SARK 100: An Inexpensive But Good Antenna Analyzer (
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ต.ค. 2022
- Someone comment to one of my videos and sugested this inexpensive antenna analyzer. So I want to share it with all of you. Watch to learn more about this inexpensive antenna analyzer
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Thank you for reviewing this analyzer. Many new ham operators are under the guise that you have to have the newest, up to date equipment and that expense is not really an option. I've been licensed since 1991 and started with a Heathkit hw-101 I received as a kit. I learned quite early how to build a standing wave indicator with a couple of diodes, LEDs and some wire. It worked fine for protecting my radio from improper tuning at a glance (especially at nighttime).
I have now collected multiple MFJ analyzers (259c,d and 269c) as well as the SARK100 and I have to admit, they All work quite effectively. The MFJ analyzers don't have a back lite and the display is Black on Gray which makes it hard to read in dim lighting. Where as the sark does not need a back light because the display is Green on black. Might seem trivial but try using these in the field at night and the SARK and the simple led/diode see indicator shines (literally).
I hope in the future you might have time to talk about some of the older simple test gadgets (equipment) that still can be built and used today. Simple test equipment, tuners, ununs, matching stubs and other devices when homemade can be so rewarding, effective and CHEAP.
73 for now and I wish you the best of communications that can be offered 👍🙏❤️
Thank you. I needed this information
I bought the Sark100 several years ago, and later on I got the NanoVNA. I haven't touched the Sark since. The NanoVNA is dramatically more useful, and lower cost, than the Sark100.
I bought a Nano vna the 4" screen one, and maybe I'm stupid but I can't figure out how to get the thing to read right, calibration etc.. I always get errors. I need to quit being stubborn I guess and watch an in depth tutorial on it.
@@MarvinParnell You're not stupid. NanoVNA are fussy, difficult to use and easy to break. They're all made slightly different because NanoVNAs are clones made by competing companies. The instructions for one won't be the same for another. RigExpert makes the easiest to use VNA analyzers that don't need calibration.
Once you get your settings saved, it’s incredibly simple. Mine loads up with only SWR on the screen, and I just have to select my frequency range. It’s awesome to quickly see the graph, and know in an instant if my wire’s too long or too short or even to monitor change on the fly while positioning an element.
@@benjaminhicks3920 RigExpert does all that and does it for multiple bands at the same time.
Exactly the nano vna is so much cheaper and better.
Thanks…, certainly answered a bunch of questions!!!
Thanks!
Dav, thayou for sharing your knowledge. You do a great service to the amateur radio community. 73 Bret/AC0AE
I have that same Rig 230z and I find it to be a great system. I keep rechargeables in it, and charge using usb.
The RigExpert line is top notch. I have one. Does color graphical sweeps of the ham bands. A dream to use. User interface is so simple.
The MFJ analyzers are 80's technology, no graphical display, overpriced for the value, and of course, always of questional build quality.
The Sark units are Chinese clones of a design. Considered buying one but glad I decided on the RigExpert.
The rigexpert is one of the biggest scams in the industry. I'll have to respectfully disagree on your framing of them as "top notch". Extremely poorly made for the price. "Made in Ukraine" - go figure. I can't believe they had the audacity to sell these to radio guys. I'm even more vexed by the fact that some radio guys actually bought it and didn't instantly return it.
already got 1 LOVE IT
The Rig Expert which I have is the No30 it can be run of a USB charger or computer, USB socket and you can download a program ANT2 Rig Expert which allows you to scan all of the HF spectrum.
A NanoVNA is less than half the price of the inexpensive analyzer, (some are less than $50,) and does much, much more than any of those other units, works great from 50 kHz to 300 MHz, and will work passably well all the way up to 1.5 GHz. It also identifies the location of coax problems, allows you to match Xtals and build Xtal filters, and on and on. It's the Swiss army knife of RF bench and antenna tools.
NanoVNA isn't a single analyzer. It's multiple kinds of clones all using the same name but made by competing companies with little to no support. RigExpert can do everything you listed and do it quicker with less hassle.
@@sammiller6631, as I indicated, I only started on the list of what a NanoVNA can do. It's a network analyzer. It does what a network analyzer does. The RigExpert doesn't compare. If by 'hassle' you mean having to understand what the numbers mean, I can't argue that.
@@johnwest7993, I agree with Sam Miller. I have both the NanoVNA and a RigExpert AA-1000. The NanoVNA gives you everything you need, but it takes time to get results. Whereas, you can have much faster and accurate results with the RigExpert.
@@johnwest7993 How exactly does a Rig Expert not compare? Their network analyzers can match or beat any corresponding attribute or S11 measurement on a NanoVNA. You get what you pay for.
By hassle, I mean all the corners cut to get a lower price. Like how NanoVNAs are notorious at being sensitive to temperature, throwing off the calibration very quickly if the sun comes out from behind clouds. Reading NanoVNAs in direct sunlight is not easy either.
By hassle, I mean all the drama between competing NanoVNA makers.
NanoVNA V2 Official site lists charts and graphs between NanoVNAs from different companies but has much more to say:
"As of October 2022 there are many clones with exaggerated specs sold under various names on Aliexpress and Amazon, which are highly noisy and cannot maintain their calibration due to using incorrect parts or attempting to modify the design to reduce cost, while using measurements and graphs taken from original equipment to deceive unaware customers.
Beware that nanovna .com is not owned by the original developers of either V1 or V2 NanoVNAs, and is being used to mislead users into buying clones from one clone manufacturer. These clones are not supported by any updates from the developers." (from NanoVNA V2 Official site)
There's far more data there about how not all NanoVNAs are created equally, so you can't claim that every NanoVNA is better than anything else.
@@sammiller6631 Which RigExpert do you own? I need to get me one.
Thanks, Dave. Interesting product review. 73, AC3HT
If you're into SOTA or POTA and want a quick way to adjust your antenna in the field, the Rig Expert is a class act. It's easy to use, fast, provides a wealth of information, and has contemporary software for both PCs and Macs. The new models are much faster than the one shown and use the common SO-239 connector. Mine will chart the VSWR accross a band in about 3 seconds. The band selections are convenient but you can scan and any range you want. You can save your plots for future reference to check if the VSWR has changed after a weather event. If convenience matters the RigExpert is great.
I'm glad you like it, I like mine and the only draw back is band changes, Kind of a pain but I,m retired and not in a hurry anymore. The one thing I like is the scan feature. And what else can we ask for? If you drop it and break it your not out that much money. PS I put a aa batteryholder in mine works good and the batteries last forever. 73 ki0ad/Jim
I use the sark to build and tune my antennas fo HF.. found my mfj tuner wasn’t giving me the correct reading using this! I still need to load Microsoft “native excel” to connect to the computer yet.. great info!
I've been slowly building my station
Started with an estate sale IC718 Tranciever... LOVE IT
Estate sale Versa Tuner ll
I have a Dipole antenna and also picked up the Diamond 1000 TIA
the 1000 TIA could use an analyzer, so now I'm on the hunt
They are pricey, so I was wondering about the SARK100
thanks!
Have you tested the NanoVNA tester, David? Very good video.
The Mini60 version of the Sark works great if you add Bluetooth and use it with a tablet to scan whole bands but then the newer Mini1300 has it's own display.
Hi, and thanks for the video. I bought a Sark 100 about five years ago. It worked six times over the period of about two months at which time it quit and the seller told me to shove it. So much for the one year warranty. I bought a Dr100 which does the same thing for half the price and is still working great and does more stuff than I need to know. . Just my experience. I have been a ham since '63 and have never had a store bought antenna including hf yagis. wb0snf
...& that was a really good demo Dave! 73 de WA4ELW in TN 🇺🇸 dit dit 😀
Those who laud the NanoVNAs over the Sark100 make excellent points, the main one being it gives you a graphical trace of the band and allows you to see where you sit in the resonant continuum. But, I have operated FDs and POTAs where the bright sunlight has rendered their screens useless. The LED display of the Sark100 has been a Godsend in those cases.
Just to clarify, the antenna is resonant where the reactance is zero (whatever the resistive component is) and not just where the resistive component is 50 Ohms? Cheers, Ian
very interesting, I might need to order a SARK-100!🇺🇸😀
Hey Dave! Great review. One question. What bands does the STARK-100 covers?? Tx
The RigExpert will show outside the ham bands. When you open the SWR chart, you can zoom in & out using the up and down arrows. With my AA-35 Zoom, I can see wider than 160M-30M and plot an antenna across the entire range. I wish I had saved my pennies for the AA-600 but I have no complaints and it is my go-to unit.
73 de N0SR
I got the AA-600 myself. It was well worth it being able to go from the low hf bands all the way up past 70cm on the same analyzer.
I use a nanovna and that works really well for something that only costs $100.
It is also a 2 Port device that is a must in component testing and even antenna beamwidth and gain measurements.
Agree, but the NanoVNA may be too complicated and intimidating for many hams. (I have one and run the DiSlord firmware. Incredible what it can do for the price.)
I am at a loss to see people pulling out MFJ stuff that looks like a Soviet bread box, designed in the Apollo era, that does 1/3 what modern tools do, and costs 3 times as much. I get that they work and work well, but there are smaller and more feature rich devices out there with modern interface options, displays, and computer application support for far less money. The NanoVNA is a prime example of this. Not to mention that POTA and SOTA have made field ops explode in popularity. So, large, heavy equipment that was fine for your shack isn’t necessarily a great choice to carry in a pack or lug out to your activation site.
@@hamhouke The NanoVNA is a prime example of something held together by bubble gum and rubber bands. You get what you pay for. Any of the NanoVNAs (they're all copies and clones now) require constant calibration each you use it. NanoVNA better suited for home use. SOTA is better suited for a Stick 230 analyzer that has better quality, making them much more stable and less temperamental than a NanoVNA-F / NanoVNA-H etc (all different companies, most don't even know the difference)
@@rogerlafrance6355 2 Ports aren't needed to put up a dipole or EFHW.
I normally use a NanoVNA, because it is really small and lightweight. Everything better is worse because it is left at home when I happen to need it. Actually most of the time I just use the built-in vswr meter that almost every radio has. ;)
My 50 dollar nanovna works great. Maybe not as good as your "inexpensive" RigExpert, but it does produce a usable Smith Chart.
But the 50 dollar nanovna can give false readings if you hold it wrong. They're held together with bubble gum and rubber bands.
The SARK-100 is only good up to 60MHz... I also have an MFJ analyzer and it goes up to 170MHz... Newer ones go even higher, but this limits the usability of the older ones.
NanoVNAs are nice and versatile, but they are very finicky and cumbersome to get readings from compared to the analyzers.
My Rig AA-55 Zoom has an S0-239 as an input connector.
i recently picked up an old 259 .. original.. 1st edition... worls great. why would i want to go to the latest version? what are the defierrences in abilities?
I will stick with my nanoVNA. Does a sterling job.
Dave, Greetings from the Gulf Coast of Florida. I've been into radio since I was a little kid back in the 70s. I've been a SW listener since then with the goal of being a ham for just as long. I've built quite a few lonwire antennas in my youth but since they where receive only and did not have to resonate, the lengths were basically determined by how long I could make them. I recently got my livence w my son and am reviewing options for our first "real" antenna for transmitting. I've seen s meter analysers available and can see their usefulness. Do these analysers you reviewed also have s meter functionality?
I have the MMFJ-259B and I doubt I will ever get rid of it. I also have a cheap VNA but my main analyzer is a Mini 1300. It is a lot easier to use than the regular VNA and it does just about everything an analyzer can or needs to do.
Hi Dave. I bought mine from Banggood for about 85$. What is the Battery connection on the board? What battery connection would I need? It’s a little white connector with 2 pins on the board.
The mfj has many functions that are useful in bench testing, etc..
I think a simple MFJ with the analog meters is more my speed, although I don't own one yet.
I can remember helping my Father back in the early 70's tuning a massive 4 element 20m beam that had a boom made from two chromolly aeleron push rods that was salvaged from a C-130 that rolled into Lockheed Aircraft Service where he was employed as a radar engineer, the boom was 54'ft in length, Dad used a Dumont Othsiliscope and a truckload of graph paper to analyse and tune the beam which took days, so it seemed.
My Father is probably scratching his head with all this technology we have at our fingertips and take advantage of in the Ham radio hobby today!.
Rest in Peace Dad 🙏 (SK) K6HZH.
Thank you, Dave. N0QFT
how about 1 that does 2 meter and 70cm, 11 meter, and maybe the gmrs frequencies?
I noticed you skipped over the nano VNA on the page.
I use my VNA all the time and it gives a graphical representation for swr and where resonant is. I had a MFJ nd gave it away. My brain works better with a graph
NanoVNA is cheaper and does more. It is harder to use though.
Where can you get a battery for the sark
6:45 my fave
Oggy, why don't mention a VNA? A mini VNA can be had for less, has a wider range and is more versatile.
I am a ham radio operator, not a RF technical engineer, and unless I am going to be tweaking a 2 meter duplexer, and filter, for a repeater, I don't need anything but a decent NANO VNA!!! And considering that these things are at most in the $100 price range, I am not buying anything else! Why the others are still selling for $300 to $500 I have no idea, but i can neither afford them nor do I think I need them! :)
A link on where to buy one of these on Amazon would be nice.
@@terrygs28 Yes, I know how to search, but on Amazon, many times, you can get many hits for the same item description. My point was, it would be nice to have a direct link since we know that whoever the vendor is for that link that they are trustworthy. Thanks for the sarcasm though, it was really helpful, I would not have thought of that myself.
Nothing beats a NanoVNA. Why would you spend all that money on 90’s technology if there are NanoVNA ? Nostalgia ?
I bought the sark100 added a lipo battery and am totally satisfied. The only drawback to me is it is only HF but . I knew that when I ordered it . KN4BHS
Thanks Dave. Where'd you get the power plug (the thing that you plugged into the MFJ 259) that you wired up to the power pole adapters?
I just bought the nanoVNA-H for 60 bucks!!!
Hi. I bought one of these from a shady ebay seller. It was a fantastic piece of equipment for about six uses over about two months, then got the VF error. Toast. Warranty useless.
It does not do 144 and 430 MHz. That is a big no.
Dave we sure appreciate all your videos. All the information. KI5SPA
Great episode Dave. Very interesting and informative. I have a Rig Expert AA-230 Zoom which gets me up to the 230MHz/1.25 meter band. Although the Sark100 only covers as high as 60 MHz/6 meter band, I have been looking for an alternative antenna analyzer. Thanks so much. I also agree with Louis Warner that the MFJ analyzer is overpriced for what you get. Especially when the various iterations of the NanoVNA's are so dirt cheap. The RigExperts are the way to go if you have the budget for one. 73 KO4KYI
Why doesnt anyone ever leave the link to the product they review. It puzzles me as to why they talk about a product but dont leave a link.
the sark 110 project is dead, no longer available... the sark 100 cost me less than 90 dollars
Surely resonance is at X=0, not necessarily at R=50 Ohm?
Da quello che so la risonanza è a X=0. La resistenza varia con la forma e la posizione dell’antenna. Qualcuno può confermare?
my sark 100 is perfect for me... why? because i CANNOT read my nanovna while /p!! and the sark 100 is not much more than the nanovna now!
What about the nanoVNA? Is that a good option?
Its a WAY better option than any of these antenna analyzers.
@@n8sot Thanks.
@@n8sot No, the RigExpert is a WAY better opinion.
RigExpert is better and easier for beginners.
@@sammiller6631 $30-50 for VNA clone or north of $350, just to get a good SWR map - for a beginner? As a perpetual "beginner" myself (never stop learning), I'd never drop $350+ to get an antenna SWR mapped out the gate. Heck, most nubbies don't even know how to properly use their radios, much less antenna theory and construction!
IMHO... Most want plug and play in the beginning, then as proficiency builds in the hobbie, better equipment comes into play for the given direction or application.
The elephant is carrying >60MHz band stop filter.
NanoVNA is a better value, RigExpert is better quality, and the rest are significantly over valued.
Get a Nano VNA and be done with it. WAY cheaper. More useful.
What about a VNA only costs about 40 Bucks....but i guess your not advertising those....
i think youre really missing the point by not just telling people to buy nanovna instead of this. it has a far superior display, has a rechargeable battery, displays a wealth of information over usb and has an microsd card slot so you can save graphs and test data for later review, and has more features than any other option without spending literally 6-10x. half the price of the budget option youre talking about and way more features.
the only downside is that boomers seem to have an incredibly hard time with clunky UI like these. im quite a novice and was able to use my nanovna quite effectively after watching a five minute youtube video.
surely a large part of your audience would get frustrated by nanovna, but it is very obviously the best budge option in my opinion.
is it poor build quality? of course, but you could by 6 of them for the price of the rigexpert
The RigExpert has a far better display. NanoVNA can be very hard to read in direct sunlight. Everything else you listed can be found on a RigExpert too.
No, no. Blue and orange means a METS fan designed it. Yellow and blue are the Ukrainian colors.
Great video as always. My only comment (because I know you like to be spot on) is that you call Ukraine 'the Ukraine'; this is incorrect and how Russians refer to Ukraine as. It is correct to just refer to Ukraine as such without the.
Russian language doesn't have 'the'...
Do you speak ('the') Russian?
@@sammiller6631 yes
@@KingLoopie1 But does the OP Ethan?
1:36 Correction: made in Ukraine
Indeed Dave. Ukraine is a sovereign nation. The Ukraine was how Russians referred to the region during the Soviet era. I've been called-out for making the same mistake, and no e both know better. BTW, for the money, the NanoVNA is far more capable . Thanks for your videos.
The Ukraine. Who cares?
Ha first one here
The country name is "Ukraine" not "The Ukraine". "The Ukraine" is incorrect both grammatically and politically.
Both are correct. "Ukraine" means "Borderland," and indeed, it is/was, being fought over, for centuries, by Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, etc. It's THE border-land to many countries, and they all have wanted it, because it has the richest agricultural land in Europe. But "Ukraine" is its official name as a nation.