My Homebrew Function Generator

[Yorkie]

I see there are a few MAX038s on e-Bay but sit down before you look at the prices!

- Joe

This one's not bad for a tenner:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAX038CPP-High-Frequency-Waveform-Generator-MAX038-/180860239105?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item2a1c1c3d01

I suspect that the far more expensive ones with other suffixes (EPP)are more accurate, but really, high accuracy isn't that important and can be checked on a frequency counter anyway if need be. Mostly, all you need it for is to check if say an IC is dividing by ten for example - put 10 MHz in, expect to get 1 MHz out etc. Also, for checking amplifiers for distortion or frequency response - poke a clean sine wave in - what comes out - clean or distorted? Who cares if it's to within a KHz one way or the other. For anyone who does, they can pay £88.00 for a higher spec MAX038EPP, just as they'll pay a fiver each for 'mustard' caps because they 'sound better' (Not). Its not for me to lecture others on how to squander their hard earned cash, but I've always been a tight wad, and I dare say I'm among friends in that regard!