DG1022Z - any user experience with this? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2017, 04:48:48 pm
content: So I just bought a DS1054Z scope which is spot on the mark for what I need. Now the karma fairy just dropped a cheque on me this morning for all the charges and interest charged by Barclays in the last 10 years (woohoo!) leaving me with enough cash for a new meter and an arb gen. I know what meter I'm going for, an 87V when one turns up on ebay new in box (seems to be a weekly occurrence), but with the arb I have ZERO experience with them.I need to gen <20MHz (basically 40m, 20m carriers at 7/14MHz) with AM modulation (up to 100% mod depth) at a known power level in dBm into 50 ohms and do the usual generic function sub 2MHz generator stuff. I'm going to knock up a log power detector with an AD8317 in a Pomona box and would like to be able to sweep RF filters with it if possible.Now the DG1022Z does just what I need on paper for the price I want to pay by the looks. The question is, does anyone have any experience with these and if they do, are my expectations realistic?

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2017, 10:33:20 pm
content: I have DG1032Z, which is 30MHz version with 8MB AWG memory..It is working perfectly so far, and is much more that what you said you need...It also have quite good counter to 200MHz..All in all, I really like mine..

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2017, 10:37:56 pm
content: Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 05:52:05 am
content: PulseQuoteQuoteQuoteThis is why Siglent long time ago developed EasyPulse technology what jumps over this kind of severe limits.Take 10s wide pulse and set its rise and fall time with example 0.1ns or 1ns steps starting from model dependent minimum pulse widthSet example 20ns pulse width and frequency 0,01Hz and adjust pulse risetime first example 10ns and then try 10.1ns or 15ns depending what you need. Of course minimum pulse width and fastest risetimes depends generator model - frequency band.But about this name "EasyPulse" --- what they think when they find this name for this developed system. This name is like some crap toy name. Who can imagine from this name that there is something really good and big advantage in pulse generating system.

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 10:45:34 am
content: And as far as I can see, they published zero technical information about EasyPulse. How about the marketing people spend time writing a white paper instead of coming up with bullshit names that most engineers will ignore? When I see Siglent SDGxxxx, 40 MHz AWG with EasyPulse and TruArb, my mind does not even register those last words.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 11:11:21 am
content: Marketing bollocks I expect. Really just want sane specification sheets.

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 05:06:35 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on August 05, 2017, 11:11:21 amThis is marketing bollock.I need 50ns pulse every 1 second. Pulse need have 25ns rise time and 15ns fall time.Using Siglent just easy piece of bisquit.How about DS1000ZI think here is some peoples who have DS1000Z series generator. Please...And also perhaps you can then add 1 or 2 ns pulse width because I need also this in my DUT testing, then also set risetime from 25 to 21ns with small steps. It is nice to hear if EasyPulse is just only some marketing bollock or do it relly give some advantages.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 05:30:38 pm
content: When I bought my DG1032Z, SDG1000X wasn't released yet.. X series gens from Siglent seem to have specialized square wave and pulse circuit inside, that makes them better to serve as pulse generators... As a general purpose AWG, DG1000Z is very good..If you need and use pulse generator a lot and need to generate pulses he is talking about, I agree with rf-loop that SDG1000X series might be worth a look..Also there is a question of interoperability. On more than one occasion I captured waveform with Rigol scope and via direct connection on USB downloaded it to AWG for instant replay. That is very handy for sensor simulation for instance...So everyone has to decide what they do and choose best tool for the job. rf-loop correctly pointed out something good to know...

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 06:00:00 pm
content: Capture/replay is one use case I saw. I am not too bothered about pulse generation myself.

author: Dwaine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 06:34:20 pm
content: The Siglent 2000 series wins hands down. Much better specs than the Rigol. Both units are better than nothing. For bang for buck. Siglent

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 06:51:44 pm
content: 40% more cash.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 06:59:20 pm
content: Quote from: Dwaine on August 05, 2017, 06:34:20 pmHe asked about DG1022Z. I spoke about my good experience owning similar model.SDG2042X is clearly better unit. For 40% higher price..And it is his decision to see whether he is prepared to give 160€ for a better unit. Or he might be good enough with cheaper one. Which is also very good for what it is.If I were to buy my DG1032Z now, I would probably look very seriously into Siglent SDG2042X. But that's me.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 07:20:54 pm
content: I'm starting at spec and working back through use cases. Also the Rigol distributor in the UK is pretty damn excellent. Siglent may win if they win on my spreadsheet. Cost is a major differentiator. This isn't being used in a professional lab environment and has to get past the purchasing department (wife).One thing I'm after is testing HF band mixers. I assume these can kick out max frequency on both channels? For example typical use case for 40m would be 7030KHz on chan 1 at 10dBm and 7031KHz on chan 2 at say -40dBm? Looks like they can span -48dBm to 18dBm power output in RF terms.This is replacing a rather horrible bit of kit I made when I was 15 which has always been a bit shit.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 09:12:38 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on August 05, 2017, 07:20:54 pmYes, both channels are fully featured and separate... Also your levels sound about right... Distortion is quite low, sinewave is clean..

author: netdudeuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 09:21:24 pm
content: As it happens, I came across this yesterdayhttps://youtu.be/LNLklp2WSwcI'll leave you to decide how objective the comparison is.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2017, 09:42:15 pm
content: Thanks both.Looks relatively objective actually. The Rigol seems to use interpolation which looks like it kills a chunk of noise and possibly phase noise. Not sure how that compares to more recent Siglent generators (yet - I have to add them to my list).DG1022Z is way ahead at the moment. 16 points to 9 on the siglent on my spreadsheet.Definitely going to have to buy an SA as well (I may have GAS here). Purchase decision will be on Monday.Counter on separate channel is a really big plus for me looking at use cases. 40MHz on the SDG2042X would be nice to cover the entire HF spectrum but I don't go near 10m! It is however inside the 36MHz boundary for two frequency doublings to 2m. Decisions decisions!

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2017, 11:09:24 pm
content: And I bought the DG1022Z... let's see if it's shit or not

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 11:22:06 am
content: It arrivedInitial impressions (only had 30 minutes play time):1. Interface is very intuitive.2. Power in dBm to known load impedance works nicely. Have tested it into an inline 50R terminator and the scope is reading 2.00v for 10dBm3. Not as loud as my DS1054Z which is good.4. AM mod works nicely and is easy to use. I plugged a mic amp straight into the ext mod and I can mod that no problems!5. Came in two cardboard boxes so I've got something to send it's predecessor in

author: Rbastler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 12:16:00 pm
content: Good to hear that! I want to get myself one too, sine tlmy SDG1025 pissed me off. The interface sucks quite a bit(and no lan).How easy (how hidden are these options) is it to acess the counter on the DG1022Z and to sync both channels ?Edit: typo

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 12:20:23 pm
content: Counter is just whack one button and you're done. You can phase offset in one key press and then use the encoder. To "copy" from one channel to another is two key presses. It's really nicely designed I think.

author: Rbastler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 12:26:30 pm
content: Thx!This is much better than the siglent. A lot easier to operate. Cant wait to get one.Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 01:12:57 pm
content: Indeed. Reading the Siglent and Rigol manuals side to side put me right off the Siglent.

author: rf-loop
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 03:21:22 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on August 10, 2017, 01:12:57 pmI am interest to see can you generate 1 second period (1Hz) 288 ns width pulse so that risetime is set example 30ns. After then please change pulse width to 196ns and change risetime to 48ns.What is 10Hz square wave rise time? How about pulse period 200ms with 50% duty. Risetime, as fast as possible. What is risetime?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 03:32:50 pm
content: Will see what I can do.I knocked up a quick test. I can generate 288ns wide pulses at 1KHz with 30ns rise time no problems. I can't slow them down to 1Hz though as the sample depth isn't there. I can use burst mode however but I don't know how to use that yetI'll get back to you with some numbers and scope traces

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 04:05:52 pm
content: Here you go. Took me longer to find my USB stick than it did to work it out...Case 1: 288ns at 1Hz, rise time 30ns.1. Set channel 1 to pulse mode2. set 576ns as pulse width (this covers both high and low states so 288ns x2) pulse width and amplitude (I'm using 5v p-p)3. set "leading" to 30ns.4. Turn on burst mode and set burst to 1s, repeat to once.Scope reports 287ns, 31ns rise time:Case 2: 196ns at 1Hz, rise time 48ns.1. Set channel 1 to pulse mode.2. Set 392ns as pulse width (this covers both high and low states so 196ns x2) pulse width and amplitude (I'm using 5v p-p)3. set leading to 48ns.4. turn on burst mode and set burst to 1s, repeat to once.Scope reports: 197ns at 1Hz, rise time 49nsCase 3: 200ms period, 50% duty cycle. Fastest rise time:1. Set channel 1 to pulse2. Set 200ms period3. 50% already set4. Set leading and trailing to 10ns (lowest setting).Scope reports, after some dicking around with triggers and memory depth 13ns rise time. Period and frequency are correct (not depicted):Generator is capable of 25MHz which corresponds to a rise time of 14ns so it's spot on spec. More expensive ones have better rise times I suspect.BigEdit: this is sooooo easy to use. I haven't even read the manual cover to cover yet, just the getting started guide and the spec sheet.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2017, 04:46:02 pm
content: Before I forget, all the tests were run from the DG1022Z into a 50R through terminator at the scope end.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2017, 06:59:39 pm
content: Update on this.Well it's still doing marvellous service apart from one thing: the frequency counter is crap. It is at the very best end of the scale, temperamental as fuck. It refused to trigger off a VFO output of 2v p-p 14MHz. I could get my other two counters and scopes to trigger fine. No measurable harmonic content from the VFO either. This seems to happen randomly. I've tried direct connection with inline coupler, scope probes, the lot. Sometimes it just doesn't listen. A £7 crap module from eBay triggered on that signal.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 07:01:30 am
content: Anyone else who comes across this, I gave up on using the counter. It does work fine but the default settings are in “terribly insensitive mode”. Bought a TTi TF930 which is a better piece of kit though for counting.

author: NiaDebesis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 12:19:43 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on December 15, 2017, 07:01:30 amHello, I have to take a function generator, how is the square wave at the max. Freq? And how is the reprodution of the waves?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 12:33:59 pm
content: Bandwidth and slew rate is not that far above max frequency of 25MHz so don't expect miracles with anything other than sines up to max frequency. The fast edges of squares require much more bandwidth than this due to Fourier. For a 25MHz square, the total system bandwidth needs to be 175MHz or greater to get good edges (7th harmonic). Better to get a pulse generator if you want fast edges.

author: NiaDebesis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 12:50:56 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on December 15, 2017, 12:33:59 pmIn your mind the siglent 1032X is better than the rigol? Or even better to wait and take the siglent sdg 2042x?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 01:25:15 pm
content: I have no experience with the siglents but I discounted the earlier Siglent models because my observation was that the support and QA was terrible, and the user interface were more difficult. 2042X might be a different thing though - I haven't looked to be honest. Be aware that forum user tautech has a business relationship with Siglent.Worth reading around and looking at other options as well.I am however happy with my DG1022Z. It performs well for what I bought it for. I'd rather have had the 60MHz unit but it was out of budget for me.

author: NiaDebesis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 06:05:43 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on December 15, 2017, 01:25:15 pmAh..that explain some things lolThank you very much, the choiche is now between the 2042X and the rigol, but obv the rigol is on budget, the 2042x nope, and I don't know if the money will be well spent..also Thank you very much