Is the LCD that comes with this kit supposed to have a working backlight? I just received one and there appears to be no backlight.

Update: I tried cupping my hands over the LCD and there is actually a very faint glow, which I suppose is the "backlight". Not as bright as what I'm used to, but I guess it will work.

Hi everyone,

I am trying to measures a frequency to the second decimal point. ex using my fluke 115 it measure 978.7 hz, Does this device will be able to get a 987.7X Hz reading? Thanks

Sergio

Hello everyone,

I need to detect a specific frequency (770 Hz) from the ambient sound. Can I use this board with a sound sensor (like this; https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12642) and detect the desired frequency from the sound. Thanks for your help.

Regards,

Nice project. Easy to build. If you need instructions, maybe you should consider a different hobby. I bought this to use as an embedded counter for an SN76477 sound generator. It works very well in the audio range. I tested it up to 4MHz using a calibrated function generator and it tracked just fine when the input was properly terminated. I saw an error of less than a quarter percent over the range I tested it. Cleaning the board is a must. To build it, just look at the values of the parts in the kit and look at the board. It is very clear how to put it together. Lack of socket and hardware is likely what put this project under 30 bucks and I am fine with that. I have sip strip and hardware at my prototyping bench and was more than willing to use it. Don't be discouraged by the genius that is tossing this one into their scrap bin. That person should give up on electronics and get their old job back. No shame in carrying a bucket. Even Kings have to pee. And that should be plenty challenging for a person of your particular skill set. This is a great little counter for embedded projects and it is easy to assemble. If it had been much more than this price I might not have bought it simply because I was looking for cheap and easy. Thank you Sparkfun. I appreciate your work in bringing us useful tools like this.

rsp: This is a nice arduino style concept demonstration kit, but not really much of a frequency counter.
For a more realistic (while still simple) frequency counter reference design, try this:
http://electronics-diy.com/50MHz_Frequency_Meter_Counter.php
Ummm yea, I ordered that kit 9 months ago. Out of the box you had to use jumper wires because of a mistake with the PCB. I wasn't surprised when pads started lifting during soldering. I emailed and complained. I was told I must have soldered it incorrectly - I work in a PCB fabrication and assembly shop. Made me pay for a replacement PCB. When I discovered the PIC included was lacking a program, I didn't even bother to complain. Just chalked it up to getting ripped off.

Jeez - I feel like Ralphie with his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring when he discovered it was just an ad to drink Ovaltine. Come on, Sparkfun how hard would it be to include a socket for the chip and one sheet of paper with at least a pictorial of the completed product? I don't think I'm even going to bother building this - it's going right into my junk parts bin. As Ralphie said, "Sonovab*tch!"

Wow! (not the good kind of wow, either). I have to echo the comments from mcolan. It was very surprising that there were no instructions (except for Nuxie's earlier and different configuration), no socket for the chip and LCD? No standoffs for the LCD and PCB? Well, an order to Digi-Key can fix that, but still as mentioned for a small incremental extra cost some needed additions should have been provided.

Is this the same as the serial lcd kit with different firmware?

just a though how much different is this board from your serial enabled lcd that uses a arduino.?

A couple of very inexpensive additions would transform this from a flimsy product to quaity: 1. A socket for the chip. Really? You want your average hobbyist to be soldering a $6 chip in directly, risking damage, when you could supply a socket for 20 cents or less? 2. Spacers, screws, nuts to attach the boards at the corners 3. Perhaps a low-profile socket for the display to allow it to be changed 4. Pins to allow the FTDI to be used These would cost maybe a dollar more on the cost. I'd pay it to have a more complete kit.

The board ought to be reconfigured to have the two JST connectors have the same pinouts. That's kind of a sloppy error.

Some simple instructions - at least a photo of what it is supposed to look like when finished, and some hints on using it - would be useful. It's kind of confusing that you supply a second JST when it's not obviously needed, yet you don't supply more essential parts.

No assembly instructions?

Hmm... Could I hook a mic up to the input and use this as a tuner?

Not a bad little kit, at least if you get bored with it you have a half-decent Arduino dev board. See my review at: http://wp.me/pQmjR-1id

Careful! This device has two identical JST connectors, but the pinouts (+5V, GND, Freq In) are different on each! Double-check before you plug anything in.

so, you have a frequency counter and a function generator.
all you need now is an LC meter.
put everything together and you have a nice tool for frequency, inductance and capacitance measurements...
im sure that with a switch and some simple programing you could through in there a basic Volt meter.
throw it all ina shiny box...
I would buy that.

This is a nice arduino style concept demonstration kit, but not really much of a frequency counter.
For a more realistic (while still simple) frequency counter reference design, try this:
http://electronics-diy.com/50MHz_Frequency_Meter_Counter.php