Frequency Counter with PIC16F84A

This is my prototype of a frequency counter assembled on protoboard.

Its brain is the PIC (programmable micro-controller) p/n PIC16F84A. I used a RS232 serial programmer and the WinPic app to write the .hex program to the micro-controller's EEPROM.

The frequency counter is auto-range and can measure from 0 up to 30MHz. For more high values, a prescaler should be used.

Here in this video test I used the PC as a frequency generator using the TrueRTA app. Actually I generated sine audio tones of 440, 1000 and 1520Hz and I caught the signal on the headphone output of PC.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Frequency Counter
• PIC16F84A
• Prototype
• micro-controller
• TrueRTA
• electronic
• DIY
• protoboard

[MrRadionave]

Very good!

[Cesarsound1]

@MrRadionave

Hi, thanks!

[daviddanielgraham]

This is a pretty cool project. It updates the frequency count fairly slowly. How do you account for that? How does it do with faster pulse sequences? Also, does it measures peaks or zero crossings? Will it work with a signal clamped to a DC voltage other than ground? Also Does it measure all periodic waveforms or just sine waves?

[Cesarsound1]

@daviddanielgraham

Hi, Thanks for watching.

The accouting is done with the internal PIC's timer, I do not have details because the assembler was not developed by me. It measure the peaks only, it has a preamp and a capacitor on input circuit in order to block the DC and limit (square) the input signal. It can measure any periodic waveform.

[LHADIEinPINK27]

hi, i'm doing the same project as yours. can you help me? im from the philippines i really need your help. :(

[Cesarsound1]

@LHADIEinPINK27

Hi, yes, what is your question?

[lazerusmfh]

@daviddanielgraham

The speed at which it calculates the signal seems lethargically slow, as if its running at 1 mhz or less

[wagner37065]

tem como mandar o projeto?

[Truxiz]

Hey.. Do you have some kind of diagram for this project, and a program 2?, i would like to make this project also :)

[Cesarsound1]

@vladabuba

Thanks!