Universal frequency meter
This is 7-digit frequency meter measuring frequency from 10 Hz up to 1300 MHz. It is based on ideas of PIC16F84 based frequency meter. The same hardware can be used as digital scale (software should be addopted). Hardware is very simple: It contains:
Note: "Calculator display" means (say) 7 digit LED multiplexed display. Common cathode display is used. Software is written for common cathode. For common anode displays it requires some software and hardware modification (send me message if you need it). PIC is used as 3 byte counter. If it counts 0.1 s maximum measured frequency is FF FF FF, e. g. 167.77215 MHz (theoretically) - practically 25 - 30 MHz. SAB6456 is used as 1:256 predivider. Its upper limit is 1300MHz.
The device uses internal prescaler of PIC as low byte of counter, TMR0 as
middle byte and some register as high byte of counter. The software DOESN'T
read anything from any input port. RA4 is used as prescaler input. Measuring period is 100 000 us (HF) or 256 000 us (VHF and UHF). The main steps during measuring period:
Total timing formula:
N = T*[7*(36 + 3*T1) + 6 + 3*T2] + 12 + 3*T3 + Z where:
The values for T,T1,T2,T3 and Z you can easily find using my program. You can get source code. The source code is same for variants with predivider by 64, 128 or 256 (PCB may be modified, of course). Some ideas were taken from "Simple low-cost digital frequency meter using a PIC 16C54" (frqmeter.asm) written by James Hutchby, MadLab Ltd. 1996.
This software is free for private usage. It was created for HAM radio community members. Commercial exploatation is allowed only with permission of authors.
Frequency meter schematics:
Frequency meter PCB:(54x41 mm)
Components placement:
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