This isn't necessarily inexpensive, but it's a nice tool for antenna
analysis. I have one. The AEA VIA-HF Analyst generates a low RF signal from
100 KHz to 54 Mhz. It'll sweep a range or sit on a frequency you enter via
the keyboard.
There's several things I like about it. The graphic display is one. Another
is being able to sweep an antenna at it's terminals on the top of the tower
and bring the VIA down to the shack to load the data into your computer for
review. You can make an antenna change and then compare the before/after
graphs. No guessing about "what changed".
My only negative is that it eats batteries if you don't turn it off (8
AA's), although NiMH's help in this department. And like all analyzers, if
there's a nearby high-power RF field, the analyzer can be useless (Field
Day, 50-KW broadcaster down the block, etc.).
The VIA-HF product is in the lower left corner:
http://www.aeatechnology.com/products/swr
Ham reviews here: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2494
73 de Bob - KØRC in CHS
The Minnesota QSO Party - Saturday, Feb 7, 2009 - details here:
www.w0aa.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "K1TTT" <K1TTT@ARRL.NET>
To: <k3lr@k3lr.com>; "'reflector cq-contest'" <CQ-Contest@Contesting.COM>;
"'YCCC'" <yccc@yccc.org>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] wtb, quick rx checker
> The other bands would be nice, but that sounds like a good start anyway.
>
>
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Tim Duffy K3LR [mailto:k3lr@k3lr.com]
>> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 16:19
>> To: 'K1TTT'; 'reflector cq-contest'; 'YCCC'
>> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] wtb, quick rx checker
>>
>> Hi Dave,
>>
>> The Elecraft XG-2 is perfect for this. Inexpensive and accurate!
>>
>> 73!
>> Tim K3LR
>> http://www.k3lr.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
>> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K1TTT
>> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 9:52 AM
>> To: reflector cq-contest; YCCC
>> Subject: [CQ-Contest] wtb, quick rx checker
>>
>> Is there a simple tool out there that generates a 'relatively' stable
>> signal
>> that could be used for a quick check of receiver sensitivity? Not a lab
>> type instrument, but something handheld that could be plugged in to a
>> receiver and generate switchable s1/s9/s9+20db type power levels from
>> 160m
>> to 10m. I have had a couple cases recently when I would turn on a radio
>> and
>> it just seemed hard of hearing, but not dead... twice I have found bad
>> roofing filters, but one I have now that doesn't seem to be the problem.
>> But the only way I have to test it are some old relatively unstable
>> generators or just T it in with another 'assumed' good radio and compare
>> received signals.
>>
>>
>> David Robbins K1TTT
>> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
>> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
>> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
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