RigExpert AA-3000 ZOOM User manual

AA-3000 ZOOM
User’s manual
RigExpert®

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Table of contents
Introduction 5
Operating the AA -3000ZOOM 6
First time use 6
Main menu6
Multifunctional keys 7
Connecting to your antenna 7
SWR chart 8
Chart ZOOM 8
Data screen 9
Frequency and range entry 9
Return loss chart 9
R X chart 10
Smith chart 10
Memory operation 11
SWR meter SWR2Air 11
Display all parameters 12
MultiSWR mode 13
Multiband mode 13
HOLD functions 14
Frequency generator 14
My Bands 15
Applications 16
Antennas 16
Coaxial lines 17
Measurement of other elements 24
Annexes 27
Annex 1: Specifications 27
Annex 2: Precautions 28
Annex 3: Tools menu 29

Annex 4: Setup menu 34
Annex 5: TDR mode 35
Annex 6: Calibration 39
Annex 7: Dummy loads 41
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 42

Thank you for purchasing a RigExpert AA-3000
ZOOM Antenna and Cable Analyzer! We did our
best to make it powerful yet easy to use.
The analyzer is designed for measuring SWR
(standing wave ratio), return loss, cable loss, as
well as other parameters of cable and antenna
systems in the range of 100 kHz to 3000 MHz. A
built-in ZOOM capability makes graphical
measurements especially An integrated Time
Domain Reflectometer mode can be used to
locate a fault within the feedline system. The
analyzer is equipped with a Bluetooth Low
Energy module for a wireless connection with
your laptop, tablet or smartphone.
The following tasks are easily accomplished by
using this analyzer:
• Rapid check-out of an antenna
• Tuning an antenna to resonance
• Comparing characteristics of an antenna
before and after specific event (rain, hurricane,
etc.)
• Making coaxial stubs or measuring their
parameters
• Cable testing and fault location, measuring
cable loss and characteristic impedance
• Measuring capacitance or inductance of
reactive loads
1. Antenna connector
2. Color display
3. Keypad
4. USB connector
5
Introduction
RigExpert AA-3000 ZOOM

Operating the
AA-3000 ZOOM
You may use hot keys for the quick access to certain tasks. For instance, press
the (SWR chart) button to open the SWR chart screen immediately.
6
User’s manual
4
First time use
Main menu
Please insert three AA sized batteries
(alkaline, Ni-MH or LiPO accumulators)
into the battery compartment of the
analyzer, watching the polarity.
Press the (Power) key located at the bottom-right corner of the keypad to turn on
the analyzer. After displaying the initial message (showing a firmware version and a serial
number of the instrument), a Main menu appears on the screen.
The analyzer will be turned off automatically if not in use for too long.
The Main menu acts as a starting point
from where different tasks may be
launched.
Use (Cursor up) and (Cursor
down) keys to scroll through the menu,
then press (OK) to select an item.
For your convenience, a battery indicator
is shown at the top-left corner of the
screen. This indicator is replaced with a
USB icon when the analyzer is connected
to your computer.

Plug the cable to your analyzer’s antenna connector, and then tighten the rotating sleeve.
The rest of the connector, as well as the cable, should remain stationary.
7
RigExpert AA-3000 ZOOM
Multifunctional keys
Most keys on the analyzer’s keypad perform
several functions.
For instance, numbers (1) are used to enter
frequency and other numerical parameters.
Main functions (2) provide quick access to most
common tasks. Alternative functions (3) are
executed if the user holds the (Functional)
key. For the convenience, alternative functions
are marked with yellow.
F
You may press the (Help) key to open a help screen listing all active hot keys.
1
Connecting to your antenna
If you twist other parts of the connector when tightening or loosening, damage may
easily occur. Twisting is not allowed by design of the N-connector.

Use the arrow keys to increase or decrease the center frequency or the scanning range.
Watch the chart zooming in or out, or changing its position. Use the (Functional key)
and (Cursor up) or (Cursor down) key combination to zoom the vertical scale
Once your antenna is connected to the
analyzer, it is time to measure its charac-
teristics. Press the (SWR chart) key
to open the SWR chart screen, then press
(OK) to start a new measurement.
A few moments later, the result will be
displayed on the analyzer’s screen.
Press the + key combination to
run a continuous sweep.
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User’s manual
4
SWR chart
Chart ZOOM
F
F
Do not forget to press the (OK) key for the new measurement to start.
Press (Functional key) and to quickly choose a radio amateur band.
0
F
A small triangle at the bottom of the chart corresponds to a point at which the
SWR reaches its minimum.

Use cursor keys to navigate, or the to keys to enter values, press the (OK)
key to apply. Hold key for band selection, use navigation keys for choosing
bandplan, amateur regional bandplan and custom bandplans are available (if they were
defined), use keys to apply band settings.
RigExpert AA-3000 ZOOM
Data screen
Frequency
and range entry
Return loss chart
F
The data screen is available in all chart
modes. Press the (Data) key to display
various parameters of a load at cursor.
0
9
To enter the center frequency or the sweep
range, press the (Frequency, Range)
key.
0
The return loss (RL) chart, which is very similar to the SWR chart, is activated by pressing
the (Functional key) and (RL chart) key combination in the Main menu.
F4
0 9

The (Smith chart) key opens a
screen where the reflection coefficient is
plotted on the Smith chart.
For a list of hot keys, press the
(Help) key, as usual.
Press the (R,X chart) key in the
Main menu to access the R,X chart
mode.
Positive values of reactance (X)
correspond to inductive load, while
negative values correspond to capacitive
load.
The chart will display Rand Xfor series
or parallel models of a load. Press
(Functional key) and to switch
between these models.
User’s manual
R,X chart
Smith chart
10
1
1
2
5
F
The marker at the bottom of the screen shows a resonant
frequency closest to the center of the scan.
A small marker is used to indicate the center frequency.