If you want it to work well and stable you have to remove the RF connector it comes with and put an SMA soldered to the circuit and use caxial cable, there is a big difference.
Hi Tony, it's been a long time now. With my module, the polarity of the input connector was reversed. Red was the cold signal input and black was the hot signal input. This also had similar effects for me.
Is there any specification about the input level needed? I don't think that the way you connected it (loose wires) is the best way? Also, I was very surprised that the resolution increased when you went from 60 to 61MHz, normally when a prescaler is switched in the resolution should decrease, no idea what's going on there. I can do +13dBm up to 4GHz so if you want a second opinion I could pick it up and do some testing :)
In the description section the link to the documentation, 60Mhz switchover is by design, loose wires is what is comes with, input level according to the documentation on the high-channel: not specified.
The last page of the documentation shows a measured sensitivity graph where @ 450MHz it already needs 0dBm, and the schematic where it shows that the L and H input are in parallel and that there are 2 1N4148 diodes as protection which will have a capacity that shorts the H input at higher frequencies. If you want to experiment separate the 2 inputs and replace the protection diodes with lower capacity ones.
I'm quite like these modules, they are very cheap for one thing, I prefer the red ones which I've fitted into a few analogue hi fi tuners as they have the facility for If offset, as I'm sure you know
Hello, Casing is one hard thing to doing found one case and drill cut the windows for the display is problematic if I make noise (I live in a very small flat for elderly people on my place I,m the Yung one 75) with a Prescaler can I use the generator with GPSO and I get precise frequency reading and signal, the generator got a lot of zero for a good resolution for the frequency counter? please give me some idea. Thank you my friend this is my call sign G7OYO
Hello Frank, i undestand... maybe this prescaler can help? www.elektormagazine.com/magazine/elektor-198810/47458 or Thisone.... www.changpuak.ch/electronics/prescaler_12GHz.php i hope this will give you some ideas. Tony
(removed by RUclips because of external links, this i captured from my notification email) Todd Carney Good review, and good to know about it's sensitivity issue. I have an older model and it too is quite accurate. Regarding the input level, there are a number of cheap broadband LNAs that can be used to solve this problem, and maybe installed in the same enclosure as the counter itself. Here's a link to one: go.tonyalbus.com/LNA4G. It could be switched in as needed. In fact, there are also cheap digital attenuator boards that could be added to greater flexibility. go.tonyalbus.com/ATTRF_BG (I have two connected in series for a maximum of 62dB attenuation). All three items for less than $30(US) and entirely adequate for serious hobbyists or even shoestring professional use.
Perhaps it is due to the input cable that the frequency counter is not fed with 50 ohms. Or a high input level of around 0dbm is required from 300MHz. A real frequency counter is much better, even if it's 30 years old.
Hello Marco, it comes with those cables and yes its not sensitive, at first i thought it was crap, but it seems very wanted, not as counter but as frequency reading in home-brew ham stuff.. high level input or TTL. then it does make sense..
Hello Tony, I could already imagine that it would react like that. You would have to add a preamp for the frequency meter. I have a Russian frequency counter (Tsch3-34) that goes up to 4.5GHz, but weighs 20kg. it has a good input stage that still works at 2GHz around -20dBm.
Thats great! yes a counter with a proper input stage will always win... that's also where the price comes in... and the TCXO ofcource... You have a nice counter!
If you want it to work well and stable you have to remove the RF connector it comes with and put an SMA soldered to the circuit and use caxial cable, there is a big difference.
Yes that is a great idea, thank you!
Hi Tony, it's been a long time now. With my module, the polarity of the input connector was reversed. Red was the cold signal input and black was the hot signal input. This also had similar effects for me.
Yes quality control can be better but still a great product for its price.
I appreciate your wonderful review.
I would like to challenge the digitization of analog transistor radios of the 70s.
Thank you... some have videos of how they connect this counter to the VFO i think, i have no experiance with this.
Can you use this to test
Most use this to have a readout of a transmitter/receiver.
thanks man got one ordered now :)
Hope you enjoy it!
Anyone got the menu settings for one of these. I can't get mine to work
The manual is in the video description
Is there any specification about the input level needed? I don't think that the way you connected it (loose wires) is the best way? Also, I was very surprised that the resolution increased when you went from 60 to 61MHz, normally when a prescaler is switched in the resolution should decrease, no idea what's going on there. I can do +13dBm up to 4GHz so if you want a second opinion I could pick it up and do some testing :)
In the description section the link to the documentation, 60Mhz switchover is by design, loose wires is what is comes with, input level according to the documentation on the high-channel: not specified.
The last page of the documentation shows a measured sensitivity graph where @ 450MHz it already needs 0dBm, and the schematic where it shows that the L and H input are in parallel and that there are 2 1N4148 diodes as protection which will have a capacity that shorts the H input at higher frequencies. If you want to experiment separate the 2 inputs and replace the protection diodes with lower capacity ones.
I'm quite like these modules, they are very cheap for one thing, I prefer the red ones which I've fitted into a few analogue hi fi tuners as they have the facility for If offset, as I'm sure you know
Yes most people don't use it as a counter but as a frequency display.... smart if you think of it, and nicely priced :-)
Hello, Casing is one hard thing to doing found one case and drill cut the windows for the display is problematic if I make noise (I live in a very small flat for elderly people on my place I,m the Yung one 75) with a Prescaler can I use the generator with GPSO and I get precise frequency reading and signal, the generator got a lot of zero for a good resolution for the frequency counter? please give me some idea.
Thank you my friend this is my call sign G7OYO
Hello Frank, i undestand... maybe this prescaler can help? www.elektormagazine.com/magazine/elektor-198810/47458
or Thisone.... www.changpuak.ch/electronics/prescaler_12GHz.php i hope this will give you some ideas. Tony
Or this one: www.radiolocman.com/shem/schematics.html?di=532895
@@TonyAlbus Thank you
(removed by RUclips because of external links, this i captured from my notification email)
Todd Carney
Good review, and good to know about it's sensitivity issue. I have an older model and it too is quite accurate. Regarding the input level, there are a number of cheap broadband LNAs that can be used to solve this problem, and maybe installed in the same enclosure as the counter itself. Here's a link to one: go.tonyalbus.com/LNA4G. It could be switched in as needed. In fact, there are also cheap digital attenuator boards that could be added to greater flexibility. go.tonyalbus.com/ATTRF_BG (I have two connected in series for a maximum of 62dB attenuation). All three items for less than $30(US) and entirely adequate for serious hobbyists or even shoestring professional use.
Thanks Todd, yes could be something. Also if you use this as a frequenty display for DIY and use 5Volt levels it is a perfect too.
Perhaps it is due to the input cable that the frequency counter is not fed with 50 ohms. Or a high input level of around 0dbm is required from 300MHz. A real frequency counter is much better, even if it's 30 years old.
Hello Marco, it comes with those cables and yes its not sensitive, at first i thought it was crap, but it seems very wanted, not as counter but as frequency reading in home-brew ham stuff.. high level input or TTL. then it does make sense..
Hello Tony, I could already imagine that it would react like that. You would have to add a preamp for the frequency meter. I have a Russian frequency counter (Tsch3-34) that goes up to 4.5GHz, but weighs 20kg. it has a good input stage that still works at 2GHz around -20dBm.
Thats great! yes a counter with a proper input stage will always win... that's also where the price comes in... and the TCXO ofcource... You have a nice counter!
After all, cheap things are good... but that's not your fault!!! You have to speak louder no one can hear!
Yes these could be good, but for freq-readout. about the sound, this video is 2 years old, the new once have improved.