"High Power" signal generator needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: wilhe_jo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2022, 11:18:35 am
content: Hi Folks!I'm in the progress of getting my conducted immunity test setup streamlined (ie. get the conducted and radiated test setup separated).Up to now, I have a nice Amplifier Research unit which gets moved around... it works, but I'd love to have a fixed setup.There're several MRF101 amplifier builds around.I'm confident to build an 150k-80M amplifier (actually, I'll switch between 3 bands for ease of implementation) from the available reference designs.However, this would only have a power gain of about +20dB...I guess, having 25W of power would be plenty.So I'd need 24dBm of drive power (the MRF101 could do 100W@1W drive power).That's 10dB more than my current generators could do... So I'm out for a new (read: new in my lab, but old and used due to budget constraints) 150k-80Mhz signal gen as wellAfter looking at various data sheets, I only found the Keysight/Agilent 33250a...That would give me 1W which would be a very nice match for the MRF101.I'm sure there are more generators in the 24-30dBm range out there (having some pc-interface)... any recommendations???BTW: Yes, adding a driver-amplifier came up to my mind, but I did not find a "finished" 150k-80MHz 1W preamp design (with available parts).So I thought trading time vs money and getting a new signal gen would be fine as well73Maybe it makes sense to make a list of these higher-power sig-gens...GwinstekAFG-308110Vpp @ 50ΩDC-80MHzAgilent/Keysight33250A10Vpp @ 50Ω1µHz-80MHzRigolDG5101 (whole DG5000 series)10Vpp @ 50Ωdepends on modelTTiTGF4162/TGF424210Vpp @ 50Ω <=80MHzdepends on model

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2022, 05:10:15 pm
content: Have you considered an amateur radio linear amplifier? Some of them can deliver kilowatts. The frequency might not be adequate so you might need two or three different units.

author: wilhe_jo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2022, 05:46:43 pm
content: Yes, I have... actually I found the MRF101 by looking for some ham-radio stuff.The 2200m band (just below the 150kHz boundary) is still pretty rarely used.So there are not too many commercial options. Most do 1.8-30 or 54MHz.However, you can find several homebrew designs using the relatively new MRF101...So I think, the amplifier is doable if you can provide enough input power.Meanwhile I ran through most obvious budget brands (initially, I was searching for used stuff.73

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2022, 07:19:55 pm
content: For below 100 kHz, consider an audiophile amplifier.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2022, 08:47:23 pm
content: Quote from: wilhe_jo on February 08, 2022, 11:18:35 amSDG2082XSDG6022X ^ both 10V p-p into 50 Ohm uses EasyWaveX SW for remote controlSSG3021X 20 dBm max into 50 Ohm. Has webserver.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2022, 08:58:49 pm
content: Mini circuits ZHL-32A+ or ZHL-32A-S+ as a driver between AWG and power amp ??

author: wilhe_jo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2022, 12:16:30 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on February 08, 2022, 08:47:23 pmThey don't get you the 10Vpp in the whole .15-80MHz range...Quote from: 2N3055 on February 08, 2022, 08:58:49 pmHmm, didn't had these on my radar... sounds an interesting option, thanks!73

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2022, 03:57:23 pm
content: I think some of the Marconi 202X Series has a high power option. If you look you can have one for reasonable money.Rich

author: wilhe_jo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2022, 06:52:30 pm
content: Well, I found this in the Marconi 2023/2024 datasheet:QuoteSo that's not bad, but not quite what I'm looking for... In addition, they can't to full power when doing AM:QuoteI wonder if that's considered in the other data sheets... That's the first one which is that specific on this detail.73

author: AJ3G
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2022, 10:45:52 pm
content: Yes, if you have AM Set, it will not allow you to advance the amplitude beyond a certain number. From what the Marconi User Group says this to give you enough headroom when running AM.Rich