Name: Total Phase Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter
Brand: Total Phase, Inc
SKU: TP240141
Price: 335.0 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.00 (3 reviews)

Which Total Phase Tool Do You Need?

To drive a bus as master or slave you need a host adapter; to watch a bus without disturbing it you need a protocol analyser. The Aardvark covers I2C to 800 kHz and SPI to 8 MHz, the Cheetah covers SPI master to 40+ MHz, and the Promira covers I2C to 3.4 MHz and SPI to 80 MHz with the matching application. For monitoring, the Beagle I2C/SPI captures I2C to 4 MHz and SPI to 24 MHz, and the Promira eSPI kit captures eSPI to 66 MHz.

Decision chart: which Total Phase tool to choose. Watch the bus: Beagle I2C/SPI for I2C or SPI, Promira eSPI kit for eSPI. Drive the bus: Aardvark for I2C to 800 kHz and SPI to 8 MHz at 3.3 V, Cheetah for SPI master to 40 MHz, otherwise Promira with a licence. — Which tool, in three questions.

The Family at a Glance

Product	Role	Maximum Speed	Price ex VAT
Aardvark (TP240141)	I2C and SPI host adapter	I2C 800 kHz; SPI master 8 MHz, slave 4 MHz	£335
Cheetah (TP280121)	SPI host adapter	SPI master 40+ MHz	£475
Promira Serial Platform (TP500110)	Host adapter and analyser, set by applications	I2C 3.4 MHz; SPI master 80 MHz, slave 20 MHz	£1,040 plus applications
Beagle I2C/SPI (TP320121)	I2C and SPI protocol analyser	Monitors I2C to 4 MHz, SPI to 24 MHz	£400
Promira eSPI Bus Analyser Kit (TP601100)	eSPI protocol analyser	Monitors eSPI to 66 MHz	£2,130

Total Phase's published maximums. Prices ex VAT.

Bar chart of maximum SPI clock: Promira 80 MHz (Level 3), Cheetah 40+ MHz, Beagle I2C/SPI 24 MHz monitor, Aardvark 8 MHz. — Promira figure needs the SPI Active Level 3 licence. The Beagle watches the bus; it does not drive it.

Bar chart of maximum I2C clock: Beagle I2C/SPI 4 MHz monitor, Promira 3.4 MHz (Level 2), Aardvark 800 kHz. — The Cheetah has no I2C.

Promira Applications

The Promira does nothing until it has at least one application licence. Total Phase issues each licence against the platform's serial number: licences ordered with a new Promira are configured by Total Phase before it ships to you. To add a licence to a Promira you already own, order it here and enter the Promira's serial number on the product page; we then order the licence from Total Phase for you. Total Phase has confirmed to us that a licence stays with that Promira and cannot be moved to another unit.

Application	What It Adds	Price ex VAT
I2C Active Level 1 (TP600110)	I2C master and slave to 1 MHz	£120
I2C Active Level 2 (TP600210)	I2C master and slave to 3.4 MHz	£650
SPI Active Level 1 (TP600510)	SPI master to 12.5 MHz, slave to 8 MHz	£120
SPI Active Level 2 (TP600610)	SPI master to 40 MHz, slave to 20 MHz, dual I/O	£245
SPI Active Level 3 (TP600710)	SPI master to 80 MHz, slave to 20 MHz, quad I/O	£810
I2C Analysis (TP601110)	Monitors I2C to 5 MHz	£120
SPI Analysis Level 1 (TP601510)	Monitors SPI to 24 MHz	£120
SPI Analysis Level 2 (TP601610)	Monitors SPI to 40 MHz	£245
eSPI Analysis (TP601010)	Monitors eSPI to 66 MHz, single, dual and quad I/O	£1,215

Choosing by Speed, Voltage and Budget

I2C to 800 kHz and SPI master to 8 MHz at 3.3 V: the Aardvark meets it, at its limit.
SPI master only, 10 MHz to 40 MHz: the Cheetah.
Faster I2C or SPI, SPI slave above 4 MHz, or dual and quad I/O: the Promira with the matching application.
Watching traffic rather than driving it: the Beagle I2C/SPI for I2C and SPI, the Promira eSPI kit for eSPI.

Voltage and Level Shifting

The Aardvark, Cheetah and Beagle I2C/SPI work with 3.3 V signals and can supply 5 V target power at up to 25 mA. For lower-voltage targets add the Level Shifter Board (TP240610, £175), which shifts to 1.2 V to 3.3 V. The Promira sets its signal level in software, anywhere from 0.9 V to 3.45 V, and the licence, not the voltage, sets the maximum speed: each application's rated speeds apply across that range, provided the target bus meets the electrical and timing requirements (bus capacitance, pull-ups) for that rate. It can power the target at up to 100 mA from each of its two power rails, 200 mA with both in use. The Promira eSPI analysis application is rated for 1.8 V I/O: if your eSPI target runs at 3.3 V, contact us before ordering.

Boards, Sockets and Cables

Product	Use	Price ex VAT
I2C/SPI Activity Board (TP240310)	Practice target for I2C and SPI	£80
CAN/I2C Activity Board Pro (TP360210)	Practice target for CAN and I2C	£175
Flash EPROM Socket Board (TP240511)	Programming socket for I2C and SPI memory	£75
Flash SOIC8 Socket Board (TP280310)	Programming socket for SOIC8 flash	£88
High-Speed SPI Flash Demo Board (TP280210)	Practice target for SPI flash	£89

Software, Drivers and Operating Systems

All Total Phase software and drivers are free downloads from the Total Phase downloads page.

Control Center Serial: drives I2C and SPI as master or slave from a PC (Aardvark, Cheetah).
Flash Center: programs I2C and SPI EEPROM and flash (Aardvark, Cheetah).
Data Center: captures and decodes bus traffic (Beagle I2C/SPI, Promira eSPI analysis).
Software API and LabVIEW driver: lets test scripts control the tools without the GUI.
Operating systems: Windows 10 and 11 (Aardvark, Cheetah and Beagle also Windows 7), Linux (Red Hat, SuSE, Ubuntu, Fedora) and macOS 13 or later.

If an older unit reports that its driver is not installed after a Windows 11 update, send us the serial number and the error code shown in Device Manager.

Programming Memory

The Aardvark and Cheetah program I2C and SPI EEPROM and flash with Flash Center, using the socket boards above for loose parts. For high-volume or production flash programming, a Dediprog programmer is often the better choice.

Buying From Debug Store

Stock, lead time and warranty are shown on each product page.
For multiple units, or a formal quotation to raise a purchase order against, ask us for a quote.
Country of origin, commodity code, net weight and a certificate of conformity are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Promira Applications Come with the Platform?

No. The platform and each application are separate part numbers, priced separately, and the platform needs at least one application. Choose the applications for the buses and speeds you need, and add more later.

Can the Cheetah Be Used for I2C?

No. The Cheetah is an SPI host adapter. For I2C, choose the Aardvark or a Promira with an I2C application.

Will an Older Aardvark Reach 800 kHz on I2C?

Total Phase states the 800 kHz I2C master rate from hardware version 3.00. Check the hardware version of an older unit before relying on it.

Does the Aardvark Have I2C Pull-up Resistors?

Yes. Total Phase fits a 2.2 kΩ pull-up on each I2C line (SCL and SDA), switched on or off in software.

Is There More Than One Aardvark Variant?

No. Total Phase currently sells one Aardvark hardware version, part number TP240141.

Is There a CAD or STEP Model of the Aardvark?

No. Total Phase gives the dimensions as 89 x 55.6 x 22.2 mm (length x width x depth), and tells us it has three plated mounting holes of about 2.0 mm. Ask us for Total Phase's dimension drawing.

Can the Cheetah Act as an SPI Slave?

No. The Cheetah is an SPI master only. For SPI slave, choose the Aardvark (to 4 MHz) or a Promira with an SPI Active application (to 8 MHz at Level 1, 20 MHz at Levels 2 and 3).

Can a Promira Licence Be Moved to Another Unit?

No. Total Phase has confirmed to us that each application licence is tied to one Promira serial number. A second Promira needs its own licences.

Where Is the Beagle I2C/SPI Connector Pinout?

In section 2.4 of the Total Phase Beagle Protocol Analyzer user manual.

By John Legg, Director, Debug Store. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.

Sources (8 Total Phase product pages and manuals)

Debug Store is a UK specialist distributor of embedded debug, programming and test equipment, supplying engineers worldwide since 1990.

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