|
|
|
Material on this website: copyright 1997-2012. It may be
printed for your personal use but may not be used for commercial purposes,
copied, or altered and posted on other websites
|
Array Solutions
Phone
(214) 954-7140
Fax
(214) 954-7142
Email Us |
| |
AIM 4170C Antenna / Lab RF Analyzer
Much of the same technology that is in our award winning
PowerAim - See NAB Awards by clicking here
| The AIM 4170C antenna analyzer measures the
complex impedance (magnitude and phase) at each frequency of interest in the
range of 0.1 to 180 MHz. A PC is used to calculate all RF parameters,
including R +/-X, Magnitude and Phase, SWR, Return Loss, TL loss, and more
and plot the results in an easy to read graph and interactive Smith Chart. The test frequency is generated digitally and bandpass filters are used
to reject stray signals (like broadcast stations) that are more than a few
KHz from the operating frequency. A 12 bit analog to digital converter
digitizes the raw data. This avoids non-linearities associated with diode
detectors, and results in very good dynamic range and linearity for accurate
magnitude and phase measurements.
Impedance measurements can range up to 10K ohms. The true phase angle is
measured, so inductive or capacitive reactance can be determined without
ambiguity.
The RF generator can also be used as a signal source for testing
receivers. The frequency is very stable and it can be calibrated to WWV.
The digitized data is sent to the PC via the RS232 port. Power for the
analyzer can be obtained from a small DC power supply or a battery. With a
laptop computer, the unit is quite portable and it can even be mounted up on
a tower at the antenna feed point if desired, with power being supplied
through the RS232 cable.
The impedance at the antenna itself can be read with the AIM4170
located in the shack at the receiving/transmitting end of the coax. The
cable can be any length. The cable's impedance and loss
characteristics are determined by a simple calibration procedure and the
antenna's impedance is plotted directly during the scan.
 |
High quality inside and out
|
|
There are no internal adjustments for calibration.
|
|
Calibrates easily yourself to NIST standards
|
|
The 4170C covers 5 kHz to 180 MHz.
|
Some of the RF parameters that are calculated include the following:
| SWR referenced to any impedance |
| Resistance and reactance at the cable input |
| Resistance and reactance at the antenna terminals |
| Resistance and reactance of discrete components |
| Return loss |
| Reflection coefficient |
| Cable length |
| Cable impedance |
| Cable loss |
| Distance to fault (open or short) |
| Smith chart display |
| Quartz crystal parameters |
| NOW WITH TRUE TDR |
|
|
How good is the TDR?
|
Hi guys,
I had
an open circuit appear in a run of LMR coax burried underground of over
200 feet. Using
the AIM I was able to dig down and locate it, within a foot of what the
AIM calculated.
It looks like a gopher went thru the conduit and thru part of the coax!
Regards, Paul - K1TKL
|
The scan data can be saved to disk or printed to compare before and after
results.
The program has been tested with Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. It does
not require an installation procedure.
We DO NOT ship a software CDROM with the
analyzer.
Macintosh User's are also able to run the AIM -
Mac OS 10.x
|
| Steve Tunwall, Tunewall Radio sends us this
AIM to
4193A vector impedance meter comparison(pdf) this displays how
accurate the AIM, PA-120, and VNA-2180 are at high impedances.
Steve says "The HP VIM only
displays two values, phase and Z, so I only used these values from the .scn
file for the chart....the AIM seems to essentially agree with it in this
case"
|
| This
article in Nov, '06 QST
describes an earlier version of the AIM which covered the HF band up to 32
MHz. The principles of operation are the same as the AIM4170.
It is presented here with permission of the ARRL.
|
|
|
A comparison of several network and impedance
analyzers, including the AIM4170, by
Rudy
Severns N6LF.
|
|
|
|
|
"Custom calibration" features allows
accurate measurements of 160m antennas in the presence of strong AM
Broadcast
download this
Application note (700KB) |
|
This application note shows how the AIM can be used to
measure the Q of coils and tuned circuits and to evaluate
transformers.
Q-Measurement
|
|
| |
|
|
.............So, thanks Bob.
Problem solved twice today. Thanks for great support!
I should be shipping our orders but instead I am playing with the
addictive
AIM. I am in my office where no one knows what I am really doing. This
is
more fun than a video game!
73, Jim W6LuckyGuy
Owner of High Sierra Antennas
|
See more testimonials.....
 |
| Optional Precision Load Sets |
RESOURCES
W5BIG.com
website for detailed AIM information
Program Downloads -http://w5big.com/prog_update.htm
The operator's manual can be downloaded here:
AIM 4170 Manual.
Download Quick Start Guide Gets you
started FAST! (updated 9/27/2011)
|
|
NOW AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL NEW PROTECTIVE CARRYING
CASE
Note - CIRCUITS AND PROCEDURES used by this antenna
analysis system are covered by US Patent
No. 7,629,795
|
|
