Mini60 Ham Radio Antenna SWR Impedance Analyzer

Hello Operators.
antenna analyzers are a critical piece of equipment for any radio operator. In this video, I show you how to set-up the Mini 60 (Sark 100 MR 100 clone) Antenna Analyzer, on an Android smartphone or tablet. You'll also learn how to scan a portion or the entire band, while connected to a magnetic loop antenna.
Here’s a short Rundown of the features which helped me decide on the Mini 60 over a new MFJ antenna analyzer.
- Pocket Sized
- Reasonably Priced
- Wireless connectivity
- Android compatibility and apps
- Internal lithium battery
- External broad voltage DC input
- Rechargeable over USB
An antenna analyzer (also known as a noise bridge, RX bridge, SWR analyzer, or RF analyzer) is a device used for measuring the input impedance of antenna systems in radio electronics applications.
The most common manufacturers of antenna analyzers are MFJ (MFJ Enterprises Inc. MFJ-269), and Rig Expert. Unfortunately, both of these products are outside the reach of most newcomers to amateur radio becasue of their high cost. The Mini60 offers some functionality not found in the more expensive alternatives, such as wireless connectivity, real-time scanning, plotting SWR across the entire HF spectrum in realtime, ...
The links mentioned in the video can all be found at the original blog post here:
oh8stn.org/blog...
- If you found this episode useful, consider dropping a buck in the tip-jar here: paypal.me/oh8s...
73
Julian oh8stn Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

[@jvkew]

This little guy is astonishing. I don't know why it is not supported by its developer anymore, but it is the only one in my budget and it makes antenna work easy.

[@OH8STN]

+John Kew thankfully we have Android developers for willing to take it to the next level. There's at least two different projects making software for this device. I think I make a blog post about it then post it here.

[@Alfa011]

Enjoy very much the way you do your videos!!! Very useful information in a pleasant atmosphere! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@keithgordonk7ksg673]

Julian, Thanks again for one of your informative product demo / tutorials. I had some problems with connecting the Mini 60 with my LG V20 phone. Trial and error found that the Jabra headset utility was preventing coupling with the Mini 60. Once that was cleared up, I've been learning a lot about tuning my Chameleon F-Loop and SuperAntenna multi band vertical. The "tune by ear" method for noise peak with the loop turned out to be way off the mark. The Mini 60 has taught me how tight tuning for the loop needs to be. The tuning ruler for the SuperAntenna is way off, given the antenna's location in my yard. Now I know I have resonance regardless of placement. I have to admit I'm now obsessed with obtaining SWRs of 1.0 to less than 1.5, depending on antenna and band. Happy to have bought it through the link on your channel. 73, K7KSG

[@OH8STN]

+Keith Gordon hello Keith excellent excellent questions let's see if I can hit them one by one. That's good to know I'll leave this comment up so other people can search and troubleshoot. I almost never used the Standalone packages for headsets or audio devices or anything like that so I wouldn't have caught that thank you. Yeah having the tuner is kind of a double-edged sword. I mean I can tune the F Loop perfectly by ear, could I become some sort of weird fanatic with tuning other antennas that I previously thought we're good enough. Definitely this is a good thing. I agree about the tuning ruler from Super antenna. They told me to mark the other side of the frequency guide with the actual locations for perfect tune. Surprisingly this is different for each operator. As a primarily digital operator I'm usually pretty low on the bands compared to someone who works SSB. So the marks in the frequency guide will also be different. Hey that last sentence is pretty awesome thank you. Little things like that help me to finance the projects that I'm bringing forward on the channel and on the blog. Sometimes I wish it was some type of Star Trek world where we don't need money, but all these little things have cost, the channel doesn't produce Enough by itself to keep pushing out projects. Huge thanks and thanks for the kindness. It's really awesome to come back after a couple of weeks and find messages like this 👍

[@HamRadioAdventures]

Nice! I have been looking for one and this may be it. Best 73.

[@OH8STN]

+Ham Radio K0PIR actually I'm really happy that I got this little analyzer. If you check the description there is a link to my second website and at the bottom of that page you'll find a lots of full HD images, the reasons I chose this one, and a link where to purchase this one. Thanks for the comment and the kindness It's very much appreciated. Best 73

[@AlpineWarren]

It is a great little analyzer!

[@echoaffliction]

Thanks for the video, keep up the good work.

[@rgp415]

Awesome demo...... Thank you

[@OH8STN]

Thanks for the kindness 👍

[@bornslippy4322]

Love to see the Superantenna MP1

[@ali.salsuwaidi6072]

Thank you for video.

[@OH8STN]

+Ali Al Suwaidi and thank you for the kindness

[@robertabrubaker3848]

Liked the Kevin MacLeod music playing in the background W4NNG

[@OH8STN]

+Robert Brubaker thanks. I used to do a lot of the music my videos myself but, his music is so much better than mine, why not to support and use his as intended.

[@OH8STN]

So far our requested antennas are: - Buddistick (I don't have one) - Chameleon MPAS - Chameleon MIL Whip with Hybrid Micro - Super Antenna MP1

[@macgor8872]

Great video! It would be interesting to see sweep of Chameleon mil vertical antenna with hybrid mini.

[@OH8STN]

+MaC Gor thanks for commenting and the kindness. I don't have the hybrid Mini but I do have the hybrid micro. I could do the hybrid micro with the mill whip and counterpoise and/or simulated metal balcony rail. Would that be okay?

[@macgor8872]

OH8STN I ment hybrid micro. Too much time spent at work for me today ;)

[@OH8STN]

+MaC Gor Roger! I'll set it up in the coming days and reply to your comment with links to a video. Thanks and get some rest 👍

[@jamesbrewer3020]

Thanks for the video. WY2N

[@radioactive8772]

Thanks for all your videos. How do you charge the mini 60? Can you use a cell phone charger? Thanks KG7CQG

[@maryhsu]

Nice job. TNX 73

[@robertgauthier3489]

merci 73

[@mikeemerson8563]

excellent vid. if testing for more antenna types, any chance for a buddistick or comp antenna

[@OH8STN]

+Mike Emerson thanks for the kindness Mike. I don't have the Buddy stick here but I have the Chameleon MPAS, Hybrid Micro, Super Antenna MP1C, Chameleon F-Loop, F-Loop +, P-Loop, P-Loop 2.0, Cha TD, Windom 40, Yaesu ATAS 100, SOTABeams Peak & Mountain, Alpha EZ Mil (but it's obsolete), and just about everything else accept Par endfed & buddipole or stick.

[@nomadsurvival4952]

This helped me get mine working thanks... what do the colored relate to on the screen :)

[@Jdjfjfigkgigjfjfjej]

Do you think this is affected by magnets? Such as using it as base for mag mount paddle key

[@stefann.2844]

Is there any Reset Option? The Calibration went wrong and now nothing is as it should be anymore. Cheers, Stefan-Df6vi

[@survivalcomms]

That is really cool. I have the rig expert AA30 and the software definitely enhances the device. Does the software allow you to archive your sweeps ? Thanks for sharing !

[@OH8STN]

+SurvivalComms thanks Brett (1 "T" or 2?) always nice to see you here. it seems the software was designed for real time analysis. I usually just take screenshots after the scan, then rename the files appropriately for the antenna date and so on. I'm very fond of the rig expert analyzers. I hope to eventually get one of those as well.

[@ovidiu7290]

I have edited too mini60.apk to work to 500mhz and i used it for a home made analyzer. Also i made it to keep screen on and should work better on high resolution phones. If anyone is interested i can post it somewhere

[@micharonen5693]

well, 2 years later do you still like the Mini 60 as much ?

[@tonycantrell9547]

so this thing only goes to 6m? not 2m or 70cm? just curious. i read some of the details in the sales pages and wasn't really clear. by the way thank you for the video. good as always.

[@OH8STN]

You're welcome Tony. Yeah, this one is HF- 60 Mhz.

[@philipchandler330]

Like the Mini 60 but unable to download from website software

[@JennyEverywhere]

Well done video...but neither of my Android devices (Nexus 5 phone, Nexus 7 tablet) do not reveal a "Mini60" device on the Bluetooth options screen, even after refreshing. The Mini60 IS in "PC Link/Waiting for Link" mode, but it isn't appearing on my devices. The seller is being most unhelpful. His instructions include something about a "dc jack plug in bluetooth antenna", that I don't quite understand. There is no antenna in the package, and you don't show anything in your video being plugged into the DC in jack. As far as I can tell, there is NO Bluetooth adapter in this device, and since I would have to desolder the SO-239 and the power switch in order to determine this, I haven't done that yet. I'm assuming there isn't a Bluetooth module in this device since it isn't showing up on the Bluetooth list on my devices. I asked the seller if there was a Bluetooth pairing mode I'm not seeing, but he keeps sending me these instructions (including a link to this video): kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4OUpX-HZ6lnaas Bluetooth connection method \ : 1, the installation software Andrews 2 , press the SET button to open the talent PC link 3 Press the DOWN button to confirm dc plug in the Bluetooth antenna head 4 Open the Bluetooth phone paired with the day assigned for 1234 5 Open Android software click the link prompts the connection point of the scan is completed successfully See #3? It seems to be implying you have to plug something into the dc jack. I do EXACTLY these steps (with the exception of the part of #3 that refers to some sort of antenna head) and it does NOT appear on my Bluetooth screens.

[@OH8STN]

+Gwen Patten hi Gwen. I've no problems with Nexus 9, Samsung Galaxy Tab Active, Galaxy tab s4, Galaxy Tab 8.9 or 10.1. There are different mini60 models. Some without bluetooth. Sorry I didn't see the second paragraph of your message. Did you order that from the link in the description or on my blog post? those instructions don't sound like the ones from the seller I bought mine from. :/

[@JennyEverywhere]

This one says "Bluetooth" on the start up screen, and it said "Bluetooth Model" on the box. But I still suspect that it doesn't have the module.

[@OH8STN]

Gwen Patton here is the place I bought mine. rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&ipn=icep&toolid=20004&campid=5338072637&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2F2016-Mini60-Sark100-HF-ANT-SWR-Antenna-Analyzer-Meter-Bluetooth-Android-APP-%2F121546367904%3Fhash%3Ditem1c4cba63a0%3Ag%3A4u4AAOSwa39Uuob2 ebay.com

[@JennyEverywhere]

That's where I bought mine. Any suggestions, other than desoldering the switch and SO239 to see if there's a module in it? If there ISN'T a module, I have a couple of the type of Bluetooth board this thing uses, and the logic level adapter to set it for the right speed and such, that's no big deal. It just annoys the crud out of me that it isn't working as the instructions say it should be, and was hoping you'd heard of this behavior before and might have some other option I can try first, before I start desoldering things. I appreciate your quick responses, you're an ace.

[@OH8STN]

Gwen Patton actually you're the very first person to tell me they had a problem with this seller. I've heard of one other person having a problem and their device didn't actually have Bluetooth inside. That's from another seller though.

[@samuelspade2202]

Hope you can help. How do I put the app on my Android phone. Just ordered the mini60 like to use my lg stylus 4. Thank you

[@johnjacobs3160]

Looks like the software link in the blog to DH1KLM is no longer valid? Is there another source?

[@br0k3nilluzion]

do you know of one that could measure 2.4ghz or 5.8ghz? say for a Skew Planar antenna or a Cloverleaf? Does this Mini60 have a brother that works in that range?

[@OH8STN]

Not yet James. I'm looking for one also.

[@ironhead320]

How about a 11 meter

[@charlesascanio]

Por favor, poderia me passar um link onde possa baixar o app para android do mini 60? Não encontro em lugar algum. Muito obrigado Charles PU2TBK Brasil.

[@samcgill]

Hi guys. It seems that the link for this software is no longer working. Does anyone know where android software can be found?

[@dougfelsenthal]

WA0RSD Looking for an analyzer for getting a new QRP Shack going. Any chance this will utilize IOS or windows 10 systems? I'm assuming we can use the analyzer bare bones without the computer connect? Let me know thanks 73s

[@OH8STN]

H you can use that SWR meter with or without a computer it's not dependent upon it. In fact I use it as a pocket meter in the field without any tablet or laptop.

[@ronwfox01]

I have bought one of these but I cannot get the Android/Bluetooth software to work right. I can establish the Bluetooth link as shown with no problem. i can run a scan. But the software shows shows the center frequency as 14.27 MHz, and no matter what I do to the entry in the "CentFreq" field that does not change, although I can broaden the overall frequency range covered by increasing the "KHz/div" number. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong? If I load up a PC-based packate (e.g., Mini60-Sark1000-GA60-MR100 Data Scan) and connect from that PC to the Mini60 via USB port it works fine.

[@OH8STN]

Which software did you try? There are two, the one offered from the manufacturer, and the one mentioned in my video. I would start by trying the one you have not tried yet. I would also try it on another Android device (as new as possible) just to be certain it's not the Android version or device specific problem. I hope this helps. Julian

[@TheTyrial86]

Where is a good place to start with learning the basics of amateur radio???

[@OH8STN]

+TheTyrial86 I always tell people the very first step and getting into amateur radio understanding what you want from it. For temple emergency field communications and digital modes are my interests. Some people like APRS, or Winlink, satellites, ... Once you've seen something cool that you want to get involved with, you can go straight to studying for a license. Licensing is different from country to country, but most time trees have some Nationwide organization which organizes ham radio exams. On the flip side you could find a local Club or other ham radio group in your area, who you could meet with and explore amateur radio by simply investing your time. There certainly is no wrong way to get started. Finally remember like every Hobby there are those people who will tell you how you should do something or what you should do. Keep an open mind to other possibilities but stay focused on your goals and interests. I hope this helps

[@johnhteasley1739]

Looking at the mini 60 antenna analyzer. Will it help check and tune in and check the swr on a 11 meter Gizmotchi 3 beam antena before I look to purchase it !! Thanks John T.

[@OH8STN]

Yes. It doesn't matter what the antenna, or if it's amateur radio or CB. It's about the frequency, not the antenna.

[@tomhoodjr]

Just got my Mini 60 from China... no battery. What battery should I buy for it?

[@OH8STN]

+Thomas Hood hi Thomas. Did you get it from that link in my video? Mine apartment try to add some pictures of the correct battery to my blog in a day or two.

[@tomhoodjr]

Got this battery: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0137ITW46/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 any 3.7V Li that will fit can work... this one needed a different connector though. My Mini 60 needed a femail JST XH style connector. I got this one from Pololu: www.pololu.com/product/1164

[@tomhoodjr]

I got mine off of ebay.. had blue tooth but no battery...

[@gazalaem]

It would appear that the android software is no longer available at www.die-jetzis.de/sark100.htm due to DSVGO regulations.

[@paolonervi2208]

I've tried to follow the site you've indicated ( www.die-jetzis.de/sark100.htm ) but there is no more way to reach it (it say): "Due to the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) and the associated legal uncertainty, this page is currently not available."... do you have any information about this? Tks. 73 from IU1CYF

[@JimN5QL]

🆘🆘🆘 I have lost my antenna for my sark! How can I either make or obtain another! Thank you

[@OH8STN]

I don't have a sarc sorry. I don't know how to help

[@kk6yo]

Hello - I would like to see a end fed antenna scan using 64/1 balun @ around 135 feet - thank you Jerry kk6yo