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G0FTD > ANTENA 14.06.05 02:26l 123 Lines 4437 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : D60797G0FTD
Read: OE7HNT OE1DMB GUEST
Subj: Re: MFJ vs Palstar anlayser?
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0IUZ<DB0GOS<DB0RES<DK0WUE<7M3TJZ<IW8PGT<
YV6BTF<CX2SA<GB7CIP<GB7SXE
Sent: 050613/1556Z @:GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU #:32969 [Hastings] FBB7.00i $:D60797G0FT
From: G0FTD@GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU
To : ANTENA@WW
Firstly thanks to all 3 of you who replied.
All 3 replies have referred to the MFJ unit and all 3 users appear
quite satisfied with the MFJ unit.
I guess that MFJ have a bigger presence in the UK than Palstar which
has influenced user choice.
I've just had a look at both manufacturers websites and viewed the online
manuals for both products.
MFJ:
It seems better than I thought especially with it's frequency coverage.
However it's apparent lack of ability to distinguish whether reactance
is capacitive or inductive is a big black mark in my book. It appears that
any impedance measurement appears and just R and X. I'm not happy about
that. It's not excusable to expect a user to do a bit of manual thinking
because that defeats the object of a measuring device in the first place.
I'm not keen on the build quality of anything MFJ and their analyser
is no exception in my book.
And what's the point of using moving coil meters when there's an LCD
display ?
I've also heard that MFJ can't even be bothered to put an "idiot" diode
in the dc supply and stories of un-amused owners are not rare.
The MFJ (IIRC) needs 10 AA cells as opposed to 8 in the Palstar.
Palstar:
1-30Mhz as opposed to MFJ's maximum 1.8 - 470Mhz option.
However the Palstar can at least distinguish between inductive or
capacitive reactance.
It's use of DDS as a signal generator bodes well for very high Q antenna
measurments such as mobile whips on the LF bands and magnetic (sic) loops.
MFJ's wobbly unbuffered oscillator changing frequency with output load
aint quite what I call accurate, though accurate enough for yagi's,
dipoles and longwires commonly measured.
The Palstar does appear to be a more professionally made and does offers
the same measurement facilities as the MFJ.
The Palstar offers 5-600ê impedance range but the MFJ goes up to
1500ê. So there's a (rare) point scored by MFJ.
The "field upgradeable" software appears to be a firmware upgrade as
opposed to what I thought would be software tools to allow data from
the unit to be viewed as s-parameter, Smith Chart or XY plot data.
I'm not sure what upgrades to the unit have been made via software.
I suspect that upgrades probably refer to the user interface menus
and perhaps some limited additional calculations performed with the
units already measureable data.
The Palstar offer a +10dbm (10mW) stable signal source to play with.
Conclusion:
Well l I'm not sure if I've made a conclusion yet. I like both units and
each appear to score points over each other but in different areas.
However I'm tempted to go for the Palstar but then perhaps I should just
buy both ?
McBaldy emitted:-
> Of course buying in the US for $239 is the sensible thing as that
> works out at about 135ukp. Much better than the price charged by some
> bandits down South !
This comment will be of little interest to non UK readers.
However I guess it all depends upon what import tax and duty limit is.
I beleive that the limit was raised from c40 UKP to c180 UKP before
the scum at Customs want to slap import duty PLUS VAT (sales tax)
on your purchase.
It may be a few quid cheaper but that all depends on the personal import
limit.
In my opinion import tax and VAT should NEVER be applied to personal
goods.
I got caught out by this rule when bringing in goods from VK land.
Over 40 and the scum at Customs nabbed me :-(
However here's another possible variable...
As I understood it Sales Tax (called VAT Value Added Tax in the UK)
may be *included* in the website price, and I believe sales tax varies
from state to state within the US.
It should be quite in order for a dealer in the USA to deduct this
amount when sending goods abroad. At least my experience elsewhere has
produced the same goods. I used to get Australian sales tax deducted
from goods I brought into the UK.
Anyway - since Waters & Ripoff don't sell Palstar then that's an
even better reason to buy a Palstar ;-)
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ 73 - Andy ³
³ G0FTD ³
³ Whitstable, Kent ³
³ Winpack-AGW ³
³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³
³ ³ Û ³ ³
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