A novel phase meter with a switched capacitor phase shifter (SCPS) is described. This phase meter is a nonlinear feedback device and relies on the phase compensation principle. This works satisfactorily phase range - π/2 < ø < +π/2 under signal to noise ratios as low as -10 dB and DC offsets as high as the input signal-plus-noise peak in the signal channel. The influence of noise on the output phase noise is studied. Its steady state error curve is presented for two representative noise levels. © 1992, The Institution of Electrical Engineers. All rights reserved.