RUNNING THE ANALYZER VIA BlueTooth
The idea of attaching the analyzer directly to the feedpoint of the antenna, and then running the measurements via BlueTooth from a Computer or Tablet sounded very promising.
In theory this method will work with most devices that have a BlueTooth interface.
¦ Windows P.C. ¦ iPAD ¦ iPhone ¦ Android Tablet ¦ Android Cell Phone ¦
The problem with all theories is, they are just that; a "theory".
The Devil is in the detail.
For starters, it won't (currently) work with a Windows P.C. Apparently the problem is the native Windows BlueTooth (driver?), not a RigExpert analyzer problem. This seems to be true, as it works with all of the other devices.
The GOOD NEWS is, the measured results at ANT' were exactly the same as when I measured ANT' manually using only the analyzer. After all, it had to be . . . because in both cases I was measuring at exactly the same place.
Unfortunately, I was unable to use this method successfully for my work...even though it did initially work as it should. I was able to establish a BlueTooth (BT) connection between my Android Tablet and the AA-230 ZOOM analyzer, and I could even run a couple of scans.
The problem was, the BlueTooth connection kept timing out in the middle of my measurements. AntScope lost connection to the analyzer. The only way I managed to re-establish a BT connection was to cycle the analyzer off/on, and restart AntScope on the tablet.
Since ANT' was in the same room as the tablet, it was no problem to re-start everything; just a PITA. However, in real life measurements, the analyzer would be hanging 30 to 40 ft. in the air. By the time I could raise the antenna with analyzer, the BT connection will have already timed out.
In speaking with a few other RigExpert analyzer users who also use BT, this seems to be a common problem.
In addition, I personally found running AntScope on an Android tablet to be a lot more cumbersome than running it on a Windows P.C. I must make and record several hundred measurements each year. I need a solution that is easy to use.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Unless I am doing something wrong (always a possibility), this is no solution for my work.
THE SEARCH MUST GO ON!