23 November 2015

$60 MR100 antenna analyzer toy

Hi,

maybe you heard about the simple, cheap antenna analyzers which are available on different e-shops, auctions, shopping galleries etc. already.

There is one of them - $60 MR100 antenna analyzer toy - first test
http://youtu.be/82JGs1yC_cM

I got it from our local radioclub staff last week for testing. He bought it somewhere on the internet for $60.50 fully assembled and tested. It does not look so bad for these money.


According to discussion with mentioned friend in the radioclub the cheapest way is to buy the analyzer module itself w/o BT option. The metal housing, BT, battery pack, etc. is up to you. Latest v.13 firmware should be available.

The full spec can be found in the manual here:
http://115.28.16.44:81/file/3803.pdf


Basics:
The toy is powered from 12V/500mA w/auto power off
Max. measured impedance/reactance (C/L mode) is 2000 Ohms
Max. measured freq. is 60MHz
Steps 100Hz to 100kHz
Mini USB port to PC

Tests:
SWR, magnitude impedance, complex impedance, capacitance, inductance.
Derivate tests: ground loss, C, L, velicity factor, coax el. lenght, etc.



As it is using AD9851 DDS chip (Nyquist at 90MHz w/internal x6 multiplier clocks the DDS at 180MHz), the practical maximum output frequency from AD9851 is however about 70MHz. In my opinion as a third of the maximum DDS clock frequency for the AD9851 chip I prefer the maximum of 60MHz output frequency (lot spurs/aliases above). It is corresponding to the analyzer module spec.

After getting it from our local radioclub staff for testing I browsed on the net and I found that there is several clones and derivates from genuine SARK-100 like MR100, Mini60, GA-60 and many others. All of them are using the same generic EA4FRB f/w...


The genuine SARK-100 has been retired already. More information you can find here:
https://sites.google.com/site/ea4frb/antenna-analyzers/sark100/Archive


It is now replaced by new and much more sophisticated SARK-110.
More information can be found here:
http://www.sark110.com/


I do not like the illegal chineese copies and MR100 unit is definitely one of them. 
Once I have it in hands I am planning to compare it with AA-200, MFJ-259 and even more I will try to make some comparison with professional Agilent E5061 network analyzers which I have available in my shack and lab.

 
I do not know more about MR100 analyzer as I have not schematic yet but I will try to make another video with functions and options available incl. calibration and some measurement.

The SARK100 Antenna Analyzer Software for Windows usable also for it's derivates is available here:
http://www.eham.net/classifieds/detail/465278
 
Another software for SARK100 and derivates is here:
http://die-jetzis.de/WinPCC-Sark100-V0.9-DH1KLM.rar

Chinesse language (partly in english) software for SARK100/MR100 v0.9 is here:
http://cq.hub.tw/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=866and
 
More information can be found here:

Battery pack solution to power the MR100 or SARK100 by Ham Source:
http://www.hamsource.com/WLB-817.html

Hope it helps,

 
73 - Petr, OK1RP
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7 comments:

  1. W7CJDFriday, November 27, 2015 11:18:00 AM

    I read the SARK100 was made public.
    It isn't stealing, then.
    I am grateful this product is available.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMonday, December 07, 2015 8:45:00 PM

    important bit no source was able to confirm is whether tehre is any android software that works with it, like it does exist for teh SARk i.e.

    aparrantly it has BT? what does it do with it if there is no adnroid app?

    any research in that direction would be highly appreciated.... these are the things one needs to know beforehands.

    73, OH8XAT

    ReplyDelete
  3. Petr, OK1RPMonday, May 23, 2016 10:34:00 AM

    In that simplest version is not BT implemented. On the market is available latest version in smalle metal case with or w/o the BT also. 73 - Petr, OK1RP

    ReplyDelete
  4. GregThursday, September 15, 2016 7:22:00 PM

    Hi there,

    I don´t have clear how can I calibrate the MR100, do you have a guide or examples about how to calibrate? the manual doesn´t have a very good explanation about how to calibrate the MR100. 73s!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Petr, OK1RPThursday, May 11, 2017 1:55:00 PM

      Hi,
      Yes of course. I am ready to help you.
      At first you need to make calibrators:
      Open connection
      50 Ohms
      150 Ohms
      274 Ohms

      You should use all time same adapters where you have different resistors connected (load of 50/150/240Ohms), nothing connected/soldered in (open) and shortened by as short as possible wire (short) steps...

      Then you will go to Calibration menu and following
      the commands you will connect :

      1. Nothing (more precise is to connect OPEN connector with no load)
      2. 50 Ohms
      3. 150 Ohms
      4. 274 Ohms

      In each step you need press VAL (like validate)
      and then wait until next step.

      Please find all procedure on page 74 of manual for SARK100.
      The MR100 is clone and all is same including the calibrating procedure.

      I am preparing the guide how to make the calibrators including the OPEN and SHORT adapters as same as the step by step tutorial how to calibrate the MR100 over here on my pages.

      73 - Petr, OK1RP

      Delete
  5. UnknownSunday, July 15, 2018 8:41:00 AM

    Peter, could you repair AA-170 Analyzer?

    ReplyDelete

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