Functional Generator under $300 in 2025? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: dittohead
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 02:58:21 pm
content: Hello,looking for functional generator under my budget.Good to have 2 channels.Good Win/Mac software a must, need draw custom waveforms50MHz a must, higher - good to haveRigol DG821/822 Pro - most expensive from this list, problems on low frequencies (on early FWs), but maybe it worth?FeelTech FY8300S - good for it price, not great, not terribleJUNTEK PSG9080 80M - lot of discussion about, but not enough opinions aboutUnit UTG962E - read about couple of issues with this series quality, PC connection awfulOwon DGE2070 - reviews looks well. but im confused with formfactor (same for Unit)Maybe I miss some gamechanger from this price range?Or some from this list is banger, that ive need buy it immediately

author: Grandchuck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 03:12:03 pm
content: Siglent SDG800 series with EasyWaveX software might work.

author: dittohead
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 03:27:36 pm
content: higher model only 30 MHz

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 03:39:39 pm
content: You're better off looking at the SDG1000X or SDG2000X series, but would need to either raise your budget, or look at the used market.

author: dittohead
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 07:53:09 pm
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on May 15, 2025, 03:39:39 pmpros/cons to rigol?

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 08:11:24 pm
content: SDG1022xplus:319€ (excl VAT)16bit/1GSa/s/8MptsDG822pro:399€(excl VAT)16bit/625MSa/s/2Mpts (8Mpts optional)Datasheets for deeper comparison:https://www.batronix.com/files/Siglent/Funktionsgeneratoren/SDG1000X-Plus/SDG1000X-Plus/2-Manuals/SDG1000X-Plus_DataSheet_EN01A.pdfhttps://www.batronix.com/files/Rigol/Funktionsgeneratoren/DG800Pro/DG800Pro_DataSheet_EN.pdf

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 10:59:25 pm
content: Most of the EEVblog users who are purchasing Rigol DG821PRO seem to liberate it to a DG922PRO [200MHz - 16bits - 1.25GSas - 32M] and since you mention 50MHz as a must.. Looks like you're calculating with that?SDG10xxXplus and Rigol DGxxxPRO are quite different beasts.SDG1xxXplus is Siglents older casette style with a relative small 4" screen (480x272 -130k pix) while DGxxPRO is based on a DHOxxx scope formfactor, and 7" touchscreen (1024x600 614k pix) so for most of the interaction, you tend to use the display - as these modern signal gens are packed with features nowadays, and it can be cumbersome to adjust on a small display & lack of touchscreen..Certainly the case on my older FY6900.Worth noting that Siglent is also coming out with a ≤ 200MHz signal generator line SDG3000X [SDG3082X/3162X/3202X] with merits that are quite similar to Rigols DG900PRO line and with the same bigger 7" touchscreen & form-factorSiglent SDG3000X series seems to be rehashing their molding for their entry scope, so the same approach as Rigol do with their latest signal gens, where DGxxxPRO uses the same formfactor as their 7" DHOxxx scopes, and DG5xxxPRO uses the 10" DHO1000 & DHO4000 formfactor... Though SDG3000X is also way out of your budget.The best bang for the buck amongst the more established names (in my view) still seems to be DG821PRO  but like always, there is quite a bit of mockup from western resellers if your country are VAT/TAX depended, but even then' its still an an attractive package, not least if mobility matters, as it can run on powerbanks with corresponding 15V PD valus..How their PC/MAC software stacks up individually.. haven't tried Siglent, only Rigol's Ultra Station and FeelElec/Tech software for FY6900...Both of these gave you waveform drawing abilities, at least in Windows clothing..DG821PRO will do 32M according to users who flipped theirs to DG922PRO and tried waveforms at those sizes, and its pretty fast for a budget waveform-generator at 3ns. (rise/fall)Even out of the box, you can go way out of bounce on pretty much all the waveforms incl. its ARB portfolio (200MHz), with its UI bug.. How useful that is in practice, likely varies from user to user.Tried to ask Chat for a comparison table on these two series, as ain't the SDG1022X Plus hackable to SDG1062X Plus merits? (// seems so, and what many tend to do).*Though worth noting, Chat tends to make errors in these comparison tables.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 11:54:14 pm
content: Quote from: dittohead on May 15, 2025, 07:53:09 pmI'm the wrong person to ask about Rigol. I'm generally biased hard against Rigol based on my previous experience with their oscilloscopes, and how bad their support tends to be.I have no experience with Rigol's sig gens, they might be okay. I'd suggest searching this site for a specific Rigol model you're considering, and see what people complain about the most, and whether or not they need to hack them for basic things to work correctly (like their modern scopes). If they complained about bugs, did the bugs get fixed?Personally, I prefer the smaller footprint of the current SDG series AWGs. I dunno how I feel about the new SDG3000 series. It might be a nice interface, but I don't want to lose more space on my bench than I need to. Some people might love it. 🤷What I like about the Siglent AWGs, is that they just work. For example, I've had the SDG's 200MHz counter connected to the 10MHz ref from my SML03 for over a day. It's been counting the whole time continuing to add samples. I don't know what the polling rate is, but it's longer than a second for each of the 64,690 samples in the attached screenshot.While that was running, I've done a bunch of FFTs using the sweep from the SDG, and some general testing of frequencies and output levels with the SDG. No issues; just did what it was supposed to, and I could go back and forth between the counter and the channel output setups.Thanks,Josh

author: GingerGeek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 11:38:06 am
content: It may help with selection for confirmation of current unlock-ability.I was about to ask the very same question as OP but found this thread.Can anyone link to current known working steps for modding the DG821PRO, or any other models mentioned here so far?.I have seen numerous posts regarding magic USBs, upgrades, unlocks, lic or model number mods, etc, etc... but the vastly long threads over the years and references to multiple models has numbed my brain.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 12:53:55 pm
content: Rigol for me became a NO due to lack of informations protocols etc and mostly some examples in labview mathlab etc ...Siglent was generous of providing them, now all our lab stuff are Siglents over 10 instrument and only 2 Rigols (a 100Mhz scope pushed to 200Mhz and a DSA815tg spectrum analyzer)Rigol has some upgradeability on some models, dont know for many stuff, and their software suite is heavy to useSiglent all stuff based on V1 "hack script" is okay, now a few things are v2 and not known.Upgraded many sdg 1000, ssg 3000, sdg 6000 with no problems, saved lots of $So i would say Siglent and the help we got from @Tautech says a lot Rigol?Im not biaised, but answer on real known facts and solutions .. my 2 cents

author: Conrad Hoffman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 04:26:34 pm
content: Don't forget, if you have or think you might have, a Siglent scope, the Siglent generators will play nicely with it.

author: GingerGeek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 06, 2025, 12:53:37 am
content: Quote from: dittohead on May 15, 2025, 02:58:21 pm... So, what did you get ??

author: GingerGeek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 14, 2025, 07:37:07 am
content: Shoot! I just got a message from a guy who had unlocked an AWG to 60MHz for me AFTER I spent my budget. In case anyone reads this and looking for onehttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297237610579just ask for the pics of the unlock it is already done.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2025, 09:55:47 am
content: Quote from: DaneLaw on May 15, 2025, 10:59:25 pmYes, that table is full of errors. It would be good not to post fake facts, especially when you seem to be aware it is not right,.For instance, DG900Pro is NOT a 1.25GS/s but 312.5MS/s upsampled to 1.25GS.AI "learns" from Internet. Since internet is full of info that is not right, it learns crap. It looks sorta OK if you don't have a clue.And fanboys tend to pick info they like and echo chamber only enforces bad data.AI is not source of information but source of propaganda. In a short. It is like talking to a politician about the topic.If you are not willing to (which is Ok, you do with your time what you want) to actually read two datasheets and compile a table that we can trust, please refrain from using bullshit generator. I usually attach 2 datasheets (or link to them) and suggest what to look for. If they are too lazy to do that, they don't deserve my help. If they don't know how and ask politely, you help them dissect the data and explain few things..Purpose of the people posting their answers here is actual human knowledge and experience. You share stuff only you know, you are contributing your unique view and facts.If I need generic internet opinion, we all have Google and AI that we can ask by our self. No need for people that do that for us.People come here after they asked AI and Google to death, they realize they didn't get enough of real data an come here for help.Best.

author: FixyMixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2025, 11:37:35 am
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on September 14, 2025, 09:55:47 amOn my liberated DG821 Pro I can generate sine up to 312.5MHz, this means the sample rate is 625MSmpl/s at least.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2025, 01:25:10 pm
content: Quote from: FixyMixy on September 14, 2025, 11:37:35 amSo you see.. It might as well be... We don't know. Because in this case Rigol is not clear in its datasheet on how it works...And how you do that? For arb it works only up to 312.5 MS/s generation, and that is in sequence mode.

author: FixyMixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2025, 01:54:30 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on September 14, 2025, 01:25:10 pmIt's in the DG822 Pro thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-just-launch-its-new-function-generator-dg800pro-900pro/msg5861537/#msg58615371) Load the maxFreq.arb (download below the original post) in the "cont" mode.2) Switch from frequency to period setting, set period to 26.2144 µs (38146.97265625 Hz), there should be 312.5 MHz frequency output.

author: GingerGeek
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 07:43:29 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on September 14, 2025, 01:25:10 pmGreat but how should this actually influence a purchase for one model / brand over another??? I mean OK you get a sine up to 312.5MHz .. Are you saying this is should be an influential factor on what to select or that this would be more beneficial for a specific use case?? .. I mean aside from the use case of specifically wanting a sine wave at sine up to 312.5MHz. I get the speculation or rather inference about the 625MSmpl but hw does this help?? ... forgive me, I have no idea.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 08:26:27 pm
content: Quote from: GingerGeek on September 18, 2025, 07:43:29 pmI didn't say sine up to 312.5 MHz. I said sampling rate of up to 312.5 Megasmples per second.What is your question here?Every time you buy a tool (AWG is a tool) you buy tool for the job.You look at what kind of bolts you need to unscrew, and get a key for that.AWG is like a key set. It has many different keys in it, but still you have small and large sets, different ranges, quality etc. What you take into account is general area of use (car mechanic or electronics, obviously you need different ranges and types of screwdrivers and keys for those two), is it professional or occasional hobby use, what your budget is.I have 2 Siglent AWG. They are very good. Rigol also makes some devices that are Ok. I also own old DG1064Z. It is older, simpler device but works well.For general use SDG1000X is very good AWG in that price range. If frequency ranges are enough for you it might be all you 'll ever need. If you happen to have Siglent scope it can do very good Bode plots too.