The RigExpert AA 230 Zoom antenna analyzer is designed to analyze your antenna from 0.1 to 230 MHz. This lets you tune the antenna to resonance by measuring SWR, and return loss. It also checks for cable loss and cable shortages. It checks other parameters of cable, and antenna systems from 100 kHz to 230 mHz.
The AA 230 measures capacitance or inductance of reactive load, and is good for making matching stubs. A built-in ZOOM capability makes graphical measurements especially effective. A quick check out of an antenna system after a natural event like storms, lightning, and hurricanes.
A 290 × 220 color TFT display is bright and sharp with 63 x 6 rows of waterproof entry keys. You can connect it to a computer with a USB to UART cable(printer cable). It checks single band SWR or can be set to analyze multiple bands at once with an SWR chart by extending scanning range.
Includes a non volatile memory with100 slots to save measurement results, and a multi language interface. Comes with a two year warranty.
Measurement Impedance
- 25, 50, 75 and 100-Ohm systems
SWR measurement range:
- 1 to 100 in numerical modes
- 1 to 10 in chart modes
R and X range:
- 0-10000
- -10000-10000 in numerical modes
- 0-1000
- -1000-1000 in chart modes
Display modes:
- SWR at single/multiple frequencies
- SWR chart- 20 to 500 points
- Return loss
- Return loss chart, 20 to 500 points
- R, X, Z, L, C at single frequency
- R, X chart, 20 to 500 points
- Smith chart, 20 to 500 points
- TDR chart
- Cable tools characteristics, loss and impedance
Specifications:
- N type connector
- Square signal output
- -10 dBm @ 50 Ohm load
- Four 1.5V AAA alkaline batteries
- Powered from PC when connected
- 3.2" x 7.2" x 1.3"
- 30 - 104° F Operating Temp
- 8.32 oz
RigExpert AA 230 Zoom
The color display is nice, but hard to see in direct sunlight. It is great for building antennas, because there is an "ALL" setting that lets you see all the parameters at once. I like to hold the check button in SWR and SWR chart to put it into constant measurement and watch the changes as I raise the antenna.
Checking multiple bands SWR and sweep curves is very helpful, I can not image tuning an antenna without an analyzer. Being able to zoom in on a frequency is useful. I find the smith chart to be a nice feature, even if It took me a few hours to completely understand it.
The batteries do not seem to last as long as advertised, and a new set of fresh batteries does not bring the indicator to half scale. Sometimes when changing settings it will go into a steady tone, and the only way to clear it is to remove a battery. The battery door and lock could be better designed.
I went through some old coax checking for faults, and removing them making it useful again. I have not tried checking the velocity factor or connecting it to a computer. At a friends house, I saw a some graphs on his computer and found them highly useful for tuning his antenna.
The RigExpert AA 230 Zoom may have a few complaints, but I have not used a better analyzer. It is a must have for antenna building.