[ARC5] Signal generator selection

[MICHAEL ST ANGELO]

Besides some Tek scopes the test equipment that gets the most usage is a Singer/ Gertsch FM-10 FrequencyMeter and an HP HP853A/HP8559A Spectrum Analyzer. These were both "portable" sets in their day and have carrying handles. The FM-10 (weight 34 pounds) also operates from 12 VDC as well as line voltage. I also have an HP355D attenuator which I always use one front end of the Spectrum Analyzer and to get a lower level out of the FM-10.

The HP8559A plugin stopped working. I tried troubleshooting but probably cannot get the parts so I picked up a Siglent Spectrum Analyzer with tracking generator. I picked up a couple of TinySA's once they were introduced. I use one as a Spectrum Analyzer, the second as a signal generator.

As others have mentioned the TinySA performance is impressive for the price and has excellent support. While you cannot measure Transmitter IMD performance. I do use it to characterize filters and check for harmonics.

The FM-10 is still working but I will probably sell of the HP SA and eventually the FM10.

The one piece of legacy equipment I will NOT dispose of is the HP355D attenuator. It has a 0-120dB range up to 1Ghz. I religiously use it a front end to all of my spectrum analyzers and  to decrease signal generator output once I have calibrated my signal generators against my SA.

Whatever you choose pick up a quality attenuator.

Mike N2MS


/06/2021 4:20 PM Tom Lee <tomlee at ee.stanford.edu> wrote

> The tinySA probably gives you the biggest bang for the buck, per unit volume. It's a spectrum analyzer and signal generator in a handheld form factor. It covers 100kHz on the low end, so it covers most IFs you'll encounter. We've shipped a bunch of these to students during the lockdown so that they can do lab projects at home.
> 
>     There are tradeoffs, of course. For one, you'll need to provide your own attenuator if you plan to do any serious testing. For another, it's much easier to kill these things than, say, a 606. :) But they cost next to nothing and they can be stashed away in a desk drawer when not in use. The screens are a bit of a challenge for my eyeballs, but that kind of comes with small.
> 
>     We also shipped the kids some nanoVNAs, which allowed them to do antenna testing, filter and amplifier design, etc. I think we spent more on doodads (fixed attenuators, cables, BNC cal kits, and adaptors) than we did on the instruments.
> 
>     -- Cheers,
>     Tom
> 
>     -- 
>     Prof. Thomas H. Lee
>     Allen Ctr., Rm. 205
>     350 Jane Stanford Way
>     Stanford University
>     Stanford, CA 94305-4070
>     http://www-smirc.stanford.edu
> 
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