Total Phase, Inc
Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser
Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser
SKU: TP320121
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Key Features
Overview
What the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser Does
The Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser (TP320121) is a USB-powered protocol analyser that monitors I2C up to 4 MHz, SPI up to 24 MHz and MDIO up to 2.5 MHz passively, without driving the bus, with bit-level timing to 20 ns. It is for embedded engineers debugging I2C or SPI peripherals during bring-up, firmware development and production test.
10% off the Beagle when ordered with an Aardvark I2C/SPI (TP240141) or Cheetah SPI (TP280121). One Beagle per order, applied automatically in the cart. No end date.
The Beagle ships with its 10-pin ribbon cable and a USB cable, but no split cable. Where your board has no 2x5 0.1 in (2.54 mm) header, the 10-Pin Split Cable (TP240212) gives individual leads for each pin and fits the Beagle, Aardvark and Cheetah alike. Total Phase's I2C and SPI development kits include two.
Real-Time Display, Search and Filter
Data Center software shows each I2C or SPI transaction as it happens, decoded to protocol level with error codes. LiveFilter and LiveSearch narrow a long capture to one address, pattern or error without stopping the capture.
Compatibility
Runs from the USB port of a Windows 7, 10 or 11 PC, a Linux machine (Red Hat, SuSE, Ubuntu, Fedora) or a Mac on macOS 13 or later. Target signals are 3.3 V logic; for targets below 3.3 V, use the Level Shifter Board (TP240610). Measures 55.6 x 22.2 x 89 mm and weighs 64 g.
Free Software
Total Phase's Data Center software, the Beagle API (C, C++, C#, Python, .NET, VB.NET, VB6) and the LabVIEW driver are free downloads from Total Phase, with no licence fee for updates.
Next Step
Add the Beagle to your cart, or ask us whether the Beagle or the Promira Serial Platform suits your bus speeds before you order.
Downloads
Real-Time Data Display
Data captured by the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is displayed on screen as it arrives. This is especially useful when capturing slow data from HMI devices: the effect of a change can be seen straight away.
Many analysers show a capture only after it stops; the Beagle with Data Center shows each transaction as it happens, so the impact of a change on the bus is understood quickly.
Non-Intrusive Capture of I2C, SPI and MDIO Data
Running on Windows 7, 10 and 11, Linux (Red Hat, SuSE, Ubuntu, Fedora) and macOS 13 and later, the Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is a low-cost way to monitor I2C, SPI or MDIO buses: I2C to 4 MHz, SPI to 24 MHz and MDIO to 2.5 MHz.
The Beagle is a passive monitor: it adds only about 15 pF to each bus line and does not drive the bus. Attach it inline to capture the traffic to the target devices.
Nearly Limitless Capture
Captured data is streamed via High-Speed USB directly to your computer. The amount of data captured is limited only by the physical memory available on the machine.
Bit-Level Timing
As well as the timing of a whole packet, the Beagle gives the timing of each bit in a packet, with a resolution of 20 ns.
High-Speed USB 2.0
The Beagle has a High-Speed USB 2.0 interface (480 Mbps) to the analysis PC. USB also powers the analyser, so no external supply is needed.
Limitations
- SPI capture at 24 MHz is tested for typical bursts; sustained streaming at the top rate depends on the host PC.
- MDIO capture uses the Beagle API or Data Center v2.20, which Total Phase still provides.
- Monitors one SPI slave select line.
- Target signals are 3.3 V logic; operating temperature 10 to 35 °C.
- The 10-Pin Split Cable (TP240212) is not included.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026.
| General Information | |
|---|---|
Part Number (SKU) |
TP320121
|
Manufacturer |
|
| Physical and Mechanical | |
Weight |
1.0 kg
|
| Other | |
EAN |
5055383601820
|
Questions and Answers
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What Is the Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser and What Does It Do?
The Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is a non-intrusive protocol analyser for I2C, SPI and MDIO-based systems.
It captures and displays bus traffic in real time without affecting the target system, so you can find communication issues, timing problems and protocol violations.
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What Is the Main Purpose of the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyzer monitors, analyses and debugs I2C and SPI bus communications. It captures and decodes bus data in real time, so engineers can quickly find and fix problems during development or testing.
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What Is the Maximum Data Rate That the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser Supports for I2C and SPI?
The Total Phase Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser monitors I2C at up to 4 MHz, SPI at up to 24 MHz and MDIO at up to 2.5 MHz.
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Does the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser Support Real-time Data Capture and Decoding?
Yes. With the Data Center software, data captured by the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is displayed on screen as it appears on the bus, which makes it easier to relate bus activity to physical and real-time events.
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How Does the Beagle Analyser Compare to Using an Oscilloscope for Protocol Debugging?
An oscilloscope shows low-level signal detail such as jitter, noise and signal integrity. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser gives protocol-aware analysis optimised for I2C and SPI.
The Beagle provides automatic protocol decoding, real-time display and transaction-level analysis, which would take a long time with an oscilloscope. It works on digital protocol data rather than raw analogue signals, with LiveFilter and LiveSearch to find specific data patterns.
Many engineers use both: the oscilloscope for signal integrity and the Beagle for protocol debugging.
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What Are Common Troubleshooting Issues When Using the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser?
Common issues and fixes:
- Partial last byte errors (P1, P2, P3, etc.): the analyser could not capture a complete byte, often because of incorrect slave select timing in SPI.
- Timeout errors ("T"): no data was seen within the 250 ms timeout period.
- Sampling rate: Total Phase's rule of thumb is at least four times the bus rate; its Beagle manual recommends five to ten times for I2C.
- Cable length: keep leads short. Total Phase's own ribbon and split cables are about 13 cm (5 in).
- Settings: check grounding, I2C pull-up resistor and target power settings in Data Center Software.
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How Does the Non-intrusive Monitoring Feature Work and Why Is It Important?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is a passive, non-intrusive monitor.
You connect it in parallel to the bus lines and ground, and it passively captures data, adding only a small load (about 15 pF from its ESD protection). This means you see the system's behaviour with minimal disturbance from the measurement tool.
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Can the Beagle Analyser Be Used for Long-term Monitoring and Production Testing?
Yes. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser can capture data continuously, limited only by the available memory of the connected computer. This helps find intermittent issues and study behaviour over long periods.
For production testing, its API lets you build it into automated test setups for quality control and production line testing of I2C or SPI devices. The API supports custom applications and automated test scripts in multiple programming languages.
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Can the Beagle Analyser Be Used in Production Testing?
Yes. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser can be built into production test setups. Its API allows automation for quality control and production line testing of devices using I2C or SPI.
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What Kind of Support Is Available for the Beagle Analyser?
Total Phase provides the manuals, knowledge base and a support ticket system. Debug Store answers pre-sales and application questions directly: contact us.
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Can the Beagle Analyser Be Used for Reverse Engineering?
Yes. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is useful for reverse engineering I2C or SPI systems. It monitors without affecting the bus and captures detailed data, so you can analyse and understand unknown systems.
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How Portable Is the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser?
The Beagle Analyser is very portable. It is compact and USB-powered, with no external power needed, so it suits field engineers as well as lab use.
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How Does the Cost of the Beagle Analyser Compare to Its Features?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is a professional-grade tool priced accordingly. Its versatility, accuracy and software support give good value for embedded developers, both in engineering teams and working alone. -
What Software Comes with the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser?
The analyser comes with Total Phase Data Center software for real-time monitoring, data capture and analysis. It is free to use with the Beagle Analyser and regularly updated.
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Is There an API Available for Custom Applications?
Yes. Total Phase provides an API for building custom applications and automated testing scripts. It supports various programming languages, so you can integrate it into existing development workflows.
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How Accurate Is the Timing Analysis of the Beagle Analyser?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyzer has a timing resolution of 20 ns, which helps you find timing-related issues in communication protocols.
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How Does the Beagle Analyser Handle Multi-device SPI Setups?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser monitors one SPI slave select line. To monitor several SPI devices on the same bus, capture each device's chip select in turn, or use a logic analyser alongside the Beagle to see all chip selects at once.
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How Does the Beagle Analyser Compare to Logic Analysers?
Logic analysers do general-purpose signal analysis. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser is designed specifically for I2C and SPI, with protocol-aware analysis that makes these buses quicker and easier to debug.
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What Protocols Does the Beagle I2C/SPI Analyser Support?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyzer supports I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) and SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). It can also analyse MDIO (Management Data Input/Output) traffic.
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What Is the Maximum Data Rate the Analyser Can Handle?
The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyzer can monitor SPI at up to 24 MHz and I2C at up to 4 MHz.
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Is the Beagle Analyser Compatible with My Operating System?
Yes. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyzer works with Windows, Linux and macOS.
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Can the Beagle Analyser Capture Partial Data Packets?
Yes. The Beagle I2C/SPI Analyzer can capture and display partial data packets, which helps when debugging complex issues or interrupted communications.
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