The Siglent SDG2042X Thread

[jhenderson0107]

When you say *INSTR, don't you mean *IDN?  ?

I don't recognize *INSTR as a valid query and, even if it were, it would require the question mark in order to be a query.

*INSTR is used as a parameter to the Visa FindRsrc command.  See Chapter 5 of the NI Visa Programmer's Guide. 

An excerpt:  The viFindRsrc() operation matches the value specified in the expr parameter with the
resources available for a particular interface. A regular expression is a string consisting of
ordinary characters as well as special characters. You use a regular expression to specify
patterns to match in a given string; in other words, it is a search criterion. The viFindRsrc()
operation uses a case-insensitive compare feature when matching resource names against the
regular expression specified in expr. For example, calling viFindRsrc() with
“VXI?*INSTR” would return the same resources as invoking it with “vxi?*instr”.

Use this function within instrument control applications to scan for GPIB, LAN, RS232 or USB devices. 

[tautech]

New firmware for SDG2000X models.

Version： V2.01.01.37R8
38.6 MB
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip/firmware/Signal_generator/SDG2000X_V2.01.01.37R8_EN.zip

Release notes
1. Solve the problem of slow USB drive detection during startup
2. Solve the problem of outputting abnormal pulses during burst mode
3. Add instructions for saving and reading status（XML）files
4. Add the instruction to clear the statistics of the counter

[NoisyBoy]

Thanks Tautech,

I upgraded mine, absolutely straight forward update.

[Vit G]

Hi, Tautech!

    Can I hope that you will someday correct the phase shift between channels that cannot be eliminated by the EqPhase button?
-9 Degrees error on 100MHz (abt 0.25nS)
    Phase Coupling procedure is not a solution that should be used. it is only needed to compensate for the length of the cables if it is different. with the same length there should be enough EqPhase button!

[tautech]

Hi, Tautech!

    Can I hope that you will someday correct the phase shift between channels that cannot be eliminated by the EqPhase button?
-9 Degrees error on 100MHz (abt 0.25nS)
    Phase Coupling procedure is not a solution that should be used. it is only needed to compensate for the length of the cables if it is different. with the same length there should be enough EqPhase button!

Do you have the latest firmware installed ?

I have seen this before with identical cables but with EqPhase it is much reduced then to add some small Phase adjustment can be nulled completely out. However as you change frequencies phase can move slightly and you need make further adjustments.

Attached from a SDG6022X, 20 MHz, 500mV and identical cables with EqPhase and channel copy applied where any phase difference is tiny then have added 5^o to show a difference between channels.

[Vit G]

Nothing changed after the last update. The same difference of 250 pS between channels. If the EqPhase button still doesn't work, then replace it with something more useful =) The cables I use are identical in length. I even swapped them, nothing changed. Look how Rigol did it. when you press the EqPhase button, their device very accurately phases the outputs

[MathWizard]

How much better is the SDG6022X than a SDG2142X ? (which I own , but I would like closer to 0.5-1GHz)

What else is on par with the 6022X ? I'm sort of locked into Siglent tho, since my scopes are Siglent, and they can work together with the AWG.

[tautech]

How much better is the SDG6022X than a SDG2142X ? (which I own , ...)

SDG6000X is a 500 MHz capable design and they are both all but identical to operate.

but I would like closer to 0.5-1GHz

SDG7000A models within budget ?

Would an RF gen like the 2.1 GHz SSG3021X meet your HF needs ?

[coromonadalix]

and the SSG3021X  can be more ....

[tautech]

and the SSG3021X  can be more ....

Correct, more economical than SDG7000A series when you only need higher BW sinewaves.

SSG3021X has been my choice for such needs.

[tautech]

and the SSG3021X  can be more ....

Yes mine is SSG3032X now......

[RoV]

My SDG2042X is updated with FW V2.01.01.37R8. Today I have discovered a weird behaviour in sweep mode: output amplitude shows a step around ~293 kHz, being correct at >293 kHz and something like 10% higher than normal below that frequency. See attachments. This happens regardless of waveform, sweep time, log/lin sweep, channel 1 or 2. At the same frequencies, in normal (non sweep) mode, the instrument works fine.
By searching in this same eevblog topic, I have discovered this msg from Tjuurko that claims a different anomaly:

In new firmware (V2.01.01.37R*), button "SWEEP" increases the amplitude of the output signal: CH1 +25%, CH2 +5%.
Without cables connected, the output overvoltage protection is activated.
Tested for SDG2042X (SV: 2.01.01.35R3B2, HV: 02-01-00-40-00).

At this point my suspect is that there is a bug and calibration is bypassed in sweep mode, so the instrument works in uncalibrated mode and different things can happen to different machines.
Can you try on yours?

I annex a few photos of the SDG sweeping, connected to my scope. Last photo is on a reduced interval around 293 kHz, with a zoom on the sinusoid showing the abrubt amplitude change.

EDIT: I don't understand why, but I see the images rotated by 90° after publication. Original images are correct.

[RoV]

My SDG2042X is updated with FW V2.01.01.37R8. Today I have discovered a weird behaviour in sweep mode: output amplitude shows a step around ~293 kHz, being correct at >293 kHz and something like 10% higher than normal below that frequency. See attachments. This happens regardless of waveform, sweep time, log/lin sweep, channel 1 or 2. At the same frequencies, in normal (non sweep) mode, the instrument works fine.

I have solved the problem by downgrading the FW:
SDG2000X_V2.01.01.37R8_EN    NO (the most recent one discussed in the original post)
SDG2000X_V2.01.01.37R6_EN    NO
SDG2000X_V2.01.01.37R3_EN    NO
SDG2000X_2.01.01.35R3B2_EN  OK
From 37R3 onwards they support new HW versions, they likely messed with backwards compatibility (I forgot to say that my unit is dated 2017, HW revision 02-01-00-41-00).  returning to the 35R3 loses several improvements.

[tautech]

Thanks much for your investigations RoV...... now reported.

[phecap]

My SDG2042X also has the same problem.
The hardware revision is also 02-01-00-41-00.
I also installed the latest firmware version (SDG2000X_V2.01.01.37R8_EN).

[maksim36]

Does anyone know what display model is used in the sdg2042x generator? My display is broken.

[Roger Need]

My SDG2042X also has the same problem.
The hardware revision is also 02-01-00-41-00.
I also installed the latest firmware version (SDG2000X_V2.01.01.37R8_EN).

I have the same problem too with older firmware

Hardware version 02-02-00-40-00
Software version 2.01.01.37R6

[TheDefpom]

Argh... this bug explains something I saw recently when I was doing a review on Micsigs new 150MHz differential probe... I noticed some steps on the bode plot and thought it was the probe doing it, looks like it was the sig gen.

[ozkarah]

Same problem here.

An amplitude increase around 110-120MHz:

[RoV]

This is not the same problem (not a step in the response) and, according to me, is probably not a problem at all. The instrument specs give +/-0.4 dB in the 100-120 MHz range which is already close to your results. You didn't say anything about cable, connectors, kind of termination, scope used, so there is a potential margin to justify some deviation on the highest frequencies.
You should check behavior below 1 MHz, where the problem is commonly seen. Please also report HW and FW versions.

[Martin72]

Hi,

Output 2 is active at every (re)start, I always have to switch it off manually.
Power on state is last.
How can this be?

(SDG2122X (formerly 2042X), latest firmware)

[bicycleguy]

@Martin72,
That's funny, I can't get mine to start up with either channel on, no matter the power setting.  Maybe this is as it should be.

At least once in the past the internal files got messed up with firmware revisions.  The fix was setting the to powerOn to default, cycle power and then back to user.

Good luck!

[bicycleguy]

@Martin72,

Figured it out.  For each channel, Utility/Output Setup/Page2/PowerOn State/Off  return.

[Martin72]

I can't get mine to start up with either channel on

I could understand that for "security reasons".
But as soon as the generator has started up, I don't understand that a channel is "online" straight away - I think that's a bug.

EDIT:

For each channel, Utility/Output Setup/Page2/PowerOn State/Off  return.

Ahh...

[mawyatt]

Interesting feature within that allows one to construct waveforms based upon fundamental sinewave and harmonics. Here's a result showing the much discussed "Gibbs Ears" on another thread and created by summing odd harmonics up to AWG limit of 15.

Best,