Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxf.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass From: parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) Newsgroups: net.ham-radio Subject: Re: Cheap RF Signal Generators? Message-ID: <2082@ihuxf.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Mar-84 09:30:48 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxf.2082 Posted: Tue Mar 13 09:30:48 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 07:16:17 EST References: <2413@brl-vgr.ARPA> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 35 I've had a few tube type Heath RF signal generators. They drifted and tuned very coarsely. For fine tuning, I varied the distance between the generator and my hand (ala "hand capacitance"). I too am curious about the newer solid state Heath genera- tor, although I am not curious enough to buy one. The AN/URM25 and 26 series of military sig jennies are decent. Although they have AM/CW/PULSE output only, the output is much closer to sinusoidal. Cheapies have perver- ted output waveforms so the harmonics can be used on the higher frequencies. I have a 26 made by Boonton. It was a hamfest special at $15. I rewound some coils and installed a tube (the last owner didn't realize that the oscillator tube was missing!). Unfortunately, the bolometer assembly is defective, so the output calibration circuit is inopera- tive. The Precision Apparatus (forerunner of B&K Precision) E200-C is often found at hamfests. It's an old model, with tubes. My $15 was well invested. It's much better than its Heath and Eico counterparts. It was made for real (?) techs, and has a good amount of shielding in its inner construction. The E-200D is B&K's solid state replacement. I've heard second hand that this unit drifts a lot for a solid state generator. It's always priced over $100 at the local fests, usually much more. -- ========================================================================== Bob Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories - ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass - (312)979-5760