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Reviews For: Victor Frequency Counter VC-3165

Category: Tools & Test Equipment for the amateur radio work bench

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Review Summary For : Victor Frequency Counter VC-3165
Reviews: 11MSRP: 89.95
Description:
8-digit LED display
Range and gate time adjustable continuously (100ms - 10s)
Selective range
High stability
Frequency measurement: 0. 01Hz - 2. 4 GHz
Period measurement: 0. 5µs - 10s
Input sensitivity: 30mV(rms)
Power: AC 110/220V ± 10%
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.made-in-china.com/china-products/productviewLapEVnmxNQlz/Intelligence-Frequency-Counter-VC3165-.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00114.5
K5RWD Rating: 2018-10-16
Not good for radio work Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was excited about getting this little guy, but that excitement went straight to disappointment after using if for a while. It might be okay for the casual operator working in a room full of RF, but at low level signals it does not work well at all. It was not able to perform readings for simple alignments of radios using testpoints with RF. I had to revert back to my old BK Precision counter which works flawlessly at capturing low level RF. The only good I can give this thing is that is seems fairly accurate, and the seller is good at following up and refunding me my money.

You will be better off spending a little more money on something with better build quality.

Good luck,
W6UXB Rating: 2018-04-27
Very good for the money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought mine from US seller, arrived in good shape transformer securely attached to the case which is a little on the flimsy side but counter seems to work OK do not have a reference standard but checked with WWV 10 MHz and my HT on 146 and 440 MHz and was spot on. It does take a while to read when on hi resolution setting (slow gate time) my display could be easily seen even with a fluorescent lamp right above it, got it to align some boat anchors should be fine for that job. I am pleased with it for what it cost a shade under $100
K1FPV Rating: 2016-08-24
Good inexpensive Counter! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned my counter for about 5 years. No it isn't a high priced HP or B&K, but for a quick check, it isn't bad.

I have a B&K which I paid over 10 times the price of the Victor counter. I have the B&K tied into a GPS, 10MHz standard and when measuring my old Rubidium oscillator standard, the B&K told me it has drifted 0.6Hz low. The Victor has a resolution at 10MHz down to 10Hz. When I pulled the Rubidium off frequency, and observed the a 10Hz. change, the Victor followed!

For a cheap counter, you can't go wrong. For approximate frequency readings, it is great for the price. If you need more ar better resolution, buy the more expensive HP/Agilent or B&K counters and tie them into a GPS frequency reference or a recently calibrated Rubidium Frequency Standard.

73,
Bill
K1FPV
K1BRA Rating: 2016-08-24
You get what you pay for Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is pretty much what you'd get if you asked someone to build you a $45 (wholesale) frequency counter: an 8051 micro controller, a sheet metal + styrofoam + thermal paste 'oven' encasing the crystal/temp sensor driving that 8051, some 7-segement LEDs, and associated front-end and counter logic. All in a modest plastic box.

If you're looking for the answer to the question "what frequency am I at?", this is probably the perfect counter for you. If you're looking for something that strives for high resolution accuracy, you should probably save your pennies and look elsewhere.
K0KS Rating: 2014-08-15
EXCELLENT for the $$$ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Amazingly stable and has served well when needed. When first unpacked there was a bad feeling ---the power transformer had broken loose but I re-soldered the leads and anchored it down and it has worked fine since. Luckily, no components were demolished. It's a rough flight from China --- I've done it and I hope they have secured the transformer a little better now. Sensitivity seems to be a bit lower than spec but usable at least to 450 MHz and that's where my radios stop at this time. A friend also has one and similar results.
KD0TNH Rating: 2013-04-12
Very accurate for me. It's a great deal. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For the money, this can't be beat. The transformer, a sizeable one from the sound of it, broke loose during shipping and was rattling around freely. It sounded like it broke all kinds of stuff in the process. LBMART via Amazon replaced it within two days. I used my new Almost All Things Digital frequency reference on the replacement and found it to be spot on every test point.
It's lightweight and feels like there isn't much inside. I originally thought that I would have preferred that they eliminate some of that air in favor of a smaller size but I changed my mind as the size probably helps keep it from moving around. I don't think it would take much abuse, but for the money, that can't be expected. We will see how accurate it stays over time but right now it's practically spot on. Check out the photos on the Amazon review if you want to take a look at how it compares with my HP 5334B. About the only complaint that I have is the display. It's washed out under the shop lights and making matters worse, the clean plastic that they used over that display is extremely reflective making for a lot of glare. I wouldn't hesitate recommending one of these.
PD0AC Rating: 2012-02-17
Can't be beaten at this price point Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Victor is an interesting brand in testing equipment. Designed in Japan, but exclusively produced in China, and mostly marketed through eBay. You can find this counter under other names also, such as Velleman.

This counter lives up to its claims with ease. After the required 20 minutes of warming up, the accuracy is spot on. The temperature compensated circuitry is a bonus.

Build quality is OK, but don't expect it to withstand a lot of abuse. This is equipment you don't want to carry around too much.
K2OWK Rating: 2011-11-20
Excellent counter for the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this counter for more then a year with no problems. It proformas exactly as described. I find it an excellent piece of test equipment for ham use, I can not understand how they can build a piece of equipment that works this well for the price they charge, oh thats right it is made in China.
ON7PAT Rating: 2010-12-15
replacement of faulty counter Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I know I have given this counter bad marks on a previous review.
Those comments stand. But it does have to be said, that the company replaced to faulty piece of kit,fast, and with no costs whatsoever to me.
So, that has to count for something.

As far as the qualities of the counter are concerned...well it is good, in the sense that it does what I expected it to do.
A piece of true "lab equipment" is of course hardly to be expected for this price

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Earlier 0-star review posted by ON7PAT on 2009-06-14

I took this out of the box.
When I powered this up, I got four leds, bright red, no controls that worked, and that was it.
It is going to cost me a fortune to send it back and at least a months delay in getting a replacement.
Caveat Emptor!!
VE7POE Rating: 2010-10-12
Works Great! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I was quite impressed with this unit for the price. I got it on Ebay for $63.00 + 30.00 shipping.

It seems to work really well. The only thing I can say about the accuracy of this unit is that it displays the expected frequency when I use it on My 2 Meter rig. It's just a little different in selecting the range than other units I have used but certainly very easy to use with only 3 modes to chose from.