I have had a nanoVNA-F for about a month. Three of us bought them. All of
us are VHF/UHF Meteor Scatter and Satellite enthusiasts.
All 3 of us have RigExpert AA-230 Zoom units or better. I also have an
MFJ-269.
I have not even turned either the 230 or the MFJ on since getting the
nanoVNA-F. If climbing on a tower, I would use the AA-230. For casual
sweeps of an HF antenna outdoors, I would use the MFJ (needle display is
easy to read).
For pure enjoyment and ease of use in the shack, the nano is perfect with
nanosaver software. Every antenna has now been evaluated and s11p files
saved as well as *.jpg screen grabs for future reference.
It is not hard to learn how to use the nano with computer software. When
used in handheld mode, I set it for single trace SWR mode and it becomes a
very effective SWR meter. In the shack it is set for S11 and S21 logmag.
It is the single most useful device I have purchased at any price, and for
a $100 , it was a super deal. My friends bought the same unit for about $80
on eBay. I got mine on Amazon.
My friends and I Elmered each other and now we are quite comfortable doing
sweeps for SWR and 2 port analysis of filters (Duplexers, etc). Very, very
handy!
There are some very good YouTube videos on how to do various things, and
this list has been helpful.
Each device has its uses. If I were starting from scratch I would get just
the Nano...and spend time playing with it. There is nothing the other units
can do that the nano cannot and it is a lot cheaper.
I*f you play with the nano every day for a short while, or at least several
times per week, you will master its basic functions and never look back*.
73, N0AN
Hasan
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On Thu, Sep 17, 2020 at 4:53 AM John Chin <VA3BOF@...> wrote:
Sorry, you had a bad experience.
I found my NanoVAN useful. Before I purchased mine I made sure it was a
good clone of the original NanoVNA. Plus, the unit I purchased was the
same one that another HAM purchased which he tested. I have used also to
check the length of the coax, it was very close to the actual length. I
have confidence in my NanoVNA.
A number of other HAMs from my club have purchase them too. No one has
complained about their units.
If the price is too good to be true then you probably got a clone of a
clone. Those clones are suspect. Generally, either they do not come with
a case or with a fragile case so NanoVNAs are generally a fragile unit.
You can also check if the NanoVNA you are looking at is a good clone or one
of the original units.
73,
John VA3BOF
On Sun, Sep 13, 2020 at 7:38 PM Brandon Parker <bmanthug@...> wrote:
I own a Mano vna and I threw it in the toolbox and just paid the 360
bucks
for the mfj with the wall wart without hesitation. Nano vna is junk. I
have had nothing but problems. I've boughten two now and they were both
junk. The first one the person I bought it from got mad that I had put
the
wrong address and sent me a returned item that was broken. I gave up
claiming the replacement because the seller was obviously a pos that
hates
life. And tokk their own hatred out on me. When I was just another paying
customer. I needed it then and there and instead of just sending me a
good
one they told me to send it back and they would replace it. All set. Next
one had issues too from an entire different seller. Goes to show the
quality you can expect from a stupid 50 dollar pc of test equipment. Nope
I'll stick with the pros. And the fact is.... The Nano vna is used for
different things. It's good for circuit analysis. Like for my amplifiers
and testing my transformers impedance. But as far as big boy Jobs and
measuring inductance on my coils n such and my antenna tuning I'll stick
with the mfj. People only speak highly of the Nano vna because it's a
cheap
way out to KIND OF do the job. And I've seen soooooo many bad reviews of
bad experiences with buying the nano vna. It's hit or miss. You MIGHT
get a
fully functional unit. But your odds of getting screwed with a junk
one....
Are JUST as good. I'll spend the money and get what the PROS use. Forget
the nano vna
Just a cheap Chinese knock off type TOY
On Wed, Sep 9, 2020, 12:01 PM OneOfEleven <cmoss296@...> wrote:
I just watched VE3OSO's comparison video and had a chuckled at the end
lol.
I've been thinking for a while just how peed off MFJ must be now that
we
have these extremely useful little VNA's, especially with how much they
cost. MFJ's sales must have taken a hit I should imagine.
