"Sverre Holm" wrote in message
...
My wavetek sig gen covers 100KHz to 512 MHz and puts out about 10mW. I
need a
simple circuit to cover HF which will boost this up to 500mW. I would
like to
try out the signal generator as a low power CW transmitter.

I did something similar when I first was licenced in 2001, but I would not
recommend it now.

I used my Leader LSG-216 signal generator as a VFO followed by a 1 Watt
amplifier that I put together myself. It worked and I had several QSO's
with
it, but after several RST xx8 reports I found that the signal generator
had
hum modulation and some jitter. I have later learnt that this is almost
inherent in a synthesizer which covers a large frequency range. It has
very
large VCO gain: MHz/Volts - change in frequency per change in voltage in
order to cover the large frequency range. But this also makes it very
sensitive to noise in the control voltage.

As a signal generator, i.e. a tool for aligning circuits and so on, this
is
not a problem.


Sverre LA3ZA
www.qsl.net/la3za



One must wonder about another "possible" problem as well. If even a fraction
of transmitted RF were to get back into the sig gen, it may upset the
balance as well causing any sort of problems. Much like when RF gets back
into a Power Supply situated close by - creates hum and so on - on the
signal. Some Sig Gens may not have enough shielding to protect from this.
Their shielding may very well prevent signals from leaking OUT when testing
from it's own source, but not designed to fight off Transmitted RF getting
back into it. I'm not saying those things WILL happen, but certainly
possible. Otherwise, the idea is interesting and I'm sure many others
unmentioned have thought of or have actually tried it. I being one.

On another note along these lines, though I didn't see it or hear it, I
heard a ham on 2 meters once who claimed to take a Bearcat scanner - a 250
model I believe.. and used it in much the same manner... I'd love to have
seen and heard it up close. G.W.