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Frequncy counter

K

KT

Guest
I am going to be checking and/or aligning several STL transmitters and need a frequncy counter that can operate in the 950mHz range. I doubt I will have a call for anything over 1gHz. Any auggestions as to tupe and vendors? There seems to be quite a few out there.

Thanks for the input.
 
> I am going to be checking and/or aligning several STL
> transmitters and need a frequncy counter that can operate in
> the 950mHz range. I doubt I will have a call for anything
> over 1gHz. Any auggestions as to tupe and vendors? There
> seems to be quite a few out there.
>
> Thanks for the input.

If you are working on several STLs, get a service monitor (preferably with spectrum analyzer)...When setting deviation, freq, checking spectral purity, etc, you cannot go wrong with the right gear and a spectrum analyzer/svc monitor is the right one for this!

For just checking freq, you need to make sure the spec is within Part 74 specs...IIRC STLs are limited to less than 2 kHz off in freq...thus the freq counter MUST be MORE accurate than that...
I have an old counter that I have owned for DECADES and it reads dead on..but the xtal has aged and settled after soo many years...It does go to 1GHz..and on SLOW gating, reads right on with my Motorola R2600 svcmon...

But working on TFT and other STLs, I found you cannot trust the front panel meter for 100% mod...I had two TFTs that were identical models...one used 50% more level for the correct deviation (50khz = 100%) AFTER I set the front panel meter to match the deviation...(BOTH were off before I set them! I hate that in the TFTs as they have NO adjustment internal to preset level..making a change in STL xmtrs easier!)
 
> > I am going to be checking and/or aligning several STL
> > transmitters and need a frequncy counter that can operate
> in
> > the 950mHz range. I doubt I will have a call for anything
>
> > over 1gHz. Any auggestions as to tupe and vendors? There
>
> > seems to be quite a few out there.
> >
> > Thanks for the input.
>
> If you are working on several STLs, get a service monitor
> (preferably with spectrum analyzer)...When setting
> deviation, freq, checking spectral purity, etc, you cannot
> go wrong with the right gear and a spectrum analyzer/svc
> monitor is the right one for this!
>
> For just checking freq, you need to make sure the spec is
> within Part 74 specs...IIRC STLs are limited to less than 2
> kHz off in freq...thus the freq counter MUST be MORE
> accurate than that...
> I have an old counter that I have owned for DECADES and it
> reads dead on..but the xtal has aged and settled after soo
> many years...It does go to 1GHz..and on SLOW gating, reads
> right on with my Motorola R2600 svcmon...
>
> But working on TFT and other STLs, I found you cannot trust
> the front panel meter for 100% mod...I had two TFTs that
> were identical models...one used 50% more level for the
> correct deviation (50khz = 100%) AFTER I set the front panel
> meter to match the deviation...(BOTH were off before I set
> them! I hate that in the TFTs as they have NO adjustment
> internal to preset level..making a change in STL xmtrs
> easier!)
>

Ditto on the service monitor. I have an IFR. Best test equipment
investment I ever made. Use it all the time.
 
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