Function generator

[NiaDebesis]

Hello!

I have finally build my laboratory...but i don't have a function generator, i have saw some bk precison like 4011 and some gw insteack i am looking for a 5mhz, my budget is 150€ can you help me?

Sorry for my english

Best regards!

Nia

[NiaDebesis]

Up plese

[rdl]

You could buy one of those cheap DDS types or one of the XR2206 based kits until you have a better idea of what you need.

[nctnico]

The Feeltech 3200S series isn't a waste of money.

[bazsa56]

+1 for the feeltech.

Have the 24MHz for 1+ year, very happy with it for the price.

[JoeN]

You could buy one of those cheap DDS types or one of the XR2206 based kits until you have a better idea of what you need.

Those kits are fun to build but really they are not a precision signal generator.  To get the signal where you want it to be, you have to put it into a scope first and dial it in.  Not exactly the quality you get out of a real function generator where you can just set the signal type, frequency, offset, and swing and know it's going to work.

[Nystemy]

I have been using a FY3224S myself for some time, and it is rather good for the money.
And they aren't too expensive, here is a link to an Ebay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FY3224S-24Mhz-Dual-ch-DDS-Function-Arbitrary-Waveform-Signal-Generator-sweep-/121478483178?hash=item1c48ae8cea

This would be my recommendation as a first signal generator for general use.

It has decent performance, and can generate decent looking square, triangle, etc waves at 2MHz, sine waves up to 24MHz, and if you really need a square wave, then you can always buffer the sine wave through a Schmitt triggered inverter. It also has arbitrary functions, but I haven't played around with that myself though, so I have no clue if it is any good. Best performance is expected under 1 MHz. Though, it doesn't like driving large loads, so it only has a few tens of milliamps worth of power.

Secondly, it has a universal counter in it too, and it can measure frequencies from a few hertz, to 100MHz, and the counter seams to not have a problem counting real short events. (I have only tested it with 10ns pulses at arbitrary spacing, generated by a digital signal generator.)

Internal build quality is really nice, and were actually surprising me when I first opened it. Though, putting in a lead weight could be considered an upgrade as it weighs almost nothing, and the case feels rather cheep.

[John B]

With the FY3224S and its variants, how are the waveforms at voltages in the range of a few hundred mV, and low frequency up to about 50khz? The videos on youtube seem to imply they have quite a bit of stair stepping in the waveform.

[Nystemy]

With the FY3224S and its variants, how are the waveforms at voltages in the range of a few hundred mV, and low frequency up to about 50khz? The videos on youtube seem to imply they have quite a bit of stair stepping in the waveform.

To solve this problem one can always use an opamp as a buffer, and a resistiv ladder to lower the voltage. It is cheap, and one probably has the parts around.

[NiaDebesis]

Thaks at all

I think Ill get a basic Rigol waveform generator, I work with Radio signal and other stuff like this for example amplifier, and I don't know properly what I need, I thought at a basic Rigol or a Basic Siglent function generator, but if you can help me ill apreciate it

(I don't know if a chinese function generator is usefull for me)

[rstofer]

Thaks at all

I think Ill get a basic Rigol waveform generator, I work with Radio signal and other stuff like this for example amplifier, and I don't know properly what I need, I thought at a basic Rigol or a Basic Siglent function generator, but if you can help me ill apreciate it

(I don't know if a chinese function generator is usefull for me)

I had thought I wanted to get up to around 160 MHz so I was looking at the Rigol DG4162 $1250 but then again, the Siglent SDG5162 looks pretty nice at $1192.

https://www.amazon.com/Rigol-DG4162-Arbitrary-Waveform-Generator/dp/B00EPFCLVM
https://www.amazon.com/Siglent-SDG5162-Function-Arbitrary-Generator/dp/B00EE18XQY

I haven't made up my mind and I don't really have a need so I bought the cheap FG085 kit just to have something laying around.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11394

I also have the Digilent Analog Discovery which is a much better Arbitrary Waveform Generator but it is limited in frequency.  I suppose I will eventually buy either the Rigol or the Siglent but I may back off on the frequency.

[NiaDebesis]

 Siglent SDG1025  any review about this?

[Vtile]

Thaks at all

I think Ill get a basic Rigol waveform generator, I work with Radio signal and other stuff like this for example amplifier, and I don't know properly what I need, I thought at a basic Rigol or a Basic Siglent function generator, but if you can help me ill apreciate it

(I don't know if a chinese function generator is usefull for me)

If you are on for radio frequenzies and a like, you might get more answer on that field if you go to https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/
knocking the doors??

[james_s]

It really depends on what you want to do. I have an old 2MHz function generator I bought used more than 15 years ago and it still serves me well for what I use it for. If you need higher frequencies then something like this will not do but you don't have to spend a lot of money if your needs are simple.

[NiaDebesis]

I have only  to test amplifiers, i don' t need lot of Hz fir thiss 25mhz is a looot but an arb is still mecesseraly, i have checked for siglent 1025/810 but is worth? i have erared that is cheap quality, idon' t know if is true, if they aren' t worth ill wait and get the 1022Z from rigol with the upgrade to 16M for the memory