis, SPI analyzer with specialized sequential searches, I2C analyzer with searches for I2C protocol events like repeated start, slave address, master address, general synchronous serial analysis with sequential searching on data values and more. The DV3400 supports 36 Channels at 200 MHz or 18 Channels at 400 MHz. Th cheaper model DigiView DV1-100 supports only 18 Channels at 100 MHz.

Inovaflex Elektronik Logic Analyzer

This analyzer supports 24 channels, 1 MByte RAM on board with hardware compression, sampling rate of 100 MHz and can decode SPI, I2C and CAN messages. This logic analyzer can also be extended as an oscilloscope and you also get APIs to the LogicMaid dll for custom applications.

Byte Paradigm SPI Xpress

This is a SPI host adapter and SPI analyzer in one device. It supports SPI communications up to 50 MHz with 3 and 4 wire modes. As SPI masteryou can control SPI slave devices from the PC. SPI analyzer samples serial protocol traffic for analysis.

Byte Paradigm SPI Storm

This is a SPI host adapter which supports SPI, dual-SPI, quad-SPI and even custom protocols as a host adapter. Of course, SPI Storm also supports standard SPI, SPI protocol on 3 wires and features an advanced protocol definition engine which can be used for setting up virtually any custom (non-standard) serial protocol up to 100 MHz clock operation.

BusBee Serial Bus Monitor, Decoder and Analyzer

This small and portable USB device can capture and store to disk many popular serial buses like RS232, I2S, USB, SMBus, I2C, SPI, 1-wire or CAN. SPI analyzer operates up to 10 MHz clock. This device can also be used as a 4 channel logic analyzer.