Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

[MDY]

Hi, I think to buy a Frequencymeter for my workshop. Do you think it is important tool to have? Does somebody use it to detect and solve some problems? I think to buy Victor VC3165. Do you know something abut this Frequencymeter?

[khaahk]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Don't see any use for such a device. Would buy a used oscilloscope instead. Or gather little more for new one. Even oscilloscope is rarely needed, from personal experience.

[atsio]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

You need a counter to measure clocks. Of course is better a DSO (which you can use and as a counter), which can help you to compare signals - signal strength.

[MDY]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

I found this DSO very cheap Mini DSO201 PRO
Do you think it is good to measure clocks or it is better Victor VC3165?

[atsio]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

I don't know your budget, but I would buy an at least 50MHz desktop DSO.

[MDY]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Do you mean to measure up to 50Mhz?

[atsio]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-an-Oscilloscope
http://www.picotech.com/applications..._tutorial.html

[Agent24]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Yeah get an oscilloscope instead, which is very useful, and you can use the oscilloscope to measure frequency anyway.

A high precision frequency counter is needed to precisely measure\calibrate some things, but in a laptop if you have say a 33MHz clock, all you need to know is that it's close to 33MHz or something totally wrong like 20MHz, and you can tell that easily with an oscilloscope, you don't need the frequency counter.

That said... you can get frequency counters that go to high frequencies much cheaper than you can get an oscilloscope... but most of the time you wouldn't use one.

I found this DSO very cheap Mini DSO201 PRO

Bandwidth is only 1MHz on those things, useless for high speed digital.

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Do you mean to measure up to 50Mhz?

Oscilloscopes are instruments with high sensitivity, therefore are capable to measure frequency and voltages or waveforms at 2mV and above.

Frequency counters have higher trigger voltage (example 200mV) and common multimeter have even higher trigger voltage (so their frequency counter to start shown frequency).

On laptops and motherboards the frequency crystal is powered with about 120mV , only one oscilloscope it can measure this due it high sensitivity in low voltages.

Regarding oscilloscope bandwidth the rule of thump is the oscilloscope to be five times faster than the signal that you need to measure.

In my case I wanted measurements up to 20MHz, and selected my oscilloscope at 100MHz.

50MHz is very common size of bandwidth for fresh oscilloscope's, if you wish saving some money just buy one with two channels.

[Agent24]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Frequency counters have higher trigger voltage (example 200mV) and common multimeter have even higher trigger voltage (so their frequency counter to start shown frequency).

On laptops and motherboards the frequency crystal is powered with about 120mV , only one oscilloscope it can measure this due it high sensitivity in low voltages.

Could you not just use an amplifier on the counter's input then?

[MDY]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Question is if I have oscilloscope and make measure to some crystal (SIO, Southbridge), could I make a more accurate diagnosis?

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Could you not just use an amplifier on the counter's input then?

Nice question coming by simplified human logic.

I am not aware of such broadband preamplifier capable for 60Hz up to 6MHz, that is the range of most commonly used in applications crystals.

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Question is if I have oscilloscope and make measure to some crystal (SIO, Southbridge), could I make a more accurate diagnosis?

Just name your age, so to offer you the correct answer.

[Agent24]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

Nice question coming by simplified human logic.

I am not aware of such broadband preamplifier capable for 60Hz up to 6MHz, that is the range of most commonly used in applications crystals.

Good point. But hey, I never said I was an expert...

[rtstorm]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

which are other uses the oscilloscope in laptop repair except testing crystals. What else can I test it with ?

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

which are other uses the oscilloscope in laptop repair except testing crystals. What else can I test it with ?

By getting one Oscilloscope and learn how to use it, for a period of six months,
It will awake or unlock your imagination of where it can serve you.

For the ones who do not have a true technical education background, they should better buy one guitar instead.

[trebo]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

By getting one Oscilloscope and learn how to use it, for a period of six months,
It will awake or unlock your imagination of where it can serve you.

For the ones who do not have a true technical education background, they should better buy one guitar instead.

This part of the Forum "Troubleshooting Laptops & Notebooks" was started by members that knew next to nothing about laptops, they only wanted to learn, thanks to Top Cat he let them do just that.
Some brilliant minds have come forth to join in since then, and helped the likes of the ill educated like me, the likes of you with your snide remarks we can do without, (you have nothing to contribute except smart ass answers) we don't want them, why are you here, you just want to show how much of a smart arse you are, but your not bright enough to see how much of a a***hole you are.
trebo
and I am sure many members have the same thoughts as me, even the educated ones

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

I can do nothing for the ones which the voice of truth is not serving their purposes.

Simple as that.

[trebo]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

good mentors always told me, that I wont learn if you don't ask

[Kiriakos GR]

Re: Frequencymeter is it need to repair laptop?

By calling as a***hole your teacher in the field no matter what you ask afterwards, you will never get an answer either.

Mentors can give a hand only when you are still in school.