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MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
Anyone have an inkling of what you get for your £350-odd?
Is it a simple matter of a VFO together with a VSWR bridge to assess the difference between the forward and reverse waves? Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? Just curious. Also, is the DG8SAQ VNWA pretty much the same principle, or will it also assess transfer functions? These questions are raised by the possibility of resurrecting a project with a former colleague from uni 43 years ago, now that we are both retired, although it will be dismissed cynically as vapourware by some nasty individual, to produce a speccy covering up to 10GHz together with tracking genny but based aroind COTS components that feature more and more in domestic white goods. As I said, at the moment, it's just a feasibility investigation, but the target is to equal the persformance of HP, Agilent, and R&S instruments of, say, 20 years ago, but coming in at of the order of £200. Obviously, all the intelligence will be based around the ubiquitous PC (which will have a hidden cost of £200+ extra), so all that needs to be considered in reality is the signal paths. |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
"gareth" wrote in message ... Anyone have an inkling of what you get for your £350-odd? Is it a simple matter of a VFO together with a VSWR bridge to assess the difference between the forward and reverse waves? Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? Just curious. Also, is the DG8SAQ VNWA pretty much the same principle, or will it also assess transfer functions? These questions are raised by the possibility of resurrecting a project with a former colleague from uni 43 years ago, now that we are both retired, although it will be dismissed cynically as vapourware by some nasty individual, to produce a speccy covering up to 10GHz together with tracking genny but based aroind COTS components that feature more and more in domestic white goods. As I said, at the moment, it's just a feasibility investigation, but the target is to equal the persformance of HP, Agilent, and R&S instruments of, say, 20 years ago, but coming in at of the order of £200. Obviously, all the intelligence will be based around the ubiquitous PC (which will have a hidden cost of £200+ extra), so all that needs to be considered in reality is the signal paths. just swish the vfo ....money saved |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
In rec.radio.amateur.antenna gareth wrote:
Anyone have an inkling of what you get for your ?350-odd? One could read the specifications on the manufactures web site for the 6 different models that cost around $300. Is it a simple matter of a VFO together with a VSWR bridge to assess the difference between the forward and reverse waves? Not quite. Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? That depends on whether or not you have the skills to utilize the information such devices provide. Just curious. Also, is the DG8SAQ VNWA pretty much the same principle, or will it also assess transfer functions? Did you mean plot a transfer function? -- Jim Pennino |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
wrote in message ... Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? That depends on whether or not you have the skills to utilize the information such devices provide. Most of the hams I have seen with the MFJ do not have the skills to really use it and a simple swr meter would do just as well or beter for them. |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
In rec.radio.amateur.antenna Ralph Mowery wrote:
wrote in message ... Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? That depends on whether or not you have the skills to utilize the information such devices provide. Most of the hams I have seen with the MFJ do not have the skills to really use it and a simple swr meter would do just as well or beter for them. That's a sad comment and contrary to my experience, though most of the hams I know are also engineers or technicians in real life. -- Jim Pennino |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
wrote in message ... In rec.radio.amateur.antenna Ralph Mowery wrote: wrote in message ... Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? That depends on whether or not you have the skills to utilize the information such devices provide. Most of the hams I have seen with the MFJ do not have the skills to really use it and a simple swr meter would do just as well or beter for them. That's a sad comment and contrary to my experience, though most of the hams I know are also engineers or technicians in real life. professionals should take up another hobby ...... |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
wrote in message ... Most of the hams I have seen with the MFJ do not have the skills to really use it and a simple swr meter would do just as well or beter for them. That's a sad comment and contrary to my experience, though most of the hams I know are also engineers or technicians in real life. Our local club has about 55 members. About 1/4 of them never show up and I am not even sure why they are on the roster,but they do pay the dues every year. About 5 are XYLs and dubt any of them have any technical skills. There are 2 or 3 that are or have been involved with broadcast radio or TV. One that was a 2 way man at the highway patrol. One or two that had electrical or electronic education in college that were not into RF work. There were a couple of more that had some other college education such as a doctor or business. Overall, out of 55 people maybe 2 or 3 could actually use the analizer to do something that a simple SWR meter would not do, just get the swr on the antenna down. |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message ... wrote in message ... Most of the hams I have seen with the MFJ do not have the skills to really use it and a simple swr meter would do just as well or beter for them. That's a sad comment and contrary to my experience, though most of the hams I know are also engineers or technicians in real life. Our local club has about 55 members. About 1/4 of them never show up and I am not even sure why they are on the roster,but they do pay the dues every year. About 5 are XYLs and dubt any of them have any technical skills. There are 2 or 3 that are or have been involved with broadcast radio or TV. One that was a 2 way man at the highway patrol. One or two that had electrical or electronic education in college that were not into RF work. There were a couple of more that had some other college education such as a doctor or business. Overall, out of 55 people maybe 2 or 3 could actually use the analizer to do something that a simple SWR meter would not do, just get the swr on the antenna down. probably just bored jaded professionals .... |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
In rec.radio.amateur.antenna Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
wrote in message ... In rec.radio.amateur.antenna Ralph Mowery wrote: wrote in message ... Despite its high price and snazzy interface, does it provide any more useful information then the tried-and-trusted (transistorised!) GDO? That depends on whether or not you have the skills to utilize the information such devices provide. Most of the hams I have seen with the MFJ do not have the skills to really use it and a simple swr meter would do just as well or beter for them. That's a sad comment and contrary to my experience, though most of the hams I know are also engineers or technicians in real life. professionals should take up another hobby ...... Why? -- Jim Pennino |
MFJ Antennae analysers? VNWA?
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