Jaycar QT2202 2.7 GHz Frequency Counter - any good?

[VK4GHZ]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has a Jaycar QT2202 2.7 GHz frequency counter?
They are also available from Altronics, cat # Q1536.



Do they have an external 10 MHz reference input?
Indeed, is the internal reference 10 MHz, in the case there is no provision for external reference "out of the box"?
(I haven't seen one "in the flesh", but I suspect there isn't)
I would like the ability (as standard, or by adding a BNC) to run this off my Trimble Thunderbolt master 10 MHz station reference.

Generally, what are they like?

Any comments, both good or bad appreciated.

I have a Digitech QM1324 multimeter from Jaycar, and although feature rich, the build quality is extremely poor, and I don't want a DFM falling apart as well.

If the Jaycar/Altronics branded unit is crap, what other counters good to above 2.4 GHz might be considered?
Price is a factor, so no dreaming please, I can do that myself!

[VK5TX]

What are the ones one eBay for $90 like? They look the same.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TFC-2700L-HI ... 335a7397c2

They goto 2.7ghz as well.

Ben

VK5TX

[VK4GHZ]

What are the ones one eBay for $90 like? They look the same.

Not exactly the same, but similar.
Different push buttons and the B input socket is a BNC, not an SMA, and the dimensions and weight are different.
The item description does suggests a 20 MHz internal reference.

Interestingly, we assume the Jaycar and Altronics units are the same, they look identical, but looking more into this, some specification differ; the Altronics is 50mm deeper and twice the weight of the Jaycar (3.6kg vs 1.8kg).

Given my experience with previous eBay purchases, I would guess the eBay items are just older versions of the same thing.
eBay can be/is a dumping ground.
...unless one Chinese manufacturer is knocking off from another Chinese manufacturer!

[VK2TDN]

Hi VK4GHZ, name unknown

I bought 2 of those counters from Altronics ~ 3 years ago one for home and one for the company workshop.
They have been excellent freq counters and easily read to 2.8 GHz

They come out under several different brand names depending on where you buy them from
the Altronics one is a ATTEN F2700-C .... Altronics cat # Q1536

The socket on the back actually appears to be a reference output rather than an input as its connected to
several output pins of a 74HC04 HEX Inverter (pins 6,8,10)
the internal osc is a 13.0000 MHz TCXO. I have found that it's count lines up quite well with my 26GHz HP5343A counter

Personally I dont have a bad word against them both units have served me well

cheers
Dave
VK2TDN

[VK4GHZ]

The deeper you dig...

It seems Altronics can't even get some basic specifications right!
Hadn't thought to look on eBay ( ), but I found this unit on eBay, also the Atten F2700-C.
There is a BNC connector on the rear panel, and it isn't labeled.



It clearly states the internal reference is 13 MHz... so no good for directly using a GPSDO with a 10 MHz output.

[VK2TDN]

Interestingly, we assume the Jaycar and Altronics units are the same, they look identical, but looking more into this, some specification differ; the Altronics is 50mm deeper and twice the weight of the Jaycar (3.6kg vs 1.8kg).

My Altronics one is only 2 kg dunno why they say 3.6 kg in the catalog

cheers
Dave

[VK5ZD]

Hi

I have one and it's reasonably accurate. I think the 13MHz reference appears on the rear BNC connector.

73
Iain

[VK4GHZ]

Has anyone had a close look at it's 13 MHz reference oscillator?
Does it lend itself to being "pulled"?

You could possibly phase lock it against a GPSDO.
Divide the external 10 MHz reference by 20, producing 500 kHz.
Take a feed of the internal 13 MHz and divide by 27, producing 500 kHz, and feed that into an XOR gate, then DC filter.
The same way G3RUH phase-locks an Isotemp 134-10 OCXO.

[VK5ZD]

You could possibly phase lock it against a GPSDO

With some work, yes. But is it worth the effort for an 8 digit counter?

Iain