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Reviews For: RigExpert AA-650 ZOOM

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : RigExpert AA-650 ZOOM
Reviews: 5MSRP:
Description:
Antenna Analyzer 0.1- 650 MHz
Product is in production
More Info: https://rigexpertusa.com/aa-650-zoom/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1555
N7YJ Rating: 2022-10-30
Not Your Old MFJ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As much as I used my 30 year old MFJ, I can do so much more without having to do a bunch of calculations. The other reviews are spot on, so I'll focus on the handy parts. Get the three open, short, and load connectors. With them you can test coax jumpers. You can also calibrate to the end of your coax run and just look at the antenna itself. Since I run balanced all the way out, a lower power 1:1 current balun lets me look at the system. The Smith Chart allows you to take a look at individual band ranges with the results telling you about any oddities or potential problems when using a tuner. For now, I'm confirming everything is in order. The PC/Mac software is useful for seeing stuff on the big screen and printing results. Overall a nice addition to the shack.
EI7II Rating: 2022-03-02
Serious about yr Antennas? This is the one ! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Been around the block a few times in my almost 30 years of "hamming" I am a firm believer in the saying: Your station is only as good as its antenna. Especially if you are in ultra low power modes, like Whisper in WJTX... you want to get every single Milli watt into the air.... I usually run around 200 mw. I just hate to see some of that going adrift. So.... getting yr antenna resonant on your chosen frequencies is important... well at least it is for me.
But,..... here is the but... I am using a 120 ft long Endfed for 8 bands.... (well 7 to be honest) the Endfed isn't particularly fond of 160m.
Trouble is.... tuning one band often affects the others.... but here is where the Rig Expert unit shines. The 650 zoom will give me 5 bands at a glance on the SAME SCREEN. ( If you want all the bands... buy the RigExpert Stick Pro... or the RigExpert 2000 zoom. BUT... do note: Of course it will do ALL BANDS... but only five (5) fit on the screen at one time, so to get the others you simply set their frequencies and display again).
While I think that the NanoVNA units are great too.... they cannot match the convenience of the RigExpert units. NO CALIBRATION NEEDED is one great advantage for a starter. It's build in Bluetooth is another. ( Hang the unit on yr antenna and drive it completely from you phone !) Wanna keep a record of your measurements? Not a bother.. the Antscope PC S/W will keep 'em for you in perpetuity.
I could go on and on but by now you get the picture. The Rig Expert units are not cheap... but the best never is.
If your antennas are important to you, as they should, tuning them into optimum performance will pay off handsomely. Read up on the many features and only then decide.
I hicked up against the price... but then remembered what my Mamma told me: Son.... the Joy of the low price is soon forgotten but the misery of poor quality lingers on forever ! She was right... and that saying is still stuck in my brain !
KA3ZAI Rating: 2022-02-28
Remarkable! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As the others stated below, the 650 zoom analyzer is money well spent! The 2022 Hamcation price was a great deal! Thanks Gigaparts for the hamfest special pricing.
W4EDX Rating: 2021-10-20
Works better than expected Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The AA-650 Zoom was a replacement for a Lab type analyzer that I could not easily use in the field. The 650 does a great job giving me the data I need when out away from my computer in the field. It is easy to use and the 3 battery combo provides all the time I need to make my observations which usually take 15 to 20 minutes. The computer SW program works great but its documentation is a little lacking but I have been told a User Manual for that SW program is in the works. Your money will be well spent on this analyzer.
Bernie/W4EDX
NO9E Rating: 2021-01-19
After other analyzers it puts smile on your face.... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed an analyzer for more complex analyzes that would do things quickly and easily. VNWA 3 is comprehensive and accurate but requires a computer; every time I use it it needs new settings and the simplest measurement often takes an hr. For complicated analyses, read and try to comprehend a 500+ page manual. Nano VNA H is cheap and does many things. But trying to do anything requires good memorization of operations and lots of keystrokes. Many mistakes and lots of cursing. FA-VA4 is pretty accurate and light but only 3 buttons and limited functionality. AA-650 has very simple menus and it seems to guess what you want. Anything what it can do can be accomplished in minutes, with a smile.

I chose the 650 MHz model for the coverage of the 70cm band and for greater accuracy of TDR - to measure lengths of cables or distance to fault.