Function gen for amateur bench: FY6900-60M vs Siglent 1025 or 1032X

[kimballa]

Hello,

I'm getting more serious with my amateur hardware hacking and need to buy some more equipment for my home EE workbench, including a function generator.

My needs:

• Stable performance down through the audio frequency range -- 10 Hz to 10kHz
• Some moderately high-speed capability for digital use: 10MHz sine min, 25MHz would be plenty. Square wave seems usually available at a lower frequency than the "headline" value and that's OK.
• Frequency counter function
• Basic waveforms (sine, square, ramp) and FM
• 2 Ch. model preferred
• Reasonably compact (not looking for rackmount!) but also would prefer a "box" form factor so it can stack with other equipment

In terms of new equipment from a reputable brand, the Siglent 1032X seems like the best bang for buck features-wise at $360. I see these at slight discount sometimes to buy used (~$300), and sometimes the older series like the Siglent 1025 or 1010 available for more like $200-225.

Would you spring for one of these sorts of options?

Alternatively, there are the Alibaba specials like the FY6900-60M  (manufactured under any number of made up "brand names") for much less -- $150-180 or so -- that seem to have comparable capabilities although they lack some of the bells and whistles like network access (which I think is fine). Do those actually work? Or are you liable to buy a lemon?

[kimballa]

(And, apologies, I just realized this should have gone in the "Test Equipment" board!)

[MiDi]

UNI-T UTG932E/UTG962E may be an alternative.

[tautech]

Owned 1010, same HW as 1025, no you don't really want one of these older units if you have the budget for the much better featured SDG1032X which in case you didn't know can be encouraged to become a SDG1062X. 

[bdunham7]

The Feeltech and friends FY6x00 series were OK when they were cheap, but I'd be reluctant to pay real money for them and like many things, they seem to cost more these days.  They do perform as advertised and I haven't had any trouble, but the SDG1032X will be a much nicer unit overall.  If you can find a deal on an SDG2042X that's even better because it can be hacked to 120MHz, making it usable for things like FM radio. However, if you specifically need square waves, the SDG1032X actually has an edge in that department.

[GigaJoe]

i bought this and sill use it as my daily maybe 6 years ago
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005295374464.html

the reason was to figure out what i need, it appears it still fit in my req.  and intention to change it came to nowhere , 
i like precision frequency change,  p-p 10V sufficient
hate the way of changing parameters
have to pull out switching power supply and replace it to analog\linear.

and rare case when i need precision or beyond 20Mhz  -  i have HP boat anchor for about the same price, but it soo rare case

[kimballa]

Thanks all! I could spring for the 1032X ... but that does start to eat into my overall electronics budget and then I would need to renegotiate with my better half that much sooner... and while for square wave drag racing purposes, hacking it into a 1062x sounds awesome, I realistically will not be working with signals that high speed any time soon.

I will look into that UNI-T option though!

[TurboTom]

Get yourself a Rigol DG811 and hack it to (close to) DG992 performance. Despite its ridiculous design, it's a solid instrument with decent performance. Regarding your requirements, the only drawback is that you will lose one AWG channel whenever you need to enable the (albeit quite decently implemented) frequency counter. It's definitely on par or above the SDG1032X. Have a look at the DG800 thread if you want to read more about this instrument.

[nctnico]

The Rigol DG811 doesn't have a numerical keypad. I'd say that is a hard no for a function generator costing that kind of money. Even the UNI-T UTG932E has a numeric keypad. And if you really want to go cheap, then the Feeltech FY6900 is a good contender as well (without the numeric keypad).

I'd stay clear from the older Siglent SDG1000 series; the second output only goes to 3V which makes the generator useless rather quickly as I have noticed myself. In the end I got a Feeltech FY3200 just to have 2 channels with +/-10V capability.

[TurboTom]

You are correct it hasn't got a physical, dedicated numerical keypad. But other than the Siglent AWGs, Rigol went serious about the touchscreen and integrated it seamlessly into their U/I approach, thus providing a very useful numerical keypad on the touchscreen when needed. It's capacitive and much more comfortable to use than siglent's resistive approach. By eliminating the physical decimal keypad, the now available real estate on the instrument's face, permitted the use of a considerably bigger screen without having to go for ultra-tiny buttons (except for the power switch...but even this gets the job done...).

Moreover, there's at least one AUX in-/output available for each AWG channel at the rear of the instrument. And the frequency counter input is located at the front. Siglent offers only a single AUX channel for BOTH AWG channels (used for sync in/out, trigger in, external modulation in...) and has the frequency counter input at the rear.

All this may be of little relevance for one, but a deal breaker for another user. I only recommend to look closely at the details before placing an order.

[skander36]

My Siglent 2042X is still alive today because of it's autoprotection on output.
My FY6600 is half dead (one output amp is fried).

[BillyO]

Thanks all! I could spring for the 1032X ... but that does start to eat into my overall electronics budget and then I would need to renegotiate with my better half that much sooner... and while for square wave drag racing purposes, hacking it into a 1062x sounds awesome, I realistically will not be working with signals that high speed any time soon.

So, it was not really a consideration?

Too bad.  The SDG1032X is a real instrument.  The FY6900 is a toy.  If you end up getting the FY6900, make sure it does not get blown away in a stiff breeze. 

[GigaJoe]

as usually budged prevailed, and this totally understandable.
 

[mawyatt]

Haven't evaluated the other AWGs under consideration, as we don't tend to discount items we haven't personally evaluated.

We do have and use the SDG2042X (and big brother SDG6022X), and can say the output waveform quality is superb, yes the UI isn't very good, but the waveform quality is what matters the most for our needs, so we put up with the UI. You can search for both these AWGs and see how they perform for your own considerations.

One thing to consider if one envisions doing Bode Plots (some discount this feature, however we've found it quite useful for our work), and considers a Siglent DSO, other brand AWGs won't directly work. Suspect the same for Rigol, altho think some folks have hacked different brand DSO and AWGs to work together.

Best,

[BillyO]

Another possibility might be the Juntek PSG9080.  Priced a bit higher than the FY6900 but by all accounts a much more substantial option.

[nctnico]

Another possibility might be the Juntek PSG9080.  Priced a bit higher than the FY6900 but by all accounts a much more substantial option.

That model costs twice as much as a FY6900 ! I don't know what your problem is with the FY6900. It is a decent function generator with all the basic features for a low price. The value for money is so great that you basically can't go wrong with buying a FY6900. If it turns out to be inadequate at some point, it will serve fine as an extra generator. If the hobby is abandoned, not much money is lost.

[Swainster]

Kerry Wong (youtube) just reviewed an Owon DGE2070. That might be another option to consider... that said, the Uni-t UTG962E looks a bit more usable - I'd definitely prefer having the sync out option.

[BillyO]

Another possibility might be the Juntek PSG9080.  Priced a bit higher than the FY6900 but by all accounts a much more substantial option.

That model costs twice as much as a FY6900 ! I don't know what your problem is with the FY6900. It is a decent function generator with all the basic features for a low price. The value for money is so great that you basically can't go wrong with buying a FY6900. If it turns out to be inadequate at some point, it will serve fine as an extra generator. If the hobby is abandoned, not much money is lost.

It's also  about 1/2 the cost of the SDG1032X

Aren't you very fond of keyboard entry?  Well the PSG has keyboard entry.  It also has the ability to use an external sync reference and it goes out to 80MHz.  Plus a bunch more good news.

I've nothing against the FY6900.  For years I had a JDS6600-60 .. still do.   A very similar device that shared a lot with the the FY6900-- including a deplorable power source and a not to accurate internal oscillator.  I know they can be fixed for about $30 (because I did it) but it's better not to need to.  Still, when I bought the JDS6600-60, it was considerably less costly than it is today.  It was worth the $75 I paid for it, I guess, but I'm not sure about $100+, especially considering the cost of upgrading the PS and the OSC.

Anyway, just throwing out some other options.

[Smoky]

Not knowing much at the time, I went on the recommendations that I read on EEVblog when I bought my SDG1032X.

It's a great machine. I probably don't exploit the capabilities of it like the majority do but I haven't had one issue with it since I bought it about 4 years ago.

I haven't done any updates to it either so maybe I need to get on the ball in that arena.

If and when my Fluke 45 multimeter poops-out I'll spring for one of Siglents models to grow the family.

I always saved-up to buy the best I can. Looking back, I never had any regrets buying things that way

[tautech]

Not knowing much at the time, I went on the recommendations that I read on EEVblog when I bought my SDG1032X.

It's a great machine. I probably don't exploit the capabilities of it like the majority do but I haven't had one issue with it since I bought it about 4 years ago.

I haven't done any updates to it either so maybe I need to get on the ball in that arena.

If and when my Fluke 45 multimeter poops-out I'll spring for one of Siglents models to grow the family.

I always saved-up to buy the best I can. Looking back, I never had any regrets buying things that way

Here, let me help push you to upgrading the firmware:
https://int.siglent.com/download/firmwares/?ProId=20

[LooseJunkHater]

The UNI-T UTG932E seems much better built than the FY6900/JDS6600 with very similar specs, so why is it being recommended? Are there significant advantages to the FY6900/JDS6600?

Are there better alternatives to those three function gens for a similar price? Siglent's/Rigols stuff appears to be double the price with similar specs/performance?

[nctnico]

The UNI-T UTG932E seems much better built than the FY6900/JDS6600 with very similar specs, so why is it being recommended? Are there significant advantages to the FY6900/JDS6600?

The Uni-T can be bought from local dealers so it might be easier to purchase compared to the Feeltech units that typically have to be ordered through Aliexpress. The advantage of the Feeltech units is the lower price.

[Hexley]

I haven't done any updates to it either so maybe I need to get on the ball in that arena.

Here, let me help push you to upgrading the firmware:
https://int.siglent.com/download/firmwares/?ProId=20

@Smoky - you might want to review the SDG1000X thread for some thoughts about which version of firmware to use. Some have reported better results with the somewhat oder versions (like '33R1) than with the latest version ('33R3). See, for example, https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdg1000x-waveform-generators/msg4434940/#msg4434940 or https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdg1000x-waveform-generators/msg4434094/#msg4434094.

[GigaJoe]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404254061188

[nctnico]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404254061188

If you are going to compare specs, it is very likely the Feeltech FY6900 is a better buy compared to this 30+ year old Wavetek. And not to mention the age and possible issues the Wavetek has.