Antenna Analyzer Recomendations

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Hello All,

I am a newbie here and starting to tinker with a few different antenna builds that I am researching for 2m and 70cm. I am looking to see what is the go to antenna analyzers that you all use. I appreciate all your input and thank you in advance.

73,

Luis (AC1KW)

[David Merchant]

Hi Luis,

I started off about 15-years ago with an MFJ 259 antenna analyzer that covered HF through 230Mhz.  However, my current go-to device is a RigExpert AA-600 which provides coverage of HF – 600 MHz, along with a bunch of extra functionality.  I really like how the RigExpert graphs the SWR curve of the antenna and can save this data to a PC for historical reference.

73,

Dave

K1DLM

[Hamilton]

Hello Luis,

Like Dave I started with a MFJ259 and traded up to a Rig Expert Zoom. The ability to see a graph is really important, especially with multi band antennas.

Another option is a nanoVNA. They are less than $50 on Amazon and can be used to over 600 MHz. It does everything a antenna analyzer does and is more accurate.

A antenna analyzer does one thing. With fewer features it can be easier to use. They are also more rugged. But they also cost six times more.

73

 

[Bryan King]

I recently purchased the Comet CAA-500MarkII to measure antenna/feed impedance and SWR. This covers 1.8 – 500Mhz, has a colorful LCD display, multiple manual sweeps in different colors so that you can see how adjustments to your antenna or feed line have an impact on results. It is a bit pricy. Built really well. This gives me the confidence that my antennas are functioning properly as designed.

[Burns FISHER]

Yep, I started with an MFJ.  Too many problems.

I don’t need one very often, but I have this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VVVCKN8

Not especially well known, the user interface is awful, but it is inexpensive and works ok for an occasional check on things.

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Thank you all,

I have some great options to weigh in, so far in my short research I have come to learn that the Rig Expert is highly recommended and the NanoVNA as well. I think as of now I am leaning towards the NanoVNA, it appeals to the techy side of me (I like gadgets). I am not done researching and this could change a hundred times from now. I don’t want to spend too much just yet as I am in the early stages of my Ham adventure. All I have so far is an HT, trying to build out a mobile setup and some various antenna builds. I have to ease my wife into this new expensive hobby of mine.

[Fred Kemmerer]

Hello Luis,

I see that you’ve narrowed your choices to either a Rig Expert or a NanoVNA. I’d like to suggest that you consider how you will use your analyzer the most as you make your final choice. If you are mostly about building electronics on the beach, then the NanoVNA with its two-port capabilities will probably serve you best. It will work great on your bench and it can be used with a computer there to make some pretty advanced circuit measurements.

On the other hand, if you want to use your analyzer to put up, tune, and troubleshoot outdoor antennas, I think the Rig Expert will serve you much better. The Rig Expert is a much more rugged device and its built-in display makes it much more suited for tasks like tuning outdoor antennas, troubleshooting coax cables once they are installed, etc.

Good luck with your projects!

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Hello Fred,

Thank you for the insight, I can see what are you talking about with the capabilities of the two analyzers I’m interesting in. I think it might serve me well to go with the Rig Expert as I build out my initial setup. I want to take advantage of the right tools out there in order to minimize the troubleshooting I will definitely be doing along the way as I am far from an expert yet.

[Author]

Posts