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    Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

    All,
    I have been collecting/purchasing equipment as I go along my "Electronics Journey". Thanks for all those who have helped me on this Journey and have educated me... I really appreciate this guidance!

    Also the fixing of many of my household finds have kept the wife happy as well as I buy said new electronic equipment.

    I have read and heard that every electronics workshop should have a Function Signal Generator or more than one.

    As I barely understand the use of such a piece of equipment can someone educate me first on what this piece of equipment is commonly used for in electronic repair/design?

    Also assuming mostly household electronic repair with possibly automotive applications (not that I have ever needed anything more than basic electronics to keep my daily driver running) what should I look for in a Function Signal Generator?

    I find myself commonly fixing TVs, radios (amps), Computers (including vintage/retro), Tablets, Phones, and have found myself doing DIY kits recently.

    Thanks for the help,
    Chris

    #2
    Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

    do you have an oscilloscope??

    because if not you dont need a signal generator - they are used together.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

      Originally posted by stj View Post
      do you have an oscilloscope??

      because if not you dont need a signal generator - they are used together.
      STJ,
      Yes, I have a Rigol DS1054Z with all the "Keys" installed. Also Probes etc.

      I have used it a time or two just for educational purposes but not really much on troubleshooting things.

      Thanks for the help,
      Chris

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

        All,
        Does anyone have any experience with a Function Signal Generator and how to use one with a Oscilloscopt to troubleshoot issues?

        Also what I should look for in my first one. Like many of my earlier purchases I assume I will upgrade over time.

        I have seen a couple "Classroom" type scenarios with the oscilloscopt but not much when they (Oscilloscope and Signal Generator) play together.

        Thanks
        Chris

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

          it depends what your repairing,
          for anything with analog amplifiers or filters you can feed in a generated signal and then scope the output to see if it is o.k. or distorted in some way.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

            Originally posted by stj View Post
            it depends what your repairing,
            for anything with analog amplifiers or filters you can feed in a generated signal and then scope the output to see if it is o.k. or distorted in some way.
            STJ,
            For household repair items what Frequency should I look for on my first function Signal Generator. I assume the different types of "Waves" are fairly standard.

            Any speicific brands?

            Should I get a DIY Kit..I know the lower end ones are probably not worth the effort.

            Thanks
            Chris

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

              household??
              what does that mean?
              unless your repairing audio amplifiers or radio transmitters to dont have a use for a sig-gen.
              i dont have one and i'v been repairing stuff for a very long time.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                Originally posted by stj View Post
                household??
                what does that mean?
                unless your repairing audio amplifiers or radio transmitters to dont have a use for a sig-gen.
                i dont have one and i'v been repairing stuff for a very long time.
                STJ,
                Thanks for the response again!

                I actually do have a small stack of projects that are Audio/Amplifier related. Covid-19 has had me organize the workshop and garage and I had more than a few projects stacking up. I focused previously on the larger ones (TVs and Monitors). Now we are on the smaller items. One of the biggest now is a Onkyo HTR-290 Amplifier which turned out to be a bad Amplifier IC. Its on order and is supposed to arrive before Christmas.

                The other are a couple older (circa 1980s) Radios. These are portable units and at least one is a Multiband radio. Weather band, shortwave, AM, and FM. My favorite is little JCPenny Multiband radio and I like to get that working again. The others are slightly newer and mostly small boom boxes which I could let the kids use in the barn. Keep in mind these projects are for learning experiences. Sounds like the Function Signal Generator would be of limited use for these.

                I will mention that I have some interest in HAM radio. My Step-Dad is big on Ham Radios. 30 plus years in the Military/Civilian contractor as a Electrical Engineer. He is involved in the early radio stuff. Including refurbishing and refinishing 1920-1930 radios (maybe even radios before that). He recently won some award by some National Radio group. He is about to move back to my area, previously lived about a days drive away, and I figure that will spark my interest some more in HAM.

                I do a lot with Retro-Computers. C64, Atari 8 bit, VCS2600, and a few Apples. Just starting to get these organized now.

                I am getting into the Arduino scene for a couple small projects as well. Not to mention I have more than a few Raspberry Pis that I am looking to play with the GPIO. They do not seem to be using a Function Signal Generator much. I have seen a couple projects that it was mentioned but not demonstrated.

                So it sounds like if I get Function Signal Generator it will be mostly a shelf queen.

                I am also looking at a https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-STOCK-MA...r/313014474073. I will probably purchase Mastech MS8911 before any Function Signal Generator.

                Basically this is Birthday present to myself at the end of the month and I have decided it will electronic related.

                Thanks for the help,
                Chris
                Last edited by SolomonMan; 12-21-2020, 09:31 AM.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                  i dont see what that mastech does from the link.
                  it's expensive though.

                  do you have a component tester?

                  and for old computers you probably want to build a logic pulser
                  i can give you the details for that.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                    Originally posted by stj View Post
                    i dont see what that mastech does from the link.
                    it's expensive though.

                    do you have a component tester?

                    and for old computers you probably want to build a logic pulser
                    i can give you the details for that.
                    STJ,
                    The video below gives a rough review of it;

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96XTelPZnfA

                    Basically its a LCR (Inductance (l), Capacitance (C), and Resistance (R))) meter. There are quite a few out there (cheaper ~$20) not to mention the tweezer probes you can get for your Multimeter. The Mastech 8911 has a decent review from what I have seen/gather.

                    I do have a component tester.

                    I would be interested in the logic pulser.

                    Thanks
                    Chris

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                      STJ,
                      Are these the same as a Logic Analyzer Probe Kit?

                      I have one of these in the works to be purchased.

                      Thanks
                      Chris

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                        no, a logic analyzer can record multiple channels at once,
                        a logic probe shows the state of a pin/signal
                        and a pulser injects pulses into a circuit.

                        you use a pulser in conjunction with a probe - the pulser injects a signal and the probe is to see if the chips output changes in response.
                        Last edited by stj; 01-02-2021, 08:32 AM.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                          Originally posted by stj View Post
                          no, a logic analyzer can record multiple channels at once,
                          a logic probe shows the state of a pin/signal
                          and a pulser injects pulses into a circuit.

                          you use a pulser in conjunction with a probe - the pulser injects a signal and the probe is to see if the chips output changes in response.
                          STJ,
                          I ended up picking up a LOGICAL ANALYSIS TEST KIT LTC-2 made by Continental Specialities. Its identical to the One from Global Specialities.

                          A couple of my firiends (local) have these kits and they use them commonly on old Arcade machines. After seeing them in action I decided to get one over the Holiday.

                          I also ended up picking up a Isolation Transformer for a upcoming project.

                          A Good Birthday Present.

                          Thanks
                          Chris

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                            HMMM...
                            i prefer to make my own for under 10€ and spend the other 90 on beer and rum!
                            http://users.tpg.com.au/users/talkin...ser-Intro.html

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Function Signal Generator Some Questions...

                              Originally posted by stj View Post
                              HMMM...
                              i prefer to make my own for under 10€ and spend the other 90 on beer and rum!
                              http://users.tpg.com.au/users/talkin...ser-Intro.html
                              Thanks for the link...I will keep that in mind when I am looking for another project to solder up...

                              Happy New Year,
                              Chris

                              Comment

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