If you go to the DigiKey catalog (www.digikey.com) there are basically 4
manufacturers. Bournes makes some pricey ones, but they also make some
small, low resolution encoders with no detents ($2.77). Pretty nice for some
things. They also have a 24 pulse model for $4.86 which has very serious
detents. Grayhill makes a number of encoders with fairly positive detents
(series 25L, $4.70). Panasonic makes encoders with a kind of soft detent.
They have a bazillion models now, ranging from 66 cents to $3.53. CTS also
makes some, and I know I've used them, but I just can't remember much about
them $2.58-$5.42.

None of these have the great feel of the $50 flavor, but you don't need that
for a lot of things.

...

"Ed" wrote in message
...
Glad to hear about these encoders; is it possible to have info on
manufacturer
to buy one? Ed.

xpyttl wrote:

"Ed." wrote in message
...
From my point of view, a VFO completely independant of the personnal
computer
is desirable. This can be done with a PIC or other microprocessor with
2
thumbwheel switches for 99 channels (or frequencies) or a two digit
display
with up and down selection buttons. Ed!

While encoders can be found for upwards of fifty bucks, plenty of
encoders
that do a much nicer job than thumbwheel switches cost barely more than
two.
And why would you use a two digit display when a nice 8 digit LCD can be
had
for around five bucks, less if you're willing to hunt around. This
stuff
may have made sense when it was all going to be lashed together with
7400
series logic chips, but with a PIC or other processor, the encoder and
LCD
display is a lot easier, and usually cheaper, to say nothing of nicer.

..