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Contactless frequency measurement

A project log for Antti Easy Hacks

Collection of really simple hacks of mine

antti-lukatsAntti Lukats 08/21/2015 at 16:430 Comments

This device is always on my desk. Well usually, today I did not find it, so I had to hack a new one quick. Of course I always have a small bag of GOLD (those SMA things) close to me, so there was no need to stand up even.

Ready made pickup coil.

If you ever have to measure a Chrystal oscillator, then this is really your only option. With SignalHound spectrum analyzer, this pickup is good from so 10MHz, just hold it close the place the wire or pad is, and adjust the analyzer to the expected frequency - when doing wide sweep you may not see the spot. The first use of this coil, I did see 10.000.010 Hz, so 10 Hz offset. Of course if the signal can be picked up somewhere after the oscillator then that would also yield valid measurements, but when doing quick test, this is really easy way to verify clocks.

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