RigExpert STICK PRO Field Guide

The short version

There are two kinds of jobs here. The antenna modes answer, “Does this antenna match my system?” The cable tools answer, “Is the feedline the real culprit?” The most useful habit is to scan first, zoom in second, and use impedance or cable measurements only when you need to know why the first reading looks the way it does.

You can Download the complete STICK PRO PDF guide for the full button-by-button reference, diagrams, and worked examples.

Getting to the right function

Press the Power / Cancel key once to turn the analyzer on. From a measurement screen, a short press of Power / Cancel returns to the main menu; more short presses cycle through its three menu pages. The keys select positions consistently: Minus is upper-left, Plus is upper-right, Left Arrow is lower-left, and Right Arrow is lower-right.

• Menu page 1: Minus = Single; Plus = Multé; Left Arrow = HAM; Right Arrow = Free.
• Menu page 2: Minus = Bound; Plus = TDR; Left Arrow = R and X; Right Arrow = Return Loss.
• Menu page 3: Minus = Stub Tuner; Plus = Cable Length; Left Arrow = Cable Impedance; Right Arrow = Cable Loss.

With the analyzer off, a long press of any of the four function keys starts its matching page-1 mode directly. For OSL calibration, hold OK from the main menu, press OK again to enter Settings, then use the arrows to reach OSL Calibration and choose Calibrate.

The antenna modes

Single: the close-up

Single measures one frequency and shows SWR, return loss, impedance magnitude, resistance (R), reactance (X), L, C, magnitude, and phase. Start by looking at X: close to zero usually means the antenna is near resonance. Then compare R with the system impedance, usually 50 ohms. If X is close to zero but R is not close to 50 ohms, the antenna may need a matching or feedpoint change rather than a simple length adjustment.

Multé, HAM, and Free: the sweep tools

Multé gives the preset amateur bands a quick star rating. Five stars means a best SWR from 1.0 to 1.1; one star covers 1.7 to 3.0. HAM draws an SWR chart across a selected amateur band and reports the lowest SWR. Free is the custom sweep: select your own center frequency and span, down to 10 kHz. Start wide for context, then narrow the span around the dip.

Bound, R and X, and Return Loss

Bound is a simple one-frequency pass/fail helper using a chosen SWR or return-loss limit. R and X reveals the cause behind a high SWR: too much resistance error, too much reactance, or both. Return Loss tells the same reflection story in decibels; larger positive values mean less energy is coming back.

The compact version of the math is Z = R + jX. A 50-ohm load in a 50-ohm system has very little reflection, so its SWR approaches 1:1 and its return loss is large. You do not have to calculate that in the field, but it helps explain what the analyzer is showing.

The cable tools

TDR: the cable detective

TDR looks for reflections in a cable and uses the cable velocity factor to turn the horizontal scale into distance. The STICK PRO measures R and X over frequency and internally uses an inverse fast Fourier transform to produce the impulse and step responses. A feature near −1 suggests a short, 0 a match, and +1 an open. Check the first meaningful reflection before chasing little ripples caused by adapters, jumpers, or the far-end termination.

Cable Length, Cable Impedance, Cable Loss, and Stub Tuner

Cable Length converts electrical delay into physical length, so the correct velocity factor matters. Cable Impedance checks whether the line is behaving like its nominal 50- or 75-ohm family. Cable Loss estimates attenuation, which gets worse at higher frequencies and can quietly waste useful signal. Stub Tuner checks the quarter-wave and half-wave resonances of an open or shorted coax stub; connect the stub and press OK to begin.

Calibration and a repeatable field workflow

OSL means Open, Short, and Load. It moves the measurement reference plane out to the point where the standards are connected, which is especially useful when adapters, fixtures, or jumpers would otherwise influence the result. Prepare the standards first and do not change the adapter chain after calibration.

1. Make sure the object is not connected to live transmitter power. Check connectors, adapters, and the reference impedance.
2. Calibrate when accuracy matters or the reference plane includes hardware.
3. Use Multé or HAM for a quick scan, then Free for a closer look.
4. Use Single and R and X to decide whether the issue is resonance, resistance, or both.
5. If the antenna result seems wrong, isolate the feedline and use TDR plus the cable tools before trimming wire.

Three useful examples

A VHF antenna near 146 MHz

Suppose a Free sweep from 144 to 148 MHz shows minimum SWR 1.30 at 145.6 MHz. At 146.0 MHz, Single reads R = 43 ohms and X = +12 ohms. The system is close, but the best match is slightly low and the positive X says it is inductive at the inspected frequency. Make one small antenna adjustment, then repeat the same sweep. The target is acceptable R, low |X|, and acceptable SWR at the frequency you will use—not simply the lowest point anywhere on the screen.

Finding a cable discontinuity

With a 30-meter coax run and velocity factor 0.66 entered in Settings, imagine the first major TDR reflection appears around 18 meters with a positive-going response. Inspect around that point for a loose connector, water entry, or open-like discontinuity. Entering 0.80 instead of the actual 0.66 would make the displayed distance wrong by roughly 21 percent.

Antenna or feedline?

If Multé suddenly shows one star where the antenna used to perform well, do not trim the antenna first. Disconnect it, check the feedline, and compare its loss with a known-good line of similar type and length. A new TDR reflection or higher-than-expected cable loss shifts suspicion to the coax. If the feedline checks out, reconnect the antenna and concentrate on the radiator or matching network.

Sources

This guide is based on the RigExpert STICK PRO product page, the user manual, and the datasheet. The diagrams are explanatory illustrations, not captured instrument traces.