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Reviews For: RigExpert AA-30 Antenna Analyzer

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : RigExpert AA-30 Antenna Analyzer
Reviews: 39MSRP:
Description:
The RigExpert AA-30 is a powerful antenna analyzer designed for testing, checking, tuning or repairing antennas and antenna feedlines. It provides a graphical display of SWR and impedance (magnitude and phase) over a user-defined frequency range which significantly reduces the time required to adjust an antenna. Easy-to use measurement modes, as well as additional features such as connection to a personal computer (to plot Smith diagrams, etc.), makes the RigExpert AA-30 attractive for professionals and hobbyists.

The following tasks are easily accomplished with the RigExpert AA-30:

Tuning an antenna to resonance
Antenna SWR and impedance measurements
Measuring the parameters of coaxial lines
Cable testing and fault location
Measuring capacitance or inductance of reactive loads
Use as a signal source for testing receivers, filters, etc.
Product is not in production
More Info: https://rigexpert.com/discontinued-products/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00394.6
N9AMI Rating: 2011-11-06
No More MFJ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is economically the best bang for your buck in an antenna analyzer you can buy. It does everything your MFJ does and more. You can view things graphically and hook it to your computer and use smith charting and other graphic tools. Not one hiccup very intuitive to use I highly recommend it even all the plug me in hams can even figure it out.
IW0HEU Rating: 2011-05-16
TAKE MUCH CARE OF GROUND CONDITIONS Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
HI. The AA30 is a good and important equipment for your station, if you want to learn more about aerials or keep yr rigs away from fail using them as signal generators...
But after a day on the roof, I found an important thing: USE AA-30 IN THE SAME GND CONDITION OF YOUR RIGS, 'cause you could expect big troubles if you dont care about this issue. I thought the analizer was defected, but under PC use all things become more clear and SWR matched (more) with rigs response (IC7000-PRO3-IC7400). The morning after, I performed some checks and I found the reason!
Take a look to the data below:
Freq. 7050KHz, windom, RG58, changes only in ground configuration.
NO GND: SWR1.6/Z33.3/R32.7-6,4J
RIG GND: SWR1.2/Z45.0/R44.6-6,4J
PC GND: SWR1.06/Z47.7/R47.7-1,5J
PC GND+RIG GND: SWR1.11/Z53.8/R53.6-4,1J

NOTE: PC GND means that USB cable is inserted in both PC and AA30.
NOTE2: all data taken from AA30 screen.

I have'nt found any 'warning' or 'caution' regarding this in the operation manual.

As usual, another good equipment but you must use in the correct way, otherwise you will go crazy!

Thanks for attention, and sorry for boring. :)
Feel free to send me yr opinion, and let me learn more!
Max IW0HEU (find e-mail on qrz.com)
"NEVER UNDERSTIMATE THE GROUND"
K3PD Rating: 2011-04-26
MUCH more utility than ABC brand! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Just used one to set up a 5 band trap vertical. (yes, I know but I have neighbors) USB to computer to graph and print curves. Overlayed sheets at the window to get a really good look at the changes due to tuning. Finally graphed each band for future reference. This one makes the "ABC" brand obsolete.
James Schings Rating: 2011-04-17
Great Unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For the price you can't go wrong. Used portable it is more than adequate. Used with your PC it is an very professional tool. Great graphs for before and after comparisons, etc. I have used others. This one is best.
KW4N Rating: 2011-02-27
Great, but........... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The unit does everything as described, is very light,can fit in your back pocket, and doesn't require a bag full of AA batteries to operate. It's made in the Ukraine and the batteries in Poland (Panasonic label). Shipped from Canada.
From final inspection(?) at the factory to the customer, I have nits with this device that resulted in a "4"
1. The screws at the back were loose and required tightening down about 1/2" inch each.
2.The two included batteries had a life of about an hour. Replacement Energizers still running after 4 hours of use.
3.The supplier knew the disc was contaminated but shipped it anyway without prior notification. Just because the software is easily downloaded, there's no excuse for this.
4.No A/B USB cable.
5.Almost $17. shipping for 1/2# (before the gas crisis)Profit from shipping? I can ship a 14# boat trailer winch from the midwest to Florida for $10!
K5AF Rating: 2011-02-18
Power in Your Hands! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm very impressed with this latest analyzer from RigExpert. Being in a neighborhood with antenna restrictions, I am forced to hide antennas and feedlines. Often, I'll remote my tuner to the attic or out in the yard to feed a stealthy wire antenna.

What is so amazing about this analyst is that you can tune an antenna to resonance at the feedpoint in real time, its almost like having a small rig with you, and then you can determine the antenna bandwidth and a host of other information. What you see at the antenna is exactly what you get at the other end of the coax! This analyst is perfect for adjusting an antenna to resonance. You can see immediately the results of adding or subtracting length with an antenna.

The instrument is physically large, which I like. Numbers are fairly easy to read, and the display is more than adequate. You can chart SWR and R and X values across the entire range of the analyst, and you discover some interesting things about your antenna that you didn't know before. I checked the SWR on my 22' cage vertical and found one resonant point near 7mHz and another near 18mHz. With some minor redesign, I may be able to use the antenna on both those bands without a tuner.

This replaces a Autek RF-1, which has served me well. Good job, RigExpert!
W3ULS Rating: 2010-12-30
Great for a Buddipole Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've got a Buddipole mounted on a condo balcony and bought the AA-30 to see if I could find a resonant frequency. I did--it shows a 1.5:1 SWR @ 14.150 MHz, for example.

You can get less expensive analyzers, but this one is handy, accurate and easy to use. I'll be using it a lot to avoid using of an antenna tuner with the Buddipole, saving me burning up watts with higher SWRs that require an antenna tuner to get a decent match.
W1AJT Rating: 2010-12-24
Great Product - Great Price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using the RigExpert AA-30 for about one week. I know it is not as sophisticated as the VNAs that many of my friends use and I have borrowed. However, I do not need a computer or multiple adapter cables and computer SW to get a graphical view of my antenna’s condition. It operates on two standard AA batteries or when connected to the computer power is via the standard USB cable. With the included SW I was able to generate and save complete graphs of my antenna parameters from 0.1 to 30 MHz in any range from 100Hz to at least 15 MHz (I did not try higher) around a selected center frequency. Of course it graphs complex impedance (Z,R,X) and the TDR proved quite accurate. Additionally, it could be used to measure stubs, capacitors , and inductors. I used it to generate my antenna tuner settings for all bands for my 43’ vertical at my home station, piece of cake.

The AA-30 won’t replace a VNA but for the ham that needs to have a lightweight portable device to use in the field and still be provide the flexibility of using computer SW to drill down and maintain a historical perspective the AA-30 is a great choice irrespective of its comparatively low price. I ordered mine on line from Yuri – VE3DZ head of RigExpert Canada (http://www.rigexpert.net) since he had them in stock. He immediately shipped it out and a week later I was measuring and adjusting my new 160m “L” ten minutes after it arrived. Great service and great product
AD5X Rating: 2010-10-22
Low cost, high performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Because I wanted a dedicated antenna analyzer for my outdoor HF antenna work, I picked-up the new RigExpert AA-30 antenna analyzer from Array Solutions (www.arraysolutions.com). The frequency range is limited to 0.1-30 MHz, and there is no carrying case, wall-wart power supply/charger, internal rechargeable batteries, or a USB interface cable. And you can’t look at simultaneous multi-band SWR, or save plots for later review or downloading to your computer – though as long as you don’t turn the unit off the most recent plot is displayed. But at the current price of $265, the price (and features) was perfect for my needs. Just like the other RigExpert analyzers, you can look at single-frequency or broadband SWR and impedance plots (magnitude and phase), and measure unknown capacitors and inductors. I liked that power is provided by two easily changed alkaline AA batteries (rechargeable AA batteries can be used, but you must charge them in an external battery charger). And you can download new versions of the AA-30 firmware as they become available from the RigExpert website, but you must provide your own USB cable. The manual is also available on the web site.

I think this is a great analyzer at an excellent price. I did consider paying $55 more to get the AA-54 which adds 6-meter coverage, a simultaneous multi-band SWR display (up to five bands), and the ability to save graphs for later review or downloading to your computer. But in my case, the AA-30 fit my needs.