Connie,

That was a good talk last night.? It combined a new approach to a problem many hams have and you did it with a lively style.

Paul

Hi Connie... I also enjoyed your talk and chatting afterwards.? Thank you.?

It prompted me to review network analysis and scatter parameters, which led me to the Python library scikit-rf. It looks like it can do all the calculations needed for your technique (and then some).? It also interfaces to VNAs, like the NanoVNA, reads and writes Touchstone format files, makes Smith plots, and so forth.? I'm in the middle of making the "personality file" for my Z-match antenna tuner using a NanoVNA. Both turning elements are variable capacitors, so I'm having to eyeball the settings.?

I know folks at work who run Python programs on iPhones?using a Python app from the App store, so that might be a route to a smartphone implementation. Running it "in the cloud" on Google Colab?is another option (I have an acoustics package that many folks run that way).?

Here's some info on scikit-rf:

1. A. Arsenovic? et al ., "scikit-rf: An Open Source Python Package for Microwave Network Creation, Analysis, and Calibration [Speaker’s Corner]," in? IEEE Microwave Magazine , vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 98-105, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1109/MMM.2021.3117139. ?url:? ? ?(I believe this is a free download. Let me know if you have trouble accessing it.)

2. scikit-rf: Object Oriented RF Engineering. ?url:

Best...

Aaron, AK6IM

?

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 10:18?AM Connie W6EFI via <stillinger= [email protected]> wrote:

thank you, Paul! It was fun and great to see you and other friends there.

Happy new year!

73,

Connie W6EFI

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 08:45, Paul AA6PZ via < aa6pz@...> wrote:

Connie,

That was a good talk last night.? It combined a new approach to a problem many hams have and you did it with a lively style.

Paul

--
Connie KN2EFI

?which led me to the Python library scikit-rf.

?

I came across scikit-rf recently, too.? ? I've only scratched the surface with?it, but I agree,?it looks pretty great.? ?I need to get GPIB going again on my HP 8753A VNA.

73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 11:28?AM Aaron Heller via <ajheller= [email protected]> wrote:

Hi Connie... I also enjoyed your talk and chatting afterwards.? Thank you.?

It prompted me to review network analysis and scatter parameters, which led me to the Python library scikit-rf. It looks like it can do all the calculations needed for your technique (and then some).? It also interfaces to VNAs, like the NanoVNA, reads and writes Touchstone format files, makes Smith plots, and so forth.? I'm in the middle of making the "personality file" for my Z-match antenna tuner using a NanoVNA. Both turning elements are variable capacitors, so I'm having to eyeball the settings.?

I know folks at work who run Python programs on iPhones?using a Python app from the App store, so that might be a route to a smartphone implementation. Running it "in the cloud" on Google Colab?is another option (I have an acoustics package that many folks run that way).?

Here's some info on scikit-rf:

1. A. Arsenovic? et al ., "scikit-rf: An Open Source Python Package for Microwave Network Creation, Analysis, and Calibration [Speaker’s Corner]," in? IEEE Microwave Magazine , vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 98-105, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1109/MMM.2021.3117139. ?url:? ? ?(I believe this is a free download. Let me know if you have trouble accessing it.)

2. scikit-rf: Object Oriented RF Engineering. ?url:

Best...

Aaron, AK6IM

?

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 10:18?AM Connie W6EFI via <stillinger= [email protected]> wrote:

thank you, Paul! It was fun and great to see you and other friends there.

Happy new year!

73,

Connie W6EFI

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 08:45, Paul AA6PZ via < aa6pz@...> wrote:

Connie,

That was a good talk last night.? It combined a new approach to a problem many hams have and you did it with a lively style.

Paul

--
Connie KN2EFI

On Jan 8, 2025, at 3:29 PM, Connie W6EFI via <stillinger@...> wrote:

that's two votes for scikit-rf! ? ?Definitely going to look into this. – – Connie.

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 14:39, Christopher AI6KG <ch@...> wrote:

?which led me to the Python library scikit-rf.

?

I came across scikit-rf recently, too.? ? I've only scratched the surface with?it, but I agree,?it looks pretty great.? ?I need to get GPIB going again on my HP 8753A VNA.

73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 11:28?AM Aaron Heller via??<ajheller=?[email protected]> wrote:?

Hi Connie... I also enjoyed your talk and chatting afterwards.? Thank you.?

It prompted me to review network analysis and scatter parameters, which led me to the Python library scikit-rf. It looks like it can do all the calculations needed for your technique (and then some).? It also interfaces to VNAs, like the NanoVNA, reads and writes Touchstone format files, makes Smith plots, and so forth.? I'm in the middle of making the "personality file" for my Z-match antenna tuner using a NanoVNA. Both turning elements are variable capacitors, so I'm having to eyeball the settings.?

I know folks at work who run Python programs on iPhones?using a Python app from the App store, so that might be a route to a smartphone implementation. Running it "in the cloud" on Google Colab?is another option (I have an acoustics package that many folks run that way).?

Here's some info on scikit-rf:

1. A. Arsenovic??et al?., "scikit-rf: An Open Source Python Package for Microwave Network Creation, Analysis, and Calibration [Speaker’s Corner]," in??IEEE Microwave Magazine?, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 98-105, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1109/MMM.2021.3117139. ?url:?????(I believe this is a free download. Let me know if you have trouble accessing it.)

2. scikit-rf: Object Oriented RF Engineering. ?url:?

Best...

Aaron, AK6IM

?

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 10:18?AM Connie W6EFI via??<stillinger=?[email protected]> wrote:?

thank you, Paul! It was fun and great to see you and other friends there.

Happy new year!

73,

Connie W6EFI

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 08:45, Paul AA6PZ via??<?aa6pz@...> wrote:

Connie,?

That was a good talk last night.? It combined a new approach to a problem many hams have and you did it with a lively style.?

Paul?

--?
Connie KN2EFI?

--?
Connie KN2EFI

Connie,

Is video recording of your presentation available?

Hiroki AH6CY

On Jan 8, 2025, at 3:29 PM, Connie W6EFI via <stillinger@...> wrote:

that's two votes for scikit-rf! ? ?Definitely going to look into this. – – Connie.

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 14:39, Christopher AI6KG <ch@...> wrote:

?which led me to the Python library scikit-rf.

?

I came across scikit-rf recently, too.? ? I've only scratched the surface with?it, but I agree,?it looks pretty great.? ?I need to get GPIB going again on my HP 8753A VNA.

73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 11:28?AM Aaron Heller via??<ajheller=?[email protected]> wrote:?

Hi Connie... I also enjoyed your talk and chatting afterwards.? Thank you.?

It prompted me to review network analysis and scatter parameters, which led me to the Python library scikit-rf. It looks like it can do all the calculations needed for your technique (and then some).? It also interfaces to VNAs, like the NanoVNA, reads and writes Touchstone format files, makes Smith plots, and so forth.? I'm in the middle of making the "personality file" for my Z-match antenna tuner using a NanoVNA. Both turning elements are variable capacitors, so I'm having to eyeball the settings.?

I know folks at work who run Python programs on iPhones?using a Python app from the App store, so that might be a route to a smartphone implementation. Running it "in the cloud" on Google Colab?is another option (I have an acoustics package that many folks run that way).?

Here's some info on scikit-rf:

1. A. Arsenovic??et al?., "scikit-rf: An Open Source Python Package for Microwave Network Creation, Analysis, and Calibration [Speaker’s Corner]," in??IEEE Microwave Magazine?, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 98-105, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1109/MMM.2021.3117139. ?url:?????(I believe this is a free download. Let me know if you have trouble accessing it.)

2. scikit-rf: Object Oriented RF Engineering. ?url:?

Best...

Aaron, AK6IM

?

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 10:18?AM Connie W6EFI via??<stillinger=?[email protected]> wrote:?

thank you, Paul! It was fun and great to see you and other friends there.

Happy new year!

73,

Connie W6EFI

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 08:45, Paul AA6PZ via??<?aa6pz@...> wrote:

Connie,?

That was a good talk last night.? It combined a new approach to a problem many hams have and you did it with a lively style.?

Paul?

--?
Connie KN2EFI?

--?
Connie KN2EFI

Connie, what a great presentation!?? I was able to understand it.? Thanks for sharing.

A couple things came to mind as I read through:

Resulting narrow bandwidth isn't a total con, some pros to that, such as reduced interference from nearby srong signals.

I tried measuring a random wire, but there was too much RF from nearby AM broadcast stations, so both my nanoVNA and my MFJ analyzer were overloaded.? Resulting measurements were nonsense.

Cliff

On January 9, 2025 9:10:28 PM PST, "Connie W6EFI via groups.io" <stillinger@...> wrote:

Hi Hiroki!??? CCing Rob KC6TYD who captains the A/V for PAARA.

FYI I will be repeating the presentation (actually giving a slightly updated one) at the San Mateo club meeting on Jan 17.

Also if I didn't already mention it, I'm putting stuff up on my github at .?? The only thing up there right now is the most recent presentation.?? I'm updating it and there will be another version posted there on Jan 17.

Thanks,

Connie

Connie Stillinger

stillinger@...

On Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at 5:01 PM, Hiroki Kato <hiroki@...> wrote:

Connie,

Is video recording of your presentation available?

Hiroki AH6CY

On Jan 8, 2025, at 3:29 PM, Connie W6EFI via < stillinger@...> wrote:

that's two votes for scikit-rf! ? ?Definitely going to look into this. – – Connie.

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 14:39, Christopher AI6KG < ch@... > wrote:

?which led me to the Python library scikit-rf.

?

I came across scikit-rf recently, too.? ? I've only scratched the surface with?it, but I agree,?it looks pretty great.? ?I need to get GPIB going again on my HP 8753A VNA.

73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Jan 8, 2025 at 11:28?AM Aaron Heller via ? ?<ajheller= ? [email protected]> wrote: ?

Hi Connie... I also enjoyed your talk and chatting afterwards.? Thank you.?

It prompted me to review network analysis and scatter parameters, which led me to the Python library scikit-rf. It looks like it can do all the calculations needed for your technique (and then some).? It also interfaces to VNAs, like the NanoVNA, reads and writes Touchstone format files, makes Smith plots, and so forth.? I'm in the middle of making the "personality file" for my Z-match antenna tuner using a NanoVNA. Both turning elements are variable capacitors, so I'm having to eyeball the settings.?

I know folks at work who run Python programs on iPhones?using a Python app from the App store, so that might be a route to a smartphone implementation. Running it "in the cloud" on Google Colab?is another option (I have an acoustics package that many folks run that way).?

Here's some info on scikit-rf:

1. A. Arsenovic? ? et al ? ., "scikit-rf: An Open Source Python Package for Microwave Network Creation, Analysis, and Calibration [Speaker’s Corner]," in? ? IEEE Microwave Magazine ? , vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 98-105, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1109/MMM.2021.3117139. ?url:? ? ? ? ?(I believe this is a free download. Let me know if you have trouble accessing it.)

2. scikit-rf: Object Oriented RF Engineering. ?url: ?

Best...

Aaron, AK6IM

?

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 10:18?AM Connie W6EFI via ? ?<stillinger= ? [email protected]> wrote: ?

thank you, Paul! It was fun and great to see you and other friends there.

Happy new year!

73,

Connie W6EFI

On Sat, Jan 4, 2025 at 08:45, Paul AA6PZ via ? ?< ? aa6pz@...> wrote:

Connie, ?

That was a good talk last night.? It combined a new approach to a problem many hams have and you did it with a lively style. ?

Paul ?

-- ?
Connie KN2EFI ?

--?
Connie KN2EFI

Random note: Sweeping an HF antenna with a nanoVNA is actually transmitting at around 10 dBm, which is enough power for WSPR encoding to get spotted by DX. ?Not sure what FCC requirements (licensed or not) apply to those transmissions.

73, Ron, n6ywu

I did not know that. That is definitely worth a cautionary note.

On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 13:12, Ron, N6YWU via groups.io < ron.nicholson@...> wrote:

Random note: Sweeping an HF antenna with a nanoVNA is actually transmitting at around 10 dBm, which is enough power for WSPR encoding to get spotted by DX. ?Not sure what FCC requirements (licensed or not) apply to those transmissions.

73, Ron, n6ywu

--
Connie KN2EFI

I hooked my tinySA up to my nanoVNA and it looks like the signal is at -10 dBm, 0.1 mW. I was just looking up requirements for spurious emissions for different project (testing the $10 1-3 W amplifier modules you find on Amazon and Ebay). It's covered in 47 CFR 97.307 (d)

which says that for modern equipment operating below 30 MHz, spurs need to be no more than -43 dB relative to the carrier (dBc). So for a kilowatt PA (+60 dBm), that's 17 dBm or 50 mW. That's consistent with what Jeff said.

That said, it wouldn't be hard to confine the sweeps from the nanoVNA to the ham bands.

Aaron, AK6IM

On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 3:15?PM Jeff Reagan via <jeffreagan=[email protected]> wrote:

Rules are more relaxed below 100 milliwatts, I'm pretty sure.

On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 1:51?PM Connie W6EFI via <stillinger=[email protected]> wrote:

serious question – – if you sweep an antenna with a nanoVNA on frequencies outside of your license privileges, are you a lawbreaker?

I know there are some limits on power before licensing becomes an issue. and I'm pretty sure this was addressed on one of the licensing exams so now I've got some homework to do.

thanks again,

73 Connie W6EFI.

On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 13:31, Connie W6EFI via <stillinger@...> wrote:

I did not know that. That is definitely worth a cautionary note.

On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 13:12, Ron, N6YWU via < ron.nicholson@...> wrote:

Random note: Sweeping an HF antenna with a nanoVNA is actually transmitting at around 10 dBm, which is enough power for WSPR encoding to get spotted by DX. Not sure what FCC requirements (licensed or not) apply to those transmissions.

73, Ron, n6ywu

--
Connie KN2EFI

--
Connie KN2EFI