Sub 350€ Signal Generators - Comparison Collection

[SaabFAN]

Has anyone done a proper Review of all these cheap Signal-Generators (unter 350€)?

I have just bought a MHS-5200A 12Mhz Model on ebay and would like how it compares to units like the
- ATTEN ATF20B
- Siglent SDG1000-Series
- Siglent SDG800-Series
- Rigol DG1000-Series
- Hantek HDG1000-Series
- Mhinstek 2300-Series
and other similar units.

Can you guys recommend a test-procedure and post your results if you have one of these units? I'll test the MHS-5200A with my DS1054Z.
With a little luck and effort, this thread could become a hub for hobbyists like me to help them decide which unit offers the best "Wave per Buck" and also what they actually need.

[SaabFAN]

Reserved for Test-Data

[orion411]

Reserved for Test-Data

Did you do any testing?

[pascal_sweden]

It looks like you bought the wrong unit out of the two cheap Chinese signal generators:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/feeltech-fy3224s-24mhz-2-channel-dds-aw-function-signal-generator/msg697718/#msg697718

Among those two signal generators (FeelTech FY3224S and MHS-5200A), the FeelTech is the clear winner in terms of performance!

However, be warned. The FeelTech has an issue with the power supply, which requires improvement, as there is a potential safety issue. More details can be found here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/feeltech-fy3224s-24mhz-2-channel-dds-aw-function-signal-generator/msg891787/?topicseen#msg891787

Note that FeelTech has launched a better model recently with a 14-bit D/A converter and an improved power supply design. So maybe the power supply issue is resolved in that newer model.
More details can be found here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/feeltech-fy3224s-24mhz-2-channel-dds-aw-function-signal-generator/msg963834/?topicseen#msg963834

[technogeeky]

It looks like you bought the wrong unit out of the two cheap Chinese signal generators:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/feeltech-fy3224s-24mhz-2-channel-dds-aw-function-signal-generator/msg697718/#msg697718

Among those two signal generators (FeelTech FY3224S and MHS-5200A), the FeelTech is the clear winner in terms of performance!

However, be warned. The FeelTech has an issue with the power supply, which requires improvement, as there is a potential safety issue. More details can be found here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/feeltech-fy3224s-24mhz-2-channel-dds-aw-function-signal-generator/msg891787/?topicseen#msg891787

Note that FeelTech has launched a better model recently with a 14-bit D/A converter and an improved power supply design. So maybe the power supply issue is resolved in that newer model.
More details can be found here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/feeltech-fy3224s-24mhz-2-channel-dds-aw-function-signal-generator/msg963834/?topicseen#msg963834

I do think it's a little harsh to immediately step in to a thread and tell them they've made a bad decision, but to each his own.

There are advantages and disadvantages to either. Looking through the specs, the main thing that I can see that would be in favor of the MHS-5200A is that it has the extra TTL inputs/outputs, which might be useful when doing sweeps or using the generator to make, like the following:




Though I have to admit, I have a MHS-5200A, and I have tried to do this (though not using TTL) and did not succeed fully.

Certainly it would be worth learning what the new device from FT is like.

I actually have two MHS-5200A devices. One from a US source, and one a Chinese source. Both of them are of the newer, redesigned variety which does not seem to have resistor modification instructions to fix the square wave ringing and overshoot (though these issues appear to actually be fixed anyway).

I am in the middle of doing a teardown for both, a shot-for-shot and component-by-component comparison, and I have already run several tests (and will re-run them and record them) on both.

So while it's not comparing on SG to another, it is comparing one SG to itself -- both for a consistency check and a manufacturing and QA check.