1Yankee said:
What's up guys. I was doing a little research on a nice looking toy which is the Optoelectronics Opto Scout but before I drop $300-$350 I was wondering if my Pro-96 has one built in? I didn't see anything in my well written (sigh) owners/operating manual nor the RS tutorial manual.
OK, hold on just a sec...
Before you get a frequency counter, ask yourself what do you intend to do with it. Because unless you plan on putting it on a test bench somewhere, you're likely to be sorely dissappointed.
See, alot of people think that if they get a frequency counter they will be able to magically pluck frequencies out of the air and listen to everyone and everything. But frequency counters were not designed for this activity - they are designed to sit on a tech bench and help RF technicians calibrate a transmitter. For a frequency counter to work well, you need to be very near (read: damn near on top of) the signal you're trying to catch, especially if it's a low powered walkie talkie in the hands of Wally the Mall Cop. I've tried this before with one that I had and I couldn't get a read unless I was literally standing next to the guy. So much for being discreet.
What's more is, a frequency counter can very easily be distracted by paging company transmitters that boom out gigantic signals at very high power. Take your scout to any urban area and you'll get all sorts of bogus hits on all the noisy stuff bouncing around out there. Again, it's test equipment, not really intended for field use and not intended to give you info on anything you can't get really close to. People do use them for SIGINT, but it takes practice, patience and a pretty good idea of the limitations of the tool you're using to be successful.
If you're looking to snag unknown freq's as they are used around you, may I recommend instead you look into the following scanners: The PRO-83, the BC92xlt and the BC246T. For $119, the 92 and the 83 both have signal capturing feature that is more flexible and easier to use than a freq counter. For $230 or so, depending on where you order, a BC246T will add trunking, alpha tagging, and a myriad of other enhancements to the mix. The 246 is my personal pick, and the next scanner on my "things to get" list. But if all you want is a handy and inexpensive nearfield receiver, the 83 is a pretty good choice (I'd go with the 92, but it isn't out yet AFAIK)
Hope that helps.
-AZ
