Function Generator

[floppybootstomp]

I'd been looking for a replacement since my commercial one died a couple of years ago. That one cost around £200.00 and I really didn't want to pay that much for a tool I didn't use that often.

A function generator produces sound waves and is invaluable in testing and repairing audio equipment, in case you're wondering. Some of you, of course, will be familiar with such a piece of kit.

I was looking around half-heartedly searching when I came across a kit in Maplins, of all places.

Here's a link: Only thirteen quid

I had a couple of CCTV 12V DC PSU's hanging about so I used one of those and the rest of the parts, including the kit, came to £26.00.

Only thing I'm not keen on is two push buttons to raise or lower frequency, would have much preferred a rotary knob. Still, for the price, this thing's great.

It produces sine; square; triangle and sawtooth waves from about 20Hz to 18Khz, which is adequate.

I put the kit in a case and as many of the functions were onboard, I flew them to the top panel of the case.

External functions are:

Audio out
Loudspeaker out
Frequency up and down buttons
Waveshape selector
Waveshape LED indicators
Loudspeaker volume control
On/off switch


The following pix show the waveshapes on my oscilloscope, the first one was with flash, the rest were taken without flash but I increased the display brightness on the 'scope.

So, if you need one of these, this is a nice cheap option that works

 

[Abarbarian]

Groovy pics of waves there. Er but what do you use it for ?

 

[floppybootstomp]

Groovy pics of waves there. Er but what do you use it for ?

A function generator produces sound waves and is invaluable in testing and repairing audio equipment, in case you're wondering.

You inject the signal in one end and follow it through with the 'scope. Where it ends, that's usually your problem.

Want to test an audio system at different frequencies? Just plug this into the input instead of music or speech, gives you a much better indication of it's condition.

 

[Abarbarian]

Must remember to take more notice when I read. Ta .