[TowerTalk] Antenna analyzer

[Grant Saviers]

I found the MFJ's useless at a prior QTH which had a 1 MHz BC 50kw line 
of sight 2 miles away.  The MFJ detector is energy based and not very 
frequency selective so most any nearby transmitter can cause a vague or 
no nulls on the meter.

My AIM4170 worked well in the same situation, the traces had similar 
small blips as W9AC's N2PK plot. I was measuring both a 40m and 80m 
vertical.

Grant KZ1W

On 7/17/2012 1:34 PM, Paul Christensen wrote:
>> What are the best antenna analyzers for the Ham market?  I'm referring
>> to both portable and computer based.  I have not found the MFJ line to
>> be satisfactory. I have used one for some years.
> For PC-based, any of the W5BIG analyzers sold through Array Solutions are
> good candidates.  If you don't need VHF+ capabilities, the N2PK VNA is
> excellent. Mine was supplied by M0WWA who builds them to order.   The VNWA
> seems to be popular and goes well up into the UHF range.
>
> For portable and up the tower, I would look at the RigExpert VNA series.  If
> you do any 160m antenna measuring, the PC-based VNA type analyzers will do a
> good job of rejecting AM BC interference.  Here's a link to a N2PK VNA sweep
> I took of N4NN's Marconi "T" after construction last December.  Notice the
> "blips" on the resistance (Rs) curve.  The VNA software almost completely
> ignores two very strong AM broadcast stations at 1320, 1400, 1460, and 1530
> kHz.  All four stations are located just a few miles to the south of the
> QTH.
>
> http://72.52.250.47/images/N4NN.jpg
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
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