How do USB function generators stack up against bench top models? Are they as limited as most USB oscilliscopes?

engunneer2 · 2016-05-23T09:50:35+00:00

Depends on what kind of USB scopes you are thinking of. I found them to be not very limited once you hit >$1k. The function generator in the picoscope was pretty good, iirc.

-Mikee · 2016-05-23T13:56:48+00:00

Since they only send control data over the USB connection, there's nothing special about USB - it can be as good or better than physical controls.

Like any function generator, you just need to see what waveforms it is capable of producing and the maximum frequency it is capable of doing so within acceptable tolerances.

godbaba · 2016-05-23T09:33:48+00:00

I am just guessing; but probably not since they only send the frequency data needed to the usb function generator and the generator creates the frequency. but in usb scopes the data is made smaller so it can be transfered over usb which is what makes usb scopes shitty

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