HP8640B is the generator of choice for (a) low phase noise and (b) more or less affordable (in the $1K and less category.)
That being said, these generators are now well over 20 years old and are notorious for mechanical problems associated with switches and tuning gears. I would not purchase one unless you are prepared to do some work on it. If a switch or two isn't broken when you buy it, it soon will be. These are very complicated mechanically. If your budget will stand it, I would purchase an HP8657B, or, as a somewhat less desirable unit, an HP8567A. Both are synthesized signal generators and are free of some of the problems that have been found with their lower price brother generator, the HP8656. The phase noise and spurious outputs of these synthesized generators are much inferior to the 8640B. They are, however, fully synthesized, and can be remotely controlled over an HPIB interface, neither of which is the case for the 8640B. I have a pair of 8640Bs and a pair of 8657A's. Both 8640B's have mechanical problems that, fortunately, I can live with as I am not all that good at complicated mechanical repair work. Jack K8ZOA Lee Buller wrote: > > If I were to buy a RF signal generator off of Ebay....what is a good > one to buy? I don't want a WWII surplus RF signal generator and do > not want the 10,000 dollar one either. I would like to have a > transistor RF signal generator so that kind of leaves out the old > Heaths and Eicos. > > Does this august body of homebrew swamis have any suggestions? > > Lee - K0WA > > > In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If > you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If > you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has > some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
