Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Dom,
Can you be more specific?
What's missing from the Gecko version and how is it a "very bad clone"?
What are the hardware and/or software differences?
It would be great if someone could create comparison list/table for everyone on this group so we can see the differences between the various versions.
If someone that owns a battery powered unit, could you please post a photo of the unit with the back cover removed so those of us with the non-battery version can see what's different as well.
Thanks,
Larry
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
On Monday, 24 June 2019, 17:40:18 GMT+1, Dom Baines M1KTA via Groups.Io <dombaines@...> wrote:
No battery and lots of 'other bits' seem missing.
These are all from a white clone I RX from ebay (wishyou-happy) with the gecko on the front.Cost was $46.99 (probably c$55)
The biggest issues so far seem to be that there are no ICSP headers, no SD card and no battery. Not quite sure how this was even tested.
It says 50kz to 900MHz but with that front end no idea how that is even possible. 300MHz looks more likely.
I'll post the usb readout from a Linux system later if it recognises the hardware etc it does appear to do the charge thing (blue and red led) but with no battery that is a bit moot. The ebay auction did say no battery. Original should be a 150mA LiLoN battery.
I cannot get any PC software to connect to it.
72
DomM1KTA
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Dom,
There are VERY strict guidelines as to what types of equipment can include Lithium batteries if being shipped by air.
Many Asian vendors have been burned by having their shipments returned due to being refused air shipment due to the inclusion of Li batteries.
So, they have started to ship their products without them.
I for one am happy to get my items faster, even if they don't include the batteries.
I can buy the Li batteries locally and it ensures I'm getting new cells, not old stock that may fail in 6 months.
Regards,
Larry
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Larry,
I can understand the airline battery conflicts definitely as I fly with Radios from time to time. If it were just the battery that were missing maybe but that is not all that doesn't work and the QC is terrible, not kidding the solder flux had not been cleaned off what had been soldered.
At a hardware level it looks like a STM32 and a TLV320 are present, so connect a USB and you should at least see the USB idVendor and idProduct codes on the USB bus? As the docs all seem to suggest there is a boot loader present. I'll confirm later.
AFAIK an STlink V2, or similar, should tell you what had been loaded on the STM32 MCU. Assuming he ICSP headers existed. As the screen says 50Kz to 900MHz I assume the appropriate firmware was loaded. Not sure an SA602 can handle 900MHz anyway.Bit loath right now to tinker until I can work out is the unit going to work at all.
72
DomM1KTA
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On Monday, 24 June 2019, 17:47:32 GMT+1, Larry Rothman <ac293@...> wrote:
Dom,
There are VERY strict guidelines as to what types of equipment can include Lithium batteries if being shipped by air.
Many Asian vendors have been burned by having their shipments returned due to being refused air shipment due to the inclusion of Li batteries.
So, they have started to ship their products without them.
I for one am happy to get my items faster, even if they don't include the batteries.
I can buy the Li batteries locally and it ensures I'm getting new cells, not old stock that may fail in 6 months.
Regards,
Larry
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
I've already started hacking my unit so I can push F/W, add a battery, etc.
I've attached several photos. If you're into Amateur Radio, you can probably obtain some old scrap Motorola HT1250 portables.
They can supply shields for the front-end as well as a button for P2 (to put the unit into DFU mode)
To place the unit in DFU (Programming mode) you only need to short P2 when applying power - so I installed a push button - push button/apply power/release button - works great.
The radio shields (there are two on every HT1250 that will fit) need to be slightly trimmed where there is a surface trace to prevent shorts and impedance issues.
Finally, for your question regarding interfacing to the PC, I've successfully installed the serial driver and the DFU driver and have pushed new firmware to the device.
Cheers,
Larry
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Larry,
Sadly no HT's here but I am guessing some brass shim etc or tin plate screens would help. Still not convinced about the top end freq wise though with SA602. The unit wasn't that expensive so might just bite the bullet and clean the board and add the headers etc.
Linux user but that the usb bootloader is present for you at least that would seem helpful for USB programming.
If programming via ICSP I am sure the PCB had where that push button should go when programming. The normal process would be disconnect the USB and power only through the ICSP headers though?
The recent PC side software doesn't seem to have a Linux version so I guess the python scripts will be the answer but might need to figure out the connection port first. Driver?
72
Dom
M1KTA
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
A quick comment on the flux residue - it doesn't have to be cleaned if it's the water-soluble type. It looks bad but it's harmless.
Brass shim should work for the shields, but make sure it's not too thin or you'll see something akin to microphonics if the flat surface is able to vibrate.
When I worked at Motorola, we had to mould stiff ribs along the surface of the synth VCO covers to prevent issues caused by even the smallest vibrations.
If you have a local junk/surplus store see if they have any cellphones/pagers/radios that you can pull some shields off of.
Just heat the board up with a heat gun and the shields fall off.
As for the battery, I think the ones that came with one, have it sandwiched between the back cover and the PCB. Maybe some can confirm?
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
See attached screen shot. I purchased my white gecko from 2012moon816. It
included the battery.
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On Mon, Jun 24, 2019 at 10:30 AM Larry Rothman <ac293@...> wrote: A quick comment on the flux residue - it doesn't have to be cleaned if
it's the water-soluble type. It looks bad but it's harmless.
Brass shim should work for the shields, but make sure it's not too thin or
you'll see something akin to microphonics if the flat surface is able to
vibrate.
When I worked at Motorola, we had to mould stiff ribs along the surface of
the synth VCO covers to prevent issues caused by even the smallest
vibrations.
If you have a local junk/surplus store see if they have any
cellphones/pagers/radios that you can pull some shields off of.
Just heat the board up with a heat gun and the shields fall off.
As for the battery, I think the ones that came with one, have it
sandwiched between the back cover and the PCB. Maybe some can confirm?
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
That is the one I have, and it seem to work OK
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On 6/24/2019 12:13 PM, Dom Baines M1KTA via Groups.Io wrote: I found that the white version with a gecko on it was a very bad clone.
I would agree. As I have one and there is lots missing :-)
72
DomM1KTA
On Monday, 24 June 2019, 14:37:06 GMT+1, hugen@... <hugen@...> wrote:
gerrykav Jun 6?? #66
Maybe this answers your question, Dan (taken from project website)
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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gerrykav Jun 6?? #64
I am not for a second trying to be the IP police here, but in the absence of an explicit license, the standard 'all rights reserved' applies.
/ Gerry
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Daniel Marks Jun 4?? #48
Do you know what license the original edy555 under which the NanoVNA is provided??? Have you corresponded with the author to get permission to use the design?
Dan
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hugen@... Jun 4?? #47
I remade NanoVNA based on edy555 (), but modified
some circuits, added battery management circuits, and redesigned the PCB.
I developed a PC control software can export Touchstone (snp) files which can be used for
various radio design and simulation software.The improved frequency algorithm
can use the odd harmonic extension of si5351 to support the measurement
frequency up to 900MHz.
I sell at cost price in the online store .
Because it's open source hardware, I also shared my circuit diagram,it was soon cloned.
I found that the white version with a gecko on it was a very bad clone.
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
I have worked in this industry for long enough to know it does make a difference. The flux attracts moisture and can change parameters. I always use IPA (not the beer) to clean the board off. Be careful on the display some are not sealed, and alcohol can screw it up
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On 6/24/2019 1:30 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: A quick comment on the flux residue - it doesn't have to be cleaned if it's the water-soluble type. It looks bad but it's harmless.
Brass shim should work for the shields, but make sure it's not too thin or you'll see something akin to microphonics if the flat surface is able to vibrate.
When I worked at Motorola, we had to mould stiff ribs along the surface of the synth VCO covers to prevent issues caused by even the smallest vibrations.
If you have a local junk/surplus store see if they have any cellphones/pagers/radios that you can pull some shields off of.
Just heat the board up with a heat gun and the shields fall off.
As for the battery, I think the ones that came with one, have it sandwiched between the back cover and the PCB. Maybe some can confirm?
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Thanks Bart.
I figured the battery was wedged in there - probably why the SD card slot wasn't installed.
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
If the flux is water soluble it definitely must be cleaned off or it will corrode the board.
I worked for a company that partially built their boards to be finished later and they used water soluble flux cored solder.
All of the boards were scrap after 3 weeks.
If the flux is no clean then the flux does not have to be removed.
It is better if it is removed, but, not absolutely required.
Glenn
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On 6/24/2019 1:30 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: A quick comment on the flux residue - it doesn't have to be cleaned if it's the water-soluble type. It looks bad but it's harmless.
Brass shim should work for the shields, but make sure it's not too thin or you'll see something akin to microphonics if the flat surface is able to vibrate.
When I worked at Motorola, we had to mould stiff ribs along the surface of the synth VCO covers to prevent issues caused by even the smallest vibrations.
If you have a local junk/surplus store see if they have any cellphones/pagers/radios that you can pull some shields off of.
Just heat the board up with a heat gun and the shields fall off.
As for the battery, I think the ones that came with one, have it sandwiched between the back cover and the PCB. Maybe some can confirm?
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Little ARRL Technical Specialist QCWA LM 28417
Amateur Callsign: WB4UIV wb4uiv@... AMSAT LM 2178
QTH: Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx) USSVI LM NRA LM SBE ARRL TAPR
"It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class
of the Amateur that holds the license"
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Yeah, thinking about it, you don't want any type of organic material around high freq circuits.
(I remember in Jr High, we used weak muriatic acid as a flux when soldering sheet metal.....really low frequency stuff ;) )
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Tried the gecko version with various different USB cables that do work with phones and other electronics and do NOT see the board either under Linux or Windows.
I might try with an ICSP header.
So that is a big fail for me.
The flux HAS to be cleaned off this is basic QC really. It has started to collect dust/fluff anyway even though has not seen much more than the bench.
72
Dom
M1KTA
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
It will detune hi freq stuff. Having worked in RF from the KHz to GHz, I know it effects sensitive circuits plus it picks up all kinds of crap. Better off cleaning it off with alcohol then blowing it off. If you dont plow it off, the stuff just moves around the board. I always soaked in 99% IPA (industrial), but above 70% is OK. You can get some 91 to 98 or so at some drugs stores
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On 6/24/2019 3:05 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: Yeah, thinking about it, you don't want any type of organic material around high freq circuits.
(I remember in Jr High, we used weak muriatic acid as a flux when soldering sheet metal.....really low frequency stuff ;) )
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
I hooked mine (White Gecko) to a tunable filter (63 to 125MHz) and I was impressed with what I saw S21 and S11 looked lit was when I swepted it at work. I was recently?? laid off (retired?) and want to do some duplexer tuning, and needed something to do it with . I have a sweep gen and hybrid coupler (plus detector) but you cant get return loss
I think it is good enough for most ham work. I'll have to look at some of my antennas
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On 6/24/2019 3:10 PM, Dom Baines M1KTA via Groups.Io wrote: Tried the gecko version with various different USB cables that do work with phones and other electronics and do see the board either under Linux or Windows.
I might try with an ICSP header.
So that is a big fail for me.
The flux HAS to be cleaned off this is basic QC really. It has started to collect dust/fluff anyway even though has not seen much more than the bench.
72
Dom
M1KTA
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
I connected it to a USB cable and turned it on, nothing. Pulled the USB and there it came up. Plugged the USB in again, and was able to get it to connect to Nanovna sharp (v1.20). Running it in auto update, I can see my tunable filter move without having to hit "get data"
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On 6/24/2019 3:10 PM, Dom Baines M1KTA via Groups.Io wrote: [Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: Grammar :-)]
Tried the gecko version with various different USB cables that do work with phones and other electronics and do NOT see the board either under Linux or Windows.
I might try with an ICSP header.
So that is a big fail for me.
The flux HAS to be cleaned off this is basic QC really. It has started to collect dust/fluff anyway even though has not seen much more than the bench.
72
Dom
M1KTA
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
Thanks Frank, I will take a look at the usb socket soldering. Perhaps that is the issue?
72
Dom
M1KTA
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Re: Additional information on Nano VNA
mdmcpq.inf c:\windows\inf
usbser.sys c:\windows\system32\drivers
If it is a x64 system, try to modify themdmcpq.inf
[FakeModemCopyFileSection]
usbser.sys,,,0x20
to
[FakeModemCopyFileSection]
;usbser.sys,,,0x20
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Re: what does your NanoVNA circuit board look like?
I would check ALL the solder joints.
I thought I got ripped paying $75 for mine, but maybe a better manufacturer :-)
It's all Chinese junk
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On 6/25/2019 2:24 AM, Dom Baines M1KTA via Groups.Io wrote: Thanks Frank, I will take a look at the usb socket soldering. Perhaps that is the issue?
72
Dom
M1KTA
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