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Reviews For: Array Solutions AIM 4170 by W5BIG

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : Array Solutions AIM 4170 by W5BIG
Reviews: 64MSRP: 520
Description:
Antenna analyzer measures the complex impedance (magnitude and phase) at each frequency of interest in the range of 0.1 to 170 MHz. An advanced program running on your PC is used to calculate several parameters, including WR, R+X, Mag, RL, Angle, and plot the results vs Freq or on a Smith Chart.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.w5big.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00645
ZS6YI Rating: 2007-09-05
Simply the BEST Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

I have only had my Aim 4170 for a few days now and am impressed beyond words. If I could have voted it 10 out of 5 I would have.
I have discovered things about my antennae that perhaps would have been better not....as I now have some seriously hard work ahead of me.
In a nutshell I can only echo all the accolades bestowed upon this device in this review forum.
Thanks to Jay and Bob for bringing such a fantastic device to the market and for their quest to keep on improving it. I asked Jay if the date format on the graphs could be changed. Within a few minutes Bob emailed me with the change. He liked the idea and this will be incorporated in the next software update. If that’s not customer service Par Excellence then nothing is.
Well done!
73
Gary ZS6YI
AB8XX Rating: 2007-08-12
Excellent performer, not just for Amateur Bands! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had my AIM 4170 for a week and do not know how I ever worked on so many antenna systems without it! Easy to use, free software updates, great support, and works better than any other analyzers that I have used. I love the ability to plot parameters over a band of frequencies rather than spinning a dial and looking at a meter.

Not only do I use it in the shack, but also on aircraft. I am in the aviation industry and this little box is amazing for VHF Nav/Comm antenna system troubleshooting!

It may cost more than other analyzers in that frequency range but it is well worth it. Spend the money and get a real analyzer like the AIM 4170!
HB9RTM Rating: 2007-08-06
Gorgeous Analyzer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Three things make this analyzer close to perfection:

1) Hardware:
PCB is a modern, medium density layout. Very clean and refined design. There is not a single bridging wire revealing poor initial design or subsequent fault correction. All components are professional grade. The all metal case is sturdy but not weather proof. Setup is straightforward: 6 to 15V-DC (any dry battery will do), a RS-232-C cable (supplied) or a USB adapter to any standard PC running Windows-XP and a BNC connector to the antenna under test.

2) Software:
The software part is rich and impressive. Installation is a breeze. When running it does not eat up your processor power and it is lean on RAM. Everything you need is there and easy to use. Default functions and values are nearly optimal for ham use. In addition you can easily edit the config file with any text editor and you can change or adjust nearly any parameter. You can also save as many config and calibration files as you want. On the negative side, there is not much to say, some minor bugs in the "Limit delta function" and it is annoying that some scanned data (plot parameters) can be displayed only in bundle, e.g. Xs and Rs. In some cases, to keep the screen uncluttered it would be nice to be able to select parameters individually, e.g. only Xs or Rs.

3) Precision:
This is really where AIM-4170 shines, not only it has great hardware and great software but it also delivers precision measurement even in sub-optimal conditions with the help of statistic functions like average, smoothing and trend. You always get correct phase angle sign and exact reactance value telling you whether you are in capacitive or inductive mode.

Summary:
The AIM-4170 has features and quality to be found only on professional equipment with a 10x price tag at least. It is a two-box system (a hardware head-end and a PC) which can make using it outdoors sometimes less practical than single box units. However, precision, versatility, ease of use, manufacturing quality and attractive price makes the AIM-4170 an outstanding antenna analyzer.

Andre / HB9RTM / Switzerland
K3NC Rating: 2007-06-07
Software Defined Ant. Analyser - Great! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this as a Christmas present to myself and I am continually amazed how it improves! The software program is updated every 6-8 weeks with new features and I have yet to find any bugs. The amount of information allowed the opportunity to learn more about antennas and this is the best bang for the buck out there.
OZ6ABM Rating: 2007-05-18
Works fine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have used the AIM for a few days only, but seems to work fine - epcept for the undocumented features.

Firstly, the software for performing cable testing isn't working as expected - some feet - meters conversion problems and I'm getting a reported length of 130 ft. with a cable error at 170?

Secondly, some of the menu functions point to URLs. That's OK, but I would have preferred to see that done via a single stable web page link - it means I'm going to have to download new software if these pages change.

Thirdly, the unit can run on an internal 9V battery, but they haven't mounted the connector - why not? So it means users have to fiddle with the PCB themselves?

Fourthly, there are a lot of variables being plotted on the graphs - the documentation explains some, but not all.

Fifthly, no indication on the back panel which of the DC pins is positive. May sound obvious that it's the center, but why run the risk?

Besides that the support by Array Solutions is great and the product is very neat.

73
Robin
OZ6ABM
K6AER Rating: 2007-05-17
Great bang for the buck analyzer. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the AIM-4170 at the Visalia DX convention about a month ago. It is an excellent single port analyzer. Here are some of the items you can do with the unit;

Phase and complex phase are easily measured along with VSWR, reflection coefficient, inductive and capacitive reactance. The plot output is displayed in a Microsoft format on an excel format along with a color plot of all parameters. Some of the actual uses others have mentioned are listed below

• Determine a balun’s resonate frequency and its common mode impedance vs. frequency (effective band-width).

• Check to see what impedances my tuner is matching for my tune fed dipole for the various bands.

• Measuring and adjusting traps.

• Measure an antenna’s feed point impedance from the transmitter’s end of the feed-line.

• Change the reference impedance for SWR measurements to something other than 50-ohms.

• Measure the antenna systems common mode impedance at shack end of the transmission line (useful for determining if and where a choke may be required).

• Quickly measure and/or calibrate transmission lines without doing any calculations.

• Be able to recall the information from files for future analysis.

• Impedance fault measurements of transmission lines. Both short and open lines.

• Build accurate filter networks and understand the reactive application of various components.

• Look at the performance inductors, capacitors and resistors and their real world interaction.

• The unit can be used as a signal generator with a very stable frequency and level output. You will need a precision attenuator for level output control.

The unit is small and easily transported for field test work. Cable hookup is via a serial cable. Power supply is via an AC wall wart or a 9 volt battery. Unlike the MFJ unit the current requirement is small.

Bottom line is the unit is definitely worth the $420 cost. I have a lot of expensive HP test equipment but this little box is impressive and duplicates the function of test equipment costing 100 times as much.



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WILLIAMKENDALLEXN0CO Rating: 2007-04-28
Perfect solution Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use the 4170 to tune my magnetic loop antenna. For those of you not familiar with the magnetic loop, it requires a retune every one kc. I was using the MFJ 259 to do this with a manual antenna switch.
Two problems with the MFJ 259.
1. The 259 has to be tuned to frequency manually.
2. The 259 drifted a little.

With the 4170 I open the “Point Data” window and type in the transceiver frequency, click “recycle” and tune the antenna. Only takes a second or two. A quick turn of the antenna switch and I’m transmitting!
The 4170 lands exactly on frequency and with no drift.
I love this unit!!

The other features are also excellent but this is my primary use and I use it every day.
KC0KJR Rating: 2007-03-13
Excellent piece of test equipment. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great piece of test equipment. You will learn more about your antenna in 10 seconds that you could discover using other similarly priced analyzers all day.

I must say it was not my first choice since it needed a computer to operate, but once you check the performance of this analyzer with other of similar price on the market, there is no other way to go. Using a laptop with the AIM 4170 actually gives you the large format screen to see the graphical analysis with makes life much easier for my old eyes.

A snap to set up and operate and it works with Windows Vista (Toshiba laptop).

Great product. Well done.
W0IVJ Rating: 2007-02-27
A wonderful piece of test equipment! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received the W5BIG Aim 4170 for Christmas, and what a nice addition to the shack. I have used the 4170 to measure capacitance, inductance, impedance of an antenna, Q of an inductor, self resonant point of a choke and the Q of that circuit, and a filter response as well as its return loss in the bandpass. I plan on using the 4170 for some broadband transformer measurements, also. In fact, I have delayed in writing this review until I had used the devise for all that I wanted. But, it has so many uses that I figured I might not ever get the review written.

I would highly recommend the AIM 4170. It is easy to use and very useful. You will be making measurements in less than ten minutes out of the box.

Tom W0IVJ
KE5ICP Rating: 2007-01-16
Fabulous for Novice or Expert Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a truly great instrument, and will stimulate novice or expert to attempt perfecting antenna matching or design. W5BIG is very responsive to any and all technical questions, no matter how basic. A great product with great support, and really the last antenna analyzer you will ever need.