FM Generator Reputation

[scootsity5]

Hello

I've been offered one of three FM generators at a very reasonable price. I intend to use it for AM and FM alignments. I don't have a distortion analyzer, so I probably won't be doing MPX alignments, so while I appreciate that one of the two units has stereo, and one does not, I likely will not be doing any stereo MPX work with them.

The units are Boonton 102A, Boonton 102E, and Leader 3216. Which of these units will be most reliable, and has the most intuitive layout? The Boontons seem like they'd be easier to do sweeps on than the Leader (based solely on panel layout). Which would you choose and why?

I don't know either brand well, so I want to make sure I get some input before diving in.

Thanks!

 

[PE9ZZ]

Get the one with the most features. You don't need a distortion analyzer to do MPX alignments.

 

[scootsity5]

Do you have any thoughts about differences in quality between Boonton and Leader? Do you have any experience with either?

 

[PE9ZZ]

They are both reputable companies but the Leader does MPX stereo. Go for that one as it's the most useful. I have two awesome Marconi's (2018, 2024) on my workbench that I use for level adjustments (front end) but a separate broadcast modulator for FM stereo.

 

[scootsity5]

DONE! Thanks for the advice.