MAX038 function Gen. Dave's old EA 1996 design. EL2001 substitute, MAX4213?

[wilfred]

I have just acquired a few MAX038's and I want to build it into a function generator like the one Dave published last century. This is a link to the circuit.
http://alternatezone.com/electronics/images/hsfglc11.gif
And this is a link to his old website with a copy of the article. http://alternatezone.com/electronics/hsfg.htm

The question I have relates to this paragraph.

"The MAX038 contains it's own low impedance output buffer, but this is of no
use if the final output level needs to be varied, in this case by VR2.  The
wiper of VR2 is fed to the final stage buffer chip IC3, an EL2001
manufactured by Elantec. The EL2001 is a 70MHz fixed unity gain buffer
capable of driving 50ê coaxial lines. R17 provides close to a standard 50ê
output impedance."

The EL2001 is long obsolete (like the MAX038) but I can get a EL2002, maybe, for $20. Which I'd rather not. Correct me if I am wrong but I am thinking the EL2002 is just a higher frequency version of the EL2001. I am no design engineer.

Since I am no design engineer I want to ask what it is about the EL2001 that made it so suitable for driving a 50ohm output? I am thinking it is the 100mA output current capability. Because the MAX038 is also so old I don't seem to find other designs that use cheap and/or easily available chips.

Anyway after a bit of searching around I came across the MAX4213 which also specifies a 100mA output drive current and conveniently page 1 of the datasheet includes a typical application of a unity gain buffer driving a 50Ohm load. Serendipity or what?

So, to get to the point, would the MAX4213 be a suitable substitute for the EL2001 in this application? Or what would be another choice.


EL2001 datasheet pdf link. https://4donline.ihs.com/images/VipMasterIC/IC/INSL/INSLS05194/INSLS05194-1.pdf?hkey=EF798316E3902B6ED9A73243A3159BB0
MAX4213 datasheet link. http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/32471.pdf

[EEVblog]

I have just acquired a few MAX038's and I want to build it into a function generator like the one Dave published last century. /url]

I thought you were exaggerating, so I checked, Aug 1996 issue of Electronics Australia, damn, yep, last century 

[EEVblog]

Since I am no design engineer I want to ask what it is about the EL2001 that made it so suitable for driving a 50ohm output? I am thinking it is the 100mA output current capability.

Yes, the high output current, plus unity gain stable (obviously being a purpose designed buffer)

So, to get to the point, would the MAX4213 be a suitable substitute for the EL2001 in this application? Or what would be another choice.

Yep, should work fine.