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| Reviews Summary for Autek Analyst |
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Reviews: 21
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Average rating: 3.5/5
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MSRP: $199.95
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Description: Model VA1 The Autek analyst is the only low priced antenna instrument that permits you to perform complex analysis of the antenna system. The MFJ cannot do this.( read their manual). If you want more than just VSWR, go Autek.
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More info: http://www.autekresearch.com/va1.htm
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VK2NU
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 23, 2004 10:04
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Works Ok, but a bit shoddy !!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I shouldn't complain too much as the unit works OK and does the job, but if I had built a kit or homebrew project that looked this shoddy, I would throw it away and start again.
I would imagine most owners would be happy to pay an extra $20 or so for a decent metal case, with good quality buttons, dials and display !! The unit is still going well after a couple of years, but you get the impression it would fall apart pretty easily with any rough treatment
I also own their WM1 SWR, Power meter, and again, this works very well, but presentataion is pretty poor.
If the review was based on performance I would be probably give them a 4-5, but they let themselves down on the presentation, and service is also pretty ordinary.
My next analyser would have to be one of the metal cased MFJ units !!
David, VK2NU
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K3GM
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 4, 2004 13:10
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Must have tool....
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I've used mine to tune verticals, dipoles and mobile antennas all with great success. If have one complaint, it concerns the "Tune" knob. The adjustment is too coarse and will jump around during adjustment. I'd gladly pay the difference if they would install precision pots. Despite that problem, the little box makes antenna work a breeze.
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WF7I
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Rating: 1/5
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Feb 13, 2004 18:40
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Was it just me?
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The thing worked great for awhile then just up and died. The display is totally blank. New batteries don't help. Also the display appears to have developed some sort of a "leak", as the corner turned black. Was not subjected to rough treatment either. 90% of the time it just sat on a shelf. I feel like I threw $300 into the trash. Anyone else experience this??
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W4TQT
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 15, 2003 17:34
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Tiny Gem
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Very pleased so far. Once in a while it hiccups, but most of the time it gives very repeatable, reliable readings. It really has a lot of smarts built into a miniature box. The small size is one of the reasons I bought it and I have not been disappointed. It even survived my accidentally hooking it up backwards to an external 9V supply. It smoked a little and I thought I had ruined it. But perhaps because the supply was limited to 800 MA and I unhooked it as soon as I smelled and saw smoke it appears to be ok. Really removes the guess work from antenna installation.
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PE1LTA
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 17, 2002 02:09
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Update on usage
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Have used the analyzer for couple of months now. Build numerous wire based antenna's and must say this device rocks.
Some experiments I have used it for;
1) matching elements, 1/4 labda stubs, baluns etc. Using the Z method, very accurate results. The always assumed VF 0.66 for solid coax can be easily 0.64 or something like that. Nice that the device proves this. The difference? Build a stub for 160M and use this stub for double bazooka, you will find the difference....
2) different antenna's; multi band dipoles, all connected parallel to each other. Piece of cake. Delta loop, Multiband Quad and vertikal antenna's. Play around with some wire to make short 40 meter mobile wip.
It is educational to measure Xs, Rs and such and play around with formula's to "predict" good SWR. Only to find out that the device isn't lying.
I never use the SWR meter anymore I bought for HF. The results with the Autek are much more accurate and easy to understand.
Problems I found until now;
1) the tuning knobs get "sticky" when stored for a while in the included package. It looks like the mechanism gets locked when applying some pressure to it for a while.
2) High temperature changes, will move the frequency accuracy. Logical but since the signal isn't specteral clean, no way to use the HF rig to check the exact carrier frequency.
73, de PA1AP (ex PE1LTA)
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AD5IU
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 28, 2002 08:20
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Wouldn't be without it
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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OK, so the enclosure leaves a bit to be desired. To me, that's purely 'cosmetics'.
The real decision on whether this device is worth having (and ergo, its rating) should be based on does it WORK and is it USEFUL? And the answer to that question is absolutely YES! I'm like N8LP in that I too find the RF-1 absolutely indespensible when working on/testing antennas.
Would I buy it again? Ubetcha... And if for some reason mine ever goes south on me I'll definately either pay to get it repaired or buy another.
Thing is, show me another device that provides as much info in the palm of your hand for anywhere close to the price! That's how it rates a 5, (plastic case or no).
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N3DQU
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Rating: 1/5
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Jul 27, 2002 23:00
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shouldve gotten the MFJ!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought one of these in spite of the fact that my buddy had an MFJ that worked great for him. This thing is put together lousy, they didnt even bother to get the knobs to line up straight on the case! Altho the tune control is kind of wobbly, it seemed to work ok til it started latching up on me for no apparent reason. If I removed the battery and/or shorted out the input to ground, it would work ok for awhile, then start acting up again. Finally it latched up hard and couldnt get it to reset. Autek wanted 40 bux to fix it, so I just threw it in the junk box. If you have one and are happy with it, that's great. Just my experience.
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N8LP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2002 19:33
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Indispensable
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I gave the VA1 a 5 even though it isn't perfect, because it has become the first tool I reach for when doing antenna testing. I also have an older MFJ analyzer (not recommended) and an AEA CIA-HF which is an awesome piece of gear for visually representing an antenna's passband characteristics, but suffers from marginal battery life, bulk, cost, slow screen refreshes, inability to display sign of reactance and limited ability to measure L & C.
The Autek is much cheaper, far smaller and lighter, and is quite accurate at measuring L & C at the frequency of use. It also displays the sign of reactance. I use it for more things than the others, because it's fast and simple and small. One criticism...they could use a better vernier tuning system...it's a little touchy.
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PE1LTA
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 18, 2002 01:55
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Does the job well
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought the device couple of weeks ago. Autek shipped it to Hotel I was staying for couple of days in Atlanta and it all did arrive on time and good condition. Good.
Now the usage report; I have used the VX-1 a couple of weekends now, tuning wire antenna's and I must admit it never lied to me. It tells me the antenne is to long, calculate the required length, cut it and find always that it is on the spot. Also the capacity and induction is on the spot for both traps and coils within short vertical antenna. Never realized the big difference in inductance on 7 Mhz no coil body versus PVC coil body. There is.... Also played around with top hat radials and you can exactly determine what's going on. I like the "sign" sensitivity, especially since it tells me right away how I can solve the problem.
Also found that my 1:1 Balun isn't that good afterall. So need to make a new one.
The buttons are so and so. Actually I don't think the problem lies in the buttons, much more in the VX-1 body. Why on earth do they make such large holes in the body? Isn't required and only makes it look bad. The frequency dialing isn't bad. I never missed a tunning when "browsing" the frequency. However, the estatics of the tuning isn't what I would call "user friendly". Why are the knobs so close to each other and not within one straight line.
To me the device works perfect technically. Give it a five (5). However the mechanical construction deserves a one (1).
I compare with MFJ crap. MFJ has a nice mechanical body, large, heavy and solid. However the technical design is crap. It simply doesn't work reliable and I have heard to many compliant about the quality.
The VX-1 runs on 9 volt battery for about 10 hours. That is very nice. No hassle with charges and no runrate of 30 minutes (as it is with MFJ).
Still price level is high, but compared to MFJ it is low again.
My best suggestion to Autek-> make the device available for Home Build construction. Discount on it when providing the Home Build package and customers can choose a different housing and construction.
73, PA1AP
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KE6TLN
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Rating: 2/5
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May 2, 2002 15:06
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Works OK, but quality?
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Well, I ordered VA-1 very recently. Here is my observations.
First, the company shipped it very promptly. However, when I got it the quality of construction did not impress me at all for the premium I paid.
The case is plastic. I would have expected a metal case from a test & measurement equipment.
There was a scratch on the case and it was not a damage caused by shipping. It was sent like that.
The two pieces (bottom and top) of the case were not snapped together, I had to give it a good squeeze. Even then, the case hinges at the SO-238 connector. Also, the ground bolt is flimsy.
The display is hard to see, you need to be looking at it from the bottom of the display.
The frame of the display has a crease on my unit.
The front panel is not cut and finished right. The buttons stay on the left side of their respective holes.
But it does work, alas, I found, measurements vary to a certain extent with how you hold unit. I suspect this is due to case being plastic.
I also noted the signal it gives is not all that spectrally clean, either.
Worst of all, I wrote an email to the company back. They did not even bother responding. I guess their interaction with a customer is until they ship the unit. And the price is expensive at best.
I hope this helps anyone who is considering this unit.
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