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Antenna Tester

 
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TSaccio(at)aol.com
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:43 am    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

Does anyone have any information on antenna testers. I've installed copper
foil antenna's in my Seawind and I need to test there integrity. If anyone
could tell me where I could purchase such a unit it would be greatly appreciated.
Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)


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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:46 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

At 01:43 PM 1/29/2006 -0500, you wrote:

Quote:


Does anyone have any information on antenna testers. I've installed copper
foil antenna's in my Seawind and I need to test there integrity. If anyone
could tell me where I could purchase such a unit it would be greatly
appreciated.
Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)

There are a variety of low cost, 'swr' meters that need
your vhf comm transmitter as a signal source for operation.
Some don't work very well (show low SWR when in fact the
match is poor). My personal favorite is the MFJ-259. I've
owned two and have purchased them for clients. They've gone
up about $100 since I purchased my first one some years ago
but they're still about the best value out there for serious
antenna work. See:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-269

and

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/man/pdf/MFJ-269.pdf

This is the kind of tool a club ought to own and 'rent'
out. I used to rent one but after it had been out and back
about 10x (break even on acquisition cost) it was needing
too much maintenance attention to make it a useful business
activity. I refurbished the rental and sold it. Purchased a
second one which has been used more than enough times to justify
having it.
Bob . . .
< What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >
< the authority which determines whether there can be >
< debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of >
< scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests >
< with experiment. >
< --Lawrence M. Krauss >


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BigD(at)DaveMorris.com
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:25 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

If you scrounge up a used one, make sure it's designed for VHF. There are
a lot of used ham radio units you might find on eBay that only work well on HF.

Dave Morris
N5UP
At 02:41 PM 1/29/2006, you wrote:
Quote:

<nuckollsr(at)cox.net>

At 01:43 PM 1/29/2006 -0500, you wrote:

>
>
>Does anyone have any information on antenna testers. I've installed copper
>foil antenna's in my Seawind and I need to test there integrity. If anyone
>could tell me where I could purchase such a unit it would be greatly
>appreciated.
>Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)

There are a variety of low cost, 'swr' meters that need
your vhf comm transmitter as a signal source for operation.
Some don't work very well (show low SWR when in fact the
match is poor). My personal favorite is the MFJ-259. I've
owned two and have purchased them for clients. They've gone
up about $100 since I purchased my first one some years ago
but they're still about the best value out there for serious
antenna work. See:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-269

and

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/man/pdf/MFJ-269.pdf

This is the kind of tool a club ought to own and 'rent'
out. I used to rent one but after it had been out and back
about 10x (break even on acquisition cost) it was needing
too much maintenance attention to make it a useful business
activity. I refurbished the rental and sold it. Purchased a
second one which has been used more than enough times to justify
having it.
Bob . . .
< What is so wonderful about scientific truth...is that >
< the authority which determines whether there can be >
< debate or not does not reside in some fraternity of >
< scientists; nor is it divine. The authority rests >
< with experiment. >
< --Lawrence M. Krauss >




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TSaccio(at)aol.com
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:33 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

Thanks for the imput Dave. I don't know anything about this stuff. Are you
saying that a Ham radio that operates on VHF will test the antenna's on my
plane? Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)


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brian



Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Sacramento, California, USA

PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:30 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

TSaccio(at)aol.com wrote:
Quote:


Thanks for the imput Dave. I don't know anything about this stuff. Are you
saying that a Ham radio that operates on VHF will test the antenna's on my
plane? Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)

You aren't looking for a ham radio, per se. You are looking for an SWR
meter (or directional wattmeter) that is designed to operate at 120 MHz.

Bob used to have an antenna analyzer he used to loan to people just for
this purpose.

--
Brian Lloyd 361 Catterline Way
brian-yak at lloyd dot com Folsom, CA 95630
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery


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_________________
Brian Lloyd
brian-yak at lloyd dot com
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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BigD(at)DaveMorris.com
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:05 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

Brian's right. You just need the SWR meter (aka "SWR Bridge"). Then you
use your own aircraft band transmitter. I bought an SWR meter a long long
time ago from Radio Shack and it's worked dandy for me for all these
years. What I was basically warning you about is that there are some SWR
meters that are not designed for VHF. I used to have a Heathkit SWR meter
that would only work on HF, and not VHF. So be careful if you are going to
go out there and pick one up on eBay.

Dave

At 04:29 PM 1/29/2006, you wrote:
Quote:


TSaccio(at)aol.com wrote:
>
>
> Thanks for the imput Dave. I don't know anything about this stuff. Are
you
> saying that a Ham radio that operates on VHF will test the antenna's on
my
> plane? Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)

You aren't looking for a ham radio, per se. You are looking for an SWR
meter (or directional wattmeter) that is designed to operate at 120 MHz.

Bob used to have an antenna analyzer he used to loan to people just for
this purpose.

--
Brian Lloyd 361 Catterline Way
brian-yak at lloyd dot com Folsom, CA 95630
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery



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gert.v(at)sbcglobal.net
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:21 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

i bought a simple SWR off ebay, a MFJ-841, which seem to do the trick,
The MFJ-259 is nice, but takes more explaining to the folks using it who
are less techno-literate.

Brian Lloyd wrote:

Quote:


TSaccio(at)aol.com wrote:


>
>
>Thanks for the imput Dave. I don't know anything about this stuff. Are you
>saying that a Ham radio that operates on VHF will test the antenna's on my
>plane? Tom Saccio _tsaccio(at)aol.com_ (mailto:tsaccio(at)aol.com)
>
>

You aren't looking for a ham radio, per se. You are looking for an SWR
meter (or directional wattmeter) that is designed to operate at 120 MHz.

Bob used to have an antenna analyzer he used to loan to people just for
this purpose.




--

is subject to a download and archival fee in the amount of $500


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wschertz(at)ispwest.com
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:46 pm    Post subject: Antenna Tester Reply with quote

Check with your local Ham Radio club. Someone may have the equipment and do
the test for you.
Bill Schertz
KIS Cruiser # 4045
---


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VE3LVO(at)rac.ca
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:19 pm    Post subject: Antenna tester Reply with quote

Following the thread:
One of our corespondents is correct - check with local ham club.
Some old duffer witrh an antenna analyzer (SWR don't tell you everything)
will probably come out for the curiosity, test to the nth and offer some
interesting antenna information.
Hams have been swamped in latter years by Japanese black boxes
and the single guy can't compete - antennas are another story. Some of the
best are homebrew and one tenth the cost.
The analyzer is delicate and easily misapplied. Bob won't be
loaning his out for long - the cost to repair within guidelines is
prohibitive.
Thass that.
Cheers, Ferg
PS While this list is amazing for the info in it, there's a lot of
misinformation hidden in some messages. An amateur is a professional who
doesn't get paid - unlike professional pallbearers, etc..................


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