which do you guys recommend? .1-30Mhz is all I need. Want to keep it in the $300 range.


Thx,
HS

Tagged for good info as I'm in the same boat. I'm looking at RigExpert myself.

I use this one. Only does to 170Mhz, but it does the job. Belongs to a fellow ham in my radio club. I may by one that goes to UHF, in the future.

either the youkits or rf-1

I'd buy the RigExpert from Array Solutions. Also buy one that goes through 54mHz. It's only an extra $50 and just because you are not in to 6m now, you may be in the future.

ETA: This

Disclaimer: don't repeat DON'T look around on their site. It is very dangerous

This. I have the 1-30 model, and now I wish I got the 6m one...

I was looking at the cheaper RigExpert AA30, but I notice the AA-54 model will display the SWR of 5 different freq. at once! That is a nice feature for multi-band antennas.



HS

Yes and the graph and the nicer display would be worth it in my opinion. Also the MFJ although adequate, seems clunky in comparison.

I got the MFJ-269 for <$300 from Hamcity.  But, I wanted something that did HF > UHF.

I have a 269pro that I got used for ~$250. It serves me well but I hate that it needs 10 AA batteries, I plan on replacing it with a li-po someday.

Yep, I have the AA-54.  I like it........it's niiiiice.

I use a very sophisticated method with my antennas...  See how they work on the air

I would love to buy a real analyzer though... I do enough antenna experiments to actually need one.

I bought an MFJ-259 (non-B) at a hamfest for $90.  Loved it.

A month later I came across an MFJ269 for $50...love it more as I am able add in my 2m/440...

No complaints on either of these.  They're all pretty good.  Actually, my main advice is to get one that someone no longer wants because they upgraded
or got out of the hobby.  

A lot of estates don't know what to do with ham equipment when we go SK.

Incidentally, i can't fault the graphing units, or the others like Comet.  I just don't want to pay for them...

I wish I had gotten one that covers HF through UHF instead of HF through VHF.

Rig expert aa-54

Rig Expert AA-30 or AA-54.

Although at some point you'll probably wish you have 2m coverage also.

I love my RigExpert, it makes antenna work easy.  I've used the MFJ that my friend owns and it works too, just not as fancy and flexible.

I got an AIM4170.

Curls your budget up like bacon though...

http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=669497&page=1&#i11443979


Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

I'll be in the neighborhood in a few weeks, if you want to borrow mine...

I have the older version of the MFJ-259B and am satisfied with it.

MFJ 259B. I think it cost me $160.00 it's good thru 2m. It also makes tuning your antenna a piece of cake. You don't have to move off of your desired frequency. Just get a coax switch and tune up right where you want to be. It only puts out a few miliamps of RF so you'll be able to tune up without creating any QRM.
Once you incorporate an an analyzer in your tune-up procedure, you'll wonder how you ever made it without it.
Just my 2¢.

-bru

+++1 for the AA-54.

I borrowed frequently a MFJ-259b from a friend, and I never really liked it much.  Frequency was always all over the place, and you could never dial it to an exact frequency.  Also, if an antenna showed a 1:1 on the analyzer, it was always higher on the rig.  Batteries never lasted very long either.  Could've been a bum analyzer, but, wasn't overly impressed with it.  I tried the frequency counter a time or two, and just never felt like it worked, or was accurate.

I saved the money and pulled the trigger on the AA-54, and it's in a  whole other league than the MFJ.  You set the frequency, and it stays.  You set your antenna, and if the AA-54 shows 1:1, your rig is going to show 1:1.  I have yet to learn just what all it can do.  Plus, the ability to hook it to a computer and print out results is pretty nifty too.  There are also several bits of software made for the AA-54 that will do some impressive things.

IMO, you won't go wrong with the Rig Expert over the MFJ.  I also concur that the AA-54 is worth the few extra bucks over the AA-30, but, I'd use the AA-30 with just as much confidence.