[Elecraft] Antenna Analyzer

[Jim Sheldon]

I was introduced to the SARK-110 several years ago and besides being an 
excellent antenna analyzer, it had one feature that nobody else had 
(when I bought the SARK) and that is called a "Time Domain 
Reflectometer".  This allows you to find breaks, impedance bumps and 
other anomalies in cable runs.

During my 20 years in the Army, I was introduced to a hugely expensive 
HP-140A oscilloscope with a TDR plug in.  We used it to find cuts in our 
buried coax where the local people were digging it up for the copper 
(back in 1967).  From that point on, I always wanted a TDR but they were 
way too expensive (even used) for a poor ham to even consider until I 
was introduced to the SARK by a good friend at the "OzarkCon" QRP 
convention.  It paid for itself quickly by finding where a gopher (or 
mole) had chewed mostly through some buried coax I had going to a 
vertical in the back yard.  The SARK's TDR pinpointed the break within a 
foot and it was probably more accurate than that as my measurements when 
following the cable were somewhat sloppy.

It also makes a pretty decent signal generator as well, can be 
calibrated against WWV with not too much effort, but the minimum signal 
you can output is 50 microvolts (S9) so a good external step attenuator 
is needed along with double shielded cables to minimize feedthrough of 
the SARK's output signal.   Oh yes, I did mention, it's an excellent 
antanna analyzer as well and it will do Smith Chart plots and other 
stuff too.  You can control it with a computer via USB too.

No financial interest in the company, just a very happy user.

Jim - W0EB

------ Original Message ------
From: "John Oppenheimer" <john at kn5l.net>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: 12/1/2017 7:23:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna Analyzer

>The SARK 110 is very small with many features:
>
>http://www.sark110.com/
>
>John KN5L
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