RF Signal generator  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: dmowziz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2024, 09:56:36 pm
content: Please what signal generator up to (2GHz) with 2 channels can one get for under $2000New or usedI want to use it primary to test mixersI saw a Marconi 2026 with broken screen for about $1000Thanks

author: Marsupilami
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 08:04:29 am
content: eBay: 2x NI PXI-5652 (6.6GHz) ~$450/pcPXI-1042 or PXIe-1062Q chassisEmbedded controller or remote interfaceTotally doable under $2k.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 08:30:48 am
content: Quote from: Marsupilami on July 29, 2024, 08:04:29 amThere is a large community of engineers, about 99.9% of them, that don't want to do anything with NI because their software to use your hardware that you bought and paid for, comes as a subscription.

author: EggertEnjoyer123
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 09:22:21 am
content: On the other extreme, two cheap ADF4351 modules (with ~6dBm maximum output power) should be enough to power the LO and test your mixer. Maybe get some attenuators too so you can lower the power coming out.(For example:https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806804711048.html)If you want actual test equipment, I can vouch for the Marconi signal generators. I have a 2026 too, and it seems to be pretty reliable (my unit had been turned on for almost 130k hours before breaking and ending up on my desk). Not sure how replaceable the display is unfortunately. (Mine had a broken RF amplifier in the phase lock loop circuitry, and a few dead PSU capacitors). The other repair tip I have is that if you want to open up the RF section, be prepared to strip a ton of T10 bits because the screws are extremely tight.I also have a Fluke 6062, and I’ve heard nice things about the R&S SMIQ line of signal generators. You might be able to buy two used ones for under 2000.

author: Marsupilami
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 11:57:50 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on July 29, 2024, 08:30:48 amThat was a major dumb move of NI, I give you that, but:-They course corrected on that.-You are referring to LabVIEW, which was only ever one option to automate their devices (excluding FPGA based) and never a requirement.For manual use, the instrument GUIs are bundled with the driver at no extra charge, downloadable from their website, and all the APIs are available too to program the devices in C or in a .NET language, and for some in Python.And you wouldn’t even really support the company by buying used crap off ebay.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 02:04:11 pm
content: Quote from: Marsupilami on July 29, 2024, 11:57:50 amCourse corrected?? The cost for a professional perpetual license is now $14,000. That's with no other options. It's hardly what I would consider corrected. More the same old, attempting to extort the remaining user base.I don't see any value in teaching it at the college level anymore. Nor would I ever recommend anyone new invest in it at this point. At this point, I have lost any trust in the company.https://www.newark.com/ni/776678-35/labview-software-professional/dp/15AJ5392

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 03:09:13 pm
content: You can run the hardware Marsupilami is talking about without a subscription to LabVIEW, fortunately. Some rudimentary apps are freely available, along with the SDK. I still haven't had time to play with it much butbased on what I've seen so far, I think this is probably the best overall answer to the original question.Another option would be a pair of HP 8657Bs or later. They are inexpensive enough to justify ignoring lower-end options including the 8656 models, and good enough to justify avoiding the older, heavier, and more maintenance-intensive options like the 8663A in most cases.Fluke also made some good signal generators in that class but I don't know much about them.Note that a wideband VSG can do a credible job at multitone testing by itself. Probably need to move the output away from the center frequency for good carrier suppression, though. I would try it with one first, then combine two if you can't the dynamic range you need. Also keep in mind that the NI modules are transceivers, so you get a nice spectrum analyzer for free...

author: Marsupilami
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 03:10:21 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on July 29, 2024, 02:04:11 pmI wouldn't either, but I don't know how any of this is relevant to the fact that a 15 year old instrument of theirs from ebay is a good deal.And for others to clarify, nothing stopped working. They just significantly raised their prices for _new_ software licenses / moved to subscription model. None of that is needed to operate legacy hardware.The whole move might be questionable from the perspective of past marketing communications, but there is no extortion going on, you just simply stopped being a target customer. Bosch, Foxconn and Raytheon are. This happened well over a decade ago tho, when they decided they don't want to be the Walmart of T&M anymore. I am sorry that you got burnt in the process, but I would rather blame capitalism for that then NI in particular.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 03:12:09 pm
content: There aren't a huge number of multi-channel generators, especially if you're looking for relatively fully featured ones (large output power range, fully independent synthesizers, modulation options), so I'd look for a pair of single channel units over a dual just because the duals are so much rarer. There are some multichannel units from smaller companies (not the big ones, not necessarily small), from Tabor, Holzworth, etc., but likely not within budget unless you find a substantial deal. If you want new, maybe something like Signal Hound's VSG series.On the big company side, I don't see one in this price bracket at the moment, but for used fully featured dual channel synthesizers, the R&S SMATE is one of the cheaper ones I've seen. If you want single channel units, SMIQs are around half that price.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 03:33:07 pm
content: Quote from: Marsupilami on July 29, 2024, 03:10:21 pmIt was a response to your commentQuote, nothing else.QuoteI wasn't burned. They refunded my payment. A year later they did threaten me over the phone to disable my software while attempting to get me to renew my licenses. That was the last time we ever spoke.The change to subscription models was much more recent. We were not given a warning or even a opportunity to upgrade our current licenses. It was pure extortion. Yes, we can continue to use the licenses we have (which is what I do at home). That's as long as they keep their servers available to authenticate the install. It would not surprise me to see that shut down at some point. Again, I lost all trust in them.

author: mankan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2024, 03:43:57 pm
content: My recommendation would be HPAK E443xB, make sure you get one with UND option.

author: mehdi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2024, 07:51:03 pm
content: Have you checked this out?https://windfreaktech.com/product/microwave-signal-generator-synthhd/

author: ftg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2024, 11:17:32 am
content: R&S CMU200 with the AUX Generator option could also fit this requirement.Two 100kHz - 2700MHz generators with variable output power.If you are fine with IF frequencies above 10MHz, the 10 - 2700MHz spectrum analyzer in it could be used to measure the RF power at the IF as well.The internal isolation is not amazing, so it might not be the optimal setup for measuring RF or LO to IF isolation.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2024, 04:09:21 am
content: 2 of these?https://www.ebay.com/itm/166575683014?itmmeta=01J4ZSQ901QQTFR10D7CWRPFKK&hash=item26c8af35c6:g:O-cAAOSw8CZlugud&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HcC96ARSsqsOZbLlMmZ5mNEQzChaitVTXEjyR0eAj0Xf7ScdSJACMmvVOJLyuK8vCYI9HKezTi4cZ%2BNxIJvDPCPBn6D8%2F9ShpFgNrHMBsUIpHtXjz4EdNXPHtg0GYZMw09bt4xH1Cj0BFPluJlz0b29xBZ9NX6VPtXFXSD8tmtPpFUL09sdCoND2JUlMgDLxJtpHbRuc28KER737kFN16QvcGTrbDW3brAT%2BXExSvsjmYY9OMARWeZCd0JiG8kYrte7efCKllwRRH0GinJio3Us3FIndBUdf6R%2FYmhRvDcZLUXWmAMF1pq1JV5RUv9HaA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR46Q3fmnZAor thesehttps://www.ebay.com/itm/176118422056?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=hdIRmgt5Q5e&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=X21nkYN9RzK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

author: LM21
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2024, 09:35:51 pm
content: Interesting tools. Is there a reason why a 8GHz is cheaper than 6.4GHz model.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2024, 10:21:57 pm
content: Quote from: LM21 on August 12, 2024, 09:35:51 pmThat's a good question.According to the description section in this link it looks like the 8 GHz model has a fixed Chanel 2 amplitude where the other models have a variable amplitude for Channel 2.https://www.ebay.com/itm/364276290187?itmmeta=01J54AQR3DV45YP7CK057QPQPZ&hash=item54d08f128b:g:rrMAAOSwrpVgudwy&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwAnu7fo9MPUSoEIPG39UsbCMXHjtVVvUkZBBz68%2BYHaqehZq9QPkyIeHiL3qi1dtfOlggQ3UZjdyDyOt2e1%2FTTbx7jx7UmWlDFQKzTuW6y7bUqiInB5ENHfEztpcUWQSgj383at3NYPgPYZyPxR6F3Fwe571Kozt5lgIezTlwmiA%2FneYnIQ8x5cddZLbqNn0BHgfn3XXwYe31qQmTBTwEXJGhcIN2U97qupiyKYkZtrPd2JV74fXXq59Q6nfgM%2BsFg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-SB34qpZA

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2024, 10:33:50 pm
content: Actually coming to think of it, maybe consider an ADALM-PLUTO.You can easily add a second output to it with just an IPEX to SMA cable, it goes to 3.8GHz. It's not a signal generator in the conventional sense, but it will create coherent RF signals for you.