Rig Expert Stick Pro | Best Portable Antenna Analyzer

[@DK9CA]

I use the simple blue "RigExpert Stick" for POTA and all the stuff outdoors, the Pro version is absolutely amazing, but was not in my "price-range" for portable. Thank you for being like you are and i whish you awesome christmas days. 73 from Germany de DK9CA

[@hamradiotube]

Either way you still have a great analyzer. I like they added more functions that their higher end analyzers have.

[@paulpannell8724]

I use the blue one also. Really nice.

[@don_n5skt]

Had mine out at the POTA event. Shane and I used it to tune up the Buddistick pro. Great analyzer. Great review from a great reviewer. Thanks Mike.

[@hamradiotube]

Ah yes, I remember. Trying to get on 60 and 80 with the BSP.

[@forgetyourlife]

@@hamradiotube Ah, So thats why 1 contact only. BSP not so great above 40m

[@jasonk7jwn229]

Thank you for the sweet review Mike. May just have to crack off a portion of my Christmas bonus and pick up one of these.

[@hamradiotube]

You’re welcome. I think you should do it. You won’t regret it.

[@DSD]

HOLY CRAP!!! I had my volume up too loud and you knocked me out of my chair!!!! LOL. I need a support puppy!

[@Therealdavemason]

I’m going to watch this again tomorrow. I haven’t used my RigExpert stick nearly as much as I should!

[@hamradiotube]

There's so much this little analyzer does it's amazing.

[@landytravels9427]

Hi Mike, thanks for your video, very helpful! Found an interesting thing, you can run the AntScope software on the Mac via usb to measure one frequency and then run the AntScope App on your phone via Bluetooth to measure another so with a multiband antenna it’s easy to see what the effect of tuning for one band has on another, just run the software/App for the two different frequencies.

[@mxcollin95]

Great video…definitely helped me out. Thanks!

[@lmamakos]

Seems like I can do most all of these things (including a PC/Mac/Linux interface) with a NanoVNA for $100-$1500 with a larger touch screen and easier to navigate UI. And it has a battery inside, too. I've got a NanoVAN with a 4 inch screen and it's great to use in the field at the antenna while I'm trying to tune it. I get how this is targeted solution, but these NanoVNA's are more flexible test equipment, like when you use the other port to measure losses in filters or other devices. For example, I wondered how efficient the 49:1 UN-UN that built was? So I built two of them, connected them back-to-back on the antenna side and could directly measure the thru loss with the NanoVNA across all the HF bands. It's great that there's all these wonderful tools available these days at costs that are much more accessible to hams.

[@Lastaii]

Same here, I'm a big fan of NanoVNAs. It takes a while to get familiar with them and set them up just how you like, but once that's done they're easy to drive and you can get results in seconds. I've got two, and the smaller one never leaves my POTA kit bag. Best $50 I ever spent on radio gear :) That said, there are a lot of folk out there who just don't get along with them and their occasionally glitchy UI. So I can understand a place for this sort of thing -especially with the bluetooth connectivity, that would be super useful when trimming antennas (assuming you can stay in bluetooth range). The question is, is it $389 super useful? I'm not adjisting antennas *that* often, and the walk does me good ;)

[@hamradiotube]

Man I bought a NanoVNA a couple years ago and absolutely hated it. Way to finicky for me. After about 10 minutes of playing with it I ended up giving it away to a friend. I know they have a huge following but it is absolutely not for me. Sure they have their features and benefits, but they also need to be calibrated every time you use them. Even if you change bands. Not so with the RigExpert. I don't possess the patience as a human to have to do that every time I want to test something. I want to do what I need to do and get on the air with as little effort as possible. Everything has its compromises.

[@lmamakos]

@@hamradiotube I think a NanoVNA needs to be calibrated as often as antenna analyzers. Depends on the level of precision that you need/want. I have a set of cables that I use all the time, and I've calibrated "once" for them and saved the cal state. I just use that saved state for my HF needs. If you're doing something at much higher frequencies, then many the story is different -- but then you have to worry about the feedline between the analyzer/VNA and the antenna itself. Just watching the UI of the device you tested, it's all the same function as the VNA provides with slightly different UI (which I don't find quite as useful.) I mean, it's the same thing - you've got a smith chart in the analyzer, you can see return loss. Its a VNA with only a single port, yet it costs more?!

[@lmamakos]

@@Lastaii That's pretty funny - I've got two of them as well... the one with the smaller screen also lives in my POTA "antenna box" full time, just in case I need it. The one with the 4" screen lives on the bench..

[@Lastaii]

@@hamradiotube Yep, totally agree NanoVNAs are not for everyone :) Regarding the calibration issue, you don't need to calibrate if you're just looking for where the resonant point/lowset SWR is, and in the field that's what I'm after -especially if I'm using a finicky setup like my butchered SuperAntenna :D

[@off-trailseeking3965]

Yes......MAC! I bought one. I really wish someone would make a detailed flow chart listing of the menus and an explanation of the meaning of each item. I'm pretty new to using an analyzer and the relationships to antennas.

[@hamradiotube]

Excellent!

[@gaptastic]

Thanks Mike, great content! I got mine a couple of months ago. Being a new ham it's fairly intuitive, but there's a lot I still need to learn about it.

[@hamradiotube]

Awesome, you started off with a great analyzer. I've found as I've used it more that it's very intuitive. There's only a couple things I don't use because they are way over my head.

[@JulietNovember9]

Been using the NanoVNA but a bit flimsy and floppy for field ops. This video sold me. Thank you for the great overview. 73! Jimmy, N9BRO

[@jpbcos]

Great video, this helped me a lot.

[@K5QBF]

I have the Stick 230 and boy does it come in handy.

[@hamradiotube]

Gotta have an analyzer. Especially out in the field.

[@forgetyourlife]

The e-ink screen on the 230 is the best outside. Way better than the glare on the pro in full sun.

[@KM4ACK]

Great review Mike. Thanks!

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Jason!

[@docpearson]

Question. Did I hear the battery was rechargeable. If you are in the field, can you change the battery if the battery is dead or do you have to go back and recharge it up again which can really be a pain

[@hamradiotube]

Yep. Just charges with a USB-C.

[@artjury7564]

Mine just arrived. Thanks

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thats awesome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[@elkabong6429]

Nice demo! Thanks!

[@off-trailseeking3965]

Was the Stick Pro cable connected to the PC or MAC when you demonstrated the software? Or was it bluetooth? I tried the software with my MAC and it said the Stick Pro had to be turned on (which if was and bluetooth was on) and the Stick Pro had to be set to "PC", where is "PC" ?

[@hamradiotube]

Good sir. Please don't associate me with anything Windows related. I set my expectations a bit higher than that. I literally did nothing other than plug the Stick into my Mac and run the software. No drivers, no configuration, nothing. I did download the software from the app store if that matters.

[@gallonsofhairspray5451]

Coupon code doesn’t seem to be working

[@marcpilotte9583]

Really liked and enjoyed your review. 99% of most reviewers start at opening the box and wasting 10 minutes. Your review got right into the “ real “ question operation of the Stick Pro. I bought mine several years ago from Jim Gifford, and have enjoyed it every time I’ve used it. GREAT VIDEO!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 de WB9DBD Marc

[@Blue-Collar-Radio]

Very good overview Mike! I love my Rig Expert Pro. It's very capable, and intuitive to use. I haven't had it hooked up to a PC yet. Are there more features through the PC software than the app? Did you have any issues with the Bluetooth dropping out on it? Mine seems to drop from time to time, while using it.

[@hamradiotube]

This thing is a game changer for me. Small, light wight, portable, and does everything I would need outside of just looking at SWR. I haven't had any issues with bluetooth either, but I haven't had it all that long.

[@royceweslowski3730]

I just received one yesterday. Thanks good video. Nice to have it in The shack and see what’s going on outside without 10 trips inside to see how it’s doing.

[@JoeInMemphis]

I bought one after watching quite a few videos, and nobody mentioned its one shortcoming... NO FREQUENCY COUNTER! I bought it to reduce my kit since it is smaller than my MFJ 269D, but guess what, I still have to take the MFJ 269D with me for the frequency counter feature. Also, the Bluetooth is VERY short range, like one car length, and drops out easily, so the stick pro has become the backup at home in a drawer to the 269D.

[@p4rsec]

for the people this product is targeted at (amateur radio operators), we don't have a whole lot of use for a frequency counter. we're trying to get the antenna resonant, and assuming you've done your math right, you should be cutting it somewhere close to resonant...

[@JoeInMemphis]

@@p4rsec the MFJ is also targeted for amateur radio operators, and it has a full set of usable features, including a frequency counter… Not everybody lives in the ham world 100% of the time, and with a designation of stick “pro” I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think it’s also targeted for the professional user. Before you do all of that math, there’s one thing you need to know, and that’s WHERE you need the antenna resonant, the typical end-user has no clue where they transmit, they just know they need an antenna cut for it. What the stick Pro does, it does well, but as I said, it’s missing a crucial feature.

[@mikemiles3068]

Great video MIKE. WILL IT WORK ON IPAD OS. All I have are iPad Pros this would be great if it does!

[@hamradiotube]

I don’t see why not. It works on my iPhone 12pro max. All my iPads are old. Try downloading it.

[@mikemiles3068]

@@hamradiotube THANKS 🙏🏼 this is great news it’s so hard to get accessories that work with Apple and iPad.

[@ITOinfoo]

Yes, it will. 100%

[@mikemiles3068]

@@ITOinfoo Thanks thats Great👍

[@hamradiotube]

You’re preaching to the choir there bud.

[@mikemurphy1940]

I have a AA-230 zoom. I think it’s more flexible to use and don’t think it’s really that much larger. But this does look kinda cool.

[@hamradiotube]

I reviewed the 1500 zoom and it’s awesome. They aren’t heavy at all, but for as much portable as I do I want everything as small and light weight as it can be. Most of my activations have been qrp with the 705 in the icom backpack lately. This easily fits where the bigger one won’t. That’s the main advantage to the Stick Pro for me. Honestly I’d love to have both.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

I love my Stick Pro! I still need to learn how to use it better.

[@hamradiotube]

I've pretty much gotten the hang of it, other than the Stub Tuner and Smith Charts, I've got it down.

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

I am enjoying the 35 zoom, great screen, like the bigger display, rig expert has taken this market, i still think the mfj223 is nice, and had my eye on the comet caa500mkii , thx mike nice review

[@hamradiotube]

Those Zoom analyzers are awesome. I got to play with a 1500 zoom and really liked it. This little guy packs in a lot of the same features in a portable size. Absolutely perfect for me.

[@SummitBidTech]

No comment about the severe Bluetooth connectivity issues? Just about Every online review mentions it? I just got one today and this issue is serious.

[@hamradiopenpals]

Did you return it yet?

[@hamradiotube]

Not yet. Hoping they just forget I have it haha.

[@frankwc0o]

Did you change your channel name recently? If you did, cool idea to change it to radios in general.

[@frankwc0o]

Nope, I was wrong. :)

[@hamradiotube]

Nope, but looks like you figured it out.

[@Winstonsdad1956]

Watching this video makes me wonder what else my Rig Expert analyzer will do that I have never explored! Thanks for the video. KO4TXN

[@hamradiotube]

Prob everything you need it to do and more. I'm absolutely in love with this analyzer.

[@KC2BKM]

Need to go more in depth on this thing. what its telling us new guys.

[@kd5you1]

I wonder what the future of Rig Expert will be like considering what is happening in Ukraine.

[@hamradiotube]

Hopefully a bright and prosperous one.

[@VE9ASN]

Uhhhhg, you just cost me 700 bux, I mean, thanks for the review. 73

[@hamradiotube]

700??? The analyzer isn't that much.

[@VE9ASN]

@@hamradiotube it is with taxes and shipping up here in canuckistan.

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

MICHIGAN!!

[@hamradiotube]

I have defected to Texas and renounce my Michigan citizenship :)

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

@@hamradiotube if I could do that I would. Texas is in a precarious situation with the illegals so stay vigilant.

[@tittiger]

I don't know what kind of drugs you're taking, or how much rig expert is paying you, but the ant scope2 software has virtually no documentation at all, and they won't answer any questions about supporting the software after 30 days of trying. I bought the rig expert 500 explicitly because I wanted to connect it to my computer and now it's just a paperweight because rig expert will not support this device!!