Kingston
Well-known member
So I got my first proper oscilloscope. I'm enjoying my new-found window to signal chain internals, poking around all over the place.
But I bumped into a problem: I need a good signal generator. I've been using RME HDSP, but its limited to sinewaves (2.55VAC peak to peak, 50ohm output, roughly 10hz to 40khz). Of course I can output any waveform imaginable from a soundcard, but I found this method is severely bandlimited when viewed with a decent oscilloscope. Square wave output is not really squarewave, as expected, and the bandlimited "square" is useless trying to find how gear on the bench is handling transients. Sines of course not affected.
So what's a good signal general to be paired with a decent 50-100mhz DSO?
The equivalent (in value) signal generator to my oscilloscope would be Rigol DG1022 - often sold as a kit with DS1052E oscilloscope - but the feature set seems excessive for my needs. Perhaps not, please advise. I don't really know what features I should look for in a signal generator, except more waveforms than just sine, and wider frequency, impedance and voltage range than allowed by RME HDSP.
Also not looking to spend as much as I did for the DSO, but perhaps I have no choice. And it doesn't have to be digital either, or maybe it does. Again, please advise. Maybe there are even DIY kits to make good signal generators?
Thanks,
Mike
But I bumped into a problem: I need a good signal generator. I've been using RME HDSP, but its limited to sinewaves (2.55VAC peak to peak, 50ohm output, roughly 10hz to 40khz). Of course I can output any waveform imaginable from a soundcard, but I found this method is severely bandlimited when viewed with a decent oscilloscope. Square wave output is not really squarewave, as expected, and the bandlimited "square" is useless trying to find how gear on the bench is handling transients. Sines of course not affected.
So what's a good signal general to be paired with a decent 50-100mhz DSO?
The equivalent (in value) signal generator to my oscilloscope would be Rigol DG1022 - often sold as a kit with DS1052E oscilloscope - but the feature set seems excessive for my needs. Perhaps not, please advise. I don't really know what features I should look for in a signal generator, except more waveforms than just sine, and wider frequency, impedance and voltage range than allowed by RME HDSP.
Also not looking to spend as much as I did for the DSO, but perhaps I have no choice. And it doesn't have to be digital either, or maybe it does. Again, please advise. Maybe there are even DIY kits to make good signal generators?
Thanks,
Mike