Larry, A kit is a great idea! Avoid temptations for an instrument that tries to do everything and ends up doing many things poorly.
I had hopes that the AMQRP Micro908 kit would be a better replacement for my MFJ259, but alas, it is very inaccurate for impedances that vary much from 50 ohms resistive. IMHO, its bridge needs a total redesign to make it a useful instrument. Of course, the N2PK VNA should be a great instrument if I can ever get around to completing it, but it is not a tool to use at the top of a tower - it needs the computer attached to be useful. 73, Don W3FPR > -----Original Message----- > > I have the MFJ, Autek Vector Analyst and AEA CIA. Without question the > most accurate is the AEA, but I usually grab the Autek because of its > size. It also resolves sign of X. The tuning is touchy though, and the > menus are a hassle. I hadn't thought of an antenna analyzer product, > since the field is so crowded, but maybe there's a niche for a simple > device, along the lines of the MFJ, but smaller and with better product > build (ie, user built kit ;-) and battery life. Maybe also with the > ability to determine sign of phase angle. > > Larry N8LP > > > > Craig D. Smith wrote: > > I have a MFJ259B. Had to hold my nose to shell out the $250 or so for > > something with that build quality and design flaws (size, > battery system, > > etc). That said, next to my transceiver, it is the piece of > equipment I use > > most often and it does do the job intended. I would feel naked > without it. > > Every ham should have one or something equivalent. > > > > The features and quality of ham equipment these days is astounding, but > > strangely there, in my estimation, is no really good antenna > analyzer on the > > market. I think the MFJ is the best overall unit available, > and that is a > > sad statement. Most analyzers (see Eham reviews) score lower > than the MFJ. > > The Palstar gets good marks for size, quality, etc, but does not have an > > analog meter which I think is an essential user interface for convenient > > usage. > > > > So I agree with the comment some others have made - there is a > big market > > for a good antenna analyzer - especially with all the new ham > licenses that > > will be minted soon. My wish list includes: About half the > physical size of > > the MFJ, analog meter plus LCD display, decent battery life, frequency > > coverage from 1.5 to 150 MHz, price about $250 or $200 for a > kit. I don't > > need automated plotting or computer interface. Either Elecraft or Larry > > Phipps have the technical expertise and kitting experience to > do a great job > > with such a project. I hope they are listening!! > > > > 73 Craig AC0DS > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.10/720 - Release Date: 3/12/2007 7:19 PM _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
