>I have two scopes (both Heathkit) but no multimeter!    
      
   Well if they have a calibrated time base you can measure frequency. Too lazy   
   to push a few buttons on a calculator ?    
      
   Get it as close to one cycle per division as possible, that is a good tradeoff   
   between accuracy and easy to read.    
      
   Most scopes have ten divisions horizontally, count as accurately as you can   
   how many cycles are in those ten divisions. Then it is 10 math. I can do it   
   but I am just not good at expressing how anymore. The period of one complete   
   cycle gives you the    
   period and frequency is the reciprocal of that, like 1/X. The sweep reads in   
   per division so if it is around one cycle per division it may be 8, 10, 13   
   cycles across ten divisions. Use that number, either a tenth of it to get an   
   answer in Hertz or the    
   whole thing would give you an answer in tens of Hertz.    
      
   That method is usually close enough unless you get into RF or beyond the   
   bandwidth of your scope. How high a frequency do you need to measure ? If you   
   are even thinking of audio some don't go low enough almost, at least spectrum   
   analyzers don't when you    
   get the ones that go up to the GHz.    
      
   I never had a frequency counter until a few years ago and now that I have one,   
   I haven't used it in at least a year.    
      
   Since you are here I am going to assume that you didn't mention a project from   
   T Mobile or the government because you are not doing one. You do not need a   
   52GHz counter. Fact is your best bang for the buck is probably used. I got an   
   HP 5314a for less    
   than $100. (not to sell) If you can squeak by on 1GHz you do not have to spend   
   $300 on it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)