6079	2011-04-09 13:14:15	dnorbury	Component sources - now looking for signal generator
Message	Date	From	Subject
The responses I got to my request for suppliers of components were great. I really appreciate all the inputs I got. I've checked out a lot of them and my impression is that the availability today of low cost parts and the ease of finding and ordering them on the internet is a whole lot easier than it was when I was an active homebrewer back in the 60s! Thanks very much for your suggestions. Now I'm looking for a good RF signal generator. I'm looking for a stable, accurate, digital readout generator that covers from under 1 MHz to somewhere in the multi hundred MHz range (or more). My days as an RF/microwave design engineer has spoiled me because I always had access to multi-thousand generators but I don't think I can spend that kind of money. So I'm looking for a reasonably priced piece of equipment (under $1,000 or so?) that will fit the bill. Suggestions? Dave KD6A
6082	2011-04-10 04:00:23	Leon Heller	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator

6084	2011-04-10 08:28:39	Gary Chatters	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator

6086	2011-04-10 09:23:05	Lasse	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator
My vote goes to the .Rohde Schwarz SMG, SMGU, SMH or SMHU They are high performance genereators, and extremely user friendly. Spectral purity is excellent! The only drawback is that the SMG (1GHz)/SMGU (2GHz) is not phase locked due to the implimentation of DDS so phase slowly drifts. This has been fixed with the SMH/SMHU if I recall correctly. These is are my generator of choice when working in the RF lab... despite their age. /Lasse SM5GLC dnorbury skrev 2011-04-09 22:14: > The responses I got to my request for suppliers of components were great. I really appreciate all the inputs I got. I've checked out a lot of them and my impression is that the availability today of low cost parts and the ease of finding and ordering them on the internet is a whole lot easier than it was when I was an active homebrewer back in the 60s! Thanks very much for your suggestions. > > Now I'm looking for a good RF signal generator. I'm looking for a stable, accurate, digital readout generator that covers from under 1 MHz to somewhere in the multi hundred MHz range (or more). My days as an RF/microwave design engineer has spoiled me because I always had access to multi-thousand generators but I don't think I can spend that kind of money. So I'm looking for a reasonably priced piece of equipment (under $1,000 or so?) that will fit the bill. Suggestions? > > Dave > KD6A > >
6087	2011-04-10 10:01:29	Ashhar Farhan	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator
Why don't you slap one together with an si570? there are a few of those kits available for under $100s. I have an si570 controlled with an off the shelf arduino board. I also added half-wave filters to keep the harmonics down. I gave up on buying an HP8640B. The cost of shipping it to india was prohibitive. It is apparently quite a boat anchor. - farhan, VU2ESE On 4/10/11, Leon Heller <leon355@btinternet.com> wrote: >
6094	2011-04-11 22:49:39	drmail377	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator
The HP8640B would be my choice, especially when locked to a good GPS reference. The problem with the HP8640B is that the plastic gears crack with age, and there are no replacements available, that I have been able to find anyway. Someone with a good 3D printer might be able to make new gears and plastic parts for this generator. The Si570 is an excellent choice as well. KB5CQ has an inexpensive VFO kit that uses the Si570 (can't find the URL right now, try Google). Si570's that go into the higher frequency range get expensive (around $100 for the highest if memory serves) and I've heard variously there can be "holes" in the frequency coverage. Remember the Si570 has a square wave output. The Si570 has excellent phase noise performance and no spurs (but plenty of harmonics). It is about as stable as a decent crystal. If memory serves the LVDS version +/-20ppm per C, the CMOS version is +/-50ppm. You would probably want to put a level shifter/buffer
6101	2011-04-13 00:47:51	aadlh48	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator
As a newcomer, still preparing on small scale homebrewing, I wonder if I can use my Yaesu NT817ND qrp transceiver on 0.5W with an attenuator for most purposes. I hope so, since $ 1000,-- equipment is really out of the question :-)
6103	2011-04-13 07:06:34	brett@truthheim.c...	Re: Component sources - now looking for signal generator
imho, the answer to that is "yes!" I use my "main station rig" to measure output frequencies of stuff I have homebrewed, set transmit offsets, adjust bfo freqs, calibrate band edges and stuff like that. It is extremely handy. I happen to have some pretty nice test gear, but really, beyond my main station rig, all I use is a frequency counter (built from a Pongrance kit), a homebrew crystal oscillator and a multimeter combined with a few circuits I breadboard as needed. So -- absolutely, the 817 is a great rig and you can use it to help with a lot of calibration chores. > As a newcomer, still preparing on small scale homebrewing, I wonder if I > can use my Yaesu NT817ND qrp transceiver on 0.5W with an attenuator for > most purposes. > > I hope so, since $ 1000,-- equipment is really out of the question :-) > > > >