On 9/10/2012 1:46 PM, Fred McKenzie wrote:
In article , NM5K wrote:

On 9/9/2012 7:36 PM, Channel Jumper wrote:

I could have bought a good antenna analyzer last year for $85.00 and did
not because a friend of mine wanted it and bought it for $65.00

I think they are overrated.. I've never needed or owned one so far..

I had a plain Two Meter Ringo back in the 70s, before they came out with
the "Ranger" versions. It worked well, but gain claimed was probably
DBi rather than DBd.

If they rated a ringo using dbd, it would be zero.. Which doesn't
look too good in the ad's.. :|
So they use dbi to make for manlier gain figures..


I also have three generations of MFJ antenna analyzers. I don't know if
they are overrated, but they are very handy. They save a lot of time
compared to using a transmitter and SWR bridge to set up an antenna.

Dunno, I'm pretty danged fast using just an SWR meter. But I already
know what to expect, how to quickly know if I'm long or short, etc..
All the analyzers do for me is verify what I already know from
looking at the SWR meter, which in my case is built into the radio,
assuming I'm on the Icom. :/
I like not having to carry extra gadgets..