decimal frequencies

[elecLear78]

I was wondering if there anything like decimal frequencies like 450.12 etc? Is frequency a pure integer or it can have any value?

 

[jpanhalt]

Any value .

John

 

[KMoffett]

As jpanhalt said, a frequency can be any analog variable. However, regulations establishing allocation of frequency usage by "channels" is expressed in decimals.

Ken

 

[jpanhalt]

If you are interested in "decimal" frequencies, investigate one of the very inexpensive DDS modules based on the AD9850/AD9851 chips. The complete module from China will cost less than the chip alone from other suppliers. The only problem with sub-Hertz frequencies is they are boring to watch on an oscilloscope. That is, if you have other things to do. A decent frequency counter may take an unusually long time to lock onto the signal.

More seriously, if you are really interested in fractional frequencies (i.e., whether they are continuous or quantitized, read about black body radiation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-body_radiation

John