I'm looking into getting a function generator. I would like to get a pretty decent one that has the ability to be a pulse generator, do square waves, triangles and basically anything you would expect to get out of a good function generator.
One of my machines suggests a 10hz to 20 mhz function generator as one of the units needed for calibration. But I am looking at a function generator that is rated 10mhz to 50mhz and seems to be pretty good, but I am concerned that I am missing out on something since the lowest setting is 10mhz?
Is there any reason why I would want to get a fun gen that goes as low as 10hz or so? If so then what would you suggest I do... get 2 different units?
I think you're getting confused with specs.
10 mhz is correctly spoken as 10 milli Hertz but written as 10 mHz or 10/1000 th of a second.
BUT some of the more obscure manufacturers might have incorrectly used "m" when they should have used "u" indicating micro not milli. Traps for the unaware abound all over the internet.
Hertz is always correctly referred to as Hz and the
appropriate multiplier or divider added as a prefix.
Why do FG's have such low frequencies?
There are many examples of use at repetition rates slower than 1 second.
I've needed it for glue logic development on several occasions.
A popular unit at the moment is the Siglent SDG2042X (40 MHz), it's the lowest BW model in the SDG2000X series that has models to 120 MHz.
http://www.siglentamerica.com/pdxx.aspx?id=1364&T=2&tid=16There's a growing thread on them too:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/the-siglent-sdg2042x-thread/Cheaper options are 2 channel SDG1000 series
http://www.siglentamerica.com/pdxx.aspx?id=145&T=2&tid=16Thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/the-sdg1000-and-sdg800-thread/And the even more basic single channel SDG800 series;
http://www.siglentamerica.com/pdxx.aspx?id=71&T=2&tid=16All the Siglent generators have a slowest repetition rate spec of 1 uHz.
The trick is choosing one that best meets your budget
now but allows for future needs.
Feel free to ask the forum for further advice.