I'm currently doing some contract work that includes finding and recommending a signal generator model for frequency measurement device verification. The verification scheme requires generating a square signal of sound frequency (20-200 Hz) with small tolerances (10-6 relative frequency error) that goes to two devices – the one being verified and a reference one. The devices then count the impulses over a slice of time. Other properties of the signal specified are slope length and voltage (maximum and mean-square).
The official paper that I'm referring to for the technique uses a two-channel generator for an example setup (but doesn't specify that it's necessary). I'm thus wondering if I can use a single-channel generator with a BNC splitter for the same effect.
That is:
Does a BNC splitter introduce any noticeable defects into the signal – e.g. reflections, distortions etc? The only thing I can readily think of is due to the conservation of energy, the voltage may be two times (or rather, sqrt(2) times) smaller – but that is trivially fixable.
Best Answer
While I don't expect any nonlinear effects that would change the (dominant) signal frequency, the reflections at each interface on your cable will introduce a set of delayed, attenuated copies to your signal.
Whether or not that is bad for your application can't be answered from the data you give.
As a general comment:
Doesn't sound like you are the perfect person to do that. Maybe look for a sub-contractor with experience in handling of delicate measurement references. That's not something you want to botch yourself.