Can you recommend me a cheap tone generator?

[Mick Bailey]

My go-to audio oscillator is one I built over 40 years ago. I think it has about 6 parts built on Vero. Capacitor-coupled output, so protected against DC. It will do 1v p-p max and has pencil marks for typical output levels. Just a 9v battery and single level control for the fixed 1khz signal. I use this for most troubleshooting, though sometimes I need a variable frequency signal to test crossovers or bass amps so have a function generator for those tasks.

[jondoe]

Thanks for the suggests everyone, I think I'll be asking my other half for a Tenma 72-505 for Christmas, that looks neat. In the mean time I found a bluetooth device for peanuts, less then the price of a coffee, so once that arrives I'll see how it performs. I might build something at a later date, it would make for a good learning project.

[Dave H]

I've used the ICL8038 on Vero. Here's a complete kit - link

[Mick Bailey]

I have an old populated board from Maplin that uses the same IC - really versatile.

There's a cheap XR2206 based generator widely available quite cheaply;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XR2206-Si...0769bac9cc3cfb

[catalin gramada]

Take a look at this: GW Instek, gag-810.Analog basic one, 200 bucks around, very happy with it.
https://www.gwinstek.com/en-GB/produ...AG-810_GAG-809

[jondoe]

I have an old populated board from Maplin that uses the same IC - really versatile.

There's a cheap XR2206 based generator widely available quite cheaply;

That looks good, I only have a 4ftx2ft bench to work on so anything small is preferable. I'll ask the other half to put that on the Christmas list