Frequency counter

[Geo]

Hi.
I am interesting to buy another Lab frequency counter.
I have the dilema, what to buy???. A cheap counter made in China or a used "but a little expensive" Racal Dana??

Regards

[WM6]

This eBay thing, can be very practical for our needs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50M-2-6G-10H...item337cb21a20

You can use it as field strength meter at the same time (measure field strength and frequency of signal at the same time).

If you replace antenna with meter cable (need to replace BNC connector on cable to proper UHF connector first). I have such one and use it as TX field strength meter on selected frequency.

I any case take some of hand-held version. I am very satisfied with PFM1300 from Thurbly Thandar Instruments (UK).
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...k6fagILwuMLu3g

[Geo]

Originally Posted by WM6

This eBay thing, can be very practical for our needs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50M-2-6G-10H...item337cb21a20

You can use it as field strength meter at the same time (measure field strength and frequency of signal at the same time).

If you replace antenna with meter cable (need to replace BNC connector on cable to proper UHF connector first). I have such one and use it as TX field strength meter on selected frequency.

I any case take some of hand-held version. I am very satisfied with PFM1300 from Thurbly Thandar Instruments (UK).
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...k6fagILwuMLu3g

Hi.
i have one like this and i have replaced the antenna with cable, but i want a Lab counter. I have 3 counters (one mobile and 2lab) but i need a lab one to read until 2.4 Ghz or more. The cheap mobile counters don't give good results if the waveform is not very good or perfect. My homemade counter is very good but reads only to 250 Mhz with 4 digits so i need to play with the base time. So i need one counter with 8 or more digits and upper frequency 2.4 or more Ghz and to have good input stage so to read all waveforms. I find Racal at good price but they are 15... 20 years old. From the other way i am not sure for the new and cheap china counters. Who is yoyr opinion????

[WM6]

Originally Posted by Geo

Hi.
i have one like this and i have replaced the antenna with cable, but i want a Lab counter. I have 3 counters (one mobile and 2lab) but i need a lab one to read until 2.4 Ghz or more. The cheap mobile counters don't give good results if the waveform is not very good or perfect. My homemade counter is very good but reads only to 250 Mhz with 4 digits so i need to play with the base time. So i need one counter with 8 or more digits and upper frequency 2.4 or more Ghz and to have good input stage so to read all waveforms. I find Racal at good price but they are 15... 20 years old. From the other way i am not sure for the new and cheap china counters. Who is yoyr opinion????

Usually China instruments are from inside copy of reputable western instruments. Quality depend on price in China too. You cannot expect much from ten dollars instruments, but if you go over say 150 dollars, quality satisfied most of our needs. I have Rigol digital scope and Rigol function and arbitrary waveform generator (include frequency counter too) and I cannot complain over quality and usability, in contrary, both are great instruments. 20 years old instruments mostly needs calibration every 6 months or so, newer one usually have digital auto-calibration solution. 80% of old instruments are heavy used and this way crap or electronically, or mechanically, or both. Take new, if you can, but not really ten dollars item.

[Geo]

Hi WM6.
What you say about it????

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HC-F2700L-...item4aaacbbdd7

Regards

[WM6]

Originally Posted by Geo

Hi WM6.
What you say about it????

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HC-F2700L-...item4aaacbbdd7

Regards

I think it suit your needs, but poor item description and seller do not offer product warranty. At least you need to ask him for warranty before biding.

If you are interesting in very low frequency measurement, this can be better choice (and seller offer 2 years warranty, conformity with TÜV ISO9001:2000, and newest technology - compare power consumption par example):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VC3165-Pre...item27cd0c280a

Claim of 2.7GHz (upper 13cm band) reasonable measurement without special additional equipment is practical nonsense.

[Geo]

Hi WM6.

I've seen it and is also in the list of what interests me.
So maybe a cheap Chinese counter is better solution than an old and used Racal Dana ....

Regards