Audio Signal Generator on eBay

DreadPirate · 07:38 PM

Is this my best bet for an under $100 function generator?

REK RAG101 Audio Generator Function Signal 10 to 1Mhz - eBay (item 300371534115 end time Dec-26-09 21:26:52 PST)

For a current project, all I need is a 1000 Hz sinusoidal signal are there any cheap/free alternatives out there that might work for me? Should I just spring for one of these to play with? What do I do about the 220V supply required (I'm in the US)?

Speedskater · 8th December 2009, 10:09 PM

The free alternate is:
Burn a CD with test tones (tones are available from lot's of web-sites) play it back using a player that has a volume control.

slam · 9th December 2009, 08:36 AM

You can also use your mp3 player or cell phone with the test tones Seedskater mentioned if low THD is not a major concern. Some cell phones are actually not that bad nowadays. The headphone output of HTC Touch Pro 2 has a THD+N of 0.034% @ 1KHz last time I measured.

If potability is not a concern, you can always use PC + free signal generator programs if you have good quality sound cards.

However you will need amplification in either case if you need higher voltage output.

rotaspec · 11th December 2009, 01:28 AM

Tone Generator Software - Audio Test Tone Generator Download

Rob11966 · 13th December 2009, 09:04 AM

Hi Dread Pirate,

If you want hours of pointless fun you could make your own.

Here is a thread on the one that I built -

DIY 8038 Function Generator Problem

It eventually worked well.

Cheers,

Rob

DreadPirate · 14th December 2009, 01:58 AM

Pointless fun is what it's all about, but that looks like work. I'm going to try the cd tone route for now, perhaps move on as the need arises.

Nikon1975 · 30th December 2009, 12:07 AM

I am aslo looking for a general purpose function generator, for audio mainly, but I think higher frequency could be useful for components testing.
I cannot decide if I should take some toy like this:

Digital Function Signal Generator 5 digit 0.2Hz-2MHz ap - eBay (item 280431888649 end time Dec-30-09 22:49:42 PST)

Or get a used old fashion professional generator (the ones without display)

Please advice. Thanks,

Davide

MikeHunt79 · 30th December 2009, 01:32 AM

old 2nd hand synths can make nice sig gens also.

tvrgeek · 3rd January 2010, 02:31 PM

After frustrations with PC based sweep generators, I bought an old HP 209A. It can sweep cleanly. Everything else I use my PC. I capture the tones into files. Normalize them, clean up the start and stop, leaving me a library of known exact amplitude signals.
nti, multi-sine and sig-jenny all freeware.

8th December 2009, 07:35 PM	#1
DreadPirate diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: US	Audio Signal Generator on eBay Is this my best bet for an under $100 function generator? REK RAG101 Audio Generator Function Signal 10 to 1Mhz - eBay (item 300371534115 end time Dec-26-09 21:26:52 PST) For a current project, all I need is a 1000 Hz sinusoidal signal are there any cheap/free alternatives out there that might work for me? Should I just spring for one of these to play with? What do I do about the 220V supply required (I'm in the US)? Last edited by DreadPirate; 8th December 2009 at 07:38 PM.

8th December 2009, 10:09 PM	#2
Speedskater diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lakewood, Ohio	The free alternate is: Burn a CD with test tones (tones are available from lot's of web-sites) play it back using a player that has a volume control. __________________ Kevin

11th December 2009, 01:28 AM	#4
rotaspec diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007	Nice little tone gen program here: Tone Generator Software - Audio Test Tone Generator Download

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9th December 2009, 08:36 AM	#3
slam diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA	You can also use your mp3 player or cell phone with the test tones Seedskater mentioned if low THD is not a major concern. Some cell phones are actually not that bad nowadays. The headphone output of HTC Touch Pro 2 has a THD+N of 0.034% @ 1KHz last time I measured. If potability is not a concern, you can always use PC + free signal generator programs if you have good quality sound cards. However you will need amplification in either case if you need higher voltage output.

13th December 2009, 09:04 AM	#5
Rob11966 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Australia	Hi Dread Pirate, If you want hours of pointless fun you could make your own. Here is a thread on the one that I built - DIY 8038 Function Generator Problem It eventually worked well. Cheers, Rob

14th December 2009, 01:58 AM	#6
DreadPirate diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: US	Pointless fun is what it's all about, but that looks like work. I'm going to try the cd tone route for now, perhaps move on as the need arises.

30th December 2009, 12:07 AM	#7
Nikon1975 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tokyo	I am aslo looking for a general purpose function generator, for audio mainly, but I think higher frequency could be useful for components testing. I cannot decide if I should take some toy like this: Digital Function Signal Generator 5 digit 0.2Hz-2MHz ap - eBay (item 280431888649 end time Dec-30-09 22:49:42 PST) Or get a used old fashion professional generator (the ones without display) Please advice. Thanks, Davide

30th December 2009, 01:32 AM	#8
MikeHunt79 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bristol, UK	old 2nd hand synths can make nice sig gens also.

3rd January 2010, 02:31 PM	#9
tvrgeek diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Md	After frustrations with PC based sweep generators, I bought an old HP 209A. It can sweep cleanly. Everything else I use my PC. I capture the tones into files. Normalize them, clean up the start and stop, leaving me a library of known exact amplitude signals. nti, multi-sine and sig-jenny all freeware.

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