3 ms·

In theory yes. The issue is the different load conditions will mess with the voltage divider bias. Check out page 272 and onward of the HP33120A manual https://

In theory yes. The issue is the different load conditions will mess with the voltage divider bias. Check out page 272 and onward of the HP33120A manual https://coupp-docdb.fnal.gov/cgi-bin/RetrieveFile?docid=206&filename=hp_33120a.pdf&version=1 https://coupp-docdb.fnal.gov/cgi-bin/RetrieveFile?docid=206&...

jacquesm 6y ago
Why compare a commercially available top of the line function generator with a hobby project? At this level you can add a couple of simple components and get 95% of the functionality and accuracy of the commercial one for a couple of bucks. Go higher than that and you might as well shell out the money for an army surplus one, but that does not get you what he wanted: an opportunity to tinker and learn.
- cushychicken 6y ago
  Why compare a commercially available top of the line function generator with a hobby project? Because as soon as you do, you start to realize that you can get quite a ways with commodity hardware. Hence, why I started this project. The research I've done on the frontend of this on what's available in the market suggests to me that there's a niche for something that's a little cheaper, and a little easier to use. I also have a hunch that portability is a nice feature for most folks as well. (Hi Jacques!)
  - jacquesm 6y ago
    There is a whole branch of Chinese manufactured pc peripherals aimed squarely at this space, digital scopes, spectrum analyzers and so on, don't they make a function generator?
    - cushychicken 6y ago
      They do, but the usability leaves something to be desired.
  - aDfbrtVt 6y ago
    Please don't take the comments I wrote above as overt criticism, I was trying to point out some of the potential pitfalls in DIY function generators. As I said your project seems really interesting, especially if the software interface is polished.
    - cushychicken 6y ago
      Not at all! They're all things I'm learning myself. Some were lessons I knew I was going to have to learn, but there have been a few I didn't really expect to learn about. That HP manual was a great link. I've been studying it over the last few days. Thanks for sending it. :) The only one I'm really kicking myself over is not including an antialiasing filter at the DAC output. Seems like a bushleague mistake considering I paid all that money to get this EE degree.
      - aDfbrtVt 6y ago
        I can definitely sympathize, but anytime you take on a new project like this for the first time you're bound to at least make some stupid mistakes. I'll be following the project closely, hopefully you manage to overcome all the difficulties!
- aDfbrtVt 6y ago
  I'm not comparing it to a commercial product, I was linking a datasheet that describes how the output stage of a function generator is built. It takes a lot more than "a couple simple components" to get 95% of the functionality. I think building your own function generator is a great hobbyist project, I just wanted to point out some not so obvious gotchas.

jacquesm 6y ago

Why compare a commercially available top of the line function generator with a hobby project? At this level you can add a couple of simple components and get 95% of the functionality and accuracy of the commercial one for a couple of bucks. Go higher than that and you might as well shell out the money for an army surplus one, but that does not get you what he wanted: an opportunity to tinker and learn.

cushychicken 6y ago
Why compare a commercially available top of the line function generator with a hobby project? Because as soon as you do, you start to realize that you can get quite a ways with commodity hardware. Hence, why I started this project. The research I've done on the frontend of this on what's available in the market suggests to me that there's a niche for something that's a little cheaper, and a little easier to use. I also have a hunch that portability is a nice feature for most folks as well. (Hi Jacques!)
- jacquesm 6y ago
  There is a whole branch of Chinese manufactured pc peripherals aimed squarely at this space, digital scopes, spectrum analyzers and so on, don't they make a function generator?
  - cushychicken 6y ago
    They do, but the usability leaves something to be desired.
- aDfbrtVt 6y ago
  Please don't take the comments I wrote above as overt criticism, I was trying to point out some of the potential pitfalls in DIY function generators. As I said your project seems really interesting, especially if the software interface is polished.
  - cushychicken 6y ago
    Not at all! They're all things I'm learning myself. Some were lessons I knew I was going to have to learn, but there have been a few I didn't really expect to learn about. That HP manual was a great link. I've been studying it over the last few days. Thanks for sending it. :) The only one I'm really kicking myself over is not including an antialiasing filter at the DAC output. Seems like a bushleague mistake considering I paid all that money to get this EE degree.
    - aDfbrtVt 6y ago
      I can definitely sympathize, but anytime you take on a new project like this for the first time you're bound to at least make some stupid mistakes. I'll be following the project closely, hopefully you manage to overcome all the difficulties!
aDfbrtVt 6y ago
I'm not comparing it to a commercial product, I was linking a datasheet that describes how the output stage of a function generator is built. It takes a lot more than "a couple simple components" to get 95% of the functionality. I think building your own function generator is a great hobbyist project, I just wanted to point out some not so obvious gotchas.