• You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
  • The Winners of the three Retevis radios 16 Anniversary giveaway are announced!! Click Here to find out if you won!

Signal generator

Mk121

Active Member
Oct 28, 2015
173
24
28
41
I have a chance to get a bk 2040 or a bk 2050 signal generator. Which one is better? Anyone have experience with these? Thanks
 

I have the 2040 and its companion 1040. Does fine for tweaking CB radios. I had to make most of the cables needed to get them to work together. Be sure to have a calibrated frequency counter if you do any work on SSB radios.
 
So long as the output levels are calibrated in the B&K units, I can't see why these can't work. I'd prefer something more accurate in that regard, such as a Hewlett-Packard generator. Many of the better generators have FM function as well. Of course, that means $300/up for a used sig/generator of that caliber.

The better generators can get very accurate outputs at very low levels, which in turn can also test a radios sensitivity. But for AM only use, the B&K should be OK so long as it has some calibration done to it.

EDIT:
In addition, The freq stability of the B&K must also be taken into consideration. That is, if it has too much freq drift; then it is unacceptable for any serious work.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: rabbiporkchop
Rob stated:
In addition, The freq stability of the B&K must also be taken into consideration. That is, if it has too much freq drift; then it is unacceptable for any serious work.

Tallman says
This is the type of gear you plug in for a minimum of 30 minutes before use. It has a stable oscillator in a temperature controlled oven. The voltage of output can be verified with a calibrated oscilloscope. My unit does not drift and the modulating audio and the dual tones for SSB is spot on. Good gear for a low price if you can find them.
 
Last edited:
Ok thanks. In the meantime I just bought a conar 281. I still might pick up bk 2040 though as well.
 
The BK2040 has a meter and adjuster that can get you close to the needed 50uV output setting for your S-9 adjustment. So long as it is calibrated, it should be OK. Don't see anything like that on the Conar - though . . .

For that much money (~$250), I would go with a real digital sig/gen that has accurate, programmable output. Like a Hp 8656B, for example.
 
Last edited:
Well I picked the Conar up for $20 so I'm not worried about it. I thought it was a good deal and now I have something while I wait for a good price on a b&k 2040.
 
If you're looking to drop receiver sensitivity down below -125 DB hewlett-packard or Agilent make some of the best generators available but to find one that's still within calibration is going to cost some big bucks
Well I picked the Conar up for $20 so I'm not worried about it. I thought it was a good deal and now I have something while I wait for a good price on a b&k 2040.
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.