An automatic gate control system for automatically controlling the gate of a multifunction counter for maximum resolution within a fixed maximum time limit includes a Gate Control Apparatus for Setting the Input Signal Counting Interval patented by Ian T. Band and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,097 issued Sept. 19, 1972, a timer responsive to a Q output of a D-type flip-flop and serially connected with an input of an OR gate and a Q output of the D-type flip-flop. The OR gate applies a set signal to a second flip-flop having a Q output coupled to a "D" input of the first flip-flop.