Question: which cheap function generator should I get?

[matherp]

FY6600 here

Generally very pleased with it. AM and FM modulation very useful. The big downside for me is that the screen is small and the text tiny

[paulbt]

Hi!

In the reply #11 here I recommended the GW Instek AFG-2005 function generator as a cheap option. I still own it and now I decided to open it's cover and take a look inside only out of curiosity. To be honest, I was expecting to see a much lower quality PCB. Since I could not find any photos of it's guts on the internet, I think it's a good idea to upload them here, maybe someone sometime in the future will be curious and he will google them.

Keywords: GW Instek AFG-2005 teardown inside photos

[rsjsouza]

Instek makes decent equipment. I am not surprised it looks quite alright.

[JohnnyMalaria]

I have a FY600 and two FY2300s - very happy with them. One of the 2300s has been used 8 hours a day for two years.

[Trader]

I have an fy6900. And for my needs, after a lot of readings here in the forum, i think that i will change it only for a dg811 (that can be upgraded to 992 with some limitations in accuracy at the higher frequencies). Seem the cheaper almost professional unit without too much shortcomings (as almost all the cheaper units have) and good upgradability. The 992 has good specs, 250msps, 16bit, 16mpoints... Costs more than the 200usd budget, but worth instead of buying toys.

About upgrading the Rigol DG811 to the DG992, this can be done with any other AWG from 800 (DG812, DG821, DG822, DG831, DG832) & 900 (DG952, DG972) series?

[tautech]

Any of the Siglent 1k, 2k, 6k X model AWG's can be improved to max frequency. 

[TurboTom]

...
About upgrading the Rigol DG811 to the DG992, this can be done with any other AWG from 800 (DG812, DG821, DG822, DG831, DG832) & 900 (DG952, DG972) series?

Yes. The hardware is identical on all these versions (except for the casing colour) -- the main PCB even shares the same part number as found in Rigol's Chinese language maintenance manual.

[Neper]

The PSG9080 I have fills me needs but I have to run it from an external 5 V DC PSU. With the built-in PSU it feeds too much noise back in to the mains.