Fuction Generators - What/Why & how much

[ikrel]

I'm not sure this is even the place to post/request this, but I was wondering if Dave could do a video about function/waveform generators.I would like to see his opinion on why someone would need one, how to use it and maybe a recommendation or two on what to look for when attempting to buy one.

[McMonster]

I second that, this is probably the only popular piece of gear that did not have much cover in the videos.

[Mechatrommer]

in Shahriar's Vidz of TheSignalPath, he showed how we can use...

1) Bench Power Supply.
2) Function Generator.
3) Oscilloscope
4) Spectrum Analyzer

in building a working circuit.

http://thesignalpath.com/blogs/2011/10/17/tutorial-on-linear-and-non-linear-circuits/#comments

[saturation]

Couldn't agree more with mecha, to do analog design, you need a test signal source and that's what an FG is.  FG is synonymous with signal generator, but the latter term is more associated with high frequency sines for RF work in the AM and FM bands, while FG was more versatile ... it generated more 'functions'.  Audio generators are similar except they tended to create very high purity sine waves for audio testing, and threw in sometimes square or triangle waves as side benefits.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_generator

1-3 are the absolute minimum you need to do analog design work with #4 being a DMM.  Luckily a crude spectrum analyzer exists as a software based FFT analyzer in most #3 if you get a DSO instead of analog.

in Shahriar's Vidz of TheSignalPath, he showed how we can use...

1) Bench Power Supply.
2) Function Generator.
3) Oscilloscope
4) Spectrum Analyzer

in building a working circuit.

http://thesignalpath.com/blogs/2011/10/17/tutorial-on-linear-and-non-linear-circuits/#comments

[Electronic]

I vote for this one.
More tests of function generators.Dave had one, and closed it with DDS are better but then no tests on a DDS.
I also would like to see tests on the powersupplies he has inte the amazon-shop and I can't see any function generators there.