Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Youkits FG-01 graphic antenna analyzer

Category: Antenna Analyzers

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Youkits FG-01 graphic antenna analyzer
Reviews: 59MSRP: 249
Description:
Antenna analyzer covering 1 - 60 mhz
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.youkits.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00594.4
K4LIX Rating: 2022-04-07
When working, works fine and very useful. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought one many years ago when they first came out - worked fine for a few years then just quit - screen displays but no workee - So, I bought another one, same thing, after about 2 years, same thing, just a screen, no workee and of course, no warranty!
K6SDW Rating: 2021-12-22
Easy to use Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I needed an analyzer for portable use and my MFJ unit is large and doesn't do graphic display so I purchased the FG-01 which nicely fits in my hand.

Price about average. Unit seems accurate enough for ham radio antenna measurements.

GL/73

W6UXB Rating: 2019-04-27
I like it alot Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this little analyzer for well over 3 years now, it works great don't leave it powered up for along time so never had a problem with it getting warm, much better matching your antenna than putting out an annoying carrier! The rechargeable battery has never failed great easy graphical readings can't go wrong for the price!
W1CQ Rating: 2019-01-17
Great portable analyzer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have used this antenna analyzer for about 3 years and it works well. Got the optional internal 18650 battery pack. Use the dedicated charger and the battery life is great. The charger does cause some RF noise but it is not used very often.

Just once left the power switch in the On position and found the unit quite warm sometime (~15 min?) later. Manual describes running down the battery below 9.5V can damage the battery. Auto-off would be a nice feature to add in the future.

This analyzer is very useful with portable antennas and the graphic display makes it easy to set a center frequency - but also to set the max desirable SWR at a band edge so that the antenna can be tuned for the greatest usable bandwidth.

A smartphone photo is sometimes used to document a particular portable setup.

Have seen some leave it in place with a coax switch but have not tried this and would want a high isolation switch especially if running power.

Will need something else though to measure complex impedance.
VE2JL Rating: 2018-03-02
6 year reviiew Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First purchased in 2011 and reviewed back then, used for many antennas over the years. Fast delivery then and again on my new one that got here in 7 days from China. Alas the first one died a terrible death after a 15-foot fall onto cement. Not repairable!! Chose the 1 to 35 MHZ version for the replacement as it covers my bands and also is cheaper. Almost unnoticeable larger screen but now comes with some memories. Cannot live without it for manual tuner setups and antenna adjustments. My favourite testing toy in the hamshack.
W6LPM Rating: 2018-03-01
Display Failure Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this analyzer about 2 yrs ago. It compared fairly well with the RigExpert AA-54 analyzer. Easy to use. Was great while it worked. Nice for portable operation.

It now has a display failure, white screen at power-on. Battery voltage is correct. Contacting Vibroplex, they gave me the email for Yimin Zhao in Canada for factory support. After several emails over 3 months, no reply's received. Yimin appears to be more involved with their transceiver support.

Buyer beware - if you expect no factory support.
N2HTT Rating: 2017-07-17
Great little analyzer! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought mine from Vibroplex in the US, so shipping was ordinary. Analyzer comes with internal battery disconnected, you have to remove some screws and plug in a connector, this is probably for safety reasons in shipment. Performance is excellent, it is small, reasonably light, and very intuitive to use. Locate the manual online and play with it a bit, in 5 minutes you'll be an expert.
I've had an MP-1 antenna for years that I rarely use since it as the coil needs to be adjusted when you set it up and I find it a pain. With this little analyzer I'm up and running in seconds - great portable tool
NZ6G Rating: 2017-05-18
Great When It Is Working Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two of these, and when they are working, they are great, especially in the field. I bought both directly from the Chinese manufacturer. That said, both needed repair after some use, units out of warranty. After some research I found Yimin Zhao in Canada who appears to be the manufacturer's point person in North America. After a couple of emails back and forth I sent him both my analyzers and $50. And crossed my fingers. No further communication. Then several weeks later I get a package from China that included both repaired units.
They both were repaired and still work.

My perception is that this is a basically honest company that is way over its head in terms of customer service and marketing. Others have recommended going through Vibroplex to buy YouKits products. I agree.
W5FCX Rating: 2017-01-21
Wonderful Antenna Analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a great little analyzer! I love the colorful graph of SWR and impedance and how it continually updates as you change the frequency.

This replaces my (more expensive) analyzer, hands down. Wish I had found this one first!!
WC3O Rating: 2016-03-10
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great little analyzer. I have not checked it for accuracy but it looked good into a dummy load.

I like:
- Rechargeable battery
- Does not seem to be a battery hog
- Display is small but very easy to read
- Pretty ergonomic and has a knob rather than buttons
- Memories

Things I think could be better:
- It is easy to use, but I wish it came with basic instructions
- When I bought mine it didn't work out of the box. I pulled the cover off the back (2 screws) and saw the battery wasn't plugged in. Plugged it in and all was fine. Don't know if it was meant to be like that. No big deal.
- I wish it had a SO-239 rather than a BNC
- When you turn it off it doesn't remember where it was was when you turned it off. You need to reset the freq.

Overall I love it.