Any hands-on experience GW Instek MFG-2000 waveform generators? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 09:12:04 pm
content: I'm in the market for a new (lab grade) function generator. The GW Instek MFG-2000 series looks nice on paper (isolated outputs and an extra pulse generator for starters) and I'm wondering if anyone has some hands-on experience with these generators. Or to put it differently: is it worth the trouble getting one on loan for a test drive?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2018, 02:02:26 am
content: The physical layout of where the output enable buttons would seem as a non-starter for some when using a BNC tee directly on the output. Seems GW didn't think that out properly ?https://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/Signal_Sources/Arbitrary_Function_Generators/MFG-2000Maybe an SDG5000 that also offers isolated outputs could be a better choice ?Certainly rise time is better spec'ed.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2018, 06:28:06 pm
content: I agree the output enable buttons on the GW Instek aren't located in the best spot but the front is crammed anyway because the MFG-2000 can have up to 4 outputs on the front. It doesn't bother me though because I don't use the output enable buttons that much. They often lead to uncontrolled output waveforms anyway. If I need a bit of signal every now and then I use the burst function (triggered manually, externally or by software).Other (more expensive) two channel generators on my list are:GW Instek AFG-3022Keysight 33510 and 33512Tektronix AFG-3022Each have pros and cons. The firmware upgrade history on the Siglent generators doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling and this time I want to buy something which doesn't throw me a nasty surprise when it is least convenient. The low jitter spec on the SDG2000 looks nice though. OTOH having isolated channels can be an advantage as well if they don't inject too much common mode noise into the circuit under test.

author: precaud
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 02:22:09 pm
content: Boy, if only the amplifier option had freq response up to a few MHz (even at a bit lower power), an MFG would be almost irresistable...

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 07:51:12 pm
content: Quote from: precaud on June 08, 2018, 02:22:09 pmYeah, if youneedit.Siglent offer this as an option too.https://www.siglentamerica.com/accessory/spa1010/

author: precaud
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:09:24 pm
content: Yeah, but the other is a built-in. For a standalone amp, I'd want more than 1MHz...

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:20:28 pm
content: Quote from: precaud on June 08, 2018, 08:09:24 pmI'm curious, for what if I may ask ?

author: precaud
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:25:26 pm
content: Driving low-impedance loads.Driving isolation transformers for PDA measurements.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:31:08 pm
content: Quote from: precaud on June 08, 2018, 08:25:26 pmAt more than 1 MHz ?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:35:40 pm
content: Yes. Analog has a crazy fast opamp (40MHz IIRC) which can drive a lot of current. One of my ideas is to put a bunch in parallel onto a heatsink and create an amplifier which can drive 10MHz at several amps. Ofcourse series inductance is going to be a massive problem so it is not trivial to design or use but still.

author: precaud
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2018, 04:02:00 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 06, 2018, 09:12:04 pmI'm curious; did you decide to test-drive one?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2018, 04:13:22 pm
content: Quote from: precaud on June 17, 2018, 04:02:00 pmYes and no. I'm too busy at the moment to do some proper testing.

author: precaud
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2018, 12:28:46 am
content: Reading through the manual... the arb capability is crippled (DDS with arb alongside) and these units lack flexibility. Arbs only free-run (for either infinite or for N cycles_), and there is no way to trigger single arb bursts, externally or internally. Which means, for instance, you can't use the pulse gen to generate timed arb bursts. And there is no Sync Out signal in arb mode! Burst functions and external triggering only work on the DDS-generated waveforms.