Checking out a Surecom / McBazel SF-103 Portable Frequency Counter for under $50 !

Checking out a Surecom / McBazel FT-103 Large Spectrum Portable Frequency Counter for under $50 ! Could this help find hidden eavesdropping bugs ? Can this put your radio on frequency ?

[@EricTechstuffs]

My reflection in the chrome buttons are pretty funny ! Gym Beast mode ! Sorry for the low audio, everything fell apart at the same time !

[@fatcattowing8990]

Very good video!! SO easy to understand just waiting for mine to arrive What is the "APPROX" range that i can be away from the transmitting radio? Could i boost the antenna by using a mobile ? Thanks in advance!! Mine arrived today, Very easy to use!!!

[@EricTechstuffs]

The range is really determined by the power output of the radio your monitoring. The range can be increased by an external antenna, and can be "honed in" with better with a directional antenna.

[@donalddodson7365]

Nice little unit. Handy to screen cheap radios.

[@EricTechstuffs]

Yes, it sure comes in handy ! I wasn't expecting much for the price !

[@thedavesofourlives1]

Boom goes the ... "so thats what that does"

[@JustLearning]

Seems like you did the video topless! LOL. Would have like to see you key up on DMR to see how the counter picks that up.

[@EricTechstuffs]

Yes, that was after comming back from the gym ! Good eye! I will see if I can set that up ! I believe this is only analog and with decode digital or CTCSS tones.

[@thomasdelaney9370]

Sure having a tough time opening the package and box...

[@extrememiami]

How would this compare to Uniden Close Call feature? I love my SDS100 and SDS200's close call feature, the range is only 300 yards for handhelds and a mile max for high output repeater stations. Can this counter pick up signals further than a Uniden using close call? Setting squelch to 2, a magnetic mount antenna, and a flamingo FM band pass filter, those helped me increase the range but its still not to what I want. Im also looking at an SDS radio run on an ipad and some other "sniffers" as well as signal boosters and even TV amplifiers, the trick is they have to be attenuated and very high quality or they will also boost the noose too. I'm kinda shocked that no one has yet modified the firmware for the SDS100 scanner. Id buy that in a second. A modified firmware could add in some extra settings for X amount over the floor to open the frequency, that seems like thats the best option, just that tiny change to the code would make close call so amazing... only if I knew any programmers 😢

[@EricTechstuffs]

The Close Call is superior to this product. This is similar to operation though. It is not as selective as Close Call or other more professional RF sniffers. Would be nice to have the Uniden programmed to do what you want - that would be cool ! Thanks for watching !

[@SiUmaam]

What different and which better SF103 vs SF401 ?

[@EricTechstuffs]

One of the main difference is the signal meter and the frequency coverage. The SF-102 starts at a lower coverage, and the SF-403 starts right at CB channel 4. IF what you are using it for is within 27-3000 get the SF-103 if you need broader coverage or all and below the CB band. both will read CTCSS tones so that is good too.

[@SiUmaam]

@@EricTechstuffs so the SF-401 is better than SF-103 right? Thanks for your explanation bro

[@EricTechstuffs]

@@SiUmaam I'd go with the SF-103 still... that one has more features.

[@mohsinsiddique2486]

Please make an arduino tx tone decoder like ctcss and dcs

[@EricTechstuffs]

I do not have a need to make one but you can find this helpful : www.qsl.net/on7eq/projects/arduino_ctcss.htm

[@CrucesNomad1]

How does this compare to the Tiny SA?

[@EricTechstuffs]

For the price, they both get the job done. For more actuate measurements other test equipment can be pricey.

[@elkbow]

Change your Det level to 8, even with all wifi etc off or in analog or digital, it will display a frequency around 2300, POS. Try scanning/detecting wifi, doesn't work

[@EricTechstuffs]

If you are looking to scan for WiFi there are WiFi scanners just for this purpose, in a portable design. It will show the WiFi name and the channels. It is also definitely a cheaper model of expensive units that are meant to sniff signals out more precise.

[@elkbow]

@@EricTechstuffs thanks

[@EricTechstuffs]

@@elkbow you are welcome !

[@MikeG-js1jt]

did you try it on a cell phone?

[@EricTechstuffs]

I have not ! I should though. You have me curious about the results. Thanks for watching !

[@craig_sez8534]

I just got mine today..I noticed so far that a windshield affects signal strength..Instructions are crap so if you get a chance,do a set up vid...Im only useing it for my 955/447hpc2 stryker radios..

[@EricTechstuffs]

Thanks for watching ! I am going to do a bit of a setup video on that soon. I thought I did at the time but, I didn't hit the record button ! Good radios you have there !

[@craig_sez8534]

@@EricTechstuffs lol didnt push the record button..lol..Think of it as a practice run..

[@imken2392]

Get a rubber duck replacement BNC antenna for a 27 mhz handheld to pick up your Strykers. I don't know what the stock antenna is resonant to but I know for the 10 meter band I can sit in the shack now 130 feet from the antenna and get a strong signal where with the stock antenna I couldn't.

[@craig_sez8534]

@@imken2392 yeah i discovered that with another youtuber who does vids on radio repair..He mentioned the antenna deal..Wish i had the connectors to see that ant on my analyzer..

[@craig_sez8534]

@@imken2392 yeah i thought about it when i got it but kinda set it aside and forgot about it..Tks for the reminder..

[@luisfuentes6011]

What is the effective distance to get a good read?

[@EricTechstuffs]

I will be doing another video on this soon. It doesn't seem to be super sensitive, but a better antenna on the unit I think would help.

[@luisfuentes6011]

Thank you for your answer! I’m looking forward to see the video, I’m looking to buy one myself

[@rallypoint1]

@@EricTechstuffsHi! Did you make another vid on this? I have one and it works pretty good but it’s not too sensitive. I am using it to align my McKinley SSB radio. Should I wrap a wire around my coax before the dummy load and wrap the other end on the counters antenna? Thank you

[@EricTechstuffs]

@@rallypoint1 I wouldn't use this device to align a radio. I had luck with using an "RF SAMPLER" device to the BNC jack for testing transmit frequencies of radios. However, if you have another radio that is dead on frequency with transmit and receive you can get align it close using that radio. Another option is a nanoSA that will give you a spectrum and RF generator. I will link the service manual www.manualslib.com/download/1521900/President-Mc-Kinley-Us-12-24.html As you will see, you will need many more pieces of test equipment to properly align the radio. How did it get off frequency ? I would hate for you to damage your radio at all. t I do mail-ins and can look it over. Send me an email at [e-mail] on anyway I can help you further.

[@rallypoint1]

@@EricTechstuffs thank you for the response!! The radio was off frequency on SSB from the factory. Unfortunately I don’t have another radio to zero beat the frequency alignment. Is there another frequency counter(moderately priced) that would be better? Also would need a sampler for it? I have a dummy load and watt meter I used to adjust power/modulation close to factory levels. I just don’t want to sound like a robot on SSB 😂

[@harunkamaludin7865]

bagimana saya nak dapatkan barang ni...

[@sosro2k4]

search on the online shopping

[@jasonsummers6705]

See if it picks up a mobile phone placed next to it 👍

[@EricTechstuffs]

I will do that soon ! Thanks for the suggestion !

[@cooldomino1800]

What is the range on this?

[@EricTechstuffs]

Coverage is 2 MHz - 2.8 GHz thanks for watching !

[@cooldomino1800]

@@EricTechstuffs I meant how far can this be from the transmitter. But that’s good to know too.

[@EricTechstuffs]

@@cooldomino1800 With the stock antenna it is not that sensitive. using a better antenna for the frequency range is best. since large coverage, no antenna can cover all. but an antenna tuned to what you want to receive should be or better to 3 meters

[@cooldomino1800]

@@EricTechstuffs ok. Thanks. I’m thinking about getting one.

[@fatcattowing8990]

@@cooldomino1800 Get one, its WELL worth the "under $50.00" Sure beats the old way of using a scanner and scanning through the top/bottom ranges of freq

[@skinny4070]

hope youre making money off this. had to watch 3 commercial breaks to get through it.

[@EricTechstuffs]

Sorry, about the ads. I see them a lot too. Google makes a lot of money from youtube ads.

[@skinny4070]

@@EricTechstuffs be nice if you did.

[@matteocristani6702]

Ma fa schifo provarlo in DMR??😂

[@EricTechstuffs]

Sì, ottimo solo per analogico. L'unico digitale che decodifica sono i toni DCS sui segnali analogici.

[@matteocristani6702]

@@EricTechstuffs e allora non è DMR ready..😁

[@Johnyrocket70]

Can you hook it up to your radio for getting rx tones. There's repeaters here with tones only on one side?

[@EricTechstuffs]

It is not recommended for direct connection to the radio unless you use at least a -30dB or better attenuator. However this will only pick up TX tones. Most times you can search a government / HAM database and get the RX tone information . Thanks for watching !

[@petemitchell6788]

No licensed ham would ask that. Lol

[@jayrow7468]

@@petemitchell6788 no one licensed should need this but as an extra toy it’s ok I’m licensed and ad have one and silly questions are always asked by myself don’t sown ppl for wanting to learn

[@jayrow7468]

@@petemitchell6788 and it’s licensed amateur with ofcom ham is American terminology maybe u need to sit the teat