📻 Mcbazel SF401 Plus Radio Portable Frequency Counter Meter – 27Mhz to 3000Mhz with CTCCSS DCS Decoder Review

I have been using one of these at work for a couple of years now. (I'm a two-way radio tech.) It's not something you'd want to use to set a radio on frequency, but look at the price of the thing! It's great for guesstimating what frequency and CTCSS (PL) code a customer is using. It's ultra light weight and slips into a pocket. The battery life is decent. The display is easy to read but has a lot of tiny numbers in it that they don't explain. Of course, there are a few annoying things about it.

This product initially out of the box was great in till the first charge and the battery wouldn't charge could only use it plugged in. Asked for a replacement because product was defective. Got second product battery is fine but screen started to flicker and now it is complete snow white and you cant tell whats on the screen. Both products look used when initially opening box don't recommend buying this unless you want to send it back a bunch.

Not worth it.Purchased with intent to use as a Frequency counter for ham radios. It is not accurate enough. It also does not seem to pick up a frequency unless the antennas are almost touching.

Used this to check cheap Cobra gmrs/frs radio frequencies. Thought Cobras radios were crap as every channel was off proper specification. Used an SDR and found out Cobras are right on, Surecom always wrong. NICE.

Purchased unit to read frequency of remote controls. 318. //333. 300/310. Megs so far the only thing it will read is a two way handheld walkie talkie. But it was low in price n looked good just didn't work

I needed to clone a set of radios that nobody at work knew the tones or frequencies. In 15 minutes I was able to accurately reproduce all frequencies and digital tones and was then able to program a group of radios in no time. It paid for itself on it's very first use. The tones were exact. The frequencies were very close. But knowing how radio frequencies are allocated I was able to adjust the stated frequencies to the closest allocated frequency and completed the task without problem. This…

Excellent frequency counter for the money. I believe in SureComm, as I also bought their antenna anlyzer with impressive results. Perfect for field work as it will fit in your pocket!

Meh would sum it up. This - like any review of "cheap Chinese junk" products - has to be understood in terms of what you pay. For $100 or $500, this thing would be horrible trash. For what this is going for, it is pretty amazing it works at all!A nice surprise was the built in and pretty well charged battery. I put the long antenna on and tried it out. You have to be *close*. This is NOT an RF sniffer to go find a hidden transmitter or test a radio from across the street. I tested it…

Make sure to remove the protective film on the display! I didn't and it appeared scratched. Good unit with the exception of the last digit that rounds off.

Comes with two antennas. Antennas should be better labeled. Analog detection is good. Digital was inaccurate most of the time experiencing frequency hopping in a semi controlled environment.

Distance to source is complained about in a lot of reviews but if you know how these things work then you understand WHY you have to be within a foot or less. It works perfectly and I will keep mine forever!

I'm using this to check that a lot of different radios are on their assigned frequency. Works simply and quickly. I was able to check both digital and analog radios so far. Highly recommend this little device!

Not a commercial piece of equipment by any means. But for occasional use with amateur radio it seems to be fine Crap, Antenna broke. Off within a week.

Easy to use, readable interface. It is very accurate, and highly portable. Definitely a handy tool to have around if you need to quickly identify a frequency output

The range of this product listed in the description was very optimistic. Real world use reveals less than balanced sensitivity across the RF spectrum. Despite, its obvious shortcomings, the product does represent a fair amount of value as it presents more technology than previously, just years ago, imagined at its price point.

First impression was very good however I find on the UHF frequencies this device often fails to decode and display the to first impression was very good however I find on the UHF frequencies this device often fails to decode and display the CTCSS. tone

It reads frequency precisely. Definetely no complaint. For precise reading, the smaller antenna will read in the 300- 400 mhz, and the taller antenna will serve for lower freqs such as 100 mhz - 300+ mhz. Nice product.

Scans frequency and codes in just few seconds. Accurate frequency reading but the DCS reading was different from the one programmed on the radio. Searched online and found out it's an inverted CDCSS (DPL). Looked at the chart that somebody posted online and the DCS was correct. This frequency counter is accurate, portable and not too expensive. I wish the freq counter had an option to convert the inverted CDCSS to standard code.

Works on close range = when hold in one hand and the counter in the other. Good for checking unknown transmitters and/or handhelds.Works best with the longer antenna for some reason.If you want to scan your block or surroundings for transmissions, this is NOT the product for you.

During the last hurricane response there were two agencies arguing on what frequency they were transmitting on. Without a laptop to read their radios I was able to tell each one what frequency they were transmitting on with this little handheld. For the price this frequency counter is amazing. I have deployed to three disasters and I keep this in my go back because it always comes in handy. It tough, and seen a little abuse due to the weather but it keeps on working. Highly recommend this…