[Elecraft] Newbie needs frequency counter advice, please...

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I'll second WB8RCR on his points!

 Keep in mind that the accuracy of a counter is NOT equal to its =
resolution.
A 1 Hz "readout" does not mean it is accurate to 1 Hz or any where near
that.=20

A counter has an oscillator that controls its accuracy. It's often =
called
the "time base" or "time base oscillator". That oscillator turns on the
"counter" to count the number of RF cycles from the signal you are =
measuring
for a fixed period of time. The number of cycles of RF reported - the
"frequency" of the signal being measured -is only as accurate as that =
time
base oscillator.=20

You can set the oscillator to WWV, in most cases, using a receiver than =
can
tune in WWV and zero-beating the counter time base oscillator to it =
there.
Then the accuracy of the counter is limited to how close to zero beat =
you
got the time base oscillator AND how well the oscillator can stay on
frequency. It won't vary much, but accuracies much under 10 Hz will =
require
a very good, expensive oscillator. 100 Hz will be a much more reasonable
accuracy to expect from most counters - especially if they aren't
re-calibrated against WWV immediately before performing a measurement. =
Some
counters have very stable oscillators in them. And you pay for that! =
It's
probably the biggest part of the cost of a counter.=20

Because of the changes in the time base oscillator affect the =
measurement, a
1 Hz resolution normally is much more useful for seeing how fast a =
signal is
changing frequency than it is for seeing what frequency it is on. That =
is,
you can see if a transmitter is "drifting" more easily with a 1-Hz =
readout
and how much. You can assume that your counter time base oscillator does =
not
change frequency very quickly once it's warmed up.=20

Another limitation is that most counters cannot measure a low level =
signal.
If you try to connect the counter input directly to an oscillator, you =
may
"pull" the oscillator off frequency by the load.=20

Like WB8RCR said, probably the best "general purpose" test instrument =
for a
new Ham, after a good DMM, is a good general-coverage receiver. And, if =
you
are dreaming, the receiver in a K2 is very close to that <G>.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

You can build a frequency counter for under twenty bucks, and you can =
buy
one for not much more.  It's nice to have a 1 Hz resolution, but really =
not
necessary.  If you build one you are still faced with calibrating it in =
the
first place.

A more useful tool is a calibrated general purpose receiver....72/73 de
WB8RCR