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Reviews For: RigExpert Stick-230

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : RigExpert Stick-230
Reviews: 7MSRP: 300
Description:
RigExpert Stick 230 Antenna Analyzers are very compact and lightweight. They generate their own 0.1 mW signal to measure and report data on SWR (standing wave ratio), return loss, complex impedance (Z, R and X) and other parameters. They can measure antenna systems, cables, filters and more, across the frequency range of 100 kHz through 230 MHz with a 100 point adjustable sweep width as narrow as a 10 kHz. Every Amateur band in the range is a pre-programmed selection or select any center frequency with any sweep width to be analyzed. A standard SO-239/UHF Female connector at the top of the unit is protected by a handy removable cover.
Product is in production
More Info: https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/stick-230/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074
GD4EIP Rating: 2021-03-10
Great portable analyser Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the Rigexpert AA 55 zoom and decided to buy the Stick 230 as it covers a larger range and excellent company back up. My first impression was the comfortable size in the hand and also the clear display especially in bright daylight.
The menus are easy to navigate once you have spent a little time getting using it, like one has to do with any analyser. I now use it all the time. The analyse operates for a very long time with one one charge.
A big advantge is the company who are very helpful answering any questions. They reply very quickly to any email and therfore it gives me confidence knowing there is a company willing to assist at any time.
I have the MFJ259B and a Metropwr as well as the Rig Expert AA55 zoom. I prefer the Stick 230 to those as it is more comfortable in the hand and the battery lasts much longer which is important when taking the analyser our for portable use.

I highly recomment the SticK 230.
An excellent company producting an escellent product.
WU3U Rating: 2021-02-11
Perfect portable analyzer Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This thing takes a couple of days to get used to the layout of the menus and short press and long press of certain keys. It seems to be right on with my AA-600 full size analyzer.

Be sure that as soon as you take this out of the box that you download and update the firmware from the RigExpert site. When I first got mine it worked but some of the buttons were a little goofy from time to time and it would occasionally reboot as it was performing some of the functions. All of the many firmware updates have resolved any strange that I was able to find.

I use this mainly for portable ops like POTA and field day. Fits in my pack and covers all of HF to 220mhz.

I like this so much that I've ordered the Pro version with the color TFT display. I've found a few times that with this version not having a backlight on the display was a downside.
KD1JT Rating: 2020-11-06
Great in the field! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm all about portable operation, and often cobble up antennas in the field. I was using my old Vectronics VEC-584B (think MFJ) that worked fine, but was bulky. I spent a lot of time walking back and forth from the antenna to the operating position and sweeping to see resonance in relation to my target frequency.

The Stick 230 is small, light, easy to read in any light, and gives useful information. But the real plus is the bluetooth interface with my iPhone app.

There's a learning curve, but for basic uses it's a quick study. I thought I'd sell the Vectronics, but it has uses for making coils and traps, so I'll keep it.

If I wasn't "in the field" and operated a fixed station I don't think I'd have been interested, and might have opted for one of their other units. But the size and convenience made it worth the $250 I paid for it.

Edit - just one days later. The bluetooth functionality with iPhone is useless. It just doesn't work. That's not what you want to find out 30 feet above the ground. Loses connection constantly, no documentation at all, basically a product that doesn't deliver as advertised. It needs help. I'll never buy another RigExpert product if they can't resolve this in quick time (and from the posts I read, they can't, and won't).
W4CHF Rating: 2020-09-30
Great for portable use Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I operate lots of POTA, I wanted a small, reliable analyzer to help with both commercial and home brew antenna's.

I picked up this analyzer just prior to Winter FD, man was it a great addition to my kit. Quick, easy to use, intuitive with great information.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to interface with the ANTSCOPE app with bluetooth to my android phone. THE charts are amazing to see while setting up for POTA.

As a side note, I experimented with a newish brand of ham sticks on my pick up truck, when talking with their engineers they asked if I was using a reliable analyzer, I not only expressed I was, but was also able to screen shot the SWR along with Smith charts to forward to them, a huge win in helping to troubleshoot the antenna.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND this analyzer, also excellent customer service from Rig Expert

73 de W4CHF
POTA ON
KI0KY Rating: 2020-09-07
Great Customer Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
While I have not used the 'STICK-320' often since I purchased it, it does what I expected and wanted. After the HAM EXPO, RigExpert offered me a $40 discount on purchasing the unit. I wrote back that I had purchased my "STICK-320" Just before the EXPO. The reply offered me a $40 discount on a future purchase. I asked about getting one of the Red Fox transmitters. My next email was from DX-Engineering stating the unit was on its way!!

Thanks, RigExpert
Ki0KY
SP9HZX Rating: 2020-06-18
Great Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've had RigExpert Stick-230 for abt half a year.Bought directly from RigExpert.Good contact with them.Quick delivery.
Nothing to complain of.I'm very glad about it.
Small,compact,easy to handle and does what must do.Price is reasonable,too.
IMHO it is worth buying.
:)
Andy
AF8A Rating: 2020-06-17
More or less DOA (dead on arrival) Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased it based on the June, 2020 QST review. The review warned about the unit 'freezing up' and needing to pull the battery to reboot it. Sure enough, it happened to me twice.

I was able to upgrade the software (from V 1.1 to 1.4) after about a half hour of trying. The USB-C connector and cable supplied with it were not a good fit. I had to wiggle the cable to keep a good connection - that was my first indication that there was a quality problem.

After upgrading the software, all I could do was set the user parameters. Any time I tried to actually analyze something (ie a dummy load) I got either a blank screen or the message 'scanning' for over 10 minutes.

I gave up and returned it to DXEngineering. They were very gracious and they made the returns process very easy. (They are one of the authorized warranty/service centers for RigExpert in the US).

Great concept - poor execution.