MP750510 Arb generator, Stored setup and Power on state

Sorry, I've not used this product before but I had a look around the internet for a solution. I assume you've looked though the user manual at page 63 http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/3028437.pdf  where there is info on setting the power-on options ?

My only suggestion if you cannot get it to work is a work around for now, could you use an external PC to control the arb generator using SCPI commands in the initial stages of powering up or do you need more accurate timing?

Apart from your issue, it looks like a great bit of equipment though

Hi Rod,

Unfortunately I can not place a computer that can do this, the Instrument is a generator of a reference signal used by other remote equipment, and if power breaks it must restore itself, generator is on a UPS backup battery, but in case it fails and restarts the reference signal will not exist, and someone needs to know how and what to setup, go through several menues and enable output. if external reference is missed the signal is there but not synchronized, which is a big NOGO.

it is not complicated to save the current setup and choose a user defined setup as power on state, however the setups ignore external reference and also defaults to not enable the output, regardless of active settings when the setup is stored.

I was going to suggest that you might be able to rig up a small baord (Arduino or similar) to programme the signal generator but if you are only needing a square wave you could knock up a simple signal generator for a lot less money.

Is the problem that you need the slighlty odd frequency of 9.999965 MHz - if so let us know and I'll see if I can work out a way of doing it  easily.

MK

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the reply, yes I need a traceable signal 10MHz -35Hz squarewave, this is a reference signal that will be distributed to several test setups in manufacturing.

This project is already a bit sketchy.

However I would like that in case of power cut or restart the reference signal generation restores itself when power comes back.

The test stations can detect if there is a reference signal or not but has no way of knowing if it is syncronized/locked to the 10MHz factory reference, the frequency long term stability/drift/age of the squarewave must be minimal and not in any case rely on the internal frequency of the signal generator.

I'm new to these forums and my hope is a firmware fix for the MP750510 that would startup with external reference setting and Out1 ON, but not sure if this is the right channel for the question.

Thanks!

You are right (of course) that a firmware tweak would be the ideal solution but I think your chances of getting it done in a reasonable time are minimal.

You should try to make contact directly with the product manager at Farnell for the instrument - the E14 staff people don't directly manage products but sometimes can help with finding the right place to ask.

cstanton may be able to help

If not then my solution would be to use a Cirrus CS2000CP chip. Currently these are hard to get hold of, RS, Digikey and Mouser have none - brokers claim to be able to get them.

You would need a custom board with a micro and some logic on it.

The 10MHz reference would need to be divided by 10, the CS2000 can multiply this by 9.999965. The CS2000 needs a low jitter clock, who's frequency should be carefuly chosen for low jitter in the PLL.

MK

Thank you Michael,

appreciate your answers, for now designing my own signal generator is not possible and I will need to look for other alternatives.

Hope to get in contact with the product manager at Farnell.