A handheld field maintenance bus monitor is provided. The handheld field maintenance bus monitor is coupleable to at least one process communication loop, and is configured to capture and store a selected quantity of digital communication observed on the process communication loop during a capture period. Optionally, the handheld field maintenance bus monitor may be configured to couple to and interact with process communication loops of at least two different process communication protocols, such as HART® and FOUNDATION™. A method of analyzing captured and stored communication data is also provided.