RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM User Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. RigExpert Manuals
  4. Measuring Instruments
  5. AA-35 ZOOM
  6. User manual

RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM User Manual

Antenna and cable analyzer
Hide thumbs Also See for AA-35 ZOOM:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

AA-35 ZOOM
RigExpert
®
Antenna and cable
analyzer
User's manual

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Related Manuals for RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM

Summary of Contents for RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM

  • Page 1 AA-35 ZOOM RigExpert ® Antenna and cable analyzer User’s manual...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of contents Introduction Operating the AA-35 ZOOM First time use Main menu Multifunctional keys Connecting to your antenna SWR chart Chart ZOOM Data screen Frequency and range entry R,X chart Memory operation SWR mode Display all parameters Applications Antennas...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    Introduction Thank you for purchasing a RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM Antenna and Cable Analyzer! We did our best to make it powerful yet easy to use. The analyzer is designed for measuring SWR (standing wave ratio), return loss, cable loss, as well as other parameters of cable and antenna systems in the range of 60 kHz to 35 MHz.

  • Page 5: Operating The Aa-35 Zoom

    USB icon when the analyzer is connected to your computer. You may use hot keys for the quick access to certain tasks. For instance, press (SWR chart) button to open the SWR chart screen immediately. RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...

  • Page 6: Multifunctional Keys

    Multifunctional keys Most keys on the analyzer’s keypad perform several functions. For instance, numbers (1) are used to enter frequency and other numerical parameters. Main functions (2) provide quick access to most common tasks. Alternative functions (3) are executed if the user holds the (Functional) key.

  • Page 7: Swr Chart

    Watch the chart zooming in or out, or changing its position. Use the (Functional key) and (Cursor up) or (Cursor down) key combination to zoom the vertical scale of the chart. Do not forget to press the (OK) key for the new measurement to start. RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...

  • Page 8: Data Screen

    Data screen The data screen is available in all chart modes. Press the (Data) key to display various parameters of a load at cursor. Frequency and range entry To enter the center frequency or the sweep range, press the (Frequency, Range) key.

  • Page 9: R,X Chart

    The chart will display R and X for series or parallel models of a load. Press (Functional key) and to switch between these models. The marker at the bottom of the screen shows a resonant frequency closest to the center of the scan. RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...

  • Page 10: Memory Operation

    Memory operation Press the (Save) key to save the chart into one of 10 available memory slots. To retrieve your readings from the memory, press then (Load) key, select a memory slot number and press (OK). To rename any existing memory slot, press (Functional key) (Edit) key combination.

  • Page 11: Display All Parameters

    • In the series model, impedance is • In the parallel model, impedance is expressed as resistance and reactance expressed as resistance and reactance connected in series: connected in parallel: Z = R + jX Z = R ||+ jX RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...

  • Page 12: Applications

    Applications Antennas Checking the antenna It is a good idea to check an antenna before connecting it to the receiving or transmitting equipment. The SWR chart mode is good for this purpose. The picture on the left shows the SWR chart of a HF antenna.

  • Page 13: Coaxial Lines

    • In the open-circuited case, resonant frequencies correspond to (left to right) 1/4, 3/4, 5/4, etc. of the wavelength in this cable; • For the short-circuited cable, these points are located at 1/2, 1, 3/2, etc. of the wavelength. RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...
  • Page 14 Cable length measurement Resonant frequencies of a cable depend on its length as well as on the velocity factor. A velocity factor is a parameter which characterizes the slowdown of the speed of the wave in the cable compared to vacuum. The speed of wave (or light) in vacuum is known as the electromagnetic constant : c =299,792,458 meters (or 983,571,056 feet) per second.
  • Page 15 (in 616,640,000 feet per second Hz). 3. Finally, find the velocity factor . 188,000,000 / 299,792,458 = 0.63 Just divide the above speed by the - or - electromagnetic constant. 616,640,000 / 983,571,056 = 0.63 RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...
  • Page 16 Cable fault location To locate the position of a probable fault in a cable, just use the same method as when measuring its length. Watch the behavior of the reactive component (X) near the zero frequency: ∞ • If the value of X is moving from – to 0, the cable is open-circuited: ∞...
  • Page 17 4. Cut little pieces (1/10 to 1/5 of the 11 cm (0.36 ft) were cut off. margin) from the far end of the cable until the X value falls to zero (or changes its sign). Do not forget to restore the open-circuit, if needed. RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...
  • Page 18 Measuring the characteristic impedance The characteristic impedance is one of the main parameters of any coaxial cable. Usually, its value is printed on the cable by the manufacturer. However, in certain cases the exact value of the characteristic impedance is unknown or is in question. To measure the characteristic impedance of a cable, 1.
  • Page 19 90.0 Ohm – max, 61.3 Ohm – min. frequencies. Example 1: 5. Calculate the square root of the square root of (28.4 × 88.4) = product of these two values. 50.1 Ohm Example 2: square root of (90.0 × 61.3) = 74.3 Ohm RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...

  • Page 20: Measurement Of Other Elements

    The analyzer can measure capacitance from a few pF to about 0.1 μF as well as inductance from a few nH to about 100 μH. Since measuring of capacitance and inductance is not a main purpose of RigExpert analyzers, the user will have to gain some experience in such measurements.
  • Page 21 Unknown inductor Transformers RigExpert analyzers can also be used for checking RF transformers. Connect a 50 Ohm resistor to the secondary coil (for 1:1 transformers) and use SWR chart, R,X chart or Smith chart modes to check the frequency response of the transformer. Similarly, use resistors with other values for non-1:1 transformers.
  • Page 22 Traps A trap is usually a resonant L-C network used in multi-band antennas. By using a simple one-turn wire coil, a resonant frequency of a trap may be measured. Example: A coaxial trap constructed of 5 turns of TV cable (coil diameter is 6 cm) was measured.
  • Page 23 RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...

  • Page 24: Annexes

    • SWR chart, 100 points (4.1 × 8.1 × 1.4 in) • R, X chart, 100 points Operating temperature: 0…40 °C (32…104 °F) Weight: 310 g (10.9 oz) w/o batteries Warranty: 2 years RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM is made in Ukraine. User’s manual...

  • Page 25: Annex 2: Precautions

    This may cause interference to nearby receivers. If using a personal computer, first connect the cable to the antenna connector of the analyzer, then plug the analyzer to the computer USB port. This will protect the analyzer from static discharges. RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...
  • Page 26 Self tests There are several built-in self tests in the AA-35 ZOOM analyzer, which can be run by the user to make sure the analyzer is working properly. Make sure all cables or adapters are disconnected from the antenna connector of your analyzer, then press (OK) to start the first test (Detector test).

  • Page 27: Annex 3: Setup Menu

    • Freq. corr. – frequency correction of the analyzer’s oscillator • Data points – select a number of data points for each frequency sweep • Reset settings – reset the analyzer to factory defaults • Clear saved charts – clear all memory slots RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM...
  • Page 28 Copyright © 2017 Rig Expert Ukraine Ltd. “RigExpert” is a registered trademark of Rig Expert Ukraine Ltd. Made in Ukraine Doc. date: 05-Sep-2017...

Table of Contents