After looking over specs of some models, and partially based on this review, I bought one of these and just received it. I have about a half century of electronics experience and appreciate how easy this is to use in spite of the vast number of capabilities it has. (Far more than the number of physical controls would suggest.) On anything like this, there is a tradeoff between the number of controls to slather onto a front panel and the number of menu driven choices with soft keys and/or arrows and such. I think this has a very good balance. I have used a great many models of test equipment over the years and believe that you shouldn't have to make a career out of trying to learn how to use this or that generator or scope or whatever. That with basic knowledge of what you want out of something, it should be easy to, without ever looking at a manual, quickly do what you need to do. This has the "easy to use" I prefer.
For you true experimental nerds out there, here is a very cheap way we made an "arbitrary waveform generator" in a college class. We took a regular analog CRT style oscilloscope and made a cone shaped black hood over the screen with a photocell at the other end of the cone. So, the photocell "saw" the light of the dot going across the screen. The output of an amplifier controlled by the photocell is then fed to the Y axis of the scope. We could cut a paper mask in any shape we wanted and affix it to the front of the Oscilloscope screen. We adjusted the gain of the amplifier so that about a half of the oscilloscope dot showed. If more than half a dot showed, the amplifier output would lower. If less than half a dot showed the amplifier output would increase. So, this was a closed loop control system that would try to maintain a half dot showing. Whatever free running sweep frequency we used produced an output with the waveform shape we had cut out of a piece of paper.
Siglent and Rigol are really stepping up their game lately. Very exciting for us as consumers, as competition is always good. Thanks for the video Jack!
Good idea on the "rise time improver". It reminds me of something VERY funny in one of the National Semiconductor data books probably back in the 1970's. I forget the IC numbers, but one was titled "Fast Buffer" with a specification of a 1,000 Volt/uS slew rate. The next page had the title, "Damn Fast Buffer" with a 6,000 Volt/Us slew rate. Back then, you sure didn't expect to see that word in a data book.
Reminds me of a databook I had in which an engineer had managed to sneak in a part called "Universal Fast Asynchronous Receive-Transmit" (and its obvious invitation to abbreviate).
@@Graham_Wideman Another thing, not as funny but amusing to me, was the data book for the 8051 microprocessor (which I used in many designs). It had a section that went on for many pages titled "Counter and Timers". The next section, which also went on for many pages, was "More about Counters and Timers."
i understand these are generally audio frequency generators, but what about the higher frequencies? like 15mhz, 100mhz etc. does it turn into an rf signal generator? i want one but im confused on their purpose as far as the higher non audio frequencies. help!!!
First, wary important, I am not doubting your for one moment, I am just trying to learn from you! :-) But why do Siglent or other not just add a "rise-time improver" if it is so simple, I mean there have to be a catch?
After looking over specs of some models, and partially based on this review, I bought one of these and just received it. I have about a half century of electronics experience and appreciate how easy this is to use in spite of the vast number of capabilities it has. (Far more than the number of physical controls would suggest.) On anything like this, there is a tradeoff between the number of controls to slather onto a front panel and the number of menu driven choices with soft keys and/or arrows and such. I think this has a very good balance. I have used a great many models of test equipment over the years and believe that you shouldn't have to make a career out of trying to learn how to use this or that generator or scope or whatever. That with basic knowledge of what you want out of something, it should be easy to, without ever looking at a manual, quickly do what you need to do. This has the "easy to use" I prefer.
For you true experimental nerds out there, here is a very cheap way we made an "arbitrary waveform generator" in a college class. We took a regular analog CRT style oscilloscope and made a cone shaped black hood over the screen with a photocell at the other end of the cone. So, the photocell "saw" the light of the dot going across the screen. The output of an amplifier controlled by the photocell is then fed to the Y axis of the scope. We could cut a paper mask in any shape we wanted and affix it to the front of the Oscilloscope screen. We adjusted the gain of the amplifier so that about a half of the oscilloscope dot showed. If more than half a dot showed, the amplifier output would lower. If less than half a dot showed the amplifier output would increase. So, this was a closed loop control system that would try to maintain a half dot showing. Whatever free running sweep frequency we used produced an output with the waveform shape we had cut out of a piece of paper.
Hahaha that's both innovative and amusing :-).
Siglent and Rigol are really stepping up their game lately. Very exciting for us as consumers, as competition is always good.
Thanks for the video Jack!
Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to your video on your rise-time improvement box.
You are well spoken and knowledgeable, please make more videos!!!
I just got one of these a couple days ago, should be here tomorrow. Thanks for letting me know I didn't waste my money buying it.
lol I have my on order right now with a sds1104x-e oscilloscope
Please Jack, do not delay your video on how we may build your "RTI" (rise time improver). ☺
Your science reminds me of my grand father from my mother side. Thanks :)
Thanks for the review.Interested in the rise time improver project video as well.
thanks for this Jack, very interesting -- you deserve more views!
Good idea on the "rise time improver". It reminds me of something VERY funny in one of the National Semiconductor data books probably back in the 1970's. I forget the IC numbers, but one was titled "Fast Buffer" with a specification of a 1,000 Volt/uS slew rate. The next page had the title, "Damn Fast Buffer" with a 6,000 Volt/Us slew rate. Back then, you sure didn't expect to see that word in a data book.
Reminds me of a databook I had in which an engineer had managed to sneak in a part called "Universal Fast Asynchronous Receive-Transmit" (and its obvious invitation to abbreviate).
@@Graham_Wideman Another thing, not as funny but amusing to me, was the data book for the 8051 microprocessor (which I used in many designs). It had a section that went on for many pages titled "Counter and Timers". The next section, which also went on for many pages, was "More about Counters and Timers."
What a great review
@Jack Ganssle Hallo, is there any schematics or any video about your rise time improver so i can build one ?
Thanks! Nice pace greatly appreciated, got what I needed to know and no filler! Will check out more of your videos. 👍 TRUMP!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Jack! :)
Thank you for the nice review. 👍
Jack what would you suggest for a 1khz signal generator that is very clean, used for Audio amplifier testing with a sinewave..
Good information here, Jack!
Thank you for this very useful review.
Hi great video! May I please ask you, if you would mind sharing your files for the "raise time improver"?
i understand these are generally audio frequency generators, but what about the higher frequencies? like 15mhz, 100mhz etc. does it turn into an rf signal generator? i want one but im confused on their purpose as far as the higher non audio frequencies. help!!!
Where is a rise time improver? How can I make it?
can the two channels be set up a an I/Q type output?
Thanks Jack,
What chip do you use in your rise time improvement box?
Rob
Probably an 74AC gate, Schmitt trigger.. 74AC14 with great decoupling would be very fast.
Thanks David. I think the non-schmitt triggers sometimes give better results 74AC04 but I was wondering if he found a better solution altogether.
Rob
Maybe something like LMH7322 ...
First, wary important, I am not doubting your for one moment, I am just trying to learn from you! :-)
But why do Siglent or other not just add a "rise-time improver" if it is so simple, I mean there have to be a catch?
Thank you Jack.
Really Informative
Can someone tell me what you would use a waveform generator for? to contact aliens?
Thanks for the review :D hope to catch others in the future!
thank you
Nice talk. Your face was a little out of focus.
thank you