The Palstar unit is based on a design developed by AmQrp, its AA-908 based on the Micro 908 platform. The Micro908 is more flexible than the Palstar, but the antenna analyzer circuitry is similar. There is a substantial reflector community for the Micro908 and the designers monitor the reflector and are quick to respond. The reflector archives also have some discussion of the Palstar unit since it is a derivative of the Micro908. AmQrp releases the Micro908 as a kit as soon as they can put together enough to issue. I believe there are about 300 micro908 units in existence.
I have a later micro908 and it functions quite well. I also use it as a DSP with my KX-1 (It uses the same dsp board as in the K2 dsp filter.) It is a scanning antenna analyzer and there is free software that allows you to control the unit from a computer or a Palm PDA. In both cases, the scans are plotted on the computer or the PDA. You can get more details on the Micro908 at the www.amqrp.org. I think they are currently sold out, but an email would get you a reply as to when they could be available. Note: the kit is virtually all surface mount components, many very, very small. So if you don't like handling surface mount, then you should pass or have someone build it for you. Howard Ashcraft, W1WF -----Original Message----- From: Larry Phipps [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:51 PM Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Antenna Analyzers In addition to my professional bench gear, I have an MFJ, Autek and AEA CIA Analyst. I use all but the Autek and AEA regularly and find they each have a purpose. When I want a to do a quick check of resistance, reactance, SWR or return loss on the bench I grab the AEA... especially if I want a quick plot to go with it (using the included software and serial connection). It is a bit too slow and definitely too heavy to carry up the tower though. The Autek is the one I always grab when going up the tower because it is fast and small. It is also quite accurate. The tuning is a bit touchy as mentioned in the article, but I find it a quite useful tool. I don't hate the MFJ, I just like the others better. I have heard a lot of horror stories about MFJ, but the few things I have work as advertised. My units may just be good ones, while others may not be as good. For better or worse, QST tends to rate the products by the performance of the tested unit, not anecdotal evidence or feedback from the field. Larry N8LP Stephen W. Kercel wrote: > There is an interesting piece in the May 2005 QST. It has product > reviews on four different antenna analyzers. > > Two that were included are the MFJ-269 and the Autek VA-1. I have > heard endless horror stories from many hams about both, abysmal > quality control, virtually useless tech support and so on. None of > these negatives are mentioned in the QST product review. > > There is also a new product favorably mentioned in the review, the > Palstar ZM-30. Since the MFJ and the Autek are apparently both junk, > despite being favorably reviewed in this article, I'm not sure whether > I can trust the product review on the Palstar. > > Anybody have any experience with it? Is it any good? > > 73, > > Steve Kercel > AA4AK > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [email protected] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
