Found a interesting and apparently rare FM signal generator - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: repairmatt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 09:53:14 pm
content: Found this unique signal generator, bought it from the Delphi Electronics liquidation auction of their test, R&D and prototype equipment. It's a RE Technology RE 125, very difficult to find anything on it. I did manage to find the owners and service manuals for it and specs are impressive. This one has most of the options installed including a audio generator, AM Stereo, FM stereo and a RDS/VRF generator.Some of the specs for FM: <0.01% distortion at 1KHz, 75KHz deviation into mono and <0.02% in stereo, >65dB stereo separation at 1KHz and >90dB S/N ratio. The audio generator has less than 0.01% distortion between 20Hz-25KHz with output level ranging from 0 to 2.5Vpeak. Output levels for FM and AM can be displayed in dBm, dBf, dBu or uV, mV and V, the voltage resolution scales automatically depending on the set output level. One of the best things is that it has a built in sweep generator as well. I've only begun to explore what this thing is capable of.Anyone had one of these before or know anything more about the company? It seemsverywell built and the specs seem to be equal or better than the Panasonic VP-8122A, which I also have.Edit: Photo

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 10:11:50 pm
content: Never seen one in my life, nor on this forum. Can you open it up and post pics?

author: mc172
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2021, 11:38:50 pm
content: Interesting to see an RDS button and RDS menu options. It's even got a TA button which is presumably the Traffic Announcement flag. A very nice piece of kit by the looks of it, I'd like to own one!edit: some info available herehttp://www.peel.dk/RE/index.html

author: repairmatt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 04:30:33 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on October 03, 2021, 10:11:50 pmWill do! May take me a couple days, I've had a lot of work lately.Quote from: mc172 on October 03, 2021, 11:38:50 pmIt is indeed a Traffic Announcement function. It is really impressive, I've never seen another signal gen quite like it with all the functions this has. The firmware it has dates it to 1993. Looking forward to getting a tuner on the bench and running this through its paces.

author: mansaxel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 05:53:15 am
content: Quote from: repairmatt on October 04, 2021, 04:30:33 amThe RDS system is indeed a niche technology, especially on the generation side. I've got an ex-colleague who is (among other things) responsible for RDS encoding at a large radio station, where they generate ~30 different RDS streams. He's built decoders from USB TV receivers and Raspberryπcomputers, where he produces parseable data enabling automatic decoding and logging of RDS messages actually sent.They have not only traffic announcement and music PTY but also are using RDS to send catastrophe alarms to people living close to nuclear power stations, using PTY 31.

author: DeepLink
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 06:14:01 am
content: Nice findIt is from the Danish company Radiometer ElectronicsIn Danish -https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiometer_(virksomhed)I had a RE 101-05 once - very nice buildsYou can find manuals (both Operating and Service) herehttp://www.peel.dk/RE/index.htmlA Danish guy, Peter Andersen, had collected manuals from Danish electronic companies over the yearsVery nice collection/Hans

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 10:34:43 am
content: Quote from: repairmatt on October 03, 2021, 09:53:14 pmIs that a slip of the pen or a standard I never heard of?

author: Andrew_Debbie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 10:44:41 am
content: AM stereo happened, at least in the US in the 1980s. There are/were several systems. It was a mess.I think C-QUAM is still around in the US.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2021, 10:47:41 am
content: Quote from: Andrew_Debbie on October 04, 2021, 10:44:41 amYes, I vaguely remember reading about that, but as you say many standards and it would be surprising to find any of that in an EU generator I think.

author: Neper
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2021, 06:26:52 pm
content: Quote from: Andrew_Debbie on October 04, 2021, 10:44:41 amIt happened in other places as well.Radio France had a stereo AM transmitter in Paris until they switched off all their AM stations, a few years ago. There are still a few AM stereo stations in Italy, all using the US system.I used to have a AM stereo decoder plugin for my Perseus SDR.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2021, 07:17:48 pm
content: I remember reading in the early 1970's that the Radiometer test equipment was considered to be the best units available for FM alignment and similar purposes.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2021, 07:06:34 pm
content: You're happy, thats a cool signal generator.Does it allows to connect external modulation signal?

author: repairmatt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 08, 2021, 07:56:33 pm
content: Here some more photos of it.Top removed. This thing has incredible shielding, it feels knocking on a steel safe, it is SOLID. The internal serial cables have full copper shielding as well.The back, it does allow for external mod @radiolistener, and a whole lot of other stuff.The top cover even has a dust filter for the internal fansThe build quality of this thing is amazing, and combined with all the functions it makes for a very impressive piece of equipment. There's one that's actually being sold right now, but it isn't the desktop model so no front output.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2021, 10:42:11 pm
content: wow, it looks that it should have good quality output signal.You can use it even as AM/FM transmitter for broadcasting with adding power amplifier

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2021, 10:57:43 pm
content: Yea that thing is top-notch gear. Can you post any pics of the inside of at least one card/assembly unit? I'd like to see what quality they have.

author: repairmatt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 05:00:08 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on October 08, 2021, 10:57:43 pmWill do, this week is busy so it will probably be the weekend before I can.

author: SoundTech-LG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2021, 05:45:40 pm
content: Wow! Nice!Makes my ST1000a look very primitive by comparison...https://www.tzsupplies.com/sound-technology-st-1000a-fm-i3830165/