Looking for an signal generator

[copperheadroads]

I have locally found an Goldstar OS 7040 scope & now i guess i need a signal generator , i would prefer something compact & not some big bulky equipment as this will not be always parked on my bench .
Any recommendations ? i was looking at some of these cheap china products but I'm not sure if it will do the job .

[xtian]

You prob already have one in your pocket: your smartphone.

I bought a cheap $20 function generator from eBay, and like it. It has a BNC connector, so I added a 1/4” guitar plug to the end of a 1x/10x probe. It puts out a clean sine wave at up to 10v p-p. It’s a little difficult to adjust precisely to 100mV p-p, but I don’t care—I usually use closer to 1v p-p at the input anyway, for testing.

[nevetslab]

For a first signal source, I'd choose an oscillator over a function generator. The main difference is signal purity. Function generators, which are plentiful from scads of sources...anywhere from dirt cheap to expensive....they create their waveforms from a square wave.....Sine get's created from a triangle wave, then is smoothed up with a diode network...but it always has a nasty sound to it from the left-over triangle waveform peaks on the cheap ones. The Oscillator is created by positive feedback & controlled to produce a stable sine wave signal, and it's harmonics are usually much lower, and sounds good.

An HP 204D would be an excellent bench instrument, covering the range from 5Hz to 1.2MHz, has a step attenuator on the output so you can dial it down to guitar signal level with the greatest of ease. It also has a square wave output on the rear panel, which can be used to trigger your scope for stable waveform displays.

I looked briefly on ebay, and didn't see one, but they show up often. May be able to find one by googling it. I've attched a link to a page that discribes this instrument https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/hewlet...ator_204d.html Leader has also made decent oscillators over the years, though I've never owned any of their gear.

Wavetek makes a number of fine Function Generators in their 180 series. These days, you can even find a 185 Log Sweep Functoin Generator for around $100. I bought my first one new from Wavetek back in 1976, and it's still working solid. The only down side to the 180 series is their plastic cabinet...they often show up with corners broken, but, internally, well built and work for decades.

I just looked on ebay for Wavetek Function Generators, and found a Model 185 for $52 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wavetek-185...19.m1438.l2649

Also a Wavetek Meterman FG3C which looks cool for $25. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wavetek-Mod...19.m1438.l2649 I've never seen nor used this generator, but has great features.

[g1]

I have a small old hand held TEAC test-oscillator that is battery powered. It's nice having something small you can throw in a toolbag. It was for reel-to-reel alignments originally.
Similar units would be the Rolls MO2020 or Apex AAO1 (available at L&M). However, they are pricier than I thought they would be so I'd check for used ones.

[The Dude]

I took my signal generator home. It doesn't even sit on my bench anymore. I found myself seldom, if ever, using it and it was taking up space. You can find just about any test tone you want on YouTube. They even have frequency sweeps for testing speakers. If you want something on your phone for portability or when you don't have a web connection, search the play store. There's a bunch signal generator apps. You have a scope already, so you can set the signal level with your scope if accuracy is a concern.

[Enzo]

I use music mostly as a test signal. I use a sine wave to look for clipping or crossover type problems. But the main thing a generator can do is sweep. I can twiddle the freq knob up and down to find resonant nodes in a speaker cab or other buzzing thing.

I had one of those little shirt-pocket test tone generators - mine was a Fostex - and it was real useful and portable. it was made to put test tones through a tape deck for service, but 400Hz and 1kHz were perfect for wandering the warehouse and putting a test tone through some system to check it out.

[Randall]

I got a military surplus HP 200CD from a ship's electronics lab and refurbished it. It has a huge round dial with a very cool vernier precision knob. It's big and bulky and not even a legit answer to your question, but it tube driven, point to point wiring, and well, just cool as hell.

[mozz]

Bought one of these from eBay. Some of these were from schools or colleges, they work great, no problems.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/GW-Instek-G...wAAOSw6DtYTI3X

I have a plastic cased Heathkit one i will be selling, not digital but works fine.