[TowerTalk] Autek VA1 Owners/Users ?

[Red]

I've owned a VA1 for several years.  While it isn't built like my Bird 
wattmeter or a GR impedance bridge, it appears better built than several 
items of mighty fine junk that I own and it has never failed like 
several of them have.  I've tested it by measuring components of known 
value and it is always close.  I've adjusted antennas with it and their 
measured SWR agrees with Z measured on the VA1.  It consumes batteries 
rapidly and I have considered powering it with an external battery, but 
support from AUTEK in that regard has been poor.  Measured battery drain 
is within what AUTEK specified.  Since they wouldn't answer my question 
regarding internal voltage regulation or whether a 12 volt external 
supply would harm it, I will power it through a 9 volt regulator if I 
use a 12 volt battery.  I will use twisted pair shielded lead for any 
external power supply, with RF filtering at the input of the regulator, 
to preclude RFI on the power lead from upsetting the VA1.  I enjoy the 
useful range and the many parameters it can display.

I'm interested in the experience of others, too.

73 de WOØW

Mike Rhodes wrote:

>Just  wondering how you like the VA1 and if you have compared it to anything
>else? Read the mixed reviews on e-ham and get the impression that it is a
>very nice unit - when it works - which may not be too long, that the
>constructon and quality control is somewhat shakey, and that the warranty
>may not be worth the paper it is written on. Geesh, why am I still looking
>at this thing? Guess it is because there doesn't seem to be much middle
>ground in the e-ham reviews. Seems like things are either the greatest thing
>since (insert your favorite here) or the biggest piece of crap imaginable.
>So how about some real world opinions.
>
>Tnx & 73 de
>Mike / W8DN
>
>
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