Bench top signal generators vs AD9850 DDS chip

[e100]

Other than providing a friendly user interface, do low cost bench top sig gens actually do more than what a basic DDS chip such as the AD9850 can do?

[rfdave#gmail.com]

adjustable output power, wider frequency range, analog/digital modulation all come to mind

[2N3055]

Other than providing a friendly user interface, do low cost bench top sig gens actually do more than what a basic DDS chip such as the AD9850 can do?

AD9850 is a single chip that, sitting on a desk has no capabilities.
AWG device is a complete, functional device.

Download few datasheets for AWGs and read what they provide.
And then take a piece of paper and start writing all the stuff you need to add to AD9850 to achieve parity..

Or maybe you meant to ask can AWG create more (different ?) waveform shapes than AD9850 ?
That is also in AWG device datasheets.. Short answer, they do.

[Aldo22]

2N3055 is right.

I don't know exactly what you're comparing it to, but it's a bit like asking “can a car do more than an engine”?

If you take a cheap AWG like the FY3224s as a comparison, then I would say:

It's an AWG with lots of built-in waveforms and you can define your own on the PC (arbitrary waveforms) and upload them to the AWG.
DC and pulse are also supported.

It has max. 20Vpp (no load) amplitude.

You can adjust each channel separately: Frequency, Amplitude, Offset, Duty cycle, Phase and Pulse width if required.

It has a sweep function.

It has a burst function.

It is fully controllable via serial interface.

Frequency and counter measurements are possible.

It has two TTL outputs that can be used externally as triggers.

Presets can be saved and loaded.

etc.