RigExpert AA-55 ZOOM
$$$··
| Frequency | 0.06-55 MHz |
| Bands | HF through 6m (60 kHz to 55 MHz) |
| Power | Antenna/cable analyzer, test instrument |
| Modes | SWR (single freq, multi-freq, chart), impedance (R, X, Z, L, C, phase angle), Smith chart, return loss chart, cable tools (loss, characteristic impedance), multiband scan |
| Weight | 310 g (10.9 oz) - 310g (10.9 oz) without batteries |
| Year | 2016 |
| rf | SO-239 (UHF female), connects directly to most amateur antenna feedlines |
| usb | USB (PC connection for AntScope2 software, also powers analyzer) |
| power req | Two AA batteries (1.5V alkaline or 1.2V NiMH). ~4 hours continuous measurement, ~2 days standby. Also powers from USB when connected to PC. |
Estimated (unverified): Battery life is rated about 4 hours of continuous measurement (one RigExpert article cites ~6 h); the exact USB socket type on the unit is not documented in the manual.
A single-port antenna analyzer with an SO-239 connector that attaches directly to an amateur feedline, with no SMA adapters. A large color TFT display with ZOOM shows SWR curves clearly, and a multiband scan shows all ham bands in one sweep. It is self-calibrating, with optional OSL calibration for higher accuracy. The keypad is waterproof for field use, and AntScope2 PC software extends analysis. It is made in Ukraine. For antenna work it is easier to use than a NanoVNA.
$250+ when a NanoVNA costs $50-100. Single-port only, with no transmission (S21) measurement. HF through 6 m coverage only; the AA-230 and AA-650 cover higher frequencies at higher prices. Two AA batteries last only ~4 hours. The output is a square wave, not a sine wave. 100 scan points versus the NanoVNA's 101-401. A NanoVNA does much of what the RigExpert does for far less. Now discontinued (used market).
A dedicated single-port antenna analyzer with a color display and a direct SO-239 connection. For antenna work, the dedicated interface is faster and more intuitive than a NanoVNA; the question is whether that convenience is worth 3-5x the price. For field operators who want quick antenna measurements without laptop-level complexity, it can be. Now discontinued.
The RigExpert AA-55 ZOOM is a handheld antenna analyzer - the instrument you connect in place of your radio to see how an antenna or feedline actually behaves. Made by RigExpert in Kyiv, Ukraine, it sweeps from 60 kHz to 55 MHz, covering every HF band plus 6 meters, and shows the results on a color screen: SWR, the resistive and reactive parts of the impedance, return loss, and a Smith chart, all plotted on the device itself without a computer.
It is built for the field. The case is rugged with a waterproof keypad, it runs from two ordinary AA cells, and its antenna socket is a standard SO-239, so it threads straight onto a PL-259 coax jumper with no adapters. It is factory calibrated and ready the moment you switch it on - no per-session calibration dance - though an optional open-short-load kit sharpens accuracy. A MultiSWR mode shows several bands at once, and cable tools measure length, velocity factor, loss, and characteristic impedance. Connect it to a PC over USB and the free AntScope2 software adds a large display, stores sweeps, and provides a time-domain (TDR) cable-fault view that the unit does not do standalone.
The obvious question is how it compares to a NanoVNA, which costs a fraction as much. The honest answer is that the NanoVNA measures more - it does two-port transmission work this single-port analyzer cannot - for far less money, but the RigExpert wins on the things that matter in the field: it is rugged, works one-handed without a laptop, the screen is readable in sunlight, and it needs no calibration to get going. Against an older analog analyzer like the MFJ-259C, the color graphics and PC link are a clear step up.
One thing to know in 2026: RigExpert discontinued the AA-55 ZOOM in October 2025, replacing it with the license-upgradeable MATCH (70 MHz, expandable to 230 or 500 MHz), and says it will support and recalibrate existing units through 2028. New stock is drying up, but it remains a capable, well-regarded analyzer on the used market for anyone working HF and 6 m antennas.