Wonderful stack of many signal generators, John WDCX. Didn't realize there've been so many models with their various features.
I went downstairs to scribble the make and model of my signal generator, and it's a Layfayette TE-22, one that didn't make the pile.
The TE-22 has 3 tubes and an unbalanced output, but I added a high quality Triad transformer to give it a 600-ohm balanced output.
It works fine, and I use it when I need a tone sent down a wire.
Signal generators make a great low power transmitter.
Some 30 years ago when I was teaching at National Institute of Technology a local radio station donated their surplus GE FM transmitter. A 250 watt exciter the size of a large refrigerator.
It provided a great hands on learning experience for our students. We refurbished it and ran it into a dummy load. Then we thought "Hey, lets put up an educational FM station." The school said "get the license and we'll fund the project." We said "we need the money to get the license." The infamous "Catch-22".
So we went ahead and built a studio complete with two turntables, a mixer, mics, etc. When we couldn't get the school to fund us we used an Eico Signal Generator and got on the AM band.
We had T-shirts made with the logo "WCFO - The Station That Rocks 3 Blocks". The students loved it and we rocked 3 blocks. And, it was still a great learning experience for the students.
MRAM that is a great "pull it from the hat" magic story!
Youse guys have me thinking that my signal generator cranks up way above the audio spectrum, so I could put it on long wave by later tonight!
I'm sorry, I don't have time to be here. I have to go do something.
My first low power FM transmitter was a signal generator.
My Lafayette RF signal generator could be modulated with an external source. I used it to tinker with broadcasting on occasion.
Then I got the idea to feed video into the external "audio" input.
I connected the video output from a VCR player to the "audio" input.
Son-of-a-gun! I'm on channel 2! The picture was pretty "soft" since the audio input couldn't pass the higher frequencies of the video but, you could sort of make out the image.
My first real signal generator was the HP model 201C audio generator. This unit came to me when I found it smouldering on the lawn at the medical center. There had been a fire in one of the labs and the fire dept. people had thrown this and other equipment out of the burning building. I asked if I could have it and received permission. It was singed and the little plastic dial pointer was melted but inside it looked OK. A new power cord was installed and when powered on it worked just fine. I cleaned the case and painted it green and painted the face plate off white and carefully stenciled in the lettering with a Rapidograph using black and red paint. A piece of Plexiglas was fashioned as the dial pointer and it looks pretty good. I still have this and it works to this day.
My lab has been updated with a Sigilent 25 MHz generator which can do AM, FM, PM, and other mod modes. It is capable of producing 10 Vpp into a 50 ohm load so it could be used as an AM transmitter though I haven't tried this.
Neil
I haven't seen one of those in years. 🙂