Recommend an antenna analyzer

[2NC995]

Holidays have came and gone, and I need to get serious about getting an antenna analyzer!

Looking at the MFJ-259D. I’m wanting something that works beyond 30mhz...for future plans.

Any thoughts?

 

[sp5it]

NanoVNA
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/
Mike

 

[2NC995]

NanoVNA
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/
Mike

Thats over my head. Lol.

Looking now at the product on Amazon and etc. would be happy to save that kind of coin.

 

[sp5it]

Far better than MFJ. Light years ahead I would say.
Mike

 

[Woody-202]

Holidays have came and gone, and I need to get serious about getting an antenna analyzer!

Looking at the MFJ-259D. I’m wanting something that works beyond 30mhz...for future plans.

Any thoughts?

The MFJ 259 works good. I've owned several (same, and different versions) over the last 20 years and never had an issue. After buying the first one "new", I've bought the others off QRZ or QTH adverts for a much more reasonable price.

 

[2NC995]

The MFJ 259 works good. I've owned several (same, and different versions) over the last 20 years and never had an issue. After buying the first one "new", I've bought the others off QRZ or QTH adverts for a much more reasonable price.

Good to know! Thanks!

 

[Riverman]

I have a RigExpert AA-54 and love it. Not sure they still make that same model but you can’t go wrong with their products.

https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/

 

[Slowmover]

I have a RigExpert AA-54 and love it. Not sure they still make that same model but you can’t go wrong with their products.

https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/

X2

The truck drivers of my “acquaintance “ (Net, truckstop) want this one or have it. The lower model loses by comparison.

This is also my year for finally getting one. The 54 (equiv), the 55.

If DX ENGINEERING carries a product I feel pretty good about its quality (few, if any, returns).

The ones that work to your spec are quite a bit higher in price.

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[2NC995]

I have a RigExpert AA-54 and love it. Not sure they still make that same model but you can’t go wrong with their products.

https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/

Unfortunately, it looks like the current version tops out at 55mhz.

 

[Slowmover]

Unfortunately, it looks like the current version tops out at 55mhz.

Right. See the 400 and others.

 

[2NC995]

Right. See the 400 and others.

Will inquire further.

With you on DxEngineering. I like sending my business there.

 

[DXman]

Got my Rig Expert AA30 from DX Engineering - I like it lots better than the MFJ 259.

 

[M0GVZ]

Nano-VNAs are taking over from everything else. They'll do a simple SWR curve if that's all you want. You can either get a cheap version with a 2.8" screen or a more expensive version with a 4.3" screen. On the smaller screen versions make sure you buy the ones that say they have the metal shields as some don't so can suffer from spurious readings due to lack of screening. I'm looking at the Nano-VNA-H although there's a new version supposedly coming out that increases the range from 900MHz to a couple of GHz.

You can connect them to a laptop or phone and do a whole lot more with them.

 

[2NC995]

I was leaning hard toward the Rig Expert AA-230...to the point I was about ready to pull the trigger.

But...can’t get past the VNAs at a little over 1/10 the price. Just have to make sure that I’m not getting a kit in a box that I won’t understand. As I read (and watch YouTube), it doesn’t seem so bad.

 

[Slowmover]

I was leaning hard toward the Rig Expert AA-230...to the point I was about ready to pull the trigger.

But...can’t get past the VNAs at a little over 1/10 the price. Just have to make sure that I’m not getting a kit in a box that I won’t understand. As I read (and watch YouTube), it doesn’t seem so bad.

That was my first reaction.
I need a new phone this year, so, time to read up.

A discussion on QRZ
Sales at Amazon

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