MCC USB-1808X
The USB-1808X is MCC’s simultaneous-sampling USB DAQ: eight 18-bit inputs sampled at the same instant at up to 200 kS/s per channel, plus two 16-bit analog outputs, two quadrature encoder inputs, two counters and two timers. It is built for vibration, power and phase measurements that can’t tolerate channel-to-channel skew.
Specifications
| Analog inputs | 88 single-ended or 8 differential, sampled simultaneously |
| Resolution | 18-bit |
| Max sample rate | 200 kS/sper channel, simultaneous on all channels (USB-1808X). The original USB-1808 sampled at 50 kS/s per channel and is end of life |
| Input ranges | ±10 V, ±5 V, 0 to 10 V, 0 to 5 V |
| Input modes | single-ended, differential |
| Analog outputs | 2 × 16-bit |
| Digital I/O | 4 |
| Counters | 2 |
| Isolation | No |
| Interfaces | USB |
| List price | $1,014digilent.com and mouser.com, Oct 2026 |
Vendor driver by OS
| Driver | uldaq |
| Windows | Yes |
| macOS | Yes |
| Linux | Yes |
Vendor software
| InstaCal | WindowsIncluded. Device detection, configuration, test and calibration |
| DAQami | WindowsFree. Data logging, visualization and signal generation; CSV export |
USB-1808 vs USB-1808X
The original USB-1808 sampled at 50 kS/s per channel and is no longer sold. The USB-1808X samples at 200 kS/s per channel and is the model Digilent sells today, at $1,014 list at the time of writing, with a board-only USB-1808X-OEM alongside. The rest matches: 8 channels configurable as single-ended or differential, 18-bit resolution, ranges of ±10 V, ±5 V, 0 to 10 V and 0 to 5 V, two 16-bit analog outputs, 4 digital I/O lines, two counters, two quadrature encoder inputs and two timer outputs.
What simultaneous sampling changes
On a multiplexed DAQ such as the USB-1608G, each channel in a scan is read a few microseconds after the one before it, so comparing phase between channels needs a correction. The USB-1808X samples all eight channels at the same instant, so a voltage and current pair, or two accelerometers, share a timestamp. The per-channel rate also holds as you add channels, which makes the USB-1808X a better fit for spectrum work than a multiplexed device with the same headline number. The sample rate calculator helps you pick a rate with margin over your highest frequency of interest.
Software on Windows, Linux and macOS
On Windows, MCC supports the USB-1808X with InstaCal for setup, the Universal Library for programming and DAQami for logging and signal generation. MCC’s uldaq library lists both the USB-1808 and USB-1808X, so either one works on Linux and macOS from C or Python. DAQAtlas, which is in development, also uses uldaq, and its triggered scope and FFT views run on live data from all eight channels.
Questions
What is the difference between the USB-1808 and USB-1808X?
The USB-1808 samples at 50 kS/s per channel and is end of life. The USB-1808X samples at 200 kS/s per channel; the rest of the I/O is the same.
Does the USB-1808X sample all channels at once?
Yes. All eight analog inputs are sampled simultaneously, so the 200 kS/s rate applies to each channel.
Does the USB-1808X work on a Mac?
Yes, through MCC’s uldaq library, which supports both the USB-1808 and USB-1808X on macOS and Linux. MCC’s DAQami and InstaCal are Windows only.
Specifications and prices are taken from the vendor’s published pages at the time of writing and can change. Check the vendor before you buy. Sources: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7