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Reviews For: Palstar ZM30 Antenna Analyzer

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : Palstar ZM30 Antenna Analyzer
Reviews: 56MSRP: 329.00
Description:
The Zm30 is an automated micro-controlled SWR antenna analyzer with a 8 bit micro-controller with a precision low power DDS signal generator. It also includes a self-calibrating reflectometer and displays SWR at selectable frequencies from 1 Mhz to 30 Mhz. It measures: SWR,impedance,reactance, and inductors and capacitors, transmission lines,stubs, and Q and resonant frequency. There is a serial port for field upgradable software. Battery operated.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/palmain.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00564.1
N7XDX Rating: 2009-06-10
Quality Analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm very pleased with the user-friendly interface and quality construction of this analyzer. Used it when building a homebrew Moxon and it worked flawlessly. I own another Palstar product and they are top-notch.
W4LJM Rating: 2009-01-03
One Great Analyzer! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a great antenna analyzer! Quality engineering speaks for itself! Rock-solid stability. Well thought out menu. Beats the heck out of anything I had before, ie MFJ, Auteck, etc. Cost a little more than the others, but well worth it. I just love using this little puppy! Palstar, well done! I could not be happier!
WA2EQF Rating: 2008-05-21
A very useful shack tool Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have purchased several pieces of PALSTAR equipment and have been very pleased with the quality. This analyzer is no exception. It is intuitive and easy to use. It's been particularly useful on Field Days and for Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) setups in building and tuning antennas. The graphing feature from ZMData is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to visually scan the antenna's characteristics across the band that the antenna is designed for. In two years of use, I have not experienced any of the static problems mentioned in some of the reviews. I do keep the input terminated when not in use with an old Thinnet termination resistor. Although the manual has gone through many iterations, I find it well written and easy to follow. I have kept the firmware up to date. The data port makes upgrading the firmware quick and simple. I have updated the firmware several times without incident. I have used the analyzer both in the battery-powered mode as well as from the wall wart and it seems to work equally well either way. Batteries last long enough to do any antenna job. I've had several questions for Paul at PALSTAR, and he's answered them quickly. The only negative I can offer is that the current version on the firmware gets a little goofy when I try to set the step size, but I am sure this will be corrected. In summary, I am very satisfied with this piece of test equipment, it is fairly priced and I would recommend it to anyone.
W4RCY Rating: 2008-03-03
Incredable Value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The best quality built analyzer that I have owned. It is reliable and provides commercial quality reliability and accuracy. It has excellent computer interface capabilities. A real super value, that should last for a long time. Thanks to Palstar!
K1GUY Rating: 2008-02-06
As Good As It Gets Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this tuner for sometime now. Measuring home brew antennas and store bought. It is invaluble for every ham. Very intuitive and easy to use. I, by mistake, connected my antenna directly into the unit without first discharging any electrostatic build-up on the antenna. This fried a sensitive circuit in the unit. You can avoid this by first making contact with your pl239 or antenna wire lead to the housing of the unit. I sent it back, and wihout any charge, paul COMPLETELY went over the unit, replaced the damaged part AND upgraded it to firmware V5 AT NO CHARGE. Received the unit back as new in a week. Works and shows as new. Palstar is a tribute to whats right with America. Made in USA, a supurb product, best in class with phenomenal customer service. I also enjoy my two other Palstar Products ! Wouldnt go anywhere else for a antenna tuner, and analyzer.
BRAVO PAUL and the team at PALSTAR !
WG9U Rating: 2008-01-22
Very Competent Analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After some fairly extensive research, product evaluation, model comparison, and forum reviews, I decided upon the Palstar ZM30 antenna analyzer.

I received the ZM30 analyzer last week and I just wanted to say that this is a solid well constructed instrument. I am extremely pleased with the quality and functionality. The menu interface is intuitive, allows fast access to the
features set and rapid configuration changes. I took it out of the box and withing minutes, ran a number of tests on some of our antenna systems.

The ZM Data Plotter Excel macro program does a wonderful job of plotting SWR, Resistance, and Reactance from ZM30 data point files, and producing nice graphs for review.

The serial interface is an extremely nice feature for firmware updates and saving the test data file to your computer for later evaluation.

I will agree with a previous reviewer, that for some individuals not familiar with advanced testing procedures, more detailed examples should be included in the manual.

Overall, what can I say, it's a great product!

It should be noted that I have extensive experience with the MFJ 259 and 359 analyzers and in the 1 - 30MHz category this is by far the best analyzer I've used to date.


W8NLZ Rating: 2007-09-07
A solid addition to the ham shack Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Others have already noted the excellent construction and operation of the ZM30. I'll add what it has provided for me in the first few weeks of ownership.

I bought the unit to help me tune a Buddipole dipole in the field. The audio tone for SWR really helps. As a bonus, in a few hours, I have been able to determine and graph the precise settings of my manual antenna tuner(s) for my antennae across all HF bands, without radiating a watt. Now all my ham pals want me to do the same for them.

The unit has a basic manual, but the operation is so intuitive, you probably will only look through it once. Easy to operate.

I'm glad I spent the few extra bucks for the ZM30. Believe it will serve me for years. Against all other candidates, it is a "5". I gave it a "4" only because I think Palstar can - and will- do even better on the software and manual.

FYI, I use the unit on the AC wall wart most of the time and appreciate that the power supply was included in the basic kit.
PA3HGT Rating: 2007-08-21
Very good but ..... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This analyzer is doing a very good job when you measure coax- en openline antenna's.
It's highly accurate and easy to operate.
Manual is not good written and needs improvement.
Measuring traps by the manual is not working,i attended Palstar a year ago on this and they promised when there is a solution for that.
I have still no email for this issue after one year!
Firmwareupgrade was not easy and i called help from Palstar who answer very quickly.
I give it a 4 because the manual and the "trap-thing".
DJ0RD Rating: 2007-07-30
Easy to use and accurate. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It makes tuning my High Sierra 1800S on the ground mount child's play.The only niggle I have is that if you are really spinning across the frequency, the encoder shaft is flexible enough that the knob rubs on the face cut out. I bought it used for a good price from an OM in Austria.
F4DYT Rating: 2007-05-04
18 months after... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good evening

I did a mistake while updating the ROM to version 4.0. After a phone call, I got the permission to send the unit back for repair. A few days after, when I asked myself if I should phone again to see if the unit arrived to the US, the unit was back in France, properly packaged and with the updated ROM. Inside, I found a new manual, as well as a recommendation to ground the antenna before measuring. This was new for me. Also, included were a new set of calibration resistances, an adaptor to PL-259 from BNC, and a 12V plug for feeding with an external souce.

I am glad to report that manuals are now *very* well written, and they are much better than the original ones I received 18 months ago. Please consider negative reports about manuals to be a solved problem.

I can report that using 2500 mA/h NiMH batteries gave me enough autonomy for my needs. I am a builder, not a contester, so my needs are not very important.

I also report that I used it as a signal generator for testing the bandwidth of a ladder filter built with cheap quarz units (for a BITX). Filter impedance is 200 Ohm. I connected the filter input to the Palstar, and filter output was measured with an old Tektronix oscilloscope. By varying the frequency, and by reading the frequency and the voltage at the oscilloscope, I could easily plot the bandwidth curves. Even if considering that the Palstar unit and the oscilloscope probe can add some pF can affect input and output, it is a good way to know what you are doing.

I am very satisfied of this equipment, and service is fast and efficient.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by F4DYT on 2006-02-22

Good evening.

Still happy with the analyser four months after. Some remarks:

1) Do not measure with the ZM30 in your (bare) hand on humid grass. Measures are *VERY* different than if you put the ZM30 on a nonconductive table or chair. It seems that your body has enough capacitance to fool the ZM30. It is not a ZM30 defect, but it is definitely a measurement technique caution.

2) For less than three euros I bought a small italian tools plastic case, in which the analyser fits nicely. It even has place for the auxiliar tools and connectors.

3) Always have well charged batteries. I have the impression that readings and operation depend somewhat on power supply voltage (need to learn more about it). Batteries lasting is good enough for battery operation to be practical, and please, remember point 1) above.

4) I tried the analyser software downloaded from Palstar site. Works as intended but I don't need these nice features.

5) The SWR measured with the Palstar ZM30 made operation with the FT-857D practical. Now, I measure SWR with the Palstar ZM30, I search for minimum SWR with a manual coupling box, and when SWR is less than 1.5, I connect the transceiver, which works OK.

No connection with Palstar, just a customer.

73 Dimitri F4DYT
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Earlier 5-star review posted by F4DYT on 2005-10-24

It is a nice product. It works as advertised, and manufacturing quality is good.

My shipping instructions were respected.

It took a bit longer to receive it (I live in Europe), but if you are patient, your patience will be rewarded.

The British magazine (RADCOM) review which can be found in the Palstar Web site is correct and accurately describes the product.

My only negative feeling is very subjective and should not be considered a product weakness: not having for this price VHF and UHF support.

73 Dimitri F4DYT