Fast Facts

• In 1981, Elektor magazine published a DIY digital voltmeter and frequency counter project.
• The heart of the build was the 74C928, a chip that simplified counting and display functions.
• Old electronics magazines often included full schematics and printed circuit board (PCB) layouts for home assembly.
• Modern enthusiasts like Bettina Neumryn revive these projects, revealing both nostalgia and technical education.
• Building such retro test gear today often requires creative sourcing of rare or obsolete parts.

Resurrecting the Spirit of DIY Electronics

Picture a kitchen table in 1981, scattered with resistors, breadboards, and the latest issue of Elektor. The promise: build your own digital voltmeter and frequency counter - tools that, at the time, would have cost a small fortune off-the-shelf. For countless hobbyists, these magazine projects weren’t just weekend distractions; they were gateways to mastering electronics and understanding the invisible pulses that powered the technological revolution.

The Anatomy of a Vintage Test Bench

The Elektor project at the center of this renaissance was ambitious but approachable. Its digital voltmeter used a clever trick: by converting voltage (the “pressure” of electricity) into a frequency (how often something happens per second), it could use a simple counting chip to display measurements. Frequency counters themselves - devices that tally up rapid electronic pulses - relied on a 74C928 integrated circuit, a small silicon brain that handled both counting and driving the numeric display.

Building these devices meant more than just following diagrams. Hobbyists had to source parts - sometimes scavenging old radios, sometimes etching their own circuit boards with caustic chemicals in the garage. The process was messy, challenging, and deeply satisfying. It also fostered a culture of sharing: magazines like Elektor, Popular Electronics, and Radio-Electronics published not just ideas, but blueprints, inviting readers to tinker, modify, and improve.

Legacy, Lessons, and the Modern Revival

Today, retro-tech enthusiasts like Bettina Neumryn breathe new life into these projects, using YouTube to document their builds and demystify the electronics of yesteryear. Their work is a bridge: for those who remember the analog age, it’s pure nostalgia; for the new generation, it’s a hands-on crash course in how things work at the most fundamental level.

What’s striking is how the same challenges persist. Many original components - especially chips like the 74C928 - are long discontinued, forcing builders to scour online auctions, cannibalize old devices, or even design modern replacements. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of DIY: the thrill of making something from scratch, the joy of understanding, and the pride in holding a working tool that you built with your own hands.

WIKICROOK

• Digital Voltmeter: A digital voltmeter is a device that measures electrical voltage and displays the result as a numerical value on a digital screen.
• Frequency Counter: A frequency counter measures how many times a repeating event, like an electronic pulse, occurs within a set period, ensuring accurate signal analysis.
• Integrated Circuit (IC): An Integrated Circuit (IC) is a tiny chip made of semiconductor material that houses many miniaturized components to perform electronic functions.
• PCB (Printed Circuit Board): A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is a flat board that supports and connects electronic components using copper tracks instead of wires.
• Op Amp (Operational Amplifier): An Op Amp is an electronic component that amplifies tiny electrical signals, commonly used in measurement, audio, and control circuits.