MCC USB DAQ Selection Guide for Indian Labs…

Selecting a USB data acquisition (DAQ) device for an Indian R&D lab, durability rig, or production-test fixture usually comes down to three questions: do your signals need simultaneous sampling, how many channels do you need now and later, and are you building on a PC or a Raspberry Pi? Measurement Computing (MCC, now part of Digilent) makes three devices that anchor the middle of that decision tree, the MCC USB-1808X, the MCC USB-1608G Series, and the MCC 118 DAQ HAT. This guide compares them on the specs that actually change the recommendation.

The One Spec That Decides First: Simultaneous vs Multiplexed Sampling

The single most important question is whether your channels must be sampled at the same instant.

A multiplexed DAQ has one ADC shared across all channels via an input switch. Channels are sampled one after another, so there is a small, fixed time skew between channel 1 and channel 8. For DC and slowly changing signals, temperatures, pressures, strain under quasi-static load, this skew is irrelevant.

A simultaneous-sampling DAQ has one ADC per channel (or a sample-and-hold per channel), so every channel is captured at the same instant. This matters whenever phase relationships between signals carry information: vibration analysis across multiple accelerometers, power quality (voltage and current phase), motor commutation, or any multi-sensor correlation.

Device	Sampling	When to choose
MCC USB-1808X	Simultaneous	Phase-critical multi-sensor work
MCC USB-1608G Series	Multiplexed (aggregate)	High channel count, DC/slow signals
MCC 118 DAQ HAT	Multiplexed (aggregate)	Raspberry Pi monitoring, scale-out

MCC USB-1808X: Simultaneous Sampling, 18-bit

The MCC USB-1808X is the precision choice. It provides 8 single-ended or 4 differential analog inputs at 18-bit resolution, sampled simultaneously at 200 kS/s per channel. Because all channels share a common timebase, the USB-1808X eliminates the interchannel skew inherent to multiplexed systems, exactly what you need for vibration, power-quality, and multi-sensor correlation work.

Key specs to design around:

18-bit resolution: 262,144 discrete levels across the input range, resolving millivolt-level changes on a 10 V signal
200 kS/s per channel, simultaneous: every channel captured at the same instant
Software-selectable input ranges: ±10 V, ±5 V, 0 to 10 V, 0 to 5 V
2 analog outputs (16-bit, 500 kS/s single channel), 4 digital inputs / 4 digital outputs, and two 32-bit counters with quadrature encoder support
USB 2.0 bus-powered, driven by the MCC Universal Library (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, C/C++, .NET) and DASYLab for no-code workflows

Choose the USB-1808X when phase fidelity is non-negotiable: structural and modal testing, power converter characterization, or motion control where you also need the encoder inputs.

MCC USB-1608G Series: Channel Count and Throughput

The MCC USB-1608G Series trades simultaneous sampling for higher channel count and aggregate throughput. It offers 16 single-ended or 8 differential analog inputs at 16-bit resolution, multiplexed through a single ADC.

The series splits into two base models and two analog-output variants:

USB-1608G: 250 kS/s aggregate
USB-1608GX: 500 kS/s aggregate
USB-1608G-2AO / USB-1608GX-2AO: add two 16-bit analog outputs (250 kS/s/ch, ±10 V fixed)

An important clarification many spec sheets blur: analog outputs are only on the -2AO models. The base USB-1608G and USB-1608GX have no analog outputs. If your application needs to generate a control voltage or stimulus, specify a -2AO variant when you request a quote.

Every model in the series provides software-selectable input ranges (±10 V, ±5 V, ±2 V, ±1 V), 8 digital I/O lines, and a 32-bit counter, all over USB 2.0 with full MCC Universal Library support. Choose the USB-1608G Series when you need many channels of DC or slowly varying signals, temperature, pressure, level, position, and aggregate throughput matters more than per-channel simultaneity.

MCC 118 DAQ HAT: Data Acquisition on Raspberry Pi

The MCC 118 DAQ HAT answers a different question entirely: how do I add measurement to a Raspberry Pi? It is a Hardware-Attached-on-Top board that stacks directly onto the Pi’s GPIO header.

8 single-ended analog inputs, 12-bit, ±10 V
100 kS/s aggregate sample rate per HAT
Stack up to 8 HATs on one Raspberry Pi for 64 channels and up to 320 kS/s total throughput
Powered with 3.3 V from the Pi’s GPIO header; open-source C/C++ and Python library

The MCC 118 is the right pick for distributed, low-cost monitoring nodes, edge data logging, and student or proof-of-concept rigs where the Raspberry Pi is already the compute platform. Its 12-bit resolution and ±10 V single range are coarser than the USB-1808X or USB-1608G, so it is a monitoring tool rather than a precision instrument.

Quick Decision Matrix

Need	Pick
Phase-accurate multi-sensor (vibration, power)	USB-1808X (18-bit, simultaneous)
Many DC/slow channels, highest throughput	USB-1608GX (16-bit, 500 kS/s)
Analog output / stimulus alongside inputs	USB-1608GX-2AO or USB-1808X
Raspberry Pi-based monitoring, scale to 64 ch	MCC 118 (stackable HATs)
Encoder / counter inputs for motion	USB-1808X (2x 32-bit counters)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the base USB-1608G have analog outputs? No. Analog outputs are available only on the -2AO models (USB-1608G-2AO and USB-1608GX-2AO), which add two 16-bit outputs at 250 kS/s/ch over a fixed ±10 V range. The base USB-1608G and USB-1608GX are input-and-DIO devices.

What is the difference between simultaneous and multiplexed sampling? A simultaneous device (USB-1808X) captures every channel at the same instant using per-channel sample-and-hold, preserving phase between signals. A multiplexed device (USB-1608G, MCC 118) shares one ADC across channels, introducing a small fixed skew that is harmless for DC/slow signals but unsuitable for phase-critical measurements.

Which MCC DAQ works with Python and LabVIEW? All three. The USB-1808X and USB-1608G use the MCC Universal Library (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, C/C++, .NET); the MCC 118 uses the open-source MCC DAQ HAT library for Python and C/C++ on Raspberry Pi OS.

Can I scale the MCC 118 beyond 8 channels? Yes. Up to eight MCC 118 HATs stack on a single Raspberry Pi for 64 channels and up to 320 kS/s aggregate throughput, with synchronized acquisition across the stack.

How do I buy MCC USB DAQ devices in India? GSAS Micro Systems is the authorized Digilent engineering partner in India. We supply the full MCC DAQ portfolio with INR invoicing, application guidance, and GeM/SAP Ariba/Coupa/TReDS procurement support. Request a quote for current pricing and lead time.

Buy MCC DAQ in India from GSAS

Whether you are instrumenting a durability rig, a power-quality study, or a Raspberry Pi monitoring fleet, GSAS Micro Systems helps you pick the right MCC device the first time. Our application engineers support DAQ deployments and INR procurement for teams across Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR. Request a quote to compare the MCC USB-1808X, USB-1608G Series, and MCC 118 for your measurement task.