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Reviews For: RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM
Reviews: 15MSRP: 270.
Description:
The AA-35 ZOOM is a portable, self-calibrating analyzer, 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 60 kHz to
35 MHz, with incredible ZOOM capability.
Product is in production
More Info: https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/aa-35-zoom/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15153.8
K4RDH Rating: 2023-02-28
Worked Great for this inexperienced ham! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got this analyzer to help me with a Hy-Gain AV-18VS antenna that I grounded mounted, for now. I've only used dipoles or end-fed wire antennas up until now, but my new place allowed me to try something different. I found the RigExpert easy to use (especially after watching multiple YouTube videos). I'm still tweaking it, especially the radials, but the with AA-35 my SWR readings are all below 2 from 80 meters down to 10 meters. I bought it from DX Engineering who, by the way, are authorized dealers here in the USA. They are specifically mentioned in the RigExpert warranty on their website, along with several others, as authorized to deal with warranty concerns. I found them very helpful in answering some questions I had about the readings I was getting as I did the initial setup of the antenna. All in all, I'm very satisfied with my AA-35 Zoom Antenna Analyzer.
W8NOR Rating: 2022-09-29
Big improvement over old analyzer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have no complaints about this analyzer. Well, maybe the screen isn't as easy to read in full sunlight. I can live with that. Compared to my old analyzer, an MFJ model that also worked well, the battery life is great. It's easy to operate (read the instructions, anyway) and does exactly what I needed an analyzer to do. I haven't experienced any of the problems other reviewers reported, after about 4 months.
PD0Q Rating: 2022-05-19
Visibility of its display is very poor outside / on the roof Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works great ..would shurely recommend buying it ...but... using it on the roof i find it has one major design flaw..in even a bit of sunshine its display becomes as good as unreadable..
PY2ONU Rating: 2022-03-16
low durability Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a good piece of equipment when it works.... But it's terrible at durability. I bought an AA-170 which in 1 year stopped working, then I bought an AA-35 zom at Gigaparts and in 30 days of use the display stopped working. I had to send it back (all costs were mine) because it was under warranty and they sent me another one. This second only lasted 8 months before the display went into trouble again. It is unacceptable for equipment to have so many technical problems when buying new at the store. I was disappointed and will not buy anything else from this brand unfortunately
W2SCT Rating: 2022-02-21
It Doesn’t Always Power On Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
My AA35 Zoom stopped working after minimal use. I only had it 4 months. It intermittently powers on even after battery change. Had to ship it (at my expense) back to Giga Parts . Very disappointed.
GRUMPY2021 Rating: 2021-09-18
First impressions...vague. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After having it a week I would say it does what it's supposed to do... I guess. To me the instructions are vague. Other people tout how wonderful the manual is and I guess they are dazzled by color pictures? The manual tells you "how" but they drop the ball with the what, why. The device is so easy to use that the how is almost not important. My example would be the "all parms" choice. The manual has a couple of sentences and then moves on. I have no idea what all these numbers and math equations are. I stopped when math started putting letters in the problems. hi hi. I didn't order from RigexpertUSA because they offer free shipping but an additional cost to ship USPS Priority? Really? On a $200+ order? I ordered from R&L Electronics. The Antscope software. No manual that I can find, no help tab in the software. Just seems like an after thought. And then was supposed to come with an added bonus of bluetooth. Cool! Nothing mentions that in the manual. I enabled the bluetooh as it is default to "disabled". My computer searches but can't find the device so I have no idea if that even works. Maybe now you can start to see my "vague" comment. I almost went with the AA-55 Zoom and I'm glad I didn't. This was way overpriced to be left with a feeling of vagueness. Youtube? No help at all with the 35 Zoom. Again first honest impression... it works but sure could use some help. Buyer's remorse...no but I wouldn't buy it again.
W4SNP Rating: 2021-07-23
Good for VSWR but..... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this because of the display and features that were advertised made it to comparable to my Time-wave antenna tester.
While the display is great especially outdoors compared to my Time-Wave there are caveats.

1. The USA version does not have polar or Smith Chart capabilities on the unit itself (you have to hook up to a PC and run the software available from the RigExpert web site).
2. I have had errors introduced if the coax is disturbed while measurements are underway. (I believe it has to do with the shorter SO-239 and direct attachment to the circuit board, because it does not happen with the Time-Wave)
3. Support is only available when purchase either directly or through RigExpert USA (their only identified official vendor when I asked a question by email regarding the Smith Chart button not working).



DO7OH Rating: 2020-11-13
From practitioners for practitioners Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was getting aware of handling a RigExpert by an experienced OM and was surprised to see what is possible to do with this and to expect from this device both in the shack and under field conditions. Due to the confusing situation on the market I abstained from a fast decision regarding acquisition of any analyzer. Having had the honour to serve as a trooper in one of the WRTC-2018 antenna teams, I experienced the usefulness of the AA-35 Zoom, the standard device used by all antenna teams during the contest. It helped us to solve a couple of tricky tuning tasks on Spiderbeams. I would like to appreciate the user-friendly handling, the product reliability, and the robust workmanship. Also the ergonomic style is worth to be mentioned. The user’s manual is instructive, meaningful, and straightforward. The device is very sophisticated, created from practitioners for practitioners. As a ham novice I did not yet exploited the full functionality of the analyzer, hence just giving here my first impressions. I succesfully use this device in combination with a T-match for tuning of shortened top-band antennas. Importantly to note is the very short response time and targeted technical answer from the technical staff of RigExpert to a question, which cannot be appreciated highly enough.
With reference to Iwan Krylow’s famous fable on “The monkey and the glasses”, however, one should keep in mind that the best implementation of the art of engineering in any meter is useless, if the user is not familiar with basic notions and metrices for antenna characterization.
KE7MU Rating: 2020-07-27
DOA untested by the distributed Rig Expert Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wished I could give it a good review but it was DOA, and the distributer rig expert would not assist as I didn't purchase it direct.
VK3LZ Rating: 2020-07-15
Great HF Antenna Analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I used an AA-600 for several years when I was still working, part of my job was installing 2 way radios for a bus company. It was and still is a great analyzer but they're very expensive to buy just for hobby use. So I ordered an AA-35 Zoom. It has a nicer display and is quicker and more responsive to use than the more expensive AA-600 although it is HF only. Very nice test instrument.