Frequency counter

[Peter Percival]

I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2. Any
recommendations?

--
"He who will not reason is a bigot;
he who cannot is a fool;
he who dares not is a slave."
- Sir William Drummond

 

[Tom Gardner]

On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:

I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost thousands.
Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

 

[Peter Percival]

Tom Gardner wrote:

On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.



--
"He who will not reason is a bigot;
he who cannot is a fool;
he who dares not is a slave."
- Sir William Drummond

 

[Tom Gardner]

On 15/07/19 16:00, Peter Percival wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost thousands.
Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which?  What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals ranging
from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

Ah, so you are a timenut, who wants to measure a static
frequency as an end in itself. That's OK.

Now you have to decide the precision and accuracy you need.

 

[default]

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
<peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting. prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.

 

[Phil Hobbs]

On 7/15/19 11:43 AM, default wrote:

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting. prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.

You can get a 1-Hz to 500 MHz frequency counter module for $11 on eBay,
and there are lots of used bench models there for only a few dollars
more. Counters are pretty useful actually, for all sorts of RF work as
well as other stuff. 'tain't just time-and-frequency mavens.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

 

[default]

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:24:41 -0400, Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 7/15/19 11:43 AM, default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting. prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.


You can get a 1-Hz to 500 MHz frequency counter module for $11 on eBay,
and there are lots of used bench models there for only a few dollars
more. Counters are pretty useful actually, for all sorts of RF work as
well as other stuff. 'tain't just time-and-frequency mavens.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

In another post he calls himself a beginner. In that context, I think
a scope is more useful (I'm assuming he already has a multimeter)

 

[Peter Percival]

default wrote:

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:24:41 -0400, Phil Hobbs
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 7/15/19 11:43 AM, default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting. prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.


You can get a 1-Hz to 500 MHz frequency counter module for $11 on eBay,
and there are lots of used bench models there for only a few dollars
more. Counters are pretty useful actually, for all sorts of RF work as
well as other stuff. 'tain't just time-and-frequency mavens.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

In another post he calls himself a beginner. In that context, I think
a scope is more useful (I'm assuming he already has a multimeter)

I have two scopes (both Heathkit) but no multimeter!

--
"He who will not reason is a bigot;
he who cannot is a fool;
he who dares not is a slave."
- Sir William Drummond

 

[Peter Percival]

Peter Percival wrote:

default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:24:41 -0400, Phil Hobbs
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 7/15/19 11:43 AM, default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which?  What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting.  prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.


You can get a 1-Hz to 500 MHz frequency counter module for $11 on eBay,
and there are lots of used bench models there for only a few dollars
more.  Counters are pretty useful actually, for all sorts of RF work as
well as other stuff.  'tain't just time-and-frequency mavens.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

In another post he calls himself a beginner.  In that context, I think
a scope is more useful (I'm assuming he already has a multimeter)

I have two scopes (both Heathkit) but no multimeter!

Actually, that's not true. I do have a multimeter somewhere, I just
can't remember where.


--
"He who will not reason is a bigot;
he who cannot is a fool;
he who dares not is a slave."
- Sir William Drummond

 

[Phil Hobbs]

On 7/15/19 4:35 PM, default wrote:

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:24:41 -0400, Phil Hobbs
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 7/15/19 11:43 AM, default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting. prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.


You can get a 1-Hz to 500 MHz frequency counter module for $11 on eBay,
and there are lots of used bench models there for only a few dollars
more. Counters are pretty useful actually, for all sorts of RF work as
well as other stuff. 'tain't just time-and-frequency mavens.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

In another post he calls himself a beginner. In that context, I think
a scope is more useful (I'm assuming he already has a multimeter)

Since they're all only a few bucks, why bother choosing? Basic test
gear (and even older top-of-the-line stuff) is so cheap at the moment
that it's a false economy not to buy lots of it.

When I was a boy, one time I saved up three weeks' allowance to buy
(drum roll) a tuning coil for an AM radio. For the same money (adjusted
for inflation since 1971-ish), today I could buy a pretty decent
frequency counter as well as all the inductors I could possibly use.

It's raining soup. Grab a bowl!

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

 

[Helmut Wabnig]

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:33:40 +0100, Peter Percival
<peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2. Any
recommendations?

Only 9 digits, forget it quickly.


w.

 

[George Herold]

On Monday, July 15, 2019 at 7:21:36 PM UTC-4, Phil Hobbs wrote:

On 7/15/19 4:35 PM, default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 15:24:41 -0400, Phil Hobbs
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 7/15/19 11:43 AM, default wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

I'd advise waiting. prices on digital oscilloscopes with built in
frequency counters, etc., keep dropping and without knowing what you
need it for...

BTW O'scopes can tell you frequency too, just not to the least
significant digit, and unless you're servicing radio transmitters or
clocks you don't often need LSD accuracy.

I've got an old analog O'scope and it does all the frequency
measurement I need.


You can get a 1-Hz to 500 MHz frequency counter module for $11 on eBay,
and there are lots of used bench models there for only a few dollars
more. Counters are pretty useful actually, for all sorts of RF work as
well as other stuff. 'tain't just time-and-frequency mavens.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

In another post he calls himself a beginner. In that context, I think
a scope is more useful (I'm assuming he already has a multimeter)


Since they're all only a few bucks, why bother choosing? Basic test
gear (and even older top-of-the-line stuff) is so cheap at the moment
that it's a false economy not to buy lots of it.

When I was a boy, one time I saved up three weeks' allowance to buy
(drum roll) a tuning coil for an AM radio. For the same money (adjusted
for inflation since 1971-ish), today I could buy a pretty decent
frequency counter as well as all the inductors I could possibly use.

It's raining soup. Grab a bowl!

Grin, I've got a bunch of old frequency counters in the back. I'd ship them
out to anyone in the US for shipping costs*. I find that they sometimes
lie to you. (you can get all sorts of false counts from noise and such...
depending on where the threshold is set.) We were also using
one to count photon pulses. It did the average OK, but it got the
statistics wrong! There wasn't enough variation in the count shot to
shot.

These days I mostly just use my 'scope as a frequency counter...
good enough for most stuff.

George H.

*BK precision 1803D (200 MHz). Three in the boxes.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <6ZGdnRTVPOjkl7DAnZ2dnUU7-LHNnZ2d@supernews.com>,
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net says...

Since they're all only a few bucks, why bother choosing? Basic test
gear (and even older top-of-the-line stuff) is so cheap at the moment
that it's a false economy not to buy lots of it.

Yes, it is. I have a couple of communications monitors that go up to
999 MHz that will do about anything you can think of. Bought used, they
were less than $ 1000, when new were close to $ 50,000.

There is no excuse not to have some kind of multimeter now. Good
digital ones can be had for about $ 20. Even the 'free' Harbor freight
meter is not too bad. I have several around the house and in the truck.
I verified the accuracy with a Fluke meter and they are not very far
off. Closer than most analog meters can be read.

 

[Phil Allison]

Tom Gardner puked:

Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost thousands.
Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any recommendations?


Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

** A standard frequency counter is an indispensable piece of workshop gear.

By "standard" I mean one covering the range from 1Hz to a few hundred MHz or even 1GHz. If it will do period counting too, so much the better as it will then very accurately measure frequencies lower than 100kHz.

You can use one to calibrate other instruments like audio and RF generators or scopes. Nothing else substitutes for one.

Though I am mainly an audio tech, I use a 1GHz model to check the frequency and general operation of radio mic and RC transmitters.

My spare (40MHz) counter is permanently linked to my analogue audio generator, for fairly obvious reasons.


..... Phil

 

[Tom Gardner]

On 16/07/19 15:12, Phil Allison wrote:

Tom Gardner puked:


Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2. Any
recommendations?


Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out how to achieve
it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts but nowadays different
instruments are often better.



** A standard frequency counter is an indispensable piece of workshop gear.

By "standard" I mean one covering the range from 1Hz to a few hundred MHz or
even 1GHz. If it will do period counting too, so much the better as it will
then very accurately measure frequencies lower than 100kHz.

You would benefit from understanding how "reciprocal counters"
and "statistical counters" work, in particular their differences
from old-school frequency counters.

You can use one to calibrate other instruments like audio and RF generators
or scopes. Nothing else substitutes for one.

Modern (i.e last quarter century) signal sources use DDS and
VCO/synthesiser techniques. The frequency defined by a crystal
and hence is accurate by design, not measurement.

Though I am mainly an audio tech, I use a 1GHz model to check the frequency
and general operation of radio mic and RC transmitters.

A spectrum analyser would be of help to you, since it would
enable you to see far more than just an average frequency.
Think of modulation, intermodulation, spurs and harmonics.

My spare (40MHz) counter is permanently linked to my analogue audio
generator, for fairly obvious reasons.

If you want a "very accurate" measurement of an audio frequency,
you will need a reciprocal counter. That will give you, for
example, 7 digits resolution for every second of measurement.
Hence, after 1s you would know that a 10Hz source was actually
10.00002Hz.

 

[Tom Gardner]

My apologies to all.

I was careless and presumed I was replying to the OP, not
to the "famous" Phil Allison.


On 16/07/19 15:56, Tom Gardner wrote:

On 16/07/19 15:12, Phil Allison wrote:
Tom Gardner puked:


Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?


Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out how to achieve
it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts but nowadays different
instruments are often better.



** A standard frequency counter is an indispensable piece of workshop gear.

By "standard" I mean one covering the range from 1Hz to a few hundred MHz or
even 1GHz. If it will do period counting too, so much the better as it will
then very accurately measure frequencies lower than 100kHz.

You would benefit from understanding how "reciprocal counters"
and "statistical counters" work, in particular their differences
from old-school frequency counters.


You can use one to calibrate other instruments like audio and RF generators
or scopes. Nothing else substitutes for one.

Modern (i.e last quarter century) signal sources use DDS and
VCO/synthesiser techniques. The frequency defined by a crystal
and hence is accurate by design, not measurement.


Though I am mainly an audio tech, I use a 1GHz model to check the frequency
and general operation of radio mic and RC transmitters.

A spectrum analyser would be of help to you, since it would
enable you to see far more than just an average frequency.
Think of modulation, intermodulation, spurs and harmonics.


My spare (40MHz) counter is permanently linked to my analogue audio
generator, for fairly obvious reasons.

If you want a "very accurate" measurement of an audio frequency,
you will need a reciprocal counter. That will give you, for
example, 7 digits resolution for every second of measurement.
Hence, after 1s you would know that a 10Hz source was actually
10.00002Hz.

 

[John Larkin]

On Mon, 15 Jul 2019 16:00:06 +0100, Peter Percival
<peterxpercival@hotmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner wrote:
On 15/07/19 15:33, Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost
thousands. Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any
recommendations?

Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.

Which? What I want to do is measure frequencies of electrical signals
ranging from 1Hz (or less) to mega Hz.

Lots of oscilloscopes will measure frequency pretty well too.


--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

lunatic fringe electronics

 

[John Larkin]

On Tue, 16 Jul 2019 07:12:31 -0700 (PDT), Phil Allison
<pallison49@gmail.com> wrote:

Tom Gardner puked:


Peter Percival wrote:
I'd like to buy a frequency counter but I was afraid they'd cost thousands.
Apparently, "only" hundreds -
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6654919/?tpr=2.  Any recommendations?


Yes.

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out
how to achieve it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts
but nowadays different instruments are often better.



** A standard frequency counter is an indispensable piece of workshop gear.

By "standard" I mean one covering the range from 1Hz to a few hundred MHz or even 1GHz. If it will do period counting too, so much the better as it will then very accurately measure frequencies lower than 100kHz.

You can use one to calibrate other instruments like audio and RF generators or scopes. Nothing else substitutes for one.

Though I am mainly an audio tech, I use a 1GHz model to check the frequency and general operation of radio mic and RC transmitters.

My spare (40MHz) counter is permanently linked to my analogue audio generator, for fairly obvious reasons.


.... Phil

I have a B&K 10 MHz "analog" function generator that has a built-in
frequency counter, which is a nice combination. The counter can also
accept an external input, but I never use that. My Rigol scope is a
good frequency counter, and I can nab a serious Keysight from the engr
lab if I ever need one and feel like figuring it out again.




--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

lunatic fringe electronics

 

[Phil Allison]

Tom Gardner Asshole wrote:

My apologies to all.

** And you have plenty to apologise for - fuckhead.

I was careless and presumed I was replying to the OP, not
to the "famous" Phil Allison.

** Lot more famous than you are, and for the right reasons too.


....... Phil

 

[Phil Allison]

Tom Gardner Fuckwit Asshole Pig wrote:

Work out what you want to achieve, and only then work out how to achieve
it. Frequency counters are nice for timenuts but nowadays different
instruments are often better.



** A standard frequency counter is an indispensable piece of workshop gear.

By "standard" I mean one covering the range from 1Hz to a few hundred MHz or
even 1GHz. If it will do period counting too, so much the better as it will
then very accurately measure frequencies lower than 100kHz.

You would benefit from understanding how "reciprocal counters"
and "statistical counters" work, in particular their differences
from old-school frequency counters.

** OTOH you would benefit a lot by removing your fat head from your arse hole.

You can use one to calibrate other instruments like audio and RF generators
or scopes. Nothing else substitutes for one.

Modern (i.e last quarter century) signal sources use DDS and
VCO/synthesiser techniques. The frequency defined by a crystal
and hence is accurate by design, not measurement.

** Shame about the other ones, the vast majority of low cost bench generators are simple analogue oscillators that need calibration.

Though I am mainly an audio tech, I use a 1GHz model to check the frequency
and general operation of radio mic and RC transmitters.

A spectrum analyser would be of help to you, since it would
enable you to see far more than just an average frequency.

** Way more than needed for the job at hand and way beyond justifiable cost.

Think of modulation, intermodulation, spurs and harmonics.

** Simple means exist to check AM and FM modulation using the matching receivers or a radio scanner while spurious signals from a 20 to 50mW transmitter are insignificant to the point of being unheard off in practice.

Arguing from half baked theory is your only forte - right ?

My spare (40MHz) counter is permanently linked to my analogue audio
generator, for fairly obvious reasons.

If you want a "very accurate" measurement of an audio frequency,
you will need a reciprocal counter.

** The term "period counter" means the same thing.

Try reading someone's post carefully before embarking an a campaign of completely irrelevant criticism - fuckhead.

Cos you are about one tenth as smart as you imagine.


...... Phil