Hi:
So few seem to have this.
I actually budgeted to buy me an Agilent 33522A for 3 grand a year ago, along with a DSO3000X series scope. I balked at the generator since the ones I have at work have serious bugs. They have fixed them almost, but not perfectly. I know they will fix them fully if I send in new complain-o-grams, but I haven't had time to do that yet.
Anyway, for $3k of my own money, I don't want it to have bugs. That has motivated me to just wait and/or scan the lower cost generator market.
But there are a few features of the Agilent that I really like:
a. 2 channels b. PWM modulation -- why do so few have this? c. Ability to modulate a PWM with noise. This is so cool, because it let me set up a scheme to simulate shot to shot variations in laser performance, then develop the data analysis on my LeCroy scope to plot in real time the relative standard deviation of pulse energy. d. Ability to externally modulate the PWM. Again, very cool. e. Settable noise bandwidth! Only the Agilent does this, from what I've seen.
So now I'm having a look at the TTI model TG2511 25MHz Function, Arbitrary & Pulse Generator:
Which is at least equipped with PWM modulation including external. Unfortunately, their pulse capabilities don't offer 1ns resolution, which is why I haven't found a suitable TTI to buy at work where I need that.
I don't really want to spend this much though.
This Rigol DG1022 offers two channels for much less money, but no PWM:
What I really want to do right now is have two synchronized anti-phase PWM channels, that I can adjust duty cycle to drive a half-bridge. Not easy to do this for under $3000 it seems.
Except for Saelig had this Siglent SDG1005 5MHz Waveform Generator on it's site the other day, and now it disappeared. Seems to offer 2 channels and PWM. But the jitter spec on the square wave is terrifying:
It's getting hard to keep track of all the new Chinese instrument makers. I have ignored them until recently, figuring they just weren't worth the risk. But when you're talking a factor of 10 cheaper, you might as well buy one just for a spare.
Continuing to search for the perfect and cheap signal generator...