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You can
write your own review of the Youkits FG-01 graphic antenna analyzer.
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KX7H
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2012 18:11
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Excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought from Ten-Tec, receive today. Immediately installed the optional battery pack and connected to my ground mount Butternut HF6V and was able to see the resonant spots for all 6 bands the antenna covers in a matter of a few seconds. This device is awesome! I have a MFJ269. This analyzer blows the MFJ away for simple SWR, Z measurements due to the graphical display. If it holds up, it will be good value.
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KJ6QVB
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 21, 2012 14:43
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Easy as walking (or climbing a ladder)!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I should preface this by saying I'm a relatively new ham, and the only other analyzer I've ever used was a "mighty fine" 259. From what I gather on this and other web sites, maybe not so fine. However, I just received my FG-01 from TenTec and it couldn't be any easier to use or read! I was able to connect it and in 2 seconds began checking SWR. It's got a BNC connector so you'll need an adapter or cable with BNC at one end and a PL-259 or SO-239 connector at the other end. Fortunately I had one laying around. Also a nice metal case even if the screws holding the cover on were WAY too tight. I bought the rechargable battery pack thinking I would have to charge it before use but low and behold it was charged enough to begin testing immediately. Small size will fit in your pocket or a small camera case. I love the graphic display! Will follow-up on this review after I've used it a bit more. Bravo, Youkits! Never thought I would say that about anything designed in UK and made in China.
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W7SAG
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 19, 2012 19:32
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Perfect for portable use
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I picked up this analyzer for portable use with my Buddipole and KX-3 (on order). I have tested it out on my base antennas and it does what it is supposed to do in about 1/4 the size and weight of other popular analyzers. The graphical representations are easy to read and the unit works very well.
Two things to note: 1. the unit is so easy to use they don't include an owner's manual. If you want a manual, you need to download it; 2. Make sure you order the internal rechargeable battery pack when you order the analyzer. Otherwise, you will spend the better part of a day trying to find 14500 size batteries and then decide to order the internal unit. The internal rechargeable unit is the better choice--don't ask me how I know ;-}
If you want a small, portable analyzer that does a great job, this is the one.
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SWL377
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 6, 2012 21:52
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Fantastic value!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This will kill MFJs model 259 product sales. Vastly better product. You get to SEE the whole SWR and impedance plot not just points on it. Smaller, better and easier to use. This little analyser will amaze and impress you. Great design.
Customer service is A+. I had a minor problem
with mine and they shipped me a replacement even before they received mine back. Emails are answered instantly and clearly. You will love doing business with You Kits.
You Kits has a bright future and the certainly deserve it. Buy one of these and your antenna behavior will be easily measured and visualized. It's a pocket sized antenna lab at a very affordable price. All this plus outstanding support and customer service. It doesn't get any better than that.
73
AF6IM
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NZ8J
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 24, 2012 17:37
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Very functional and cute as well
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just got it today, tried it out and was pleasantly surprised. I didn't know what to expect since my only experience with analyzers was the MFJ-259B I just sold. The MFJ treated me well over the years and worked really well and filled a need. I wanted to try something new and boy is this little thing nice. The one use I was concerned about how well it would work was in adjusting a tuner. Well, I couldn't be happier with the way it works, my biggest concern was how fast the display would react to changes made to the antenna tuner. No worries, it is as close to real time as you can get, makes adjusting a manual antenna tuner a breeze. It is not too complicated, but it is high tech enough to give you whats needed to check antennas, etc. Right now it's working fine, I'll post again later to see how the reliability is. All in all I'm glad I took the chance and bought it. (this is my second Youkits purchase, the HB1B 4 band QRP rig is a super little radio)
Tim
NZ8J
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VE2JL
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 29, 2011 12:11
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No more guess work at antenna time
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I cannot believe I have lived without this before. The old RF-1 is now going into the hamfest box for the spring. Printed the instruction guide from internet and followed the instructions. After 5 minutes, it becomes automatic. One switch and one multifunction knob!! The screen size could be bigger but I guess keeping the price down is a priority. 2 hours ago the package arrived at the door. 5 days from China, and I already swept my 2 antennas. Time to celebrate with a beer.
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KC1MR
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 21, 2011 08:03
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A picture is worth a thousand words
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought my FG-01 from the good folks @ TEN TEC --
all I can say is Wow ! -- tuning my Comet mobile
antenna was very easy -- the display lets U know
exactly where U are using the SWR display --
I won't be using my MFJ-259B as much .
As I said a picture is worth a thousand words &
with the SWR curve I know where I'm at after each
adjustment to an antenna !
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AA1BW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 15, 2011 11:50
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Perfect
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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It is the best antenna analyzer I have tried so far. The small LCD with the chart is so informative, that you will tune all antennas with this small wonder. The size is perfect for QRP hilltopping, so finally I will have always perfect antennas wherever I operate.
Much easier to find resonance and other data compared to the MFJ analyzer.
Highly recommended litle gem.
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ZL4TE
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 6, 2011 12:29
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Highly portable, great value
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I was after a pocket sized, pocket priced, antenna analyzer, that would be easy to use and understand. The FG-01 really fits the bill.
I ordered it direct from the manufacturer in China. The unit arrived by registered post and very well wrapped in bubble wrap. The unit came with the optional Li-on battery, a Li-on charger (US plug) and a 3 x aa cell battery holder. There was also a connector wire for the battery holder, which needs to be soldered to the leads of the battery holder, but that is no big drama. I was surprised there was no manual, but a quick look on the YouKits website and there it was.
The unit itself is about 4 inches tall by 1.25 inches deep, so really neat. There is a BNC connector and the charger socket on the top of the unit. On the front face is the on / off switch, control knob and 1.25 x 1.25 inch screen.
The battery fits inside the case which is held in place by 2 small screws. The board is all (as you would expect) surface mount, and the solder connections to the board, bnc plug etc, all looked good.
The unit operation is really very obvious. Turn on and a screen comes up telling you if the impedance curve is on or off.
I had put in the Li-on battery, and was very surprised to find that it had been fully charged, so the unit really was "ready to go".
The display then goes to the main screen. This has a graph showing the dip for minimum swr, and (if turned on) the impedance curve. This is confirmed by by a numeric readout below the graph showing swr, impedance, centre frequency, scan width and battery voltage.
Frequency is easily changed by rotating the front knob. The tuning increments can be changed easily by depressing the front knob till there is a small triangle displayed opposite the cf setting, then holding the knob down. One of the digits will change display to red and then, while holding the knob in, rotate to change to the desired tuning increment. The same procedure is used to change the scan width setting.
On a wide scan setting, and large frequency step, it is very easy to scan quickly to find the rough resonant frequency, then narrow the settings for fine tuning.
Once you are on rhe frequency you want, the graph shows the SWR and impedance (if the impedance option is turned on). This is confirmed underneath by the numeric display of SWR and impedance.
To be honest the lack of any manual, was not an issue, as I had it figured out and working in about 5 minutes.
When I installed my old tri band vertical a few years ago, I found it took ages to get a low swr on all 3 bands. Even then, it was not as good as it should have been. Using the FG-01, the adjustments were made in minutes, with a reduced swr on all 3 bands. It was also really easy to ensure the minimum swr was on the qrp frequencies that I like to use.
Using it at locations away from home with an FT817 and whatever wire (and space) is available is a breeze. The unit is so small it really does lend itself to going portable etc.
I have used MFJ offerings in the past, and had the usual problems. I find the FG-01 much easier to use and the graph is a real improvement over purely numeric displays.
I have also seen units to use with a laptop, but when working outside, I personally don't want to be messing around with a laptop.
If you want an all singing / dancing unit, then the FG-01 is probably not for you. If you want something for casual, portable use, testing out antennai etc, with a clear easy to understand display, then this more than fits the bill.
At the end of the day, it is almost $us150 (£80) cheaper than most other units, and for me it fulfils all of my requirements.
negatives - no manual, need to solder 2 wires for the aa cell pack to fit to the connector.
positives - inexpensive, very simple to use, highly portable, easy to understand graphical / digital display.
For me, the very minor negatives are more than made up for by the positives, and hence I give it a 5.
I would recommend the FG-01 to anyone who is on a budget, and does not require a professional unit costing thousands of $'s. I am really delighted with it, and it will certainly get well used.
Pete
ZL4TE
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