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Reviews For: RigExpert AA-54

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : RigExpert AA-54
Reviews: 71MSRP:
Description:
RigExpert AA-54 is powerful antenna analyzer designed for testing, checking, tuning or repairing antennas and antenna feedlines in the range of 0.1 to 54 MHz. USB connection to computer.
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
00714.9
N0TES Rating: 2014-07-15
Would buy another Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using this analyzer for building antennas for along time now. I have found many fun ways to use it; from the capability to monitor the SWR of 5 bands while making adjustments on our broadband antennas, to exporting the data produced by the meter to PDFs I can share with our customers. This meter always is within arms reach!
HJ6JHD Rating: 2014-04-27
¡Excelente! ¿Por qué no tuve una antes? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Para decirlo brevemente: excelente. Estuve en la tarea de evaluar, para adquirir, un analizador de antenas MFJ; atendiendo el consejo de un muy buen amigo, revisé las críticas de algunos dispositivos y del recomendado RigExpert. Si la menor duda, un acertado consejo y una inmejorable elección. La primera impresión elimina cualquier duda. Sólido, bien construído, muy buenos acabados, funcionamiento consistente, invaluable información la que brinda del sistema de antenas, ¡genial!

En verdad, me inclino a proponer éste dispositivo como de imprescindible existencia en toda estación de radioaficionado. Es tanta mi satisfacción con él que considero un deber recomendarlo. El precio no es muy atractivo, pero compensa cada centavo pagado.
KC9SWV Rating: 2014-04-07
Extremely Helpful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the RigExpert AA-54 as a birthday present to myself. I have used the ubiquitous MFJ-259 meter before, but this is the first analyer I have owned personally.

The display is fairly nice as ham equipment goes (they all tend to be about a generation behind the rest of the electronics world) and a vast improvement over needle-type meters. The update rate of the screen seems perfectly adequate for an SWR meter, as the SWR of an antenna is unlikely to change very quickly.

The memories are nice as you don't have to remember or write down everything while you're tuning or testing an antenna. This was the big thing that sold me on the -54 over the -30, as I don't currently work 6 meters.

The output is +13dBm into 50 Ohms so you can use it as a frequency source as well, but hooking it to our HP/Agilent spectrum analyzer at work through an attenuator showed a good deal of spurious noise, so I wouldn't rely on it as a primary for that role. As a note, the actual frequency source only goes up to 10 or so Mhz, after that it uses harmonics for tuning.

The user interface is a little clunky in that it uses numbered menu items instead of scrolling with the already present arrow keys. Not sure what the thought there was, but at least each digit performs the same function throughout the interface (2 always sets the frequency, 3 always sets the range, etc).

I have yet to try the computer software, but it looks to add a great deal of value as well. I'm also fairly certain that with the PC programs one can do time-domain reflectrometry for making 1/4 and 1/2 wavelength coax stubs and locating coax flaws!

Overall I am extremely happy with my purchase and hope to one day upgrade to a -170 model so I can make myself some 2m antennas as well. I would recommend this analyzer to anyone looking for a great value!
N4BHH Rating: 2014-04-04
N4BHH Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Checked two different antennas and very impressed with performace. HOWEVER, as I do with any software install from software I install, I did a complete computer scan for malware etc before install. After install, I did another scan and had 39 malware hit and a number of registery issues as well as directing the browser to change homepage to a known malware site. AA-54 great, software 'extras' a disgrace.
6W7RV Rating: 2014-04-04
How did i do before? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Excellent! nothing else to say.
N1TCH Rating: 2014-02-18
Outstanding features and easy to use Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I grew increasing frustrated with my MFJ-259 while trying to tune and adjust my 4BTV vertical. I bought the AA-54 on the suggestion of an HRO sales associate.
Pros: easy to use, repeatable readings, connection to PC thru USB with additional analysis. You can print the graph of your antenna's SWR and create and print Smith Charts.

Cons, only one. The battery life could be better.

All in all I'd recommend this to a friend and. Continue to be very pleased with it.
N4JOY Rating: 2014-01-27
You won't go wrong with this analyzer! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As with other reviewers, I similarly considered the MFJ antenna analyzers; but after reading the RigExpert's very positive reviews, I decided to spend the extra money and purchase one. Let me simply say that I'm now wondering why I didn't buy one sooner! I have seen the quality of MFJ products deteriorate over the past few years--quality control is seriously lacking. The AA-54 is well built and very easy to use. You will save so much time diagnosing problems with your antenna. This is a great buy!
W1REJ Rating: 2014-01-18
Loaded with features that every HAM will use, well constructed, Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine at HRO in Salem, MA after tech-talk with Sales/HAM. It is a great little meter, I am still learning all of it's features which are many. It has a helped me by plotting the SWR's on my OCF Buxcomm 160-2 meter Dipole. The bar read-out in concert with the digital read-out is very handy. I will follow-up with another review after I have used other features. It is rugged, can be connected to a PC for added features, light weight, can be worn in a holster if need be on tower (or trees !)
KJ4GZI Rating: 2014-01-18
Worked as expected Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this Analyzer due to it multiply SWR display and graphing capability. The graphing screen made short work in determining whether the antenna was too long or short. Once I had the antenna tuned up the multiply swr screen allow you to see what the individual swr is for each band on one screen.

I was able to tune up my vertical antenna in short order.
K4ECD Rating: 2013-11-08
Amazing product - Simple - accurate - and loaded with features Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Within 10 mins of getting the analyzer I solved the problem of my recent fan dipole SWR issues.
** Multiple SWR readings on one screen **
** USB to computer charts **
Easy to operate and only 2 batteries unlike the 58 it took for my now obsolete MFJ 259B

This item will make your antenna tuning a snap!