Function generator recommendations - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: new299
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 07:59:08 am
content: Hi all,Does anyone have any recommendations for a good function generator with a 50Ohm output impedance?Ideally something cheap/simple.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:06:32 am
content: We need more info than that.Cheap is not a universal term.Also, new or second hand?

author: new299
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:39:03 am
content: Thanks for your reply. New. And cheap defined as <600USD.Mostly I'm looking to check that some data capture devices are more or less in calibration, but it would be nice to have something that was a useful piece of lab equipment.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 08:40:26 am
content: I can recommend the Siglent SDG1000 series. But I don't know whether it fits cheap. What I like about it is that it shows the parameters (frequency, amplitude, offset, repetition rate, etc) of the waveform on the display in a graph.

author: Orange
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 12:38:25 pm
content: Or the Rigol DG1022,Quality build inside, and not to expensive. My favorite.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 04:25:29 pm
content: 50 Ohm output impedance is standard on almost any function gen. Exceptions are some special purpose ones for eg. audio (600 Ohm) or video/telco (75 Ohm). You really need to give more requirements than this. A GW-Instek SFG-1003 (do they still make them?) would satisfy your requirements for $150 or so, and so would the more advanced arbitrary waveform / function generators from Rigol et al for ~$400-$600.Based on what you ask I recommend the GW-Instek SFG-1003: it does what you need it to do for the least amount of money. And it's decent quality.

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2013, 04:53:25 pm
content: Rigol DG1022 (without A as before recommended)100MSa/sother channel 14bit res, other 10bit res.Siglent SDG1020 (20MHz model)125MSa/sboth channels 14bit res.Rigol Arb memory 4k + 1k , Siglent 16k + 16k.Rigol Sine wave 20M same SiglentRigol Square 5MHz Rise/fall <20ns, Siglent 20MHz Rise/fall <12nsRigol pulse 3MHz Rise/fall ? , Siglent 5MHz rise/fall 7nsRigol Ramp 150kHz, Siglent 300kHzRigol white noise 5MHz Siglent 20MHzand so on.Electronics building quality least as good as Rigol.Better display and of course FFT have also real glass front. (I hope Siglent never loose this)If sinewave max freq is not critical there is also cheaper Siglent SDG1010 what still beats this Rigol in many things and still more in other waveforms.I try my best to think I'm not seller and I try think only my hobby and work position.Honestly if I need select with this Rigol or Siglent and IF price is around same. I do not need think two seconds. Game is 9-1 for Siglent (just with these named equipments - other equiipments are other case)

author: new299
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 09:19:54 am
content: Thanks for the suggestions, sounds like either the Rigol or the Siglent will do the job nicely. Thanks again!