rf signal generator question

[croyleje]

hello everyone,
i just have a simple question i don't know much about RF but i need to align an IF filter and the directions say to input a 10MHz signal.  i don't have an RF signal generator but i do have a function generator that goes to 10MHz would that work?  i understand there wouldn't be any of the harmonics, but i think i can also get access to a function gen that has AM modulation also any thoughts on weather the function generator would work in place of a RF signal gen?
thanks for the input,
Jason

[w2aew]

hello everyone,
i just have a simple question i don't know much about RF but i need to align an IF filter and the directions say to input a 10MHz signal.  i don't have an RF signal generator but i do have a function generator that goes to 10MHz would that work?  i understand there wouldn't be any of the harmonics, but i think i can also get access to a function gen that has AM modulation also any thoughts on weather the function generator would work in place of a RF signal gen?
thanks for the input,
Jason

Yes, in general it will work fine. RF signal generators are usually higher performance than function generators (lower phase noise, less harmonic content, wider output amplitude control range, wider frequency coverage, etc.). But, for simple IF alignment tasks, a simple function generator will often work perfectly well.

[croyleje]

thank you w2aew my thinking was it would but just wanted to run it past someone with more RF experience then me.  a cheap RF sig gen is basically just outputting a sine wave anyway but wasn't sure if the harmonics would effect the alignment or not.
thanks again,
Jason