[SADXA] 160 DX

[Wes Stewart]

--- On Fri, 3/6/09, RICHARD SOLOMON <w1ksz at q.com> wrote:

> From: RICHARD SOLOMON <w1ksz at q.com>
> Subject: Re: [SADXA] 160 DX
> To: "SADXA" <sadxa at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Friday, March 6, 2009, 11:01 AM
> It is the Cushcraft MA-160V.
> 
>  
> 
> I added 4 more radial the other day, and the impedance went
> up (?) to
> 
> 50 ohms, the minimum SWR increased to 1.7:1. Now this was
> with the
> 
> MFJ-259 which will not show reactance.
> 
>  
> 
> I didn't like what the 4 additional radials did, so I
> removed them. Maybe 
> 
> if I added a matching coil it might help, but that's
> adding another component.
> 
>  
> 
> I may just buy another Antenna Analyzer. I have received
> several suggestions
> 
> but I lean towards the MFJ-269.

I have the early version of the N2PK vector analyzer. (http://n2pk.com/#TP1) I was spoiled using $250K HP-8510's and this is the closest you can get (within its frequency range) to that accuracy.

Of course you have to build the N2PK.  While I have no personal experience with the AIM4170, I have exchanged a few emails with Bob, W5BIG, who was picking my brain and it looks like an excellent piece of gear. http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/AIM4170B.htm#top%20of%20page

It's more money than the MFJ, but of course you generally get what you pay for.  You also need a computer with RS-232.  Bob says he is working on a USB interface, so that may be available now.

Anyone seriously working on antennas needs a vector analyzer.