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Electronics Forum => Test Equipment => Topic started by: guitar_199 on February 13, 2019, 11:01:00 AM

Title: Using PLJ-8LED-H frequency counter?
Post by: guitar_199 on February 13, 2019, 11:01:00 AM
Has anyone eve bought one of those inexpensive frequency counters on Ebay, the PLJ-8LED-H and actually used it as a bench frequency counter?

(here is a link)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PLJ-8LED-H-RF-Signal-Frequency-Counter-Meter-Tester-Module-0-1-1000MHz-LED-HZ/283288431654?hash=item41f54e6c26:g:~zoAAOSwQH5cBV2N:rk:8:pf:0


By specs it should handle it but what I DON'T know is, does it need any kind of buffering/level changing on the front end to be sensitive enough to do things like check reference oscillator or VCO frequencies when diagnosing problems?

I would be interested to hear of anyone doing so.

I have one, and I ALSO have the perfect opportunity to use it... I just haven't done so yet.  In advance I was wondering what others may have found out about its suitability for this purpose.

I have a Cobra 21LTD that was my father-in-laws back in the day. It was given to me when he passed away.  I re-capped it....but was WAY WAY too dumb to check it first and see if it worked at all... so I don't know if it did or not. 

After the re-cap, the light comes on, but no RX or TX.  I put a scope on the PLL and was at least able to determine that it is NOT IN LOCK.  I see a MIGHTY LOW signal on the reference that appears to be about 10.24 MHz and the VCO looks like it is doing something.... I'd just like to know what their frequencies are.... so that is why I am asking about this.  Looking up all the info I can get on the TC9106BP PLL and actually have quite a bit.... just time to sit down and do it!

Thanks in advance