Time Appliances Project Call #150 (January 14, 2026)

Abstract: Developing a high-precision frequency counter requires overcoming significant signal integrity and timing hurdles. This presentation details the four-year development cycle of the tinyGTC, a low-cost, state-of-the-art frequency measurement tool. We examine the transition from initial breadboard prototypes to several generations of an integrated system, including a deep dive into why these integrated designs failed to meet performance specs. Attendees will learn about the specific design iterations, hardware debugging techniques, and the architectural choices that ultimately achieved high-performance frequency and time-interval measurement in a compact form factor. Speaker: After a career in engineering management, Erik Kaashoek decided retirement was the perfect excuse to get back to the workbench. He’s best known in the radio world for creating the tinySA, a project born from his drive to make spectrum analysis accessible to everyone. Lately, he has become immersed in the nuances of time, frequency, and phase measurement, resulting in the tinyPFA and tinyGTC. Driven by deep technical curiosity, Erik loves nothing more than digging into the weeds of a problem and translating his understanding into affordable, real-world solutions.