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Re: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Analyzer Expert

To: Barry Jacobson <bdj@alum.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Analyzer Expert
From: Steve London <n2icarrl@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2023 08:45:45 -0700
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Unless you are short on cash, the hands-down winner is any Rig Expert
product that covers the frequency range you need.

The NanoVNA will provide extremely accurate results for a low price,
provided you can figure out how to use it. If you go that route, I strongly
advise pairing it with the free software and running it on a PC. Much
easier than the touch screen on the NanoVNA.

Forget the MFJ-259 or similar. Old technology.

73,
Steve, N2IC

On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 1:41 AM Barry Jacobson <bdj@alum.mit.edu> wrote:

> Hi, I need advice on getting one of the antenna analyzers on the market. I
> have an 80 meter dipole fed with ladder line from an MFJ 989D tuner. I
> seldom use 10 meters, but tried to go on the 10-10 phone contest today.
> Would not tune in that segment of band. Tuner instructions say most
> commonly need to shorten feedline by 1/8 wavelength at band that won't
> tune. Before cutting line and possibly messing up other bands that work
> fine, I would like to know exactly where I stand on each band. I could use
> a device that will tell me exact length of line currently, and what effect
> shortening will have on all other bands, and whether the new impedances
> will be within range of capability of tuner. I don't mind learning complex
> impedances and Smith charts if necessary, but want to do it systematically.
> Don't know if devices out there do this for you. Some possibilities I have
> heard of are NanoVNA, Rigexpert, MFJ antenna analyzer. I don't know if I
> should go on EZNEC. The last 15 feet of each end of dipole droop
> vertically, but don't think that's the main problem.
>
> There is a whole page of devices. Don't know where to begin.
>
> https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-category?id=31
>
> Any advice from an expert greatly appreciated.
>
> 73,
>
> Barry
>
> --
> Barry Jacobson
> WA2VIU
> bdj@alum.mit.edu
> @bdj_phd
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