On 14/08/2022 21:24, Ken Bozarth wrote:
I recently purchased an SV4401A from Aliexpress for $299. As a lab instrument, it is very nice, a giant step up from the F-V2. With up to 1001 data points, the sweep resolution is great. The N connectors are nice too, though a cal set of N types would have topped it off. It has mass and is ruggedly built, inside and out. The batteries are replaceable without soldering.
My unit has two serious issues, which I am trying to work through with the tech guy at Sysjojnt, who also developed the V2. The software nanovna-saver is picky about which Win10 pcs it'll run on. I get a failed to execute script msg. Strangely it runs on my cheap tablet and a desktop at work. Three others will not work. I am not a pc or Windows expert. Maybe there is a setting that will let it run? The other issue I have is that, when left off for a while unplugged, it will not boot. Instead, it cycles through a power on sequence indefinitely. The batteries are fully charged. So to take it outside I must bring a 5VDC power source with type C USB connector. Whether these problems are design flaws or just with my unit remains to be seen.
I wasn't happy with mine and sent it back for a refund.
It only worked with the charger connected, the firmware seemed very limited
compared to current models, and it wouldn't keep the date and time.
It's actually an SMA unit inside, so the N connectors just add expense, and
make the unit very heavy (including batteries). They even provide an SMA
calibration set with adapters. I would liked to have kept the unit (that's why
I bought it, and an N calibration set for another $125), but I feel it's not
yet ready for prime time.
The NanoVNA-F, LiteVNA 64 or NanoVNA V2 plus 4 are what I would recommend.
Cheers,
David
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David J Taylor