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Reviews For: Youkits FG-01 graphic antenna analyzer

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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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
WB5JHY Rating: 2013-12-02
Works great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This thing actually works. Readings compare favorably to my RigExpert AA600. Got this one to take on field day and infrequent portable operations with my Buddipole sets or wire antennas. Not too hard to learn to use and having a graph of swr vs freq is handy when tuning antennas in the field. It will get a little warm if you leave it on for an extended period but I normally just take a reading and turn it off as a matter of practice. No problems with battery life so far. It really lasts surprisingly long as opposed to all the negatives posted about battery life. So far it's a keeper. Bought mine thru Ten-Tec.
K6ROW Rating: 2013-09-08
Analyzer Great, Powering not so good Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had my unit for about 6 months. It was terrific in helping me align my Hustler 6BTV. I charged it up (I thought) for a camping trip to align my Buddipole. It was DOA at the campsite. At home I found the battery had failed and wouldn't take a charge. That's unacceptable battery life to me, especially for a $30 rechargeable battery. The regular battery holder only uses Lithium batteries which are very expensive! Great analysis tool, poor powering arrangements.
DJ0RD Rating: 2013-08-28
happy with mine Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Does everything I want without complications, the graphic display is excellent. For those who have had failures, they do very clearly state NOT to run it without an antenna connected as it will overheat. Also it will only work with the specified batteries.

V 73 de Bob DJ0RD/WU5T
KA9MOT Rating: 2013-08-09
Hard to beat for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned/used many analyzers in the past. MFJ, AEA, Autek. I liked only the AEA better, but this analyzer costs hundreds less.
I purchased the lithium battery and other than the fact that you need to use the supplied double sided foam tape to secure it inside the cover, I was very pleased. Once you get it placed in the correct spot (precision work here) the cover goes back on and all is forgiven the first time you use this little gem.

Will I purchase another brand analyzer? Maybe, but not until this one dies.
SA3AYF Rating: 2013-07-15
Great little performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have used mine frequently over the last 1,5 years.
Always worked 100% and no hick-ups what so ever :-)
Works in -15 DGC no problems.

If you need a small, simple but competent analyzer,
you will not find a better product or better price.

73/
KC1MR Rating: 2013-06-07
Most Accurate !! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This little gem gives the same SWR readings as my
LP - 100A & my TEN TEC ORION .
My other rigs ; FTdx - 5000D ,TS-590s & MFJ 259B
show a much lower indicated SWR often 1:1 which is not true .
The size is great fer tuning my antennas out doors.
When U take the covers off you'll see a lot of electronics inside explaining why it works so well.

ON4CCU Rating: 2013-05-16
Very useful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought his little piece of kit, my only regret is that I didn't order it any earlier.

Field tuning my Buddistick (which can be challenging because set-up conditions vary quite a bit) has become a lot easier now that I can actually see where the antenna resonates. Big improvement over the "trial and error" method I was using before, running back and forward to key the TX to check SWR each time I made an adjustment to the antenna ;-)
The adjustable sweep range also gives you a nice graphical view of the SWR and impedance curve of a particular antenna, quite handy to check for potential anomalies.

It's compact enough for portable use, maybe a little heavy, but that's mainly due to the metal enclosure, which does make it rugged enough for trail use though...everything has its pro's and con's.

So, a very practical device that runs for a long time from the (optional) internal battery, for a reasonable price.

73 de Bart - ON4CCU
N4NUI Rating: 2013-04-20
Great for quiclky tuning a moble antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I frequently use rental cars while traveling for my profession and I carry a small tranceiver around with me. I recently purchased an MFJ-1661 and the Gorilla magnetic mount because it fits into the carry-on case with the radio. It is a pain to tune the 1661 using just the SWR meter on the rig so I ordered the FG-01 from Ten-Tec. The FG-01 is a joy to use. The graphical display makes it a snap to see the resonance and impedance points and move the tuning coil sleeve on the manual screwdriver to the optimum point on each band. I have two other analyzers (MFJs) at the home QTH and this little FG-01 is much more frequency stable. One of the antennas I have at the home shack is the Butternut Butterfly 2-element beam. It was a chore to tune with the MFJ analyzers because you tune the diriven element and the reflector differently. The ability to select the FG-01 graphical display to show a band span setting between 10KHz and 20Mhz would have made that chore much easier.

The FG-01 is small enough to fit in the radio carry-on case with the radio and the antenna.

I ordered the LiPo battery accessory. If you order one, order the LiPo battery and the BNC to PL-259 adapter.

I have seen the reviews about the FG-01 taking a dump after a while from internal heat so I am not leaving it on longer than necessary.
KD8TZC Rating: 2013-04-04
Dead out of the box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I really had great hopes for this little unit, but when I got it and charged it, all I got was a white screen. I called Ten Tec up and they are shipping a new one out today and told me to return the old one as soon as I get the new one. Hopefully this was just a manufacturing issue. The tech at Ten Tech said he thinks a crystal may have come loose in the unit. Only thing I can think of is it was bad from the start, or something happened in shipping.
N7DGI Rating: 2013-04-03
Worked For A Year, Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As others have written, this is an excellent product that does what it is supposed to do. It worked flawlessly for me, but has now failed after the warranty is out. Talked with Ten-Tec, they don't service them. If there is a warranty issue, they just do an exchange, but after warranty they said that they could just "Throw it in a box to go back to China, no idea how long it will take or how much it would cost". So, looks like I'm out my $250. That's a lot to pay for just a year of use. So, buyer beware...
73's
Mike
Casper, WY