XG3 Signal Generator
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Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv.
Anyone else done this? 73,Bill KO4NR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Bill Smith via Elecraft <[hidden email]> writes:
> Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. > Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter > in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration > instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If > I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to > buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator > to adjust for -73db/50uv. No, but I intend to do this. It's certainly simple on the XG3 side; the possibly hard part is on your receiver's side. Beware that the XG3 output is a square wave. I am 99% sure that this means the stated power of e.g. -73 dBm is the power of the desired frequency, and the power of the third harmonic is not included in that. Certainly that is what you'd want for receiver testing as a ham receiver should be expected to not respond to the third (fifth, etc.) harmonic. If anyone has measured an XG3's output at various bands and power levels on real test equipment, seeing that data would be nice. The manual says +/- 1 dB typical for most ranges, and doesn't give absolute limits. Still, even about 1 dB is amazingly good for such an inexpensive device. Unless you want to buy proper lab gear with controllable output for vastly more money, the XG3 seems like the best thing out there. I've only used mine a little bit, but I'm very happy with it. 73 de n1dam ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: XG3 Signal Generator
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Bill,
I've had my XG3 for a few years now and have never regretted buying it. Before I retired m business was in communications electronics. I worked for years with IFR which then became Aeroflex, out of Whichita. I had a Aeroflex 3920 communications analzer (which is still a high end piece of gear) at my office. I measured the XG3's output and frequency error and it was dead on with the Aeroflex 3920. I have used mine to calibrate receivers both new and vintage without a problem. Most of the use has been in the 2 -30 Mhz range, however I have used it on our VHF repeater to make quick receiver test. I have a few 50 ohm inline attenuators,3db, 6db, 10db I keep on hand. I also use a good quality step attenuator that allows the XG3 output to be attenuated as low as practical. I don't have the exact difference between the Aeroflex 3920 and XG3, but I can tell you it isn't worth the worry, the XG3 is that good. Hope this helps... Best 73's Bill N3WM On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 3:22:13 PM EDT, Bill Smith via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv. Anyone else done this? 73,Bill KO4NR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Greg Troxel-2
Greg,
The XG3 is a fine and easy to use tool. It is useful for a lot more than just calibrating the S-meter. When used with the XG3 Utility, it can serve as a full function signal generator with sweep capability. Yes, the output is a square wave, but as soon as the signal is fed into a receiver, the filters turn it into a sine wave. The only limitation of the XG3 is that it cannot do extremely low levels because the plastic case has some low level leakage - even a step attenuator is not effective at extremely low levels unless the XG3 is put inside a metal enclosure. I pressed my old HP8640 into service for any low level testing (like MDS testing). My mil-spec HP8640 would go down to -140dBm without leakage because it had all the internal shield boxes with all screws intact. 73, Don W3FPR On 3/24/2020 3:41 PM, Greg Troxel wrote: > Bill Smith via Elecraft <[hidden email]> writes: > >> Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. >> Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter >> in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration >> instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If >> I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to >> buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator >> to adjust for -73db/50uv. > > No, but I intend to do this. It's certainly simple on the XG3 side; the > possibly hard part is on your receiver's side. > > Beware that the XG3 output is a square wave. I am 99% sure that this > means the stated power of e.g. -73 dBm is the power of the desired > frequency, and the power of the third harmonic is not included in that. > Certainly that is what you'd want for receiver testing as a ham receiver > should be expected to not respond to the third (fifth, etc.) harmonic. > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Best money I have spent on instrumentation.... I have used it for tons
of stuff. And it REALLY makes calibrating the K3s easier and IMO more accurate. ______________________ Clay Autery, KY5G (318) 518-1389 On 03/24/20 14:17, Bill Smith via Elecraft wrote: > Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv. > Anyone else done this? > 73,Bill KO4NR > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Greg Troxel-2
Mine just happens to be sub-1dB accurate as tested.... I can't find the
datasheet from the XG3 measurement.... I did it several years ago. I power mine with a Bioenno battery rather than a wall wart, too. FYI... ______________________ Clay Autery, KY5G (318) 518-1389 On 03/24/20 14:41, Greg Troxel wrote: > Bill Smith via Elecraft <[hidden email]> writes: > >> Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. >> Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter >> in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration >> instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If >> I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to >> buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator >> to adjust for -73db/50uv. > No, but I intend to do this. It's certainly simple on the XG3 side; the > possibly hard part is on your receiver's side. > > Beware that the XG3 output is a square wave. I am 99% sure that this > means the stated power of e.g. -73 dBm is the power of the desired > frequency, and the power of the third harmonic is not included in that. > Certainly that is what you'd want for receiver testing as a ham receiver > should be expected to not respond to the third (fifth, etc.) harmonic. > > If anyone has measured an XG3's output at various bands and power levels > on real test equipment, seeing that data would be nice. The manual says > +/- 1 dB typical for most ranges, and doesn't give absolute limits. > Still, even about 1 dB is amazingly good for such an inexpensive device. > > Unless you want to buy proper lab gear with controllable output for > vastly more money, the XG3 seems like the best thing out there. I've > only used mine a little bit, but I'm very happy with it. > > 73 de n1dam Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Clay Autery-2
Yes!
Have a great day! Bill ________________________________ From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Clay Autery <[hidden email]> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 7:41:02 PM To: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] XG3 Signal Generator Best money I have spent on instrumentation.... I have used it for tons of stuff. And it REALLY makes calibrating the K3s easier and IMO more accurate. ______________________ Clay Autery, KY5G (318) 518-1389 On 03/24/20 14:17, Bill Smith via Elecraft wrote: > Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv. > Anyone else done this? > 73,Bill KO4NR > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: XG3 Signal Generator
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
We have them new in the box at www.elecraft.com :-)
73, Eric elecraft.com _..._ > On Mar 24, 2020, at 12:18 PM, Bill Smith via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv. > Anyone else done this? > 73,Bill KO4NR > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Wish I could afford to buy 4 more to fill out the CW generator setup I
built 2 years ago.... Such useful tool. ______________________ Clay Autery, KY5G (318) 518-1389 On 03/24/20 20:21, Eric Swartz wrote: > We have them new in the box at www.elecraft.com :-) > > 73, > Eric > elecraft.com > _..._ > > > >> On Mar 24, 2020, at 12:18 PM, Bill Smith via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv. >> Anyone else done this? >> 73,Bill KO4NR >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to [hidden email] > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
I absolutely LOVE my XG-3!!! Ed N4XY Sent from myMail for iOS Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 9:29 PM -0400 from [hidden email] <[hidden email]>: >Wish I could afford to buy 4 more to fill out the CW generator setup I >built 2 years ago.... >Such useful tool. > >______________________ >Clay Autery, KY5G >(318) 518-1389 > >On 03/24/20 20:21, Eric Swartz wrote: >> We have them new in the box at www.elecraft.com :-) >> >> 73, >> Eric >> elecraft.com >> _..._ >> >> >> >>> On Mar 24, 2020, at 12:18 PM, Bill Smith via Elecraft < [hidden email] > wrote: >>> >>> Looking at buying the XG3 signal generator to calibrate S meters. Particularly thought it would be very useful to calibrate the S meter in the HDSDR SDR software I use now. I read the S meter calibration instructions in the manual and was happy to see how simple it is. If I had tried to use my old Tektronix signal generator I would of had to buy an RF Power meter to measure the amplitude and a Step Attenuator to adjust for -73db/50uv. >>> Anyone else done this? >>> 73,Bill KO4NR >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>> Message delivered to [hidden email] >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to [hidden email] >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:[hidden email] > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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