Signal generator uses? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2017, 10:49:51 pm
content: Perhaps it should seem immediately apparent, but while I'm sure that signal generators are a standard piece of most labs, I would like to ask about some of their uses.Would you be willing to share either what you might be using one for, or what they are generally used for.I could imagine them switching a transistor on/off, checking the capability of an oscilloscope or a multi-meter to measure certain frequencies.What else is done with them? What are they useful for?

author: 3db
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 12:19:45 am
content: They generate signalsTO be honest they fall into different categories depending on their end use.An Arbitary Waveform Generator (ARB) can be used to generate many waveformseg. Sine,Square,Sawtooth,Triangle or any arbitary waveform.Audio Signal Generators would be used for audio work tocheck the sensitivity of amplifiers or plot their frequency response (Bode Plot).Radio Signal generators are available with varying frequency ranges and types of modulation optionsSome would be used to test domestic AM/FM receivers others might be for use on amateur radio frequencyequipment receivers using SSB and other types of modulation.These can be used to align and check the sensitivity of receivers.This is just a sample of the types available.Check out Alan Wolke's youtube channel W2AEW for informationon the use of radio test equipment and types of modulation.Hope this helps to get you started.3DB.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 12:42:37 am
content: The convention is to call the lowish frequency stuff function generators (if they can generate sins, square waves and triangle waves) or pulse generators if they can only generate square waves/pulses. Signal generator generally refers to, depending on the context, to an audio or RF signal generator. Both will generally only generate sines, but with a lower distortion (audio) or a better stability and more modulation options (RF). The collective term is signal sources.You might use a square wave from a function generator to act as a temporary clock signal for a digital circuit, for example to figure out which crystal frequency works best. You could use a function generator with sweep function to sweep a filter and determine its frequency response. You could use a triangular wave to test at what voltage a comparator will turn on/off or what the clipping behavior of an amplifier is. You could use an arbitrary waveform generator to generate imperfect (e.g. noisy) signals to see how your circuit would respond to that.Some relevant videos from Alan's channel that 3db already referred to:

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 02:14:56 am
content: Quote from: alm on July 31, 2017, 12:42:37 amRight, or it can be called the baseband signal if used to modulate an RF source..To the OP: For example I can modulate my HP RF signal generator with a sine wave from a function generator such that it has a certain deviation at a certain frequency, to test the CTCSS decoding of an FM receiver. The frequency controlling the CTCSS "tone" can come from an external function generator.Many, many uses for signal (function) generators like alm says, the "lower frequency" signals.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2017, 03:43:09 am
content: And some AWG's have a DC output mode that can make them useful as a low power bench supply.