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3-GHz frequency meter

Low-cost handheld uses 'multimeter' format

Thurlby-Thandar's PFM3000 hand-held frequency meter (counter) has a range spanning 3 Hz to above 3 GHz. It uses the ‘reciprocal counting’ measurement technique to achieve high measurement resolution at all frequencies, of up to 8 digits of resolution per second of measurement time, and can resolve low frequencies to 0.001mHz (0.000001Hz). A low-range, high-impedance input covers from under 3 Hz to over 125 MHz , and a 50-Ω input covers from under 80 MHz to over 3000 MHz. Sensitivity is typically better than 15 mV across most of the frequency range, falling to 25 mV at 2.5 GHz and 50 mV at 3 GHz. Period measurement is provided for signals in the range from 8 nsec to 330 msec. A selectable low-pass filter reduces noise on lower frequency signals. The PFM3000 measures 81 x 173 x 30mm, with an lcd display of 11.5mm-high characters. It costs approximately €150.