Test Equipment: Oscillocopes

[Brian516]

So what DDS chip would you recommend?  I've read a good bit that more or less said that the best ones to go with are the AD series, particularly AD9914.  Also the 5932, 9833, and 9959...  oh, and also the XR2206. What are your thoughts, MarkE?

[picowatt]

Brian,

Your decision regarding what to buy as a signal source is somewhat dependent upon what you want to use your test equipment for.

That said, I'd recommend saving up for a good used FG or buying one of the 2MHz units on Ebay for $60 or so.

For now, if you're just learning to use a 'scope, I would suggest playing with some audio sources.  Simultaneously listening to music while viewing it on your scope gives you a good visualization of what is going on with both.  Although music/audio signals are a bit more complex (and harder to trigger on) than what is produced by an FG, displaying a left/right stereo signal on your scope while listening to your favorite music can be both enjoyable and enlightening with regard to your scope's operation. 

Also, there is sound card FG software out there.  Possibly someone here can recommend a freeware (and a clean download link) that can get you started in that direction.

Even with a FG (or FG software), I would recommend adapting the signal cables as necessary to allow you to listen along as you view various waveforms and frequencies on your scope.

PW

[TinselKoala]

You can use the powerful audio editing applications Audacity (linux) or GoldWave (windows) to generate all kinds of audio frequency waveforms to look at, output from your computer's sound card, one or two channels as you like.
Audacity is freeware and so are versions of GoldWave.

And don't forget about the venerable GenRad 1330-A, which covers the RF range from 5 kHz to 50 MHz with a sine wave output that can also be partially modulated by the fixed audio frequencies from the unit's audio oscillator section ( at the higher frequency ranges of the RF signal).

If I had a hundred dollars to spend I'd buy this right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Interstate-IFC-F-74-F74-20Mhz-Sweep-Function-Generator-/301529989757

Note the back panel Signal Ground isolation switch... this can be a very helpful thing to have in a function generator.

[Vortex1]

Also, there is sound card FG software out there.  Possibly someone here can recommend a freeware (and a clean download link) that can get you started in that direction.

I recommend this PC based O'scope and sig gen combo software for the beginner.

Many features including sweeps of audio, spectrum, etc

http://www.zeitnitz.eu/scope_en

There are other good ones out there, I just happen to like this one.

Do build a limiter protection box for your soundcard.

[TinselKoala]

I recommend this PC based O'scope and sig gen combo software for the beginner.

Many features including sweeps of audio, spectrum, etc

http://www.zeitnitz.eu/scope_en

There are other good ones out there, I just happen to like this one.

Do build a limiter protection box for your soundcard.

Are you using a sound-card based oscilloscope for your waveforms that you posted earlier? I have encountered several cases where PC-soundcards actually inverted one or both of the inputs when used with scope software, with no indication other than the flipped phase of the displayed signals themselves.