Signal Generators and Waveform Generators Specifications

Generator Type


	Generator Type:
	Your choices are...
	Continuous Wave (CW)		Continuous wave (CW) generators produce sine waves. In most CW sources, the frequency and amplitude of the sine wave can be set.
	Function		Function generators create square waves by applying a bipolar sine wave to a comparator’s input.
	Noise		Noise generators and noise sources produce random noise output for testing RF equipment, integration into RF or microwave devices and for use as calibration standards. Specific noise source or generator applications include: Built-in test for RF receivers Eb/No vs BER testing (modems or digital receivers) Encryption Dithering circuits Jamming or jamming simulation Baseband signal simulation Calibration source or standard
	Pulse		A pulse is a short burst of signal(s) generated by an instrument.
	Signal		Signal generators output signals, or sine waves that carry information. There are numerous methods for adding information to sine waves. Basic signal generators have frequency, amplitude and phase modulation capabilities. More advanced signal generators have pulse and IQ modulation capabilities.
	Sweep		Swept sources add the ability to automatically vary the output frequency or amplitude of sine waves over a range of frequencies or amplitudes in a controlled manner.
	Other		Other unlisted generator types.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Signal Characteristics


	Maximum Input Channels		Maximum number of all analog input channels, general and specific types.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.

	Minimum Frequency Range		The minimum frequency range is the range of output frequencies that a generator can produce.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	Maximum Frequency Range		The maximum frequency range is the range of output frequencies that a generator can produce.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.

	Frequency Resolution		The smallest frequency increment the generator can produce.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.

	Frequency Accuracy		The frequency accuracy is a measure of how accurately the source frequency can be set. A generator's internal clock determines the frequency accuracy.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.

	Switching Speed		A measure of how fast the generator can change from one amplitude level to another.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value less than or equal to the specified value.

	Amplitude		Specifies the range of output amplitude the device can produce.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.

Operation Features


	On-board Reference?		A source of information, usually a clock, which supplies timing information.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	On-board Oscillator?		An oscillator creates the basic electrical fluctuation (AC) that is used to create the waveforms.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Reverse Power Protection?		Reverse power protection prevents signals traveling the wrong direction from damaging the source.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Battery Powered?		Battery powered devices use batteries for full operation, not just backup
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Reference Device?		Device is used to calibrate other devices.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

User Interface


	User Interface
	Your choices are...
	None		The device does not provide user input or programmability. This "black box" storage style is designed for downloading or processing information elsewhere.
	Manual Controls		Manual controls are located on the device's housing.
	CPU Controlled / Computer Programmable		A central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor controls the device. The microprocessor can be either an embedded processor or an external controller. The device may also be controlled by or directly interfaced to a personal computer (PC) or workstation. Generally, this is done for programmability and datalogging.
	Front Panel and Display		Integral controls, keypad, and/or display on the panel of the unit.
	Touch Screen		The device's visual display screen is contact sensitive to allow direct input.
	Hand-held / Remote Programmer		Interface unit specifically meant to hold in hand while entering program parameters; may include remote programming.
	Other User Interfaces		Other unlisted user interface method.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Memory and Storage


	RAM / On-board Memory:		Random access memory; capacity of memory for control software or function / program loading.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	Data Storage:		Capacity for data storage, typically with a hard drive.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	Floppy Disk?		5¼" floppy or 3½"diskette.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	CD Drive?		Compact disc drives for loading programs or data storage.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Tape Drive / Backup?		Tape drive for data storage or backup.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

Interface


	Interface
	Your choices are...
	IEEE 1394 (FireWire®)		A companion to USB, IEEE 1394 is a very high-speed serial bus (400 Megabit - 1 Gigabit). It was designed to replace all external high-speed peripheral connections to personal computers, including hard disks, CD-ROM's, DVD's, graphics cards, high-speed scanners, direct video, monitors, etc. FireWire® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
	General Serial Interface		Serial interface between data terminal equipment and data communications equipment employing serial binary data interchange. Includes RS232, RS422 and RS485.
	CompactPCI		This is a high performance industrial bus that uses the electrical standards of the PCI bus packaged in a Eurocard. The specifications of the CompactPCI bus were developed and maintained by the PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG). It is used extensively in systems that require high speed transfer of data, such as data communication routers and switches, real-time machine control, real-time data acquisition, military systems, etc.
	Ethernet		A local-area network (LAN) protocol developed by Xerox Corporation in cooperation with DEC and Intel in 1976. Ethernet uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. The Ethernet specification served as the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Ethernet uses the CSMA/CD access method to handle simultaneous demands. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards.
	GPIB (IEEE 488, HPIB)		General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) is designed to connect computers, peripherals and laboratory instruments so that data and control information can pass between them. It is also known as IEEE 488 or HPIB, and is electrically equivalent to IEC 625 bus.
	PCI		Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is a local bus system designed for high-end computer systems. It transfers 32 or 64 bits of data at a clock speed of 33 MHz. The PCI bus supports 3 to 5 critical peripherals, which are either integrated directly onto the motherboard or added via expansion cards. The PCI bus fully supports cards developed for standard I/O buses.
	PCMCIA (PC Card)		PCMCIA devices (PC cards) are credit-card-sized peripherals predominantly used in laptop computers. The PCMCIA adapter takes the place of a COM port on a standard bus. The card is plugged into a 68-pin host socket that is connected either to the motherboard or an expansion bus. An adapter then translates the PCMCIA signals into signals usable by the computer's bus.
	PXI Bus		PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) is a superset of CompactPCI adds timing and triggering functions, imposes requirements for documenting environmental tests, and establishes a standard Windows-based software framework.
	PMC Bus		The PMC bus is actually a form factor, not a bus -- it is electrically the same as the PCI bus, but the shape of the card and the bus connectors are different. Designed for rugged implementations, the PMC form factor provides a secure mounting platform for PMC VME mezzanine boards.
	SCSI		Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a parallel interface standard used by Apple Macintosh computers, PCs, and many UNIX systems for attaching peripheral devices to computers.
	USB		Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a 12 megabit serial bus designed to replace low-to-medium speed peripheral device connections to personal computers, including keyboards, mice, modems, printers, joysticks, audio functions, monitor controls, etc.
	VME Bus		VersaModule Eurocard (VME) is a 32-bit bus used in industrial, commercial and military applications. VME64 is an expanded version that provides 64-bit data transfer and addressing.
	VXI / MXI Bus		VME eXtensions for Instrumentation (WMI) was developed by Motorola, with others, in the late 1970s. A standard for many electronic platforms, it defines electrical and mechanical backplane characteristics.
	Other Interface		Other unlisted, specialized or proprietary configuration.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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