Author Topic: Best signal generator $500 (Read 8444 times)

jgore · « **on:** March 17, 2018, 02:56:21 am »

Wondering what the leading recommendation is for a 2 ch signal generator, under USD $500. The SDG 2042x seems still very popular, but Im wondering if there are more recent alternatives to consider. Its for general use, no specific application.

Thanks

CustomEngineerer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2018, 03:09:47 am »

SDG2042X

jgore · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2018, 03:35:31 am »

That's what I figured. I guess these don't have the same product life cycle as cell phones. Moore's Law only applies when there is insatiable demand.

DaJMasta · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2018, 04:04:21 am »

+1 to the SGD2000X series. They've been out long enough that there may be a small used market that could get you one for a little less, but they're also popular enough that there may not be many showing up. While there are a number of good AWGs out there, it's real tough to find a fully featured one with comparable specs and bandwidth in the price bracket. It could be worth looking at the 1000X series too, though the output specifications are quite a bit lower, I'd still expect it to work well for a lot of situations.

There are sometimes older Tek AWGs that get to this price bracket used, but I'd count the GUI as a pretty nice improvement over the character displays of some of the older Agilent ones and such which are available in the same range, and for whatever reason, I feel like Rigol's got units with great performance, but they're just not trying to compete in the same price bracket. I think their closest to the SDG2000X series is probably the DG1000Z series, but the sample rate is quite a bit lower (more on par with Siglent's 1000X series) and you're looking at less bandwidth for your dollar too.

jgore · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2018, 05:21:11 am »

Looks like Amazon had quite a deal last year. But now, pricing in the US now seems all about the same now.

tautech · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2018, 05:55:14 am »

If budget is limited, indeed the SDG1032X is a good alternative to SDG2042X.
It has the same functionality and features as SDG2kX models but at lower BW's, sample rate and memory and no touchscreen.
However square wave performance is better.

Thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdg1000x-waveform-generators/

chipss · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2018, 07:48:56 am »

Just got the sdg2040 today, so far very impressed, I however am unable to telanet into it, Mac or Windows 10, have one last shot on a Windows 7 machine, As soon as dhcp is turned on Ip box is greyed out, telenet times out, I could be doing something wrong? anyway regardless of that, it’s still a great tool, I have never had the ability to sweep, opens a few doors for me.

tautech · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2018, 07:54:26 am »

Quote from: chipss on March 17, 2018, 07:48:56 am

Just got the sdg2040 today, so far very impressed, I however am unable to telanet into it, Mac or Windows 10, have one last shot on a Windows 7 machine, As soon as dhcp is turned on Ip box is greyed out, telenet times out, I could be doing something wrong? anyway regardless of that, it’s still a great tool, I have never had the ability to sweep, opens a few doors for me.

Might be some tips for you here:
https://www.siglentamerica.com/application-notes/sdg2000x-series/

Gandalf_Sr · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2018, 08:51:03 am »

I just bought a Rigol DG1022Z for about $330 from Tequipment.net after eevblog discount. The only criticism I have so far is that the screen is kind of small for my old eyes (but I had an eye operation 2 weeks ago). The AWG functionality only goes up to 25 MHz on all the DG10XXZ models; the higher end ones only give you sine output up to 30/60 MHz for a lot more money but the AWG is still up to 25 MHz.

If the functionality meets your needs then the cost of a DG1022Z is about 40% less than the Siglent SDG2042X.

nctnico · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2018, 08:39:30 pm »

And there are also the generators from Feeltech. Nothing fancy but they work fine. I have a Siglent SDG1000 series and a Feeltech FY3200S and I use the latter the most because it is straightforward to use.

chipss · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2018, 10:35:46 pm »

SDG2042x yep it indeed is as good, and as fast as people say,

Even for the mentally challenged with networks like me...lol.

Elasia · « **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2018, 10:58:46 pm »

I got my SDG2042X Arb Friday from Saelig, little under 470 out the door with free shipping. Very nice unit, big upgrade from my old generator.. non arb.

Now just need that nice scope to come in and will get an effective little filter analyzer combining the two units

SDS1104X-E, the 200Mhz is not bad but the front end will get pushed... more value in the 100 if you ask me

chipss · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2018, 11:52:14 pm »

Yep kind of kicking myself for not going 1104x-e for the bode plot function over the 1202x-e, for just that, looking at filters. Have to do without phase. Still way ahead of what I have been using.

Plasmateur · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2018, 05:16:54 am »

Hands down the SDG2042X.

Very easy to program too.

tautech · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2018, 06:27:59 am »

Quote from: chipss on March 17, 2018, 11:52:14 pm

Yep kind of kicking myself for not going 1104x-e for the bode plot function over the 1202x-e, for just that, looking at filters. Have to do without phase. Still way ahead of what I have been using.

Yeah even considering 100 MHz vs 200 MHz and an additional $120 it's still a lot of scope for the money.
The 4 ch units are a big step up in capability from the 2ch X-E.

Safar · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2018, 03:00:44 pm »

vote for SDG2042X

MilkmanCDN · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2018, 02:42:26 pm »

Quote

Very happy here with the SDG2042, so happy that I would buy the SDG6022x if I knew for sure its hackable to a SDG6052x

I'm with you on this. I'd buy a SDG6022x tomorrow if I knew I could get both the I/Q modulation function and 500MHz output bandwidth.

Fingers crossed...

rstofer · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2018, 04:58:15 pm »

I bought the SDG2082X a year or so back. It's a terrific SG

Try this with less capable units:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/a-valentine_s-day-activity-for-your-scope-and-function-generator/msg1136847/#msg1136847

There may come a day when I want to add harmonics to a fundamental (other than Valentine's Day) and the SDG2082 can do it very well.

markus_jlrb · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2018, 08:35:41 pm »

@ MilkmanCDN

Any progress concerning

" I'd buy a SDG6022x tomorrow if I knew I could get both the I/Q modulation function and 500MHz output bandwidth."

Markus

tautech · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2018, 08:56:54 pm »

Quote from: markus_jlrb on June 04, 2018, 08:35:41 pm

@ MilkmanCDN

Any progress concerning

" I'd buy a SDG6022x tomorrow if I knew I could get both the I/Q modulation function and 500MHz output bandwidth."

Markus

Unlike the 2042X hack a 6022X hack will be a 2 step one, first for 200 to 500 MHz BW and another for the IQ option.
With the base model @ $1500 it's probably beyond the hobbyist's budget.

markus_jlrb · « **Reply #20 on:** June 05, 2018, 09:20:23 am »

@tautech,
@ all,

the SDG6022X has according to nmap the port 23 (telnet) and 111 (rcpbind) accessible.
Had someone reveal the root access?

Markus

tautech · « **Reply #21 on:** June 05, 2018, 09:28:32 am »

Quote from: markus_jlrb on June 05, 2018, 09:20:23 am

@tautech,
@ all,

the SDG6022X has according to nmap the port 23 (telnet) and 111 (rcpbind) accessible.
Had someone reveal the root access?

Markus

Root is probably the same as other products.
I had some 6022X, however they've been sent to their new owner so sorry I can't check.

markus_jlrb · « **Reply #22 on:** June 05, 2018, 10:20:03 am »

@tautech,
@all,

root/ding1234 was not the proper one.
Have you a another login/pw combination.

tautech · « **Reply #23 on:** June 05, 2018, 10:29:25 am »

Quote from: markus_jlrb on June 05, 2018, 10:20:03 am

@tautech,
@all,

root/ding1234 was not the proper one.
Have you a another login/pw combination.

No, sorry.
Maybe something in these threads can help:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/the-siglent-sdg2042x-thread/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdg1000x-waveform-generators/

nctnico · « **Reply #24 on:** June 05, 2018, 10:41:08 am »

Quote from: jgore on March 17, 2018, 02:56:21 am

Wondering what the leading recommendation is for a 2 ch signal generator, under USD $500. The SDG 2042x seems still very popular, but Im wondering if there are more recent alternatives to consider. Its for general use, no specific application.

Thanks

Beware though that the cheaper generators may have rough edges. Currently I'm very frustrated with my Siglent SDG1010. I want a 10MHz sine wave and a 1 pulse per second to simulate a GPSDO. Unfortunately it seems there are rounding errors which make the 10MHz wander in respect to the 1PPS. Also when using an external 10MHz reference clock the 1PPS signal wanders. Useless!

Time to shop for something else.


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Author Topic: Best signal generator $500 (Read 8444 times)

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