help me choose a Function Signal Generator - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Flump
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2014, 05:58:10 pm
content: Budget is cheaper the better up to max limit of £100I have been trying to get a function generator for a few months but not managed too yetso would like some advice from you guys incase there are options i have missed.It is for hobby use only, I dont have a real need for one at the moment but it's like a scopewhen you get one you then learn more about them and the uses you can put them too,I would like to use a generator along with my scope to measure in circuit ESR.Not sure of the upper frequency I will need but max is better right but i think minimum of 2-3 MhzThe smaller the better as I dont have much room on my bench so have to tuck things away whennot in use.If I got say a 2Mhz function gen is there a way of multiplying it so it went up to 10 or 20 Mhz ?2 I am currently looking at arehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121318249947?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITandhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/new-10MHz-Arbitrary-Waveform-Dual-Channel-DDS-Function-Generator-Sweep-2-4Lcd-/121239092359?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item1c3a69bc87The second one they sell in different ranges 10 and 5 etcand is duel output , not sure what I would/could use that forThe first one is cheap which is good lol but i dont want to buy a POS and regret it later.I'm happy to buy 2nd hand if a nice one comes up and i am watch a TTI gen which expires soonAny sugestions on cheap but good for a hobbiest gen would be great thanks

author: pinchip
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2014, 06:09:00 pm
content: If you want to measure ESR, why not get one of these?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MESR-100-AutoRanging-In-Circuit-ESR-Capacitor-Low-Ohm-Meter-0-001-to-100R-UK-/201022649232?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item2ecde23390orhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Peak-Atlas-ESR-Capacitor-Passive-Component-Analyser-Tester-Meter-ESR60-/350797047993?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item51ad2228b9What comes to generator in your second link, It seems that there are chinese characters in UI (as options). If you can Chinese it is of course not a problem

author: Flump
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2014, 06:34:37 pm
content: hi pinchipI have been looking at that esr meter ( i have the matching lcr)but I figure a func gen will be more useful to me in the future afteri learn how to fly it!good call on the chineese chars, i didnt spot that

author: Bryan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2014, 08:36:02 pm
content: Quote from: pinchip on June 01, 2014, 06:09:00 pmDon't.... I have one and it is utter garbage. Does not work at all without returning meaningless values. I am not sure if it has a defect or the probes and jacks are such poor quality they add resistance to the circuit giving unpredictable results.

author: old gregg
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2014, 09:26:28 pm
content: try to find a thurbly thandar gen, you can buy them for cheap (when they appear on ebay).http://www.tti-test.com/products-tti/pdf-brochure/gen-tg200-4p.pdfthe only odd thing is the on/off button at the back (who's the idiot responsable for that !?)Not really convinced by all those china uber-low budget thing.Otherwise you can build one at your own spec. Some digital chip or dedicated chip (XR2206 for instance) but that requires times/power supply/enclosure ect...