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Re: [TowerTalk] Antenna Analyzers

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Antenna Analyzers
From: charlie carroll <k1xx@k1xx.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2019 15:53:06 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Sorry Jim, but I have to disagree with you on the carrying cases.  I find them very convenient.  I just returned from another week on Bonaire and simply threw the cases and analyzer in my backpack for travel.  The cases are small dollar insurance for anyone who believes that portable means to move the devices off the bench!

73 charlie, k1xx

On 6/6/2019 2:20 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
On 6/6/2019 9:45 AM, Máximo EA1DDO_HK1H wrote:
But, if you can afford it, you can go to a mighty KC901, a two ports true vectorial VNA:

I've owned and loved this Vector Network Analyzer for about five years. Very well supported by the designer, EE prof DG8SAQ, and by the small company run by British hams that build and sell them. I recommend the VNWA3EC, Cost is $526.

https://www.sdr-kits.net/introducing-DG8SAQ-VNWA3

The same company also sells this very nice Vector Antenna Analyzer. I bought one last fall, and like it a lot for more portable operation. Cost is $185 plus shipping.

https://www.sdr-kits.net/VA5_Page

The VNWA is built and tested. The FA-VA5 is a kit that took be about three hours to build.  Both units can do precision TDR measurements when run from a computer using DG8SAQ's software.

The difference between a Vector NETWORK Analyzer (VNA) and an Vector ANTENNA Analyzer (VAA) is that the VNA can measure the GAIN (or loss) in a system or device. For example, it can measure the isolation between antennas, and the response (rejection) of bandpass filters.  Both can measure impedance and do TDR (that is, find faults in a feedline).  With a well designed test fixture, a good VNA can also measure high values of impedance with greater precision than a VAA. I use the VNWA to measure multi-turn ferrite common mode chokes for use at HF.

For either analyzer, I do NOT recommend the carrying case, and I DO recommend the better BNC calibration kit listed with the FA-VA5.  As I recall, shipping was in the range of $25-$35 to my QTH near San Francisco. They ship by British mail, and it comes via USPS.

A major advantage of the VNWA and FA-VA5 is that both can be powered from the USB port of the computer that runs the software. The FA-VA5 can also be used "stand-alone" on a pair of internal AA batteries.

73, Jim K9YC

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