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ARRL Comparisons of Antenna Analyzers

	Antenna Analyzer Comparison

Oct 16, 2006:
The table below shows data comparing the AIM4160 with several antenna analyzers that are used by amateurs.
(Note: The AIM4160 is the predecessor to the AIM4170 and it has the same specs.)

ARRL members can access the original QST articles here: May '05 QST and Nov '06 QST

The ARRL was not involved with this series of tests on the AIM4160 since it was not available. But see the review in the Nov/Dec NCJ and the article in the Nov. 2006 QST.

Load (Ohms)	Freq (MHz)	AIM4160	Autek VA1	Kuranishi BR-210	MFJ-269	Palstar ZM-30	AEA Via Analyzer	Timewave TZ-900
TEST RESULTS All data except for the AIM4160 are from the May, '05 and Nov, '06 issues of QST.
50	3.5 14 28 50 144 432	50 + j0 49 + j0 50 + j0 49 + j0 49 - j0 --	52 - j1 51 - j1 58 - j3 -- -- --	51 51 50 50 50 --	48 ± j0 48 ± j0 48 ± j0 48 ± j0 48 ± j1 1.1:1 swr	53 + j0 52 + j0 53 + j0 -- -- --	50 + j0 50 + j0 50 + j0 50 + j0	48 + j0 48 + j0 48 + j0 48 + j0
5.0	3.5 14 28 50	5 + j0 5 + j0 5 + j0 5 + j0	5 - j1 6 + j0 5 - j2 --	<12.5 <12.5 <12.5 <12.5	4 ± j2 5 ± j0 4 ± j3 4 ± j5	3 + j2 3 + j2 3 - j4 --	3.2 - j0 4.1 - j0 5.5 + j2.1 5.6 + j7.9	2.4 + j0 2.5 + j0 2.3 + j2.6 2.6 + j3.0
25	3.5 14 28 50	25 + j0 25 + j0 25 + j0 25 + j1	25 - j1 25 - j0 23 + j0 --	26 27 27 27	23 ± j5 24 ± j2 23 ± j5 24 ± j6	24 + j0 24 + j0 25 + j0 --	25 + j0 25 + j0 25 + j0 25 - j6.7	23 + j0 24 + j0 24 + j0 24 + j0
100	3.5 14 28 50	100 + j0 100 + j0 100 + j1 100 - j0	100 - j0 97 + j5 84 + j0 --	100 100 100 100	99 ± j17 97 ± j10 95 ± j23 87 ± j32	108 + j0 106 + j0 102 + j0 --	102 +j0 101 + j0 99 + j0 94 - j11	100 + j0 101 + j0 99 + j0 97 + j0
Load (Ohms)	Freq (MHz)	AIM4160	Autek VA1	Kuranishi BR-210	MFJ-269	Palstar ZM-30	AEA Via Analyzer	Timewave TZ-900
200	3.5 14 28 50	200 + j0 200 + j0 200 + j0 200 - j0	195 - j16 170 - j1 147 - j3 --	200 200 190 190	185 ± j68 183 ± j0 156 ± j86 115 ± j98	210 + j0 205 + j0 173 + j56 --	199 - j0 193 - j0 176 - j44 141 - j69	200 + j0 193 - j26 175 - j63 130 - j144
1000	3.5 14 28 50	992 + j1 989 - j12 990 - j28 998 - j61	900 - j46 590 - j380 420 - j11 --	>400 >400 >400 >400	661 ± j743 555 ± j368 130 ± j409 56 ± j258	>600 >600 104 - j449 --	940 + j0 419 - j510 259 - j429 131 - j238	979 + j0 813 - j506 607 - j534 171 - j633
50 - j50 Zmag=70.7	3.5 14 28	50 - j50 49 - j51 50 - j48	50 - j47 39 - j41 55 - j27	80 85 80	46 ± j47 63 ± j53 43 ± j45	49 - j47 44 - j50 43 - j43	51 - j44 47 - j47 50 - j63	60 - j46 71 - j48 55 - j44
50 + j50 Zmag=70.7	3.5 14 28	51 + j50 51 + j48 50 + j49	54 + j55 53 + j54 52 + j34	80 80 80	50 ± j51 60 ± j42 54 ± j50	55 + j50 60 - j51 * 67 + j53	55 + j50 61 + j50 58 + j55	65 + j51 59 + j54 70 + j51
Manufacturer's suggested list price ($US)		395	200	430	360	350	690	1300
* The 14MHz data in the original QST review is: 60 - j51. The sign is shown correctly for 3.5 and 28MHz.

Load Component Values
The AIM4160 was calibrated using the normal cal procedure: a short circuit, an open circuit and a 49.9 ohm chip resistor. The same calibration data was used for all the tests. The test loads connected to the AIM4160 were made using standard components from Mouser and Digikey . The components were used directly from the package. The loads were not adjusted using laboratory equipment.
The following table shows the construction details of the loads used for this series of tests. The ideal value of each load is shown in the first column of the table below. The expected value of impedance based on the component values specified in the catalog is shown in italics below the ideal value. All the resistor are surface mount size 0805 1% metal film.

Load	Part Number	Comments
5 ohm	Digikey RHM10.0CCT 1% metal film	two 10 ohm resistors in parallel
25 ohm	Digikey RHM49.9CCT	two 49.9 ohm resistors in parallel
50 ohm	Digikey RHM49.9CCT
100 ohm	Digikey RHM100CCT
200 ohm	Digikey RHM200CCT
1K ohm	Digikey RHM1.00KCCT
50 - j50 @ 3.5MHz (ideal=49.9 - j49.4)	49.9 ohms 1% Digikey RHM49.9CCT + 820pF 5% Mouser 80-C315C821J1G \|\| 100pF 5% Mouser 80-C315C101J1G	Capacitors are 100V COG with leads. Two caps in parallel = 920pF.
50 - j50 @ 14MHz (ideal=49.9 - j51.7)	49.9 ohms 1% Digikey RHM49.9CCT + 120pF 5% Mouser 80-C315C121J1G5TA \|\| 100pF 5% Mouser 80-C315C101J1G	Capacitors are 100V COG with leads. Two caps in parallel = 220pF.
50 - j50 @ 28MHz (ideal=49.9 - j49.4)	49.9 ohms 1% Digikey RHM49.9CCT + 15pF 5% Mouser 80-C315C150J1G \|\| 100pF 5% Mouser 80-C315C101J1G	Capacitors are 100V COG with leads. Two caps in parallel = 115pF.
For the 50 + j50 loads, the resistive component is the sum of a fixed resistance and the specified coil resistance. For all three loads shown below, the fixed resistance is 48.7 ohms. The specified resistance of the coil is added to this to get the ideal value.
50 + j50 @ 3.5MHz (ideal=50.9 + j49.4)	48.7 ohms 1% Digikey RHM48.7CCT + 2.2uH 2% Mouser 660-KQ1008LTE2R2G + 47nH 5% Mouser 660-KQ1008LTE47NJ	Coil series resistance = 2.2 ohms. Total resistance = 50.9 ohms Total inductance = 2.25uH
50 + j50 @ 14MHz (ideal=50.0 + j50.6)	48.7 ohms 1% Digikey RHM48.7CCT + 560nH 2% Mouser 660-KQ1008LTER56G + 15nH 5% Mouser 660-KQ1008LTE15NJ	Coil series resistance = 1.3 ohms. Total resistance = 50.0 ohms Total inductance = 575nH
50 + j50 @ 28MHz (ideal=49.6 + j50.1)	48.7 1% ohms Digikey RHM49.9CCT + 270nH 2% Mouser 660-KQ1008LTER27G + 15nH 5% Mouser 660-KQ1008LTE15NJ	Coil series resistance = 0.9 ohms. Total resistance = 49.6 ohms Total inductance = 285nH
Some of the loads used for this series of tests:

The tests designed by the ARRL use three types of loads:

	Resistors of 5, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 1K ohms.
	50 ohm resistors in series with capacitors. The capacitors are selected to have a reactance of -50 ohms at the test frequencies: 3.5, 14, and 28 MHz.
	50 ohm resistors in series with inductors. The inductors are selected to have a reactance of +50 ohms at the test frequencies: 3.5, 14, and 28 MHz.

The AIM4160 was calibrated using the normal cal procedure: a short circuit, an open circuit and a 49.9 ohm chip resistor. The same calibration data was used for all the tests.

The test loads connected to the AIM4160 were made using standard components from Mouser and Digikey. The components were used directly from the package. The loads were not adjusted using laboratory equipment.

Back to the AIM 4170 main page and to order one

CIRCUITS AND PROCEDURES used by the AIM 4170 antenna analysis system are covered by one or more patents pending.