VK2YOC

   I have just acquired a Sark 110 antenna analyzer, so I will use this space to give my impressions of the instrument so far.

     Firstly it's very small, in fact, it's too small in my opinion, unless your eyes are good, glasses are needed to read the screen as it contains so much information that the numbers are quite tiny.

     It's size also means that a robust connector won't fit, it uses a MCX connector with a BNC on a short pigtail, this is very difficult to use as you must hold the device and the BNC with adapter as well as whatever you are connecting it to, or you can let the Sark 110 dangle by the MCX connector while you connect it to the antenna, that doesn't feel very safe.

      So, every problem has a solution, in this case it's fairly simple, a backing plate with strain relief for the connector, and a hole to attach a lanyard so it will always be attached to something, hanging around your neck is good. The Sark is attached with velcro.

This easy addition makes the Sark a lot more pleasant to use, and safer too..for the Sark.

Now, I really like this instrument, it does quite a lot, and my first impressions are that it is good value for money, over the next couple of weeks I will give it a good workout and report my findings in depth.

14-10-2014

28-10-2014

     A particularly nice feature is the ability to take a number of screenshots for downloading to a computer for later analysis

     The Sark can also be connected to a computer via a usb cable, and a program called Sark Plots with a fairly simple but effective interface used, see the image at right.

     This shows that my 10 meter vertical could be used on the

top end of 6 meters, the takeoff angle might be a little high, but

in Sporadic E conditions that is not a bad thing.