HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: Beaner on February 06, 2020, 1911 UTC
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OK, so I'm feeling the need to make a purchase. Which would be more benefiical to purchase first a frequency counter or a RF generator? I bought a rig that needs some work and while eventally I'll need both, finances say only one for the moment. I have a scope.
Thanks
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A cheap frequency counter can be had for less than $100. Look for an old B&K or similar on ebay. Most of the newer stuff is junk. A decent signal generator with any resemblance to calibration is going to run a few hundred used, new over $2K.
+-RH
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If you don't need nist tracking, used will do. Spend the money on a good counter with tcxo, then it doesn't matter as much on the siggen since you can always tell what freq its on.
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A counter can be cal'd to WWV fairly easily, you just need an hf receiver. Even a portable will do. The sig gen will be a bigger problem, as setting deviation and other parameters requires a spectrum analyzer.
+-RH
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Much appreciated! Now to go on the hunt for new toys.
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Get a VNA.
At $40 it's a steal.
Btw a VNA is a sig gen and a tracking Rx.
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Good frequency counters sometimes have a mode with 2 inputs where one input is counted and the count is gated by the other. This allows you to compare two signals regardless of the internal clock (or use a better oscillator, gpsdo, etc. on the second input. ) I use this feature a lot for comparing low frequency signals.