|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the AUTEK RESEARCH VA1-RF1-RF5 RF ANALYST.
|
N5IKG
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Sep 23, 2009 07:59
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
I like it
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
Nice to have an analyzer that gives me fast SWR info, is reasonably priced, and the batteries keep working.
I had a more expensive, "sophisticated" analyzer that I had to send back to the manufacturer twice. The second time the guy in Ohio told me that I hadnt grounded the antenna wire before I used the analyzer. Since the antenna was a Pacific that I was assembling as I analyzed that made no sense but he still charged me for putting some new parts.
Enuf of that, the Autek is nice.
|
|
K9OF
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Jun 29, 2009 20:33
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Unreliable
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
My VA-1 worked OK for about a year. Then the display first dimmed, then blanked out entirely. Autek wanted $60 to repair it. I had little confidence in their repair abilities, based on this lists' comments. Hoping that it might be something simple, I took it apart, but found no unsoldered connections. I think I'll just put it back on the shelf until I can buy a reasonably priced replacement display.
My conclusion -- maybe Autek is really in the REPAIR business!
|
|
I0YQV
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Apr 21, 2009 07:27
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Not serious...
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
after purchasing (few months) and after 10 use, units get "crazy" and no work!
I write twice to auteck (with return receive) without any kind of replay.
Beware!!
|
|
N3LCW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 3, 2009 08:06
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great value for the money, accurate.
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
While the workmanship often gets negative reviews this little analyzer delivers. I also own an MFJ259B and have found the VA1 to be more accurate and stable. I compared the VA1 results to an Array Solutions 4170B and the two were surprisingly very close. As an antenna designer I need to know all the reactive values and the VA1 will tell you the sign, not just the value. It's a perfect device for those of us who design our own matching networks. I build magnetic loops and also matching networks for short verticals as well as end fed matching units and this little analyzer helps make testing very easy. I was leary after reading early reviews but I have been very satisfied. I still use the 259B, the analog meters are handy for a quick view of where the antenna is resonant, but I always switch to the VA1 for final analysis.
The application notes give many excellent uses of this analyzer and I have made good use of all of them, from testing baluns, coaxial cable, and evaluating old antenna installations for losses.
Should the unit ever require service that experience will carry the final weight of my opinion.
|
|
QRPNEW
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Feb 25, 2009 02:00
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Needs help
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I owned both a RF1 and a VA1. Frankly these instruments do a decent job, however what lets them downs as others have indicated is the poor workmanship and parts. The things I hate about them were these.
** Very Poor stability
** Touchy controls
** Mechanical instability
** Poor pots
If I was going to suggest improvements it would be these.
1. Use multiturn pots
2. Improve quality control(soldering)
3. Better quality parts
4. Better stability
5. Improved mechanical and electrical stability.
6. Proper shielding for things like hand capacitance.
7. Ham band switch with the center in each ham band.
8. Separate buttons for MHZ and KHZ advancement.
9. Inbuilt filter for notching the broadcast band.
10. Dont use 9v batteries, use AA Nimh batteries
I would be willing to pay much more for an improved Autek. In its current form its a good electrical concept with poor execution.
|
|
WB0OEW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 2, 2008 21:16
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
works as advertised
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Bought the VA1 a month ago and has been in steady use ever since. I've changed from cut-and-try to actually doing some calculations with my antenna experiments because knowing R and X lets me actually use the formulas in the books. Since it has a built in processor, it can also compute other relationships including Z and phase (these are what it actually measures, everything else is derived), SWR, effects of line lengths, lines with different characteristic impedances, series and parallel equivalent L and C. Manual is full of interesting ways to use the device effectively such as making resonant lines, component values and building tuning circuits. Have had no problems with reliability, etc. Main frequency control allows setting to about 0.5 MHz, fine control works down to about 0.02 MHz. Only disappointment is signal is not clean enough to use as an RF generator but then it wasn't designed for that (I was just hoping).
The VA1 has allowed me to work on my antennas in a more quantitative manner. I like it very much.
|
|
KM5Q
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 10, 2008 07:43
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
RF-1 works fine!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Ergonomic qualities aren't great, but that's what I expected from the reviews. It works fine, and is extremely useful considering I never had any such device before. How else am I to tune a vertical on the roof?
It looks perfect inside. Cleanly and professionally built. Good instructions.
|
|
W1CUN
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Oct 27, 2007 07:13
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Slick Little Unit
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I recently ordered a VA-1 and I am pleased with the unit. I was not expecting a laboratory grade unit for a $200.00 price tag. My unit arrived in good condition, did not stink of cigarette smoke and worked correctly out of the box. I did not expect one Hz resolution on the tuning knobs but I find that it is not difficult to tune the oscillator to the desired frequency. All functions work as advertised. Here is the bottom line: It is a great shack companion and I found it to be accurate and it saved me a lot of guesswork as to the reactive component of the antenna I was trying to resonate. All the horror stories I have read in the other reviews i.e. switches don’t line up, intermittent operation, erroneous display, tobacco smell etc. do not apply to the unit I received. Again, it is not a laboratory grade instrument but Autek makes no claims that it is. My unit does everything I expect of it and it eliminates multiple trips in and out of the shack. It’s a slick little unit and I am very satisfied with mine.
|
|
G8JNJ
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Sep 11, 2007 07:58
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good product - bad build and customer service
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Despite the warnings, I went ahead and bought an Autek VA1 Vector RX Analyst, as I reckoned I had a 50:50 chance of getting a good one.
Looks like my luck was out on that day.......
I had the unit shipped directly from Autek. It was packed well, but didn't work straight out of the box.
I had all of the reported problems, including strong smell of cigarette smoke (I didn't believe that one until I experienced it myself) and unsoldered joints on the display board (the other board was fine). So I spent a few hours soldering the Crystal, Main IC and LCD display, moving the LED leads so they didn't scratch the back of the LCD, and repositioning components so the two boards would fit together better. I also had to put nylon washers under the PCB fixing screws in order to make the Molex connector mate properly. This fixed the problem of intermittent operation when the case was squeezed slightly, and got the press buttons to sit a bit lower so they don't stick out too much.
I sent a note to Autek about my experiences and they wrote back to say I was talking BS !
Not good customer service.
My only other criticism is the battery drain, 50mA from a PP3 is pushing it, so keep a spare on hand ready for when the display starts to fade.
Once working the unit is good and performs as well as other units costing twice the price.
If you treat it as a half built kit, which needs completing before it will work, you'll not be disappointed.
|
|
KENNETH
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Mar 14, 2007 13:50
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Bought mine new
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I bought mine new. Thought I would wait a few years until a review. I have used it with all sorts of antennas and no problems in the two years I have used it. Folks buy a used unit then review it… but who know how much it was been abused in the past? I keep mine in its original cardboard box wrapped in the bubble wrap. I like the small size for camping and traveling. It needs a fresh battery to stay accurate but the low price point was the main factor for me.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
