#52: Tutorial / Basics of a Dip Meter

This video presents the basics of a Solid State Dip Meter, which is the more "modern" equivalent of the old classic Grid Dip Meter (GDO). The GDO was simply a vacuum tube based oscillator with a meter that read grid current as a measure of the oscillation strength/magnitude. The solid state dip meter uses a solid state RF oscillator and detector circuit to perform the same function.
The Dip Meter (or Dipper) I show in the video is a Heathkit HD-1250 that I built as a kid in 1976 or '77.
The dipper is mainly used to determine or measure the resonant frequency of a circuit, antenna, 1/4 wave transmission line, crystal, filter, etc. You couple the dipper's exposed coil to your "device" under test, and adjust the frequency of the dipper until a drop or dip in noticed in the meter. Once the dip is found, the frequency is read off of the dial.
The theory of operation is that the signal from the oscillator is injected into the circuit/device under test. Then the frequency produced by the dipper hits the resonant frequency of the DUT, the strength of the oscillation will decrease due to the resonant load.
There are a lot of applications for this: determining the resonant frequency of a circuit, or an antenna, of a crystal or filter, etc. Also, using known capacitors or inductors, you can use the dipper to help measure the values of unknown inductors or capacitors. You can determine 1/4-wavelength transmission lines and other resonant RF structures like traps. The meter can also be used as a RF signal source for testing receivers, etc.
By turning the oscillation level in the dipper to the point where is just goes away, the dipper can then be used as an absorptive wavemeter - or a frequency selective field strength meter.
The "Dipper" is a very flexible and versatile instrument, that has been around for decades, but isn't seen that often anymore unfortunately.

[@tomwold8269]

I used to have this meter, it was great. It can be used for other purposes. I used to live next door to a guy that would blast his stereo. I used a phone cord as a antenna, wrapped it around the meter coil, tuned the dip meter to the same frequency he had his stereo on, and the dip meter signal would cover up the station he was listening to, and it made his stereo go silent. It worked great.

[@mgabrielle2343]

Why the heck did I not think of this! I had a problem from a very noisy neighbour too, even other room mates were sick of his loud music, one day whilst he rushed off to the toilet, we got in his room and got hold of his infra red remote control for his tower Hi-Fi , we quickly programmed its remote control codes into one of those learning remote controllers, so we managed to programe controls for volume and input select such as turntable, tape deck, FM, AM and scan commands, after that we were able to control his volume from a small gap under his room door, by pointing our remote controller beam into his room, the beam was powerful did not have to be directly aimed at the HI FI tower, and it did a wonderful job of switching his unit off, turning his volume down, changing his stations, and often we would turn it right up to awake that bastard, it worked a treat for quite some time until one day he wanted to go to bathroom and when he opened his door he caught us ! Next thing we tried was abandoned half way as we did not wanted to get hurt ourselves, we took out the door of a microwave oven, bypassed the door safety switches, and were about to place that in the adjacent room directly behind his Hi Fi Tower, when we feared that microwaves may bounce off the wall and hit us instead of cooking up his HI FI, so if we had gone ahead, I am sure his hi fi would have gone up in smoke, as the wall between the tow adjacent room was made of timber frame and plaster boards or what we call a dry wall.

[@Stuff_happens]

Cool. Great story of electronic warfare.

[@barrybogart5436]

@@mgabrielle2343 Those cute little component identifiers (ZIF sockets, graphic display, about $20), also decode IR signals to save you time.

[@xenia5101]

A review that was of benefit to new and old alike. Proves that you don''t need all the expensive stuff. Thanks.

[@RicoElectrico]

Thanks, usually when you search for ham topics on YT you get old farts who can't get their words together and so are painful to watch. Here a video packed with content, you surely rehearsed that one. Good job 😁

[@billybonewhacker]

Great video. These things are so valuable for building coils for homebrew stuff.I built my own from the instructions from one of the impoverished radio experimenter books. Thanks for doing this, so many people don't even know what they are.

[@nickguan2012]

still remember we used dip meter to do a rfid antenna design in flex pcb (13.56MHz), only use rfsim99 design and simulation it. then use dip meter to do the final fine tune with cap and inductor. super good use. there is 500k mass production in that design. haha.

[@bigmac965]

I got one of these meters years ago from another ham radio operator (silent key), and never knew what it was good for. I'm glad I kept it now! Thanks for the tutorial!

[@Bremontval]

Thank you so much Alan ! I have rediscovered my Heathkit grip dip ! It is so sad that Heathkit doesn't exist anymore ... Best 73's

[@JohnRaschedian]

You sure have learned electronics exceptionally well. Thank you for this invaluable KZbin channel sir!

[@eminusipi]

I built one of these in the early '80s. It had a few problems. The transistor for the 100-250 MHz was a known defect that Heathkit replaced at no charge. It was a real pain to replace. It also had an intermittent problem with the phono jack that I eventually figured out and replaced. It has been working fine ever since. Very good video on it's use. Too bad Heathkit has gone away.

[@VoidHalo]

You would't think replacing a transistor would be that much trouble. Unless, maybe it had to be matched or something.

[@ManofCulture]

I love the display of your frequency counter sir.

[@DAVET38]

Thanks for the very interesting video. I to purchased one of these meters very recently (mainly out of interest) but have found it quite fun to use and so simple to operate. Yes, I have other modern and also more ancient frequency test equipment but some times just 'playing around' with the old gear is so very soothing!

[@hankus253]

Thanks for THIS video. I too have an HD-1250 that has been stored in my attic for the past 15 years. Your video got me wondering about its condition. I just brought it down and glad I did. The 9V battery was still installed , but luckily hadn't leaked, although the positive terminal was eaten completely away. The heat of the attic however had destroyed all the rubber cushions, in the lid and the strips around the battery. When touched they turn into a gooey mess. Oh well another project.

[@SuperJetjockey]

I have an old EICO grid dip meter, and have not used it to its potential. Your video has prompted me to get the manual out and do a review. I especially liked the way you coupled it to the scope to read the frequency. I tried it out for myself, and it worked just like you showed. Thanks

[@martinda7446]

Great stuff, It so helps when you are rusty to watch these and all returns..I genuinely thank you for taking your time to help us rustys as real knowledge is not so easy to find here. I will get my scope and equipment out of the loft today and play.

[@gortnewton4765]

This is a good tutorial and you have a good manner about you with teaching fundamentals. I'm envious of your workshop you look very well equipped!

[@andrzejgrabianski8003]

Very Helpful, Its given me insight to were I can use it in my repairs, thank you for the Demo.

[@Flyboy737]

Very nicely done video. Brought back memories of when I had an Eico Grid Dip Meter.

[@TheTransoceanic]

Thanks for the advice. I’m probably going to pick one up just to restore. I’m sure I’ll have some fun!

[@ianbutler1983]

Thanks, I learned a lot and I appreciate your clear and concise explanation.

[@yytvo212]

inspiring to learn the other interesting uses of this fantastically handy vintage handset

[@thezerocool22]

great video, thanks for taking the time to post it up, it will help my advanced licence students a great deal with some home study.

[@Tryin2FlyII]

Your videos are very helpful Thanks for posting

[@languagetruthandlogic3556]

Excellent video - thanks for posting. Now I understand!

[@tpobrienjr]

Thanks. This gets me started on restoring a Heath HD-1250 bought at a hamfest 3 years ago. It needs cleaning, mostly. AB5XZ

[@teddudziak1898]

This came to mind from my ham radio days as I'm helping with an NFC "antenna" design which is really an inductor/capacitor combination. The concept would also be useful for QI charger designs or any other tightly coupled design.

[@misterjase]

Awesome video. thank you.

[@atomikrobot300099]

Cool! Thanks for the video!

[@w.coreytompkins7572]

Some great information to get someone started Thank You.

[@martinda7446]

Also I notice you take time to reply to questions, fantastic effort I think.

[@tabithompson3352]

Appreciate its simplicity

[@elrazky]

Thank you, very informative video.

[@eogg25]

nice video. i built that GDM years ago, great for antenna coils.73

[@MrHarveyluke]

Great video. You just don't see anything about these units in modern amateur radio media. But you did all the time in the 60's when I was first licensed. 73, Harvey, KM4JA

[@nnamrehck]

That's so cool!

[@VA3YNK]

Very informative video..Thanks for posting!

[@IamDerick]

thanks now I have motivation to get the older tube version of this running. need to wind my own coils though but it was 5$ at the hamfest so no complaints here. :)

[@MrBrian8749]

Thanks...I could use one of these in my antenna projects. It looks like fun to use

[@rohnkd4hct260]

Never used one! May not pass one up at next hamfest. Thanks 73

[@watthairston1483]

Thanks for the video... Reminds me that I have an Eico GDO and a Measurements lab grade GDO. I need to get them out and see if they still work.

[@theradiomechanic9625]

HI Alan, nice video. I used to add a tap out of the oscillator to measure the frequency because when you couple the meter the frequency shifts. Moving away from the circuit under test shifts the frequency again as you try to measure using the counter. By having the tap ( a couple of pF. ) I could measure the frequency as I was coupled in. 73 N1CKX

[@roberthoulihan6390]

Nice video I had forgotton all about these handy instruments Dan N9DH

[@Samuel-km5yf]

Very cool video. Fun game: take a shot every time w2aew says “ok”.

[@W1RMD]

Thank you! 🙌

[@charliepanek8481]

I think I have a Heath GD-1 at home somewhere. Handy device to have around when more sophisticated equipment isn't available. I love the frequency counter with the Nixie tube display!

[@w2aew]

Yeah, that old counter is one of my favorites! Love the old Nixie tubes!

[@chopper680]

I miss the Heathkit. I wish they could come back or find another

[@mgabrielle2343]

May be you also remember Sinclair Micromatic, world's first match size transistor radaio, wow!

[@ebayscopeman]

Hi Alan I know this is a necropost but I have a couple of the exact meters. I picked up one today at a HF for 10 bucks as a spare. It was so cheap probably because that foam in the kit got gummy and adhered to the coils and the dipper. A real mess. It takes WD-40 or naptha (lighter fluid) to remove that crap. So you might want to pull yours out and get rid of that foam. There are also a few pieces inside the dipper that you will want to get rid of. Also I started using the Eveready Ultimate Lithium batteries for any gear that I care about that may get stored as they do not leak. They cost more but there isn't an alkaline battery on the planet that does not leak. Sam W3OHM

[@w2aew]

Thanks. I replaced the foam in both places years ago.

[@ebayscopeman]

I changed all of my cases to polyethylene foam. It never deteriorates and you can get it in the pink ESD safe material too!.

[@donve3ids291]

Excellent video. Thanks for posting 73 Don ve3ids

[@ShopperPlug]

Interesting meter device... I wonder if one could build one. Would be great if you made a video of how this device works based on it's circuitry.

[@kenny444tourist4]

Thank you

[@barrybogart5436]

I have one of these. Also, an MFJ-201 which was just recently discontinued, I believe. And I have a Kenwood which has a small drawer at the bottom for the coils, and a Simpson 77 Wavemeter, which I believe functions the same way. I would like to get one with a real tube with a real grid, though. I was licensed in '57 and remember these very well.

[@whitenorthstar]

Great theory as usual thanks! I have this dip meter but the bearing on the variable capacitor gave up and fell apart! Now looking for a replacement or value of said capacitor.

[@bobwendoloski6970]

good video, my dad has an old grid dip meter he is giving me and I was wondering how I might be able to use it. looks like it will come in really handy for my antique radio and ham hobbies.

[@w2aew]

+Bob Wendoloski It is a fun little instrument - enjoy!

[@nlimchua]

Hi Alan, You forgot to mention the earphone feature......thank you for sharing this.

[@TechTins_Projects]

This looks like a great construction project. How easy is the circuit and would it be difficult to build one of these for fun? I would imagine something like this would be great for testing out tuned circuits I might build as part of a radio construction!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

This is a really useful video for learners and returners to the hobby, like me. Thank-you.I'm guessing that it can be used as a simple field strength meter and a lot of it's functions are now found in a VNA? Thanks again.

[@JONOVID]

must buy one or make one its a must have for DIY Radio electronics projects, the Grid dip oscillator circuit is simple to make with its plug-in coils ,But must be calibrated with a frequency counter . good video

[@Roy_Tellason]

I went looking for one of these on epay a while back, and it was amazing how many units there were that did NOT have any coils with them. In some cases I asked the sellers if they had the coils, some just didn't seem to know what I was talking about and some said no. I know of one local ham that was into making his own set of coils for one of these, but I'm really not up to that particular challenge...

[@2richjohnson]

Good presentation! Rich W4ERJ. I just picked one up at a hamfest for 5 dollars and wasn't sure how to use it (actually mine is an old Knight).

[@w2aew]

I hope you get some good use out of that meter!

[@wx9dx]

Also you can plug the crystals right into the meter and check the crystals that way. Jimmy, ARRL TS, WX9DX

[@hb120877]

Perfect for wire antennas

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

Hello on your dip meter the 250 mh coil do you get a lower meter movement on mine the higher you go the meter drops I do get output signal just wondering sure do learn alot from you thankyou for videos

[@MickLBrad]

The foam in mine turned to black powder and it had been stored in an air conditioned environment since I built it in the mid '70s. I think it is typical of the foam Heath used back then.

[@flyingfrancisco]

Hi Alan Can you think of a way to couple the dip meter to a tuned loop antenna Thx

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

You have great videos watch always question I bought 2 dip meters one like yours all coils workes but the 100-250 and the other was MJF brand after turinig switch from 1 function to another it broke off anyway is there any way besides you can get res freq fron antennas and coils thanks

[@TheTransoceanic]

Hi, Great video and Thank you for taking the time. Quick question is it worth buying one to use repairing/aligning vintage am/fm radios.

[@w2aew]

It really depends on what other tools you have at your disposal. It can be very handy, just keep in mind that the frequency accuracy won't be great unless you have a counter to set/measure it accurately.

[@das250250]

Im guessing you could explore circuit board resonance

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

Hello if you want to check a unknown circuit, what coil do you start with on the dip meter and is 250 mh the limit thankyou

[@TheCrazyStudent]

If the dip meter is not seen that much nowadays, what kind of instrument is most commonly used instead to perform the same kind of tests?

[@1883GotDown]

Hello sir, I was looking for you to mention tank circuits etc.... I am having some trouble with a Combinner Circuit in a homebrew 20m Legal Limit Solid State Amplifier using old school BJTs that I am building. I honestly dont know if it is a LC or a Pie circuit that I am following but there is a Coil i am needing to wind and it needs to be on the specific freq of 14mhz. it is like this. There are 4 Amplifier Stages that is combined to a combinner then has a variable shunt capacitor to ground with this coil in series to the output to the load. Just by this information could you point me in the right direction as of what type circuit is this is and how i could test what freq this coil is resonant at. This will be so helpful sir.

[@w2aew]

This sounds like an impedance matching circuit in the form of an L-network. The value of the inductor and capacitor would be specific to the design of the amplifier, so there really is no way for me to tell you what value it would need to be. You would be better off getting this information from the original designer of the amp.

[@paul.alarner6410]

what will it do coupled to an off center fed dipole?

[@kojames9626]

One more question, if you don't plug-in the coil, will the signal meter's neddle move after power on?

[@w2aew]

It really depends on the design of the oscillator, but in general, no, the oscillator won't run without a coil attached and thus you won't get any meter movement. I'm sure there are some designs that will differ.

[@TheSpinninHead]

Thanks for this lovely video👍 What's the frequency range this meter can measure? Can I use it to find the resonant frequency of essential oils?

[@w2aew]

This meter is usable up to about 250MHz. I have no idea what "resonant frequency of essential oils" means...

[@barrybogart5436]

I am so tired of flaky New Agers talking about 'frequency'!

[@toobmoosik7061]

I have both a Heathkit model GD-1B and a HD-1250 grid dip meter. I found that the GD-1B will work with a tuned circuit that's farther away from it compared to the HD-1250. See the video I uploaded.

[@yoramstein]

Would it show also *serial resonance* of which the reactances (inductive and capacitive are cancelling each other and left is only the pure ohmic resistance )?

[@alanwolke6253]

I haven't tried it, but you may see a deflection (even possible a "peak" instead of a dip).

[@flyingfrancisco]

Hi I bought this Dip Meter after watching this video on Ebay and although he claimed it was working it wasn't. Is there an email where that I can send you some questions on it. Thx Francisco

[@Kennynva]

Can you use this in some way to align a radio...like a MW AM radio???

[@w2aew]

Yes, but not ideal. The frequency accuracy isn't great (unless you use a counter to adjust it), and it may not be stable enough for narrowband radio alignment.

[@pietrogazzera5733]

Dear Sir, I've found the same grid dip meter without any coil. Does exist a method to rebuild these coils or some table/scheme to follow? Thank you.

[@w2aew]

You can build them yourself using an RCA plug and some small pieces of PVC tubing, and some wire. Here are the measured inductances for each coil: 1.6-3.4MHz coil --- 165uH 3.2-6.6MHz coil --- 38.8uH 6.3-13MHz coil --- 10.2uH 12.5-26MHz coil --- 2.60uH 25-51MHz coil --- 0.66uH 48-100MHz coil --- 0.17uH 100-250MHz coil --- ~0.045uH Note that the first three coils use very fine wire, maybe 40-50 ga. There are hundreds of turns on the first one. The highest frequency coil is simply a single 14 ga wire connecting between the two terminals like "U" about 1.2" high.

[@pietrogazzera5733]

@@w2aew thank you so much!

[@allananderson5840]

What do you think of the modern version "DipIt, the revolutionary Dipmeter of the German QRP Club DL-QRP-AG." Resolution more like .01% and better, way better sensitivity, etc. Seems like a huge improvement on a still great tool.

[@allananderson5840]

I found this thinking some kind of update, idk, with an arduino to count frequency and sweep automatically. Imagined an instantaneous display of resonant freq to 3-4 digits, estimate Q, ... like the german's transistor tester project that's so successful.

[@w2aew]

Allan Anderson I haven't taken a look at the DipIt, but is sounds interesting. It is a unique and useful tool, so I'm glad to know that there are still people that appreciate it enough to develop a more modern version.

[@paul.alarner6410]

@@allananderson5840 i think the nanovna beat you too it!.

[@josepaul5402]

Is this the same as the return loss takes a dip at the resonance of whatever you are coupling the power into?

[@w2aew]

In a sense, yes.

[@josepaul2000]

***** I have been doing an RF course this year at college, and your videos just helped these concepts make much more sense. Textbooks can get very abstract sometimes! I like how you cut it up straight to an example application. I've been watching every one now. Looking forward to all the future ones!

[@perrybarkhurst1997]

can it be used for any nefarious purposes?

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

Colour me stupid, but when you say a dip in 'grid current' surely you mean RMS voltage or signal etc?? Or some indirect means of refering to it? I don't recall ever seeing more then nanoamps in relation to grid currents. I've always treated the grid as a basically electrostatic element unless the frequency is so high such that the grid capacitance becomes a thing.

[@w2aew]

Yes, I misspoke - should have said a dip in grid voltage.

[@braveheart5280]

Hello, when the coil/cap combo is removed from the grid dip meter coil would the grid dip osc freq change slightly ? thanks

[@w2aew]

Yes, it will likely change MORE than slightly, since it is the plug-in coil that determines the frequency range.

[@braveheart5280]

@@w2aew My thinking is when checking res freq with the freq counter it is more accurate to leave the coil/cap combo inside the grid dip meter coil to get a true res freq reading. please confirm, thanks

[@w2aew]

@@braveheart5280 Oh, now I see what you mean! I though you were referring to removing the DIP meter's coil. Yes, you are correct, the coil/cap combo will slightly alter the frequency if removed, so it would likely be most accurate to measure with it inserted. Of course, coupling to the counter's input might very slightly change it too...

[@braveheart5280]

@@w2aew Thanks ,I am getting into rf design and watching youtube rf topics. thanks for your response and detailed video's.

[@Wenlocktvdx]

I picked up a Dick Smith one that’s identical to the MFJ-201. Interesting where you can find a dip when testing an antenna. Tnx de VK3YWB

[@mgabrielle2343]

I have a dip meter with an ear phone, you hear a distinctive click when it jumps out of lock with the external coil, it some how gets locked on to the resonant frequency of the external coil under test, so even when you are trying to turn the dial, to change the frequency , it remains in lock at that frequency, and then once you have passed the hysteresis point the frequency of the dip meter jumps out of lock and is now either much higher than resonant coil or much lower, it is at this point where it jumps that we hear a click in our headphones. To determine the exact frequency of a coil under test, one has to observe the digital display for the frequency read out just before you heard that click, because soon after you hear the click the frequency would be miles out, I prefer the linear ones that do not lock, but you could see the slight dip at the resonant point linearly, shame the digital revolution has killed many radio enthusiasts.

[@VoidHalo]

Not at all what I was expecting. When you said DIP meter, I imagined one of those things for testing DIP ICs. I should know better by now, though. You seem to gravitate more towards analog stuff.

[@kingtervel366]

Are there grid dip meters currently available on the market?

[@w2aew]

There are very few available "new" any longer, but plenty in the used market. There are a few "kits" being sold new as well.

[@mouseminer2978]

Can we make one as DIY project?

[@byAlmad]

Hi !! The difference between Dipper meter and Tunnel meter , is that the Tunnel have diode function ? 73

[@w2aew]

The tunnel dipper simply uses a tunnel-diode as the active device in the main oscillator.

[@byAlmad]

@@w2aew thank you... 73

[@Pholcidae]

So will meter tell if a person is a dip and how much of a dip they are ??

[@Kennynva]

can you use this to find the center of a crystal....like a 455khz???

[@w2aew]

It depends on the design of the meter. Some allow you to plug a crystal into the coil socket in order to test the crystal. However, keep in mind that the frequency resolution of the dial isn't very fine, so it will only give you an approximate value.

[@Kennynva]

I see thanks

[@voxpathfinder15r]

I think I have bought speakers from you

[@joej4559]

I want one

[@VK2YK]

Great video,I like using the old test equipment from time to time. I made a noise bridge kit from VK3AQZ late last year and it was great to make and align, then use to make antennas. The kit came with a whole lot of videos on what you can use the noise bridge to do, check his webpage out vk3aqzkits. Cheers, Adam VK2YK

[@wx9dx]

Oh and be sure the lid does not turn on the meter when you close the lid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@loisekrumelchen9932]

Hallo Leute diese Videos ist zwar gut aber es gibt auf dem kanal Toastbrot LP noch besser:D guckt ihn euch bitte an:D