Wavetek 288 function generator - anyone has it? Wavetek in general, any thoughts - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: vinicius.jlantunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2016, 10:49:21 pm
content: Hello everyone,A Wavetek 288 function generator turned up in a local site , for a reasonable price. I can't find much on the web about Wavetek in general, even less about the specific function generator on sale.Here is some specs I found on the web that seem accurate with the ad I found:http://www.test.it/sitonew%5CSpecifiche%20strumenti%5CWAVETEK%5CWavetek_288%5CWavetek_288.pdfAnyone here has experience with Wavetek gear? What's your thoughts? By chance anyone has the specific generator mentioned above? Going by some old threads it seems finding support documentation may it ever break could be a pain... anything else worth noting?Thanks!

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2016, 10:56:32 pm
content: Wavetek is high quality gear that was made in San Diego, Calif., USA (maybe on the east coast also)

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2016, 11:02:26 pm
content: I have a 193 function generator which I'm quite happy with (except for the weak output stage that blew up, but a poor performance replacement was easily made).

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2016, 11:15:42 pm
content: Did Wavetek design the HD160C multimeter?https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/any-experience-with-an-amprobe-hd160c/

author: vinicius.jlantunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2016, 11:38:50 am
content: Thank you all!The price is good so I think I will buy it. The front panel is a bit dirty but hopefully I can clean it up.If I get it I will try to make a quick review so others can refer to in the future.

author: wn1fju
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2016, 04:50:09 pm
content: Basically a decent function generator to 20 MHz. But, since the rise times are on the order of 13 nsec, the square waves aren't too "square" at higher frequencies. The build quality is very good (far better than Wavetek's earlier pieces like the 164 or 166) and the front panel and knobology are also fine. The specs (e.g., distortion) are nothing to write home about, but luckily my unit tested MUCH better than the specs. The only annoyance I've found is a small 50 MHz spur that I can't seem to get rid off. If you hook up the 288 to a wide bandwidth scope, you might see this as some bumps in the waveform.

author: vinicius.jlantunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2016, 10:11:13 pm
content: Thanks wn1fju. I have a 70 MHz scope - will try to capture some wave forms if I manage to get this fgen and measure some of the specs.For my uses actually a much simpler gen would do, so probably the slow rise time is OK. Good to know though.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2016, 12:58:46 am
content: You can find some info on this by using this google search:Wavetek 288 manual filetype:pdf

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2016, 09:31:11 pm
content: Vinicius, check the service and operation manualhere.As wn1fju mentioned, the build quality looks better than their older 1xx brethren (I used several during my EE course at UnB, and they were not great when compared to the HPs). Also, being a synthesized generator, it will probably be much more usable than a comparable fully analog function generator (I just got a HP3314 that runs circles around my old but reliable analog BK Precision 3030).

author: vinicius.jlantunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2016, 12:03:05 pm
content: Thank you guys.I messaged the seller yesterday and he said there is another buyer interested. I'm second in the queue....May have to use some incentive ($) to move up the queue, cause now I want it

author: Sbampato12
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2016, 12:08:51 pm
content: I was looking this gear from some months ago, but I already have a fgen, so I didn't bid in it.... But otherwise, I would bought some time ago...