D.N.Scalbile said:
I am a student and electronics is my hobby.
I want to buy a programmable signal (square, sin, triangle, sawtooth)
generator. I want to be able to enter frequency, duty cycle and optionally
signal amplitude, either manually, through the generator's panel keys or
optional computer interface. I want to frequency range 0.1Hz - 100MHz.
Can you recommend a student-priced one ?
You'll have a hard time finding a commercial unit that does 100MHz, and
if you did you can't afford it. Why do you need 100MHz?
2 to 20MHz is about the upper limit for most general purpose function
generators.
The ones with a keypad to enter the frequency will be a DDS (Direct
Digital Synthesis) type.
There are some low cost function gens on eBay like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brand-New-Fu...oryZ1504QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is by far the best you'll get for that sort of money.
If you want to roll your own for not much cost then you can try the
MAX038 chip for an analog solution, like this one:
http://alternatezone.com/electronics/hsfg.htm
Or there are a few DDS chips around for a digital solution like this
one:
http://alternatezone.com/electronics/dds.htm
Analog devices have "demo boards" for their high frequency DDS chips
that will give you 100MHz if you *really* need sort of frequency, they
cost a couple of hundred dollars and are PC driven only unless you
design you own interface.
At $1300, the new Goodwill GFG-3015 is an excellent example of a low
cost fully optioned function generator:
http://www.emona.com.au/catalogue/Section_7/index.html
Fine for the lab, but not exactly a hobbyist price.
Dave