Antenna Analyzer
An antenna analyzer is a very useful measuring instrument. It allows you to “see” not only the characteristics of antennas more clearly, but also those of passive matching circuits. Optimizing antennas is much faster than with a standard SWR meter.
The prices of commercial products are very high, so I was very pleased to have the opportunity to purchase an antenna analyzer kit based on VK5JST’s design. Users in reviews on http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5779?page=2 rated it very positively, and the fact that about a thousand units had been successfully built also inspired confidence. For 150 AUD (approx. 2,300 SKK), I purchased one kit and built it.
The kit is not just a collection of components but also includes mechanical parts, allowing you to assemble a device that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. Before starting the build, it’s worth studying the PCB assembly procedure in the manual and marking the key points.
The entire project took me about 10 hours of actual work time, and the antenna analyzer worked right out of the box. The display shows the frequency, SWR, and the real and imaginary components of impedance. With a little trick, you can also determine the sign of the imaginary component of impedance.
I definitely recommend the VK5JST antenna analyzer for your workshop as well.