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Number II on your FHodbac:kC8rd 73 Review by Larry R. Antonuk WB9RRT Model3500 Startek rnrerneuonaunc. 398 NE 38th 8t. Ft.lauderdale Fl 33334 Telephone: (305) 561-2211 : (800) 638-8050 Price Class: $250 for the basic unit; $9-$39 tor the optional accessories. Frequency Counter Speed, accuracy, and ease in a shirt-pocket unit. In the old days, you could tell a lot about a ham radio operator just by looking at his workbench . A fast glance over a ham's loots and test equipment can quickly determine his level of expertise and commitment. What do you see? A cereal box DC voltmeter and a CB $WR bridge? (Hmmm. Not 100 serious.) A decent meter. an audio signal generator. and a few home-brew gadgets? (Getling closer.) Eight Of 10 big mysterious boxes, an csctucscope or two on a can, and a big RF frequency counter? (Aha! A real nerc-ccre.j A digital voltmeter and a shirt-pocket frequency counter . . . A shirt-pocket what? A shirt-pocket frequency counter. Those of us who grew up with BO-pound boat anchors sporting dancing Nix ie tubes and prescalers may find it hard to believe, but the Slartek International Model 3500 does indeed fil in a standard shirt pocket (as does the whole Startek line). Not only does the 3500 take up less space than your old buddy, but it's faster, easier to use, and more accurate. How do they do it? Micro Pac kag e-Big Features The answer, of course, is modern technology. The Model 3500 uses a combination of LSI and MMIC chip technology to produce a device that is extremely sensitive over a wide frequency range. Like most counters, Ihe unit has selectable ranges, in this case 10 Hz to 12 MHz and 10 MHz to 3.5 GHz. Unlike older models, the 3500 selects a high impedance mode for the low range, and a 50 ohm impedance for the high range. Th is eliminates the problem that often occurs when trying to measure the frequency ofa low-level oscillator in a radio. A standard counter will load down the circuit. killing the oscillations. Even worse, in some situations the counter will load down the circuit just enough to vary the actual frequency of the oscillator. This produces a respectable-looking but entirely incorrect reading. The high impedance mode fixes both of these problems. The 3500 and the entire Startek line all use eight-digit LED displays. The debate over LEOs versus Le Os will probably go on forever, but I prefer LEOs. The majority of radio service work is done in dimly lit areas-basements, attics, hilltop radio shacks-where the LED The Stanek Mode/3500 frequency coumer. outperforms the LCD hands down. In addition, in the few instances where the unit needsto be used outdoors, the display is easily shielded. The display resolution changes along with the GATE switch. Using the EXT gate position, you can resolve frequencies down to 0.1 Hz on the low range and 10Hz on the high range. One nice feature 01 the 3500 is the abilily to select three different gate times (see the table for gate times versus resolution). A DISPLAY HOLD feature locks the active readout for later reference or recording. Maximum input levels are stated to be + 10 dBw and + 15 dBm for the low and high ranges, respectively. These values figure out to 10 watts and 30 mW, respectively. This means that the 3500 has a high degree of overload protection, but it doesn't mean it's bulletproof. It will still die if you key your mobile rig directly into it. However, it's less likely to become " deaf" from people waving nanoneids next to its antenna. Sensit ivity Sensitivity figures for the 3500 are shown in the table. The review unit exceeded these values across the entire range of frequencies. This is impressive enough from a technical standpoint, but what it means in terms of actual use is even more exciting. The days of counter preamps are long gone. Not only are the Startek counters sensitive enough for any general troubleshOOting, they also work well for remotely monitoring transmissions. The 3500 was able 10 reliably count the frequency of a 2 meter,S watt handheld, using a rubber ducky antenna, at 150 feel. A 50 mW signal operating into a one-foot whip could be read at 20 feet. This characteristic makes the counter a very versatile tool. Public service monitoring, surveillance work, intermod and interference problems, transmitter hunting-several applications immediately become apparent. (If you've always wondered what the frequency was at the drive-in window of Bob's Taco Stand, this is the instrument for you.) Unlike most RF counters, this uni t works well down to 10 Hz. This makes il useful for a variety of audio functions as well-counting CTCSS (PL) tones, checking OTMF microphone frequencies, and verifying two-tone encoder tones. Features The Model 3500 comes with the basic supplies needed lor day-to-day use: a buill-in NiCd supply and a plug-in wall charger. (A telescoping antenna to fit the BNC input jack is available as an opuon.) Optional accessories include a carrying case, different probes for "in circuit" lesting. and a rubber duck style antenna. The NiCd pack will power the unit for four hours before recharging. The idea of servicing a service instrument is never foremost on one's mind when buying one, but the startex counter carries a oneyear parts and labor warranty. Due to its size, the unit will spend most of its lime in a relatively safe corner of a toolbox or coat pocket, but 30 73 Amateur RadiO Today . November, 1991
Range Display Resolution & Gale Times Time Base Clock Frequency Accuracy to Calibration Signal Input Sensitivity (Typical) Power Required Banery Operation Model 3500 Specifications Overall LoRange Hi Range Hi Range 10 Hz-3,5GHz 10 HZ-12 MHz 10 MHz-3.5GHz 8 red LEO digits. 0.28" (height) Auto decimal point placement Lo Range Gate Fast Lo Range Gate Slow E" Fest Slow E" 10.000000 MHz, TCXO 10 Hz 1.0 Hz 0.1 Hz 1.0 kHz 100 Hz 10 Hz 22.0V max. 1.2Vmax. 0.1 sec. 1.0 sec. 10.0 sec. 0.25 sec. 2.5 sec. 25.0 sec. Hi Range 3.906250 MHz, TCXO ± O.OOOl % + 1 CQunI LSO, 25-35 DEGfC typo(± 1 ppm overall) Xtal aging 1 PPM/year typo Lo Range Hi Range it's rugged enough to take a fair amount of dropping. (The author's Model 1500 spent most of the summer up towers and on rooftops aligning the 230 MHz IF of 23 GHz microwave lines, and took qui te a few tumbles in the process- a real testimony to the physical quality of these counters.) The Startek 3500 is inexpensive enough and portable enough to be used for a variety of 1 megohm impedance 50 ohm impedance LoRange 1-10 mV RMS Hi Range 10 MHz- 2 GHz 1-10mVRMS 2-2,4GHz 10-20mVRMS 2.4-3GHz 15-50mVRMS 9-12 VDC (9 VDC @300-5OO mA adaptor), auto polarity 3-5 hrs. usage, 16 hrs. full charge 600 mAthr. panasontc NiCd batteries purposes. Frequency netting and calibration, general audio and AF troubleshooting, providing accurate readouts for older AF signal generators-whatever the use, the 3500 will give a vast amount of performance at a very modest price. The next time you're at a hamfest and someone wonders what frequency that otd commercial rig is on, just reach into your shirt pockel. lII First Call Communications,lnc. We are one of the largest authorized distributors for US TOWER in the United States. We'll answer your questions, we'll hold your hand every step of the way and translate your summer's dream into winter's reality. • USTowers at truly competitive pricing. • 40 to 89 feet; arrays up to 30 sq.fl. Complete packages available Send For Catalog Toll Free: 1-800-HAM-TOWER WIRELESS CAllE _ 1m _MfIIDS • """".. ~ UIIrI Higtl GM ~db (. I . T_ 1.1 III 2.1 61Il. • 36-Ch........ Syst. mComplete sa995 o 12-Chiio'lOlll Systom C\Mnplele S11 495 o C" or writ. (SASE) tor " FREE" Ca~ PHILLIPS-TECH ELECTRO.ICS P.O. Bill 8S33. SUUN,I., AZ 15252 ~lfETI ME (6021 947-nOO ($3,00 CrftilIM ............1 WARRANTY flln ltrC.11I 0 \flu 0 COD'. 0 o."'l1J "'~ (1-800-426-8693) 3 Chestnut Street Suffern,NY 10901 ••~ -- ..~ , CIRCLE 286 ON REA DER SERVICE CARD S ell YOUR used gear in 73 C lassified s .. . C a ll S ue C olb e r t . • SOdB display dynamic range • 40dB spurious rejection • 60 uv eeren. : 2dB lIalness • tKVDC,lv@ l00 MHzmax input as isolated by 10pF • : 7%hor frequency linearity conve rts your scope into a 100MHz spectrum analyzer $249 dealer. wanted 30 Day refund VISA/Me Specifications & app. ideas Smith Design 1324 Harris Dresher, PA 19025 (215) 643-6340 THE SR4 IS COMING - O NE RADIO S IMPLEX REPEATER - DUAL RADIO SIMPLEX REPEATER - DUPLEX REPEATER CONTROLLER - VOICE MAIL-AUTOMATIC VOICE IDER-C ROSS BAN D LINK- SPLIT SIMPLEX REPEATER-FULLY RE· MOTE DTMF PROGRAMABLE-ALL IN ONE UNIT AND M UCH MUCH MORE . . . SEPARATELY OR SIMUlJANE0 11SLY! B RAI ~ ."'TORM ENGINn:RING 2948'1> Honolulu Ave. La Crescenta, CA 9 1214 Call for info: (8 18) 249-4383 FAX: (8 18) 248-Q1l40 HUGE ~Bi CIRCLE 197 ON REAOER SERVICE CARD • Communications Receivers • Portable Receivers • SCanners • Amateur HF Transceivers • VHF·UHF Transceivers • • HTs and Mobiles Amateur and SWLAntennas • Accessories and Parts • RTTY and FAX EqUipment • Books and Manuals Send $1 to ItW NEW CATALOG •••WlTH PRICESI 92 a eBU,xU"Fonnal Universal Radio 1280 Aida Drive Dept. 73 Reynoldsburg,OH 43068 Tel. 614 866·4267 CIRClE 249 ON READER SERVICE CA RO 73AmateurRadioToday - November, 1991 31
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