Matt, On the aquisition of test equipment, there is a tender balance between price and performance. And it revolves around how often the equipment will be used and just how accurate is necessary. Tradeoffs are often required. For instance, I have a very good frequency counter, and my signal generator, while quite stable, does not have a digital readout of frequency, so the frequency resolution of the generator alone is sometimes inadequate - I use my very stable and accurate counter to set the freqency of the signal generator, so I don't need a signal generator with digital readout, so I looked for one that would be stable.
You will have to review your own needs and justify the purchase of test gear within the range of your ham budget. Often, you can combine instrumentation to produce more accurate results. As you can likely determine from the above paragraph, a really good frequency counter is the highest on my list of priorities, as is an accurate DVM and a good 'scope - with the ones I have, I can measure frequency, voltage and phase of RF signals up to 100 MHz and frequency up to 512 MHz. I can use these three instruments (within the range limits of each) to utilize other not-so-accurate instruments (such as my signal generator) while achieving accurate results. Understand your needs, and for a one-shot measurement, ask around for folks who can do those measurements for you (an aquantence who works in an electronics lab???), or investigate electronic equipment rental places - it is usually better to rent than to buy if you are only going to use it once. So for your direct question, I would opt for the frequency counter rather than the signal generator - you can make a simple signal generator from a crystal oscillator and determine the exact frequency with your counter, and the signal generator level can be determined with an RF Probe if need be. More convenience in test equipment means more dollars, but the same results can be obtained by alternate means if one applies a bit of creative thinking about other known accurate instruments that may be available. Sometimes the use of such fundamentals as Ohms Law and similarly basic relationships can be used in conjunction with your array of available instruments to expand your capabilities at little extra cost - for example, a voltmeter becomes a current meter with a bit of Ohms Law application and a small value resistor. 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > > According to the transverter manual, I will need a 50mhz signal > generator or a frequency counter to successfully align the > transverter. > > I've done a lot searching for signal generators and have found that > those capable of 50mhz are very expensive, around $1500 dollars > minimum. > > I found a B&K frequency counter (Model 1856D) for around $430.00 that > will measure up to 3ghz. I suspect that B&K doesn't have the > tolerances of the big boys, hence their lower prices. B&K also has a > model that will measure up to 175mhz for about $100.00 less. The 175 > would be enough for the transverter, but in for a penny, in for a > pound comes to mind. Why spend $350.00 this month and then $430.00 > next month? > > Will the 1856D work for aligning the transverter? My question > revolves around which of the two instruments (signal generator or > freq. counter) will accomplish the task the best. > > Better yet, anybody know of any better alternatives? I keep running > into the chicken and egg problem. If I build it myself, I can't > calibrate it. If I buy the tools to calibrate it, then I don't need to > build it. > > They say a smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns > from the mistakes of others. Please help me be a wise man. > > All advice is most welcome! _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
