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Antenna impedance analyzer comparison
Hi - I am looking for an impedance analyzer. Primarily for antenna
measurements (only 1,8-30 MHz) and secondarily for misc. lab measurements (L,C,Q measurements, signal generation, etc.). The possibilities I have been looking at are (in no particular order, prices approximate): a) MFJ-259B ($300) b) MFJ-269 ($220) c) AEA VIA ($600) d) Autek VA1 ($200) d) Micro908 kit from AmQRP ($210) e) N2PK Vector Network Analyzer project ($150) At first glance I have the following points/questions: - Does MFJ-269 offer anything over 259B in addition to VHF/UHF? - W8WWV tests (web) don't indicate that AEA VIA performs better than the MFJs. - Micro908 is new. Any experiences, comments on impedance accuracy? - N2PK may be the most accurate(?) but needs a PC and involved construction. - Any comments on the Autek? All suggestions are appreciated, based on experience and technical quality. 73s de Kristinn, TF3KX |
I have the Autek RF1 and enjoy it a lot. My only comment is that
battery consumption is probably more of an issue than people realize. I feel sorry for those with an analyser that uses a lot of batteries. My Autek is small and power consumption is low, but even then, replacing the single 9v battery is a pain because it always fails when I'm somewhere up in the air!. |
I've used an Autek VA1 for a few years. Carried it on a
sailboat to the Bahamas (in a plastic sack). No problems with it at all. I unplug the battery when it is not in use. The VA1 is a very useful piece of equipment. My opinion of Autek construction and documentation, however, is that it makes MFJ look good. 73, Chuck |
"Kristinn Andersen, TF3KX" wrote in message om... Hi - I am looking for an impedance analyzer. Primarily for antenna measurements (only 1,8-30 MHz) and secondarily for misc. lab measurements (L,C,Q measurements, signal generation, etc.). The possibilities I have been looking at are (in no particular order, prices approximate): a) MFJ-259B ($300) b) MFJ-269 ($220) c) AEA VIA ($600) d) Autek VA1 ($200) d) Micro908 kit from AmQRP ($210) e) N2PK Vector Network Analyzer project ($150) Comparing the N2PK VNA to the others is not quite fair as it is in a league by itself- like comparing a go cart to a BMW. Dale W4OP |
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 20:52:10 GMT, Dale Parfitt wrote:
"Kristinn Andersen, TF3KX" wrote in message om... Hi - I am looking for an impedance analyzer. Primarily for antenna measurements (only 1,8-30 MHz) and secondarily for misc. lab measurements (L,C,Q measurements, signal generation, etc.). The possibilities I have been looking at are (in no particular order, prices approximate): a) MFJ-259B ($300) b) MFJ-269 ($220) c) AEA VIA ($600) d) Autek VA1 ($200) d) Micro908 kit from AmQRP ($210) e) N2PK Vector Network Analyzer project ($150) Comparing the N2PK VNA to the others is not quite fair as it is in a league by itself- like comparing a go cart to a BMW. Maybe not a league of its own--for another VNA (not out yet, but hopefully soon), see http://www.tapr.org. |
"Bob Nielsen" wrote in message ... On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 20:52:10 GMT, Dale Parfitt wrote: "Kristinn Andersen, TF3KX" wrote in message om... Hi - I am looking for an impedance analyzer. Primarily for antenna measurements (only 1,8-30 MHz) and secondarily for misc. lab measurements (L,C,Q measurements, signal generation, etc.). The possibilities I have been looking at are (in no particular order, prices approximate): a) MFJ-259B ($300) b) MFJ-269 ($220) c) AEA VIA ($600) d) Autek VA1 ($200) d) Micro908 kit from AmQRP ($210) e) N2PK Vector Network Analyzer project ($150) Comparing the N2PK VNA to the others is not quite fair as it is in a league by itself- like comparing a go cart to a BMW. Maybe not a league of its own--for another VNA (not out yet, but hopefully soon), see http://www.tapr.org. I looked at this at Dayton- from memory, I seem to recall the dynamic range was nowhere close to Paul's design and software at that time was rather crude. I'll look again, but for the price, Paul's design is hard to beat- accuracy right up there with the Agilent 40 Gigabuck units. Dale W4OP |
Kristinn Andersen, TF3KX wrote:
Hi - I am looking for an impedance analyzer. Primarily for antenna measurements (only 1,8-30 MHz) and secondarily for misc. lab measurements (L,C,Q measurements, signal generation, etc.). The possibilities I have been looking at are (in no particular order, prices approximate): a) MFJ-259B ($300) b) MFJ-269 ($220) c) AEA VIA ($600) d) Autek VA1 ($200) d) Micro908 kit from AmQRP ($210) e) N2PK Vector Network Analyzer project ($150) At first glance I have the following points/questions: - Does MFJ-269 offer anything over 259B in addition to VHF/UHF? - W8WWV tests (web) don't indicate that AEA VIA performs better than the MFJs. - Micro908 is new. Any experiences, comments on impedance accuracy? - N2PK may be the most accurate(?) but needs a PC and involved construction. - Any comments on the Autek? All suggestions are appreciated, based on experience and technical quality. 73s de Kristinn, TF3KX I have used three of these MFJ-259B - OK while it was working, but it has failed twice. I do not recommend! Autek VA1 - Nice - but fiddley to use build quality not good eats batteries! AEA VIA - Very nice, the display makes on-site adjustments and checks easy, ability to store and transfer data to a PC is useful Solid build - won't run off NICAD/NIMH - it needs 12V! N.B. I find the third party PC software better than the official AEA software 73's Stephen G8LYB |
Stephen Tompsett wrote:
Kristinn Andersen, TF3KX wrote: Hi - I am looking for an impedance analyzer. Primarily for antenna measurements (only 1,8-30 MHz) and secondarily for misc. lab measurements (L,C,Q measurements, signal generation, etc.). The possibilities I have been looking at are (in no particular order, prices approximate): a) MFJ-259B ($300) b) MFJ-269 ($220) c) AEA VIA ($600) d) Autek VA1 ($200) d) Micro908 kit from AmQRP ($210) e) N2PK Vector Network Analyzer project ($150) At first glance I have the following points/questions: - Does MFJ-269 offer anything over 259B in addition to VHF/UHF? - W8WWV tests (web) don't indicate that AEA VIA performs better than the MFJs. - Micro908 is new. Any experiences, comments on impedance accuracy? - N2PK may be the most accurate(?) but needs a PC and involved construction. - Any comments on the Autek? All suggestions are appreciated, based on experience and technical quality. 73s de Kristinn, TF3KX I have used three of these MFJ-259B - OK while it was working, but it has failed twice. I do not recommend! Autek VA1 - Nice - but fiddley to use build quality not good eats batteries! AEA VIA - Very nice, the display makes on-site adjustments and checks easy, ability to store and transfer data to a PC is useful Solid build - won't run off NICAD/NIMH - it needs 12V! N.B. I find the third party PC software better than the official AEA software At the time I attempted to review the AEA-CIA a few years ago, my worry was with the built-in firmware, which produced weird results in R-X mode (like, physically impossible). The difference between the "amateur" and "professional" leagues for impedance measurement is that the professional Vector Network Analysers use a calibration procedure to compensate for their own internal errors. This boosts the measurement accuracy into a completely different league. Of all the ones mentioned, only the N2PK and the TAPR designs can do this. All the others really are playing in the amateur league. -- 73 from Ian G3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB) http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek |
The N2PK would be the best, except that it only runs when
connected to a laptop. I don't have a laptop, and if I did, I wouldn't want to carry it out to the antennas, and furthermore, laptop displays are usually not visible outdoors during daylight. All the others don't work if you have nearby AM BCB stations like I do. Still looking for an antenna analyzer I can really use. Rick N6RK |
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