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Reviews For: RigExpert AA-230 ZOOM

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : RigExpert AA-230 ZOOM
Reviews: 25MSRP: 430
Description:
The analyzer is designed for measuring SWR (standing wave ratio), return loss, cable loss, as well as other parameters of cable and antenna systems in the range of 100 kHz to 230 MHz. A built-in ZOOM capability makes graphical measurements especially effective. An integrated Time Domain Reflectometer mode can be used to locate a fault within the feedline system.
Product is in production
More Info: https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/aa-230-zoom/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00255
NB4R Rating: 2022-09-10
No shack or go-box should be without one! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My first impressions of the AA-230 Zoom BLE I purchased was that of disappointment. For the great about of money this costs I found the case to feel too light and cheaply made. I was also disappointed with the battery case and cover. The cover and latch WILL break. I installed batteries. I grabbed several pieces of coax of different types. The first things I wanted to test velocity factor and length. Didn't work. Making sure I was holding my mouth properly I delved back into the manual. Finding no help there, I sent RigExpert support an email describing my problems completely. The next morning I had a waiting email. A tech named Ivan had duplicated the issue, found a bug in the firmware. Ivan sent me a replacement firmware file. I loaded the firmware. The AA-230 Zoom has worked flawlessly ever since. I've run every test I found available and discovered the 230 Zoom actually makes the antenna system testing process fun. I should have probably kept my trusty old MFJ-259b just to keep my mind sharp. At this stage of life, I just want fast results. The RigExpert delivers. The AntScope2 software that comes with the 230 Zoom makes testing antenna systems simple and information rich! Every minute detail is measured, presented and saved for future use. The color printouts are beautiful.

The case is very attractive. If I could find a heavier, more durable looking case, I would immediately buy it.
Every other function of this analyzer makes a pleasure to own and a necessity in any shack.
GM1FSZ Rating: 2022-02-26
Amazing instrument!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is my first experience with an antenna analyzer, what a great tool! I'm a tinkerer with wire antennas and this analyzer certainly makes the whole experience so much easier. If you want to know "whereabouts" your antenna is on the bands this is the tool to do it. From simple single band random wires to multi band dipoles this just works a treat! I must mention that one time when I was using it I received and error code, I re-tried it but the error was still there, I sent an email to Rig Expert Tech support with the problem and it took them a whole seven minutes for them to reply with a fix! The problem was of my own making (not the best choice of AAA cells!) and, at their suggestion, with new AAA cells installed it was all good to go! I cannot fault the instrument or the backup from Rig Expert. Excellent!!
VK2NAD Rating: 2021-08-26
If you own an antenna - you need this. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The AA-230 zoom is a top-quality analyzer with great support by the team at RigExpert. It's well worth the cost and a tool which puts other antenna analyzers in second place at best. It covers 0.1 to 230 MHz. Firmware updates are simple via their FlashTool for either MacOS or Windows.
M0TNX1 Rating: 2021-04-11
Fantastic piece of kit - VERY easy to use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a NanoVNA H4 and found it hard to use and very unintuitive, after reading up on various analysers I managed to find an AA230 Zoom at a great price.
In the past I have used the MFJ analysers, the RigExpert is in a different class.

The unit is very well laid out and as many others have mentioned, it is intuitive to use, unlike a NanoVNA.

I've always shied away from making stubs and transformers for loop antennas, not any more, this unit makes constructing them a pleasure.

Thank you RigExpert, a brilliant device.
VK2WTT Rating: 2021-03-11
Upgraded from MFJ-259B and never looked back Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Echoing the other comments here, I have recently transitioned from the trusty MFJ-259B to the AA-230 Zoom, and have not looked back.

The interface is incredibly intuitive - when inputting frequencies or frequency ranges, the correct entries already seem to be there waiting for you. The screen is clear, uncluttered and bright, and the buttons are the perfect size for outdoor handling.

The manual is clear and user friendly, and caters for the basic user (eg. who only wants to check or graph antenna SWR) and advanced users equally.

Battery life so far seems to be excellent.

I unequivocally recommend this unit!
AD7HM Rating: 2020-06-09
Antenna Analysis Must-Have Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have used RigExpert analyzers before - a colleague evaluates performance of multi-band antennas on big trucks, and I borrowed the one he purchased to do an analysis. A recent antenna failure gave me an excuse to buy one.

Previously, I'd used an MFJ 259B analyzer for fine-tuning a Buddipole portable dipole. I haven't operated portable in a while, and the 259B was needed to get a decent SWR - I let the tuner in my radio do the rest.

To say that the AA-230 ZOOM is amazing is understating the fundamental change in technology. The MFJ unit was okay for measuring SWR and impedances at one frequency; the information was displayed on an LCD screen and two analog meters. It is possible to do other tests, like distance-to-fault measurements, although the process is anything but easy. The AA-230 ZOOM (and, probably, other RigExpert units too) provides the user a way to set frequency limits for running tests, then it gathers the information for the frequency range of interest and displays a picture that is easy to understand. Or save the graph for viewing later. And you can also and pull the graph onto your computer for analysis.

What's amazing? The AA-230 makes it effortless to scan across one or several ham bands. You will get a plot that looks like the SWR curves published for many antennas, and that takes any uncertainty out of the answer to the question, "what is the SWR for my particular antenna installation?".

I purchased the unit to figure out where the problem is with a directional antenna. After the AA-230 told me that SWR was over 8:1 at all frequencies of interest, I used the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) feature and let it calculate the distance to the fault. Okay, not perfect, as I don't have 42 meters (120 feet) of cable. However, I did not change from the default velocity factor (VF) of 0.66, and I did not calibrate to my coax before running the test.

Calibrating the coax will come soon enough...I have parts on order to make the required short circuit and 50 ohm connections.

I am looking forward to using this analyzer with my Buddipole portable antenna.
N4YX Rating: 2019-05-19
Oh Wow; Super Nice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've owned the AA170 & now the AA230Zoom with Bluetooth. Also have the MFJ 269. Having Color Display along with the ability to Zoom in & out of the examined spectrum plus the Ham Sub Bands highlighted makes this AA230Zoom just a delight to use.
M0KZX Rating: 2019-05-11
Must have shack essential Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This device replaces my MFJ 259B which has given me many years good service.

Wow! The AA230 Zoom is amazing. It's so easy to use (didn't look at the instructions to start with)and the display is very clear.
It's very logical to use and tells you everything you need to know about the antenna it's connected to.
I love the graphical sweep function which displays a graph of the SWR over a user defined frequency range. Then, at the push of a button you can zoom in or out decreasing or increasing the frequency range and test again.
The PC software installed and worked without issue on my Windows 10 PC. Although the software has a basic look it replicates everything on the device.
Great value for money. This is one of those things that if I broke it I would immediately buy another.
KM0U Rating: 2019-04-12
Nice to Have Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the AA-230 Zoom with bluetooth. I had previously owned a MFJ 259B and a Kurinishi BR 200. They both filled my needs at the time but the 259B went belly up and I carelessly dropped the BR 200 and broke it.
The AA-230 Zoom is amazing. A great tool and it is very intuitive to use. It is packed with features -- I thought it was more than I needed but I am using many of the features that neither of my previous analyzers had.
Pricey, sure, worth it? Absolutely.
PA3EWP Rating: 2019-03-14
Great analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
We got the AA-230 ZOOM analyzer from Rigexpert for our DXpedition to T31EU Kanton Island (www.kanton2019.de). Without this analyzer it would be difficult to adjust the antennas, especially the low-band antenna. The analyzer is easy to use for everyone. Perfect and clear display, the user interface is simple and understandable. Thanks again Rigexpert for using this analyzer.
Ronald PA3EWP