Please recommend me a good cheap frequency counter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: smbaker
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 02:47:59 am
content: Needs to have a range to 100 MHz or so, particularly in the range of 1-35 MHz. Needs to have a jack for external frequency reference.Looking on eBay, I see some used HP 5316B and 5384A units. I'm assuming '84 is newer than the '16 due to the use of LCD display rather than LED, but I don't know that for sure. It does look like the 5316B has a decent feature set, including reciprocal counting for efficient counting below 10 MHz (which sounds good). I don't know what the age of these models are. I'd guess 80s era by the look of them.Is buying something this old going to be a reliability / calibration issue? I am working on getting a gpsdo that I could use as a frequency reference.Thanks,Scott

author: smbaker
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 03:08:56 am
content: Well it's too late now...Immediately after I posted, I came across a HP 5334B with 16 minutes left on the auction. It's mine now. It's bigger and fancier than I'd like, but hopefully will make me a decent counter.So now it can be a thread about whether I chose wisely or poorly...Scott

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 03:09:27 am
content: A properly working 5316B would be an excellent choice if you can find a nice one for a price you're willing to pay. They have also some interesting features that you just won't find anywhere else. About the only negative is that they are physically a bit long. It has internal/external reference selection and if you search the forums, a member has designed an OCXO reference board for it as well.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 03:16:41 am
content: Quote from: smbaker on March 16, 2022, 03:08:56 amI have one, it’s a nice unit. The buttons are known to get finicky with age, they can be fixed but let us know when you test it.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 03:20:03 am
content: Quote from: smbaker on March 16, 2022, 03:08:56 amIf that is the one that went for $47.83 on bids that has the OCXO timebase and 1.3GHz input options, I think you'll be quite OK as long as you have space for the monster. And that is why I only sell things BIN...

author: smbaker
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 03:31:34 am
content: Yep that was the one.I figured at that price, I couldn't go wrong. Unless I drop it on my foot, and the medical bills throw the deal into negative territory.Scott

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 04:04:28 am
content: Also consider the 9-digit HP 5334B. It's vintage late '80s. I just bought a broken one for less than $100.Thinking it just needed a blown RIFA cap replacement but also discovered a shorted tantalum cap on the +12V rail. This was a good deal considering that it has the 1.3GHz C-channel and high-stability oven oscillator options. Usually, the 100MHz-only 5334A or B go for at least $140 without the C-channel or oven oscillator. Then, I just saw this, this morning:https://www.ebay.ca/itm/154900895979?epid=1901530303&hash=item2410d018eb:g:59QAAOSwtI9iMNkUAs with all HP test equipment, they always have custom silicon that is unobtainium. If you're lucky they're just re-badged and can be cross-referenced to OEM parts. Before I consider any used test equipment I always make sure I can get the service manual with schematics. Early '90s and earlier HP stuff is good for that. Out of the six pieces I own, I've bought two broken units and subsequently fixed. And a third broke under my watch which I also fixed.If you're getting a GPSDO then the oven oscillator won't matter to you.EDIT: Woops! I'm slow to the party again.

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 04:47:13 am
content: Quote from: smbaker on March 16, 2022, 03:31:34 amHmmm..... The listing says 5334B but the picture says 5334A.Check the internal NiCd battery when you get it. It can leak all over the PCB.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/keep-an-eye-on-your-hp-5334a-battery/

author: HalFoster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 12:54:29 pm
content: And also the HP 5335A is a great choice. Both the 5334 and the 5335 have the 1.3GHz channel C option (030) available which is quite nice to have.Hal

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 02:24:05 pm
content: some racal dana counters can be bought cheapBUT they suffer from the ''hardened/stuck'' front panel switches problems, i have 2x 1992 stuck in a box getting dust

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 02:34:20 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on March 16, 2022, 02:24:05 pmThey can be fixed.Seehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzxHDi9lhMwiG4XKzlJKy5w/videos#1019 and #1021.

author: cncjerry
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 17, 2022, 12:15:38 am
content: I have several counters but grab my FA2 all the time. Uses an external reference, light, low power, etc. Also has statistics and USB virtual comm port output for codes like Timelab.

author: Jeff eelcr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2022, 02:49:10 am
content: Not that it matters now but nobody mentioned Fluke 1900A, 1911A, 1912A, 7260A, 7261A were all good meters.I still have 3 of those and they are on freq every time.Jeff

author: smbaker
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2022, 03:15:54 am
content: Jeff, those flukes look very nice, and would have been more inline with what I was looking for.Of course, now I have this monster HP on the way...Scott

author: Jeff eelcr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2022, 12:22:50 pm
content: My other two are HP 5350B's, I could not pass up the range 10hz to 20Ghz (and price at the time.)Jeff

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2022, 07:41:05 am
content: I recently picked up a 5334B with options 010 and 030, made in '92 calibrated in '02. Let it and Leo's GPSDO stew overnight and the 5334B is basically 3 LSD low for any measurement.Almost all the buttons are a little "sticky", so maybe I'll do the metal spring flip trick.Rifa replacements on order.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2022, 03:06:46 am
content: The HP 5316A or B is my first recommendation. They are excellent universal counters.

author: Raindog
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2022, 07:58:36 pm
content: You should be happy with that counter. I have one that has the high stability and C channel options installed. Can easily be calibrated to a GPSDO reference.