On a sunny day (Wed, 26 Apr 2006 13:31:08 GMT) it happened "GHB"
wrote in
:

Does your Heathkit counter allow for the first IF frequency diifference
between the operating freq. you wish to keep track of and the VCO output
freq. you will be monitoring?

Very long time ago (yes I am that old), in the late sixties, I made a freq counter
with some nixi (neon) tubes.
To measure frequency for the short wave radio, I build a small one transistor
LC oscillator, tuned it so it would push away the station I was hearing, then read
the frequency.
That way you do not need to substract or make any connections to the radio.
You could also set to a frequency and then tune the radio for that, then switch it off.
One of the first receivers with digital readout :-)
Even did a demo-evening for the local hams.