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| Reviews Summary for Palstar ZM30 Antenna Analyzer |
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Reviews: 41
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Average rating: 4.8/5
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MSRP: $$329.00
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Description: The Zm30 is an automated micro-controlled SWR antenna analyzer with a 8 bit micro-controller with a precision low power DDS signal generator. It also includes a self-calibrating reflectometer and displays SWR at selectable frequencies from 1 Mhz to 30 Mhz. It measures: SWR,impedance,reactance, and inductors and capacitors, transmission lines,stubs, and Q and resonant frequency. There is a serial port for field upgradable software. Battery operated.
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More info: http://www.palstar.com/palmain.htm
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DJ0MBC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 30, 2007 06:07
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Easy to use and accurate.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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It makes tuning my High Sierra 1800S on the ground mount child's play.The only niggle I have is that if you are really spinning across the frequency, the encoder shaft is flexible enough that the knob rubs on the face cut out. I bought it used for a good price from an OM in Austria.
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F4DYT
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Rating: 5/5
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May 4, 2007 14:54
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18 months after...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Good evening
I did a mistake while updating the ROM to version 4.0. After a phone call, I got the permission to send the unit back for repair. A few days after, when I asked myself if I should phone again to see if the unit arrived to the US, the unit was back in France, properly packaged and with the updated ROM. Inside, I found a new manual, as well as a recommendation to ground the antenna before measuring. This was new for me. Also, included were a new set of calibration resistances, an adaptor to PL-259 from BNC, and a 12V plug for feeding with an external souce.
I am glad to report that manuals are now *very* well written, and they are much better than the original ones I received 18 months ago. Please consider negative reports about manuals to be a solved problem.
I can report that using 2500 mA/h NiMH batteries gave me enough autonomy for my needs. I am a builder, not a contester, so my needs are not very important.
I also report that I used it as a signal generator for testing the bandwidth of a ladder filter built with cheap quarz units (for a BITX). Filter impedance is 200 Ohm. I connected the filter input to the Palstar, and filter output was measured with an old Tektronix oscilloscope. By varying the frequency, and by reading the frequency and the voltage at the oscilloscope, I could easily plot the bandwidth curves. Even if considering that the Palstar unit and the oscilloscope probe can add some pF can affect input and output, it is a good way to know what you are doing.
I am very satisfied of this equipment, and service is fast and efficient.
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N0GBR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 8, 2007 13:21
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Great, but be careful!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Incredibly easy to use (and abuse). Worked fine until I "just barely" accidently, on low power, touched the key of my transceiver while this unit was in the coax line. The rotary coax switch was to the ZM 30 but still enough rf to fry the reflectometer. My suggestion is to ground the antenna after having disconnected it from ANY rf source before testing the antenna. I had it fixed having learned my lesson. A great piece of testing gear but be more careful than I was!
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N1ERF
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 17, 2007 15:26
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VG
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I think that this is a very good unit. I gave it a
4 rating because the manual is not very well written and is very minimalist with no
hints. The version that was sent had less info
than the downloadable version (at the time).
The link for Terra Term is not completely accurate
and has to be downloaded from somewhere else.
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002416/teraterm.html
I would like more hints with better descriptions
and examples in the manual. I get the feeling that
not much work went into the manual.
I'd also like to see more experimentation from users and post them (for example)to the
Yahoo Groups ZM30 site.
Once you get the hang of loading the firmware,
it's OK.
Overall it's a very good and useful tool and still
highly recommended.
/John
N1ERF
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G7UJY
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 17, 2007 13:53
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Needs a box
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased one of these recently, I would go along with all of the reviews so wont repeat the superlatives, however there are several referals to a storage box. It arrives in a cardboard box with a pre-formed foam insert and lid. I looked around the household equipment shops and found a food container that the foam insert complete with foam lid fits into perfectly. It was made by WanMao No.WB061A and has a 5.5 litre capacity. This container has a waterproof lid with snap over locks and is available in Britain from Wilkinsons on the High Streets. I am sure that they or something similar will be available whatever country you live in.
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VK3HE
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 15, 2007 00:47
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Very good
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Good product
Good Support
Looking forward to future updates
The Accuracy is good
Stability is much much better than the Autek RF1/VA1.
Sign of the reactance is a worthwile feature and much more accurate than the VA1 which has bugs.
Quality of build is great.
Display with backlighting is superb.
Battery life with Energizer Nimh 2500 Ma Cells is great.
Out of all the simple handheld antenna analyzers on the market this one i think is the best. I have them all, RF1, VA1 and MFJ269.
I used AC6LA's methods and spreadsheet to check the accuracy, and it holds up very well.
It would be nice if they could increase the upper Impedance limit above 600 ohms
73
Craig
VK3HE
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ZENKI
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Rating: 3/5
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Feb 11, 2007 02:53
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Needs Help
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After wearing out many Autek RF analysts i thought i would try the Palstar unit.
My feelings are mixed.
The manual is very poor. The MFJ269 manual puts this manual too shame.
The manual does not even mention the Balun that comes with the unit. If you did not know what it was for, you would just ignore it. Theres no mention of measuring high impedance lines etc and how you would use the unit with lines of different impedances.
My feeling is that because of technical limitations of the hardware and software this unit wil not have a long shelf life. The new VNA'coming onto the market now at good prices will blows these simple units out of the water.
Theres little information in the manual on the accuracy of the unit, and what the actual measurement range of inductance and capacitance is. If Palstar wanted some hints of what to put in this manual they should read the Autek manual.
The Quality of the terminations and BNC connectors are very poor. All the PINS were crooked and the plating all flaky, Very cheap.
The Units build quality and user interface is superb. Its something Autek and MFJ should emulate.
As mentioned by others the stability is poor and likewise the accuracy. Even the crappy Autek with all its bugs and poor quality has better accuracy.
I emailed the factory a couple of times with questions and support, i have not received any replies. This is poor. Even Autek has the deceny of replying too all emails.
If i had my money back in the bank today i would buy the W5BIG VNA from Array Solutions. I think for what the Palstar is, its overpriced. If Autek would get its act together and build too the same quality as Palstar this would be the best unit on the market in my opinion. I did not know about the kit, if i did i would have bought the kit instead of the Palstar unit.
However now that i have tried it i will put it up for sale on Ebay. I cant stand dealing with people who sell technical products and dont want too provide support in a professional and technical manner.
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NH7O
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 1, 2007 15:40
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A work in progress
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I would like to add just a bit of reality check to all the glowing accolades accrued so far. A couple of points that make for my score of 4:
The temperature stability of the unit is not great. There is plenty of discussion on the AMQRP site (where it is called the Antenna Analyst 908) by the designers about the accuracy issues, and they are working on it. A software revision may help matters, but due to the simplicity of the circuit and the use of 8 bit math, there are inherent limitations. The unit is less accurate at high impedances, but can be quite good at 50 ohms where most will use it.
One has to warm the unit up for at least 20 min before calibrating, a fact which is not mentioned in the manual. I wonder what happens when it is taken from the warm of indoors to a cold, windy session on the top of a tower.
As for the manual, it was mostly copied verbatim from the AMQRP website, and is not complete. There are paragraphs still unwritten, and the calibration procedure is not correct for the latest software. I think Palstar cut some corners by prematurely commercializing an open source kit that is still a work in progress.
That said, it is a useful tool and the quality of workmanship mentioned by the others is certainly true. I look forward to future firmware revisions that will further improve the accuracy issues.
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K8NLV
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 16, 2007 19:16
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Fine Instrument, Fine Service
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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About 18 months ago I bought a used ZM-30 on eBay. It worked beautifully with the original software. The unit is field upgradable. A month or so ago I tried to download newer software and ran into some problems. I emailed Paul Hrivnak, President, CEO and Chief Engineer, of Palstar with some questions. He asked me to return the unit. He sent a new unit back within a week completely adjusted and programmed with the latest software. What great service!! The ZM-30 is a beautiful instrument supported by a first rate U.S. company.
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K6PTS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 4, 2007 22:09
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Outstanding!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Does everything right! This is the most useful piece of equipment I own, I can't imagine ever going without it again. It's now possible for me to tune my portable HF antennas in mere minutes with complete ease. If you have any doubts, don't. It works exactly as advertise and is built tough. Thanks Paul.
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