RigExpert Stick XPro Antenna and Cable Analyzer User Manual

: June 12, 2024
: RigExpert

Table of Contents

RigExpert Stick XPro Antenna and Cable Analyzer
RigExpert Stick XPro. Users Manual
References
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RigExpert Stick XPro Antenna and Cable Analyzer

RigExpert Stick XPro. Users Manual

The Stick XProis a vector analyzer for antennas and cables. It enables users to measure different parameters of antennas, cables,lines, fi lters, and more within the frequency range of 100 kHz to 1000 MHz. The compact and lightweight design of the Stick XPro analyzer makes it ideal for use both at home and in the fi eld.

The main parameters of the Stick XPro analyzer:

Operating frequency: 100 kHz – 1000 MHz
Size: 185 40 33 mm (7,3 in x 1,6 in x 1,3 in)
Weight : 185 grams (6.5 Oz) (unpacked, with battery installed)
Type of antenna connector: N-type
Number of Enter Keys : 6
Display: color TFT, 220 * 220 pixels.
Type of battery used: Li-ion 18650 (included)
PC Connector Type: USB 2.0 Type-C
Charging Port Type : USB Type-C
Bluetooth Availability: Yes, Bluetooth ver. 4.2 BLE Single-mode, Class B
Battery Charge Time: 3 hours.
RF Power: -10 dBm (at 50 Ohm load)
Minimum frequency step: 1 kHz
Operating temperature: -20…40 °C (-4…104 °F)

The Stick XPro analyzer can be turned on in several ways: – by pressing the key. – when connecting the analyzer to a PC via a USB cable (the analyzer will turn on automatically). – by long-pressing one of the keys : Important! At the same time, the analyzer will turn on and activate the measurement mode to which the pressed key corresponds You can turn off the analyzer from any mode by long pressing the key . Show less

Main menu.
After turning on the analyzer, using the key a screen with the main menu of the analyzer is available for the user. Important! Unlike the Stick 230 analyzer, the Stick XPro analyzer has three main screens with menus. Screen switching is carried out by a short pressing of the key . In addition to service information, at the top of the screen (battery charge, the indication of connection to a PC, charger, Bluetooth connection), the screen displays 4 main measuring functions of the analyzer:

The Singe and Multé modes display the measurement result as numbers, while theHAM and Free modes display the measurement results as numbers andcharts.

The TDR , R&X and RLoss modes display the result in the form of charts and numbers, and the Bound mode in the form of numbers and color indication.

The cImp and cLoss modes display the result in the form of charts and numbers, and the StubT and cLen mode in the form of numbers and color indication. When you press in the Main Menu , 13 information screens will be available. The fi rst 12 screens will briefly talk about the main measuring functions of the analyzer ( Single, Multé, HAM, Free, and others). By pressing the key , you canswitch to the corresponding measurement mode. On the thirteenth screen when you press the key , you will enter the Settings menu.

Single is a measurement of all parameters. The mode is started by pressing the key. After pressing the key, the measurement will start automatically. This is indicated by a fl ashing antenna icon located at the top of the screen. You can stop the measurement by pressing once. You can resume the measurement by pressing once.

In Single mode , the analyzer has 5 screens with information. The fi rst screen displays:

working frequency
SWR value
return loss value

The second screen displays:

working frequency
|Z| value
value of active (R) and reactive (X) resistance (taking into account the sign) for the series mode

The third screen displays:

working frequency
|Z| value
inductance (L) and capacitance (C) value for series mode

Important! Sometimes inductance or capacitance values are displayed with a minus sign. It would seem to be contrary to the laws of physics. But no, inRigExpert analyzers, the minus sign next to the value indicates how much inductance or capacitance you need to add to the circuit in order to compensate forthe reactive component of the impedance.
On the fourth screen are displayed:

working frequency
magnitude
value of active (R) and reactive (X) resistance (taking into account the sign) for parallel mode

The fi fth screen displays:

working frequency
phase value
inductance (L) and capacitance (C) value for parallel mode

Screens switch among themselves by pressing keys . There are two ways to change the value of the operating frequency:
keystrokes single press changes the frequency value minimally. If you press and hold the keys, the frequency will change continuouslywith an accelerated step. pressing and holding the key for 2 seconds. After that, an information window will appear on the analyzer screen. Press the key again. A window will appear on the analyzer screen with the setting of the operating frequency. The keys select the cursor position to change units, tens, hundreds, and thousands of kHz, and the keys change the value.

A single press of the key saves the change and returns to Single mode .
A single press of the key returns to Single mode without saving changes.
The help menu is accessible by pressing and holding the key and then selecting theHelp mode with the keys.

Multé mode.
Multé is a new mode, in which you can quickly assess how well your antenna works on different HAM bands. The result is displayed as stars . The smaller the SWR of the antenna in the range, the more stars. Table of the dependence of the number of stars on the SWR:

5 – SWR from 1.0 to 1.1
4 – SWR from 1.1 to 1.15
3 – SWR from 1.15 to 1.3
2 – SWR from 1.3 to 1.7
1 – SWR from 1.7 to 3.0

If, after scanning, the analyzer didn’t fi nd a single resonance, then this means that either your antenna has a minimum SWR of more than 3, or the antenna orcoaxial cable is damaged.

Restarting this mode is possible by pressing any key except key. After successful measurement in Multé mode , the following information will be displayed on the analyzer screen band number of stars (out of 5) a minimum value of SWR and the frequency at which this value was found
If there are more than one result detected by the analyzer, then the screens are switched using the keys. When you press the keys on one of the results screens, the analyzer switches to HAM mode on the same band. $RigExpert-Stick- XPro-Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $14$$

A long press of the key will bring up the Help menu.
HAM mode.
This mode allows you to measure and display the SWR antenna chart on the analyzer screen on one of the fi xed HAM radio bands such as: 2.2 km, 630 m, 160 m, 80 m, 60 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, 11 m, 10 m, 6 m, 2 m, 70 cm. Enabling this mode is possible either from the main menu by pressing the key or when the analyzer is off by a long press of the same key. Themeasurement will be performed automatically in the range that was used in the previous measurement. To repeat the measurement, press once. To measure in a cycle, press the key two times at short intervals. A long press of the key will bring up the Help window. You can change the measuring range using the keys.

In HAM mode , the SWR icon and the range over which the measurement is carried out are displayed at the top of the screen. In the center of the screen, a chart of the SWR values for the range is displayed. The value of the minimum SWR found and thefrequency at which this value was found are displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Important! To the left and right of the graph are two vertical stripes. They indicate going out of range. Sometimes the resonance of the antenna may be out ofrange, but very close to the beginning or end. In such cases, the analyzer will determine the resonance beyond the limits of the ranges.When you press the keys the analyzer switches to Free mode with the center frequency of measurement corresponding to the center frequencyof the selected range : $RigExpert-Stick-XPro-Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $17$$

You can exit the mode in the main menu by briefl y pressing the key. This is a classicSWR measurement mode with plotting in a user-defi ned frequency band. This mode is useful for survey measurement of the antenna in a wide frequency range or for measuring the SWR in a very narrow predetermined area. In Free mode , the following is displayed on the analyzer screen:

at the top of the screen: the value of the center frequency of the measurement and the width of the measurement band. in the middle of the screen: SWR chart at the bottom of the screen: the SWR value under the marker (solid vertical line) and the minimum of the SWR found (dashed vertical line).

There are two ways to set the center of the measurement frequency:
keys. Pressing the key once will change the frequency discretely to a certain value. Pressing and holding the key will cause an accelerated continuous change in frequency. long press After press, a window will be available with a choice of setting the center frequency, exit or calling Help. Press briefly and enter thefrequency setting menu. $RigExpert-Stick-XPro-Antenna-and-Cable- Analyzer-FIG-1 $19$$

The keys select the cursor position to change units, tens, hundreds, and thousands of kHz, and the keys change the value. Setting the measurement bandwidth by pressing the keys. The minimum bandwidth is 10 kHz. A quick double press of the key will cause a measurement in a loop. To stop click key.To exit the mode, briefl y press key.

Analyzer memory usage.
The Stick XPro analyzer has 24 memory cells for storing measurement results from any graphic modes, such as HAM, Free, R&X, Return Loss. To save the measurement results into memory after plotting the graph, press and hold the key. Then press the key (Save). Use the keys to select an empty memory slot and press the key.

You can name the cell (maximum 13 characters). Use the keys to select a character, the key to adding a character, and the key todelete a character.

Loading results from memory is similar, instead of the key, use the key.

Important! In HAM mode, you can only load measurements that have been taken and saved in this mode.
Bound mode.
In this mode, you can quickly check your antenna for “pass/fail” The measurement is performed at one frequency. Set in the settings (long press of the key) the value of the operating frequency. You can select the measured parameter (SWR or RL) by simultaneously pressing the arrow keys. Here, set the value below which the measurement will be considered “good”.

This mode is convenient when you tune the antenna and at the same time visually follow the readings on the analyzer screen. Large print and color alarms willnot let you miss out on the best results. $RigExpert-Stick-XPro- Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $27$$

Time Domain Refl ectometers (TDR ) are electronic instruments used for locating faults in transmission lines. A short electrical pulse is sent over the line, and then a refl ected pulse is observed. By knowing the delay between two pulses, the speed of light, and the cablevelocity factor, the DTF (distance to fault) is calculated. The amplitude and the shape of the refl ected pulse give the operator idea about the nature of the fault.Time Domain Refl ectometers (TDR) are electronic instruments used for locating faults in transmission lines.
A short electrical pulse is sent over the line, and then a refl ected pulse is observed. By knowing the delay between two pulses, the speed of light, and the cablevelocity factor, the DTF (distance to fault) is calculated. The amplitude and the shape of the refl ected pulse give the operator idea aboutthe nature of the fault. Instead of a short pulse, a “step” function may be sent over the cable. $RigExpert-Stick-XPro-Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $28$$

Unlike many other commercially-available refl ectometers, Stick XPro does not send pulses into the cable. Instead, another technique is used. First, R and X (thereal and the imaginary part of the impedance) are measured over the whole frequency range (up to 1000 MHz). Then, the IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) isapplied to the data. As a result, impulse response and step response are calculated. This method is often called a “Frequency Domain Refl ectometry”, but the “TDR” term is used in this document since all calculations are made internally and theuser can only see the fi nal result. The vertical axis of the resulting chart displays the refl ection coeffi cient: Γ = -1 for short load, 0 for matched impedance load (ZLoad=Z0), or +1 for open load. Byknowing the cable velocity factor, the horizontal axis is shown in the units of length. Single or multiple discontinuities can be displayed on these charts. While theImpulse Response chart is suitable for measuring distance, the Step Response chart helps in fi nding the cause of a fault. $RigExpert- Stick-XPro-Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $29$$

Connect the cable to the analyzer and click the key. Do not forget to set the vel. factor of the cable used in the settings.

Use the keys to change the vertical scale.
Use the keys to change the position of the cursor on the chart.

Return Loss mode.
A mode that almost completely corresponds to the SWR mode. RL is the ratio of signal power or refl ection coefficient expressed in decibels.

RL(dB) = -20 log10|51
RL(dB) = P(dB) – P.(dB)

In RL mode, the following is displayed on the analyzer screen:

at the top of the screen: the value of the center frequency of the measurement and the width of the measurement band. in the middle of the screen: RL chart at the bottom of the screen: the RL value under the marker (solid vertical line) and the max of the RL found (dashed vertical line).

There are two ways to set the center of the measurement frequency:

keys. Pressing the key once will change the frequency discretely to a certain value. Pressing and holding the key will cause an accelerated continuous change in frequency. long press After press, a window will be available with a choice of setting the center frequency, exit, or calling Help. Press briefl y and enter the frequency setting menu. $RigExpert-Stick-XPro-Antenna-and-Cable- Analyzer-FIG-1 $32$$

The keys select the cursor position to change units, tens, hundreds, and thousands of kHz, and the keys change the value. Setting the measurement bandwidth by pressing the keys . The minimum bandwidth is 10 kHz. A quick double press of the key will cause a measurement in a loop. To stop click the key . To exit the mode, briefl y press key.
R &X mode.
R&X mode displays values of active and reactance in a user-selected frequency range. Set the center frequency of the measurement by long-pressing the key. The frequency band is changed by pressing the keys. Set the full range by simultaneously pressing the The R&X mode works in two modes: Standard. In this mode, changing the shift of the cursor with the keys will cause repeated measurement and redrawing of the chart. keys.

In pan mode, you can move the cursor left and right without redrawing the chart. This is convenient when you need to quickly view the R X values in a certainfrequency range. This mode is entered by simultaneously pressing the and keys.

Exit the mode – quickly press the key.
Stub tuner.
The Stub tuner mode is designed to help making or checking 1/4-λ or 1/2-λ coaxial stubs. Connect either open or short circuited cable to the analyzer and press the key to start.

The analyzer will immediately show resonant frequencies for both quarterwave and halfwave stubs.

Settings menu.
In order to get to the settings menu, in the Main menu, press and hold the key. After that, the information window will be available

Pressing the key will take the analyzer to the Settings menu. Pressing the key will return the analyzer to the Main menu. Change of settings screens is carried out with keys and change of parameters with keys.

There are currently 13 basic settings available in theStick XPro analyzer:

Language. The default is English. The available language is Japanese. Switching languages with keys. Click to confirm.
Bluetooth. Enable/disable the Bluetooth module. Enabled by default.
Palette. You can choose one of 5 screen color schemes. By Light Blue is default.
Units. Select to display the values (eg length) in metric or imperial system. By default – metric .
Analyzer automatic shutdown time (battery saving mode). Available values: never, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes. Default: 5minutes
Choosing ITU region. The default is1 region . The choice of the region affects the boundaries of predefi ned ranges. The width of most ranges in each regionis different.
Band search. This setting affects the speed worked of the Multéfunction. There are two meanings: Normal and Deep .In Normal mode, the Multe function isfast, but there is a chance of missing the narrow resonance of the antenna or inaccurate determination of resonance frequency. In Deep mode, the measurement speed increases, but the possibility of mistakes is minimized.
OSL calibration. Disabled
by default.
System Z0 . Choosing a system impedance value. Available values: 12.5 Ohm, 25 Ohm, 28 Ohm, 37 Ohm, 50 Ohm, 75 Ohm, 100 Ohm, 150 Ohm, 200 Ohm, 300Ohm, 450 Ohm, 600 Ohm. Default: 50 Ohm . This setting is needed in cases where, for example, when measuring, a broadband transformer with a transformation ratio of 1: 9 is used. In this case, the impedance at the transformer output will be 450 Ohms and for the correct readings of the analyzer, it isnecessary to set the systemimpedance equal to 450 Ohms.
Cable vel. factor. Set the value of the velocity factor of the measured cable. This setting is necessary for the correct operation of the TDR function.
Vibro. Allows you to reduce the vibration response of the built-in vibration motor or turn it off completely. Default is Full .
Factory Reset. Reset all analyzer settings to factory defaults. To reset, press and hold the key.
Clear slots. To clear the memory of the saved measurement results, press and hold the key.

AntScope2 and AntScope for Android & iOS

Stick XPro analyzer can work with AntScope2 and AntScope for Android and iOS.
AntScope2 works with personal computers and laptops running operating systems
Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux Ubuntu.
The latest versions of the software for various operating systems can be downloaded here: https://rigexpert.com/files/software/Antscope/.
Important! The Stick XPro analyzer does not work with the first version of AntScope. To work with
AntScope2 the analyzer does not require the installation of any drivers. Just connect the analyzer to the PC via the USB cable and run
AntScope2 program (the program must be downloaded and installed first). The program should automatically recognize the analyzer and prepare for work.
At the same time, the following information will be displayed in the upper part of the program window:

If the analyzer model does not appear, then this means that the program could not recognize the analyzer. Try reconnecting the analyzer, closing and reopening the program, used a different USB cable. Important! Using a Bluetooth connection, Stick XPro analyzer operation with AntScope2 is currently not possible. This is due to limited support for theBluetooth Low Energy protocol used in the Windows operating systems analyzer. The Stick XPro analyzer, together with AntScope for Android, works with smartphones and tablets running Android version 6 and higher. You can download AntScope for Android directly on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rigexpert.antscope&hl=en When you connect the analyzer to a smartphone with AntScope for Android, you will see the following information:

The window displays the following information:

analyzer model
serial number
MAC address
Bluetooth version

Charging the analyzer.
The Stick XPro analyzer is powered by a 18650 Li-ion battery. The analyzer comes with a 2800 mAh battery. The analyzer can be charged from a PC. According to the specifi cation, when connecting the analyzer to the USB 2.0 connector, the maximum charge current is 0.5 A. When connecting the analyzer to the USB 3.0 standard connector, the maximum charge current is 0.9 A. The analyzer for charging can be connected to any charger (for phones/tablets) with an output voltage of 5 volts and a current of at least 0.5 A. The maximum charge current of the analyzer is 1 A. The time for a full charge of a battery with a capacity of 2800 mAh (from 0 to 100%) is about 3 hours (when using a charger). During charging, the bottom of the analyzer near the USB connector may become slightly warm. This is not a malfunction.

User’s Manual | RigExpert™
During charging in the off state, the lightning icon is displayed on the analyzer screen. During charging, when the analyzer is on, the CRG icon will be displayed at the top of the screen. If the charge occurs with a current of 1 A, then, in this case, the FAST icon is additionally displayed. The battery of the analyzer can be charged separately as well. To do this, it is necessary to remove it from the analyzer by unscrewing the two screws of thebattery cover and placing it in an external charger. The Stick XPro analyzer is protected against battery polarity reversal. If a battery is installed incorrectly, it will not cause damage to the analyzer. When thecharger is connected, an error message will appear on the analyzer’s screen. Important note: Do not use any other types of batteries, and avoid using chargers with a voltage higher than 5 volts. Using incompatible batteries or chargerscan potentially damage the analyzer.

OSL calibration.
The Calibration menu is located in the Settings menu under item 8. If the analyzer has not previously undergone the calibration process, then in this menu we will see only two items: OFF and Calibrate: $RigExpert-Stick-XPro- Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $38$$ The OFF item turns off the calibration, the Calibrate item starts the calibration process. Change of items is carried out with the keys and, and the selection of the required item with the key. After the start analyzer will offer to alternately connect open, short and load calibration standards and press the key. $RigExpert-Stick-XPro-Antenna-and-Cable-Analyzer-FIG-1 $39$$

Remember to prepare the calibration kit in advance! During the calibration process, the analyzer screen looks something like this:

After completing the process, calibration will be enabled automatically. On the main screen, a C symbol will appear in the center (which means that OSL calibration is active).

Also, the third item will be available in the Settings menu:

https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/stick-xpro/users-manual/.