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A "non critical" question regarding RF generators....

guitar_199

guitar_199

Sr. Member
Mar 8, 2011
909
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Deer Park, TX
This is not something that is a need.... just more of a "question of interest" that has been hanging in me for a long time.

Thinking of an old school RF Generator.... along the lines of a Heathkit or an Eico.....

Have any of you ever used one of those in your careers/histories? Are they actually stable enough to do an alignment? I would certainly guess that you would want to warm them up for an hour or more BEFORE using them.... AND that you would want to set them using a good frequency counter.

But on the whole, are they stable enough and clean enough to count on when doing a receive alignment?

Thanks!
Bob

(just so it is said, I have a Boonton 102F AM/FM 500 MHz PLL Locked generator so this isn't really an imminent concern for me..... I have just seriously always wondered!)
 
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In my opinion, the best "old school" rf generator is the B&K E-200D. Here is a description that I copied from a site that no longer exists, but pretty much tells it all.
I've used my E200D for years and it's served me well.
- 399

The E-200D is an old clunker but it's a great little inexpensive signal generator. It has several features that set it apart from other cheapie generators:

1. It has a calibrated output that goes all the way down to 1 microvolt.
2. The internal shielding keeps signal from leaking out.
3. It has a crystal marker for setting the output frequency.

The first two features allow using the E-200D to align sensitive receivers. Cheaper generators generally have poor shielding and so they leak lots of signal. If you run the output down to zero on a cheap generator, a sensitive receiver will still show a strong signal. Signal is leaking out of the generator. If you are aligning old tube radios then there is no issue and you can use an old EICO 324 or equivalent. But I tried using an EICO 324 to align my Realistic DX160 shortwave radio, and no way! I ran the signal generator down to zero and the radio was still picking up way too much signal.

Another nice feature of the E-200D is the crystal marker, which lets you accurately set the output frequency.

As an added bonus, the E-200D is not very complicated so it is easy to repair. The service manual and schematic are available online.

The E-200D is perfect for us low-budget guys who would love to have a decent generator but don’t want to spend hundreds of $$.

e200d.png


 
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399, thank you for that. It sounds like a real good choice for a bench!

unit_399 said:
In my opinion, the best "old school" rf generator is the B&K E-200D. Here is a description that I copied from a site that no longer exists, but pretty much tells it all.
I've used my E200D for years and it's served me well.
- 399
Click to expand...
 
guitar_199 said:
Good point! Somewhat myopically.... I was only thinking of AM at the time I wrote that.
Click to expand...

SSB? Then go PLL - much of the "dial" type of generators can generate the "marker" and even inject modulation - but for SSB and because of the ACCURACY you need, I think you already have it in the PLL - based model you're going to use?

AM and FM for RX tuning the use of a simpler Dial one is easy and makes quick work - but if you're needing the find the right "bandwidth" or aligning a touchy IF strip so you can remove the opposite image - the PLL types offer that stability and flexibility.

IT's when you use the Dial types, you DONT know if your radio or the marker is drifting off.
 
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All great points.

I myself will be using this Boonton for everything.

My thinking about the dial types is..... people wanting to "get into" doing their own repairs might be looking for a cheaper price point just to START. Cheap is great....unless the unit is not stable enough for ANY kind of alignment procedure.

In that light... one should consider getting the best generator they can that is REALLY adequate for the job at hand.

I have often heard it said.... when it comes to tools......

"You can cry once when you buy them...... or every time you use them. It's your choice"!

Handy Andy said:
SSB? Then go PLL - much of the "dial" type of generators can generate the "marker" and even inject modulation - but for SSB and because of the ACCURACY you need, I think you already have it in the PLL - based model you're going to use?

AM and FM for RX tuning the use of a simpler Dial one is easy and makes quick work - but if you're needing the find the right "bandwidth" or aligning a touchy IF strip so you can remove the opposite image - the PLL types offer that stability and flexibility.

IT's when you use the Dial types, you DONT know if your radio or the marker is drifting off.
Click to expand...
 

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