MOTM

I have been wanting to add a frequency counter to my collection of frightfully antiquated 
test equipment that I have hooked up to my MOTM. I currently use the counter in my little 
fluke meter to calibrate VCOs and such, but it only has a 4 digit resolution. Anybody have 
a suggestion?

I'm hoping for something that can measure DC, for LFO timing and such, as well. Is that a 
timer rather than a counter? Rackmount would be convenient, and ... I have a soft spot for 
nixie tubes.

So I've had my eye on a HP 5326A counter. But maybe somebody can recommend 
something more appropriate. Obviously, accuracy in the audio range is most important. I 
don't need to measure the delay in a foot of coax to the pico second..

Thanks for any tips.

Max

For multimeters with accurate audio frequency measurements I recommend
Extech.  Check out their web site.  The MM560 is very nice, 5-6 digits, but
runs in the $230 range.  This won't work for LFO ranges, though.  They have
less expensive models with fair accuracy, better than other meters in the
same price range.

I have an HP 5314A Universal Counter as well.  Using this for audio
frequencies was frustrating as it uses the old transition counting scheme.
Measurements to 0.1 Hz accuracy took 10 seconds each.  This was too slow for
adjusting VCO frequencies.  It has a period measurement mode that might work
with LFOs though I don't recall ever trying that.

John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rreprobate [mailto:lord@...]
> Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 11:01 AM
> To: motm@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [motm] Frequency counter
> 
> I have been wanting to add a frequency counter to my collection of
> frightfully antiquated
> test equipment that I have hooked up to my MOTM. I currently use the
> counter in my little
> fluke meter to calibrate VCOs and such, but it only has a 4 digit
> resolution. Anybody have
> a suggestion?
> 
> I'm hoping for something that can measure DC, for LFO timing and such, as
> well. Is that a
> timer rather than a counter? Rackmount would be convenient, and ... I have
> a soft spot for
> nixie tubes.
> 
> So I've had my eye on a HP 5326A counter. But maybe somebody can recommend
> something more appropriate. Obviously, accuracy in the audio range is most
> important. I
> don't need to measure the delay in a foot of coax to the pico second..
> 
> Thanks for any tips.
> 
> Max
>

You need a counter with a 'reciprocal time base'. Instead of gating/counting
pulses, it measures the *period* of the waveform and *calculates* the frequency.
In typical MOTM overkill fashion, I use a Philips/Fluke model PM6666 counter
which can measure down to 0.001Hz :) and at 0.1Hz resolution make 1,000
measurements/sec :))

This is a 10yr old model, I paid about $900 new but eBay has them every now and
then for like $350.

Paul S.

My Extech MM560 measures to .0001 Hz and +/- .008% + 4 digits accuracy,
which isn't bad.  Lowest measurement range is 5 Hz though.

John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site
http://www.wavemakers-synth.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Schreiber [mailto:synth1@...]
> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 12:49 AM
> To: 'rreprobate'; motm@yahoogroups.com; John Loffink
> Subject: Re: [motm] Frequency counter
> 
> You need a counter with a 'reciprocal time base'. Instead of
> gating/counting
> pulses, it measures the *period* of the waveform and *calculates* the
> frequency.
> In typical MOTM overkill fashion, I use a Philips/Fluke model PM6666
> counter
> which can measure down to 0.001Hz :) and at 0.1Hz resolution make 1,000
> measurements/sec :))
> 
> This is a 10yr old model, I paid about $900 new but eBay has them every
> now and
> then for like $350.
> 
> Paul S.

Thanks for all the recommendations.

That sounds like overkill all right. If the runty anachronism that I picked
up for a tenth of that doesn't do the trick, I'll look into one of these.

Cheers

Max

On 4/24/04 1:49 AM, "Paul Schreiber" <synth1@...> wrote:
> You need a counter with a 'reciprocal time base'. Instead of gating/counting
> pulses, it measures the *period* of the waveform and *calculates* the
> frequency.
> In typical MOTM overkill fashion, I use a Philips/Fluke model PM6666 counter
> which can measure down to 0.001Hz :) and at 0.1Hz resolution make 1,000
> measurements/sec :))
> 
> This is a 10yr old model, I paid about $900 new but eBay has them every now
> and
> then for like $350.
> 
> Paul S.