Norepy
From this thread I take you have have bot the Rigol and Siglent offerings on test currently, so what are you conclusions thus far or is the jury still out?
Currently only the 815 - no stock on the Siglent when review started - but should be getting the Siglent shortly.
So far, I like the 815 - it 'does what's written on the tin' as the saying goes.
I have been using this for testing RF power amplifiers (as input source) and the signal(s) are extremely clean out of the RF Amplifier(s).
As you know, if you put 'crap' into an Amplifier - it WILL amplify your 'crap' - given that there are absolutely clean signal(s) out of the Amp is a good indication.
I would like a 'touch screen' (spoiled by the SVA and MSO5000) - but the 815 has a functional system - it takes a while to get used to the menu structure - but its possible to make all the setting you need - but sometimes many key presses.
I like the compact size - big bonus - can bring very close to DUT and have 'short' leads.
The 815 'looks' dated , I think it was loosely based on the R&S SM300 from a form factor point of view - a tribute to R&S - as their device was last revised in 2007 - and it
still has better specs than Rigol and the Siglent offerings.
What I noticed, is that there is no Square Wave output on the 815 - other than on the LF output (BNC) and only up to 20KHz.
Not sure if its same on the Siglent at this moment in time?
I can understand that there is no great desire for Square Waves when working with RF (and a digital DAC based signal generator can suffice at a much lower cost) but in my 'one off' case , I was looking for a ULTRA FAST edge in a signal - I guess this is where the 'pulse mode' comes into play. This is my next area of testing , so will report soon.
On the 815, this is an option (I think the Siglent has this feature as standard offering - correct me if wrong) so at the moment its on 'trial' mode until time runs out.
Modulation works well on the 815, I have been able to successfully modulate FM carrier(s) with various tones and soon full Stereo Encoding with RDS - to check all the pilot frequencies in receiver tests.
I am hoping to do a 'full report' - side by side of the main features
from a user's perspective - as soon as I get the Siglent unit and do some similar testing which I made with the 815.
My only negative for the 815
at this moment is that there is no 'hack' to enhance the device - because if it can be enhanced to the 3.6GHz variant - it will kill the Siglent from a price / performance - without a doubt!
Let's face it, most people here don't want to shell out big $$$ on an option which is already 'inside' the device you purchased - just awaiting an activation code?
This is why I think 'hackability' is a big factor when deciding to purchase.
At the moment the score is ;-
DSG815 = 0
SSG3021Z=1
BUT, if and when DSG815=1 - the Siglent will have to drop its price by a mile as the price / performance ratio of the Rigol will kill it for sure.
Like most RF Signal Generator customers TODAY, having a device limited to 1.5GHz is a
deal breaker - unless you are ONLY going to be working within this frequency limit.
With 2.4GHz, 5GHz and even higher RF devices being the norm today - you really need to have the higher frequency capability - especially if you are going to drop >$3000 for a RF Signal Generator.
This makes me think that even the Rigol's 3.6GHz and Siglent's 3.2GHz offerings are already dated.
But, and a big BUT, there are already RF Signal Generators which cover the higher frequencies and modern digital modulation protocols out on the market
but unfortunately they cost lots of $$$.
This is why for the majority of 'us' its the Rigol and Siglent offerings (even if dated) that are really affordable at the moment.
From a price performance point of view , Rigol and Siglent will
always be behind the Agilent and R&S offerings - which will be beyond the budget of most people like myself (and possibly others in this forum) - and because Rigol and Siglent choose to be in this market sector we can benefit by having an affordable access to instruments which can be 'enhanced' to make them even more desirable for the price / performance they offer.