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Re: cable extensions etc.

 

Likewise. Looking for good quality SMA Connector Savers.
I agree with Gary, very hard to judge online.

Regards...Bob VK2ZRE

On 2/09/2022 10:00 am, Gary Lee wrote:
looking for some recommendations for good extensions for the sma connectors on the nano. good build quality is more important than price to me. its hard to judge online ads as they all claim to be good, and being totally blind, I cannot see their pics or graphs.

Thank you for your assistance.





cable extensions etc.

 

looking for some recommendations for good extensions for the sma connectors on the nano. good build quality is more important than price to me. its hard to judge online ads as they all claim to be good, and being totally blind, I cannot see their pics or graphs.

Thank you for your assistance.


Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

On 9/1/22 12:35 PM, Siegfried Jackstien wrote:
sonnet works superb and is quite easy to use ;-)
see picture (circular polarized patch ... a square with truncated corners)
dg9bfc sigi
many thanks for making that list of the free eda soft ... maybe i will try one or two of them (BESIDES SONNET)
And I think Sonnet Lite (the student/free) version will do simple patches. The limitation is in how big a model you can build. If you give them your name, etc., the free version will have increased memory, etc.




Am 01.09.2022 um 16:42 schrieb Jim Lux:
On 9/1/22 6:21 AM, Gary W9TD wrote:
EZNEC is now free.

EZNEC as a Method of Moments code that is derived from NEC is really a "wire" modeling code and doesn't do patches very well.

One can "grid" a patch, and put it over ground with soil properties set to match the substrate, but it doesn't have a way to do the ground plane on the other side of the substrate. (well, in NEC4 you could bury a grid of wires)).

NEC based codes will not do the matching sections or transmission line.


What the OP needs is a low cost tool that is designed for microstrip patches.

Ancient, but maybe PUFF (an early microwave circuit modeling package) would work?

At work we use HFSS, but that's sort of the antithesis of free.

I'd start with the list here:



Sonnet has a student version








Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

No, standard battery lasts long enough for my purposes. Anyway, I mainly use it with nanoVNA Saver.

Michael.

On 01/09/2022 21:53, Siegfried Jackstien wrote:
i would have used n sockets ;-) ... but i have a v2 that goes way higher in frequency as the older nanovna

but ok ... nice work

do you have a bigger battery also or a second one soldered in parallel?? (wire bridges will do fine)

dg9bfc sigi

Am 01.09.2022 um 22:14 schrieb Michael:

The following is a copy of my post of 30th August 2021 which illustrates my solution to the enclosure/connector issues:

The attached pictures show my solution to the SMA issue.

1) BNCs match all my other test gear removing the need for adapters
when interfacing. Indeed BNCs are the standard connector used for
professional test gear up to a few, GHz. (Perhaps 10GHz - Have to
check that).
2) Any risk of straining the SMA attachment point to the PCB is
eliminated.
3) The additional weight of the enclosure reduces the risk of the
nanoVNA being dragged off the workbench by the attached cables.
4) The aluminium enclosure adds a measure of screening - probably a
marginal. benefit.
5) The number of connection cycles permissible with BNCs while not
infinite, is far, far greater than the the very small number of
connection cycles specified for SMAs (in the hundreds if I remember
correctly).

The enclosure is made from extruded aluminium "U" section, readily available from eBay, with suitable apertures cut. I'm not sure that the reference planes for the BNC calibration pieces are perfect, but empirically, the results are the same as those obtained with the calibration devices supplied with the nanoVNA.

Michael. (GW7BBY/GB2MOP).



On 01/09/2022 20:40, Siegfried Jackstien wrote:
IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:
I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up)? so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH













Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

tooo big and it does not fit in your shirt pocket ... thats a down side ... grin

(sorry could not resist)

dg9bfc sigi

Am 01.09.2022 um 22:34 schrieb John:

Bigger screen begets a bigger case which begets more weight/stability which
begets a bigger battery which begets longer use time... where is the down
side??

John
VE7KKQ

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 12:51 PM Siegfried Jackstien <
siegfried.jackstien@...> wrote:

IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS
THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:
I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up) so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH









Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

i would have used n sockets ;-) ... but i have a v2 that goes way higher in frequency as the older nanovna

but ok ... nice work

do you have a bigger battery also or a second one soldered in parallel?? (wire bridges will do fine)

dg9bfc sigi

Am 01.09.2022 um 22:14 schrieb Michael:


The following is a copy of my post of 30th August 2021 which illustrates my solution to the enclosure/connector issues:

The attached pictures show my solution to the SMA issue.

1) BNCs match all my other test gear removing the need for adapters
when interfacing. Indeed BNCs are the standard connector used for
professional test gear up to a few, GHz. (Perhaps 10GHz - Have to
check that).
2) Any risk of straining the SMA attachment point to the PCB is
eliminated.
3) The additional weight of the enclosure reduces the risk of the
nanoVNA being dragged off the workbench by the attached cables.
4) The aluminium enclosure adds a measure of screening - probably a
marginal. benefit.
5) The number of connection cycles permissible with BNCs while not
infinite, is far, far greater than the the very small number of
connection cycles specified for SMAs (in the hundreds if I remember
correctly).

The enclosure is made from extruded aluminium "U" section, readily available from eBay, with suitable apertures cut. I'm not sure that the reference planes for the BNC calibration pieces are perfect, but empirically, the results are the same as those obtained with the calibration devices supplied with the nanoVNA.

Michael. (GW7BBY/GB2MOP).



On 01/09/2022 20:40, Siegfried Jackstien wrote:
IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:
I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up)? so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH










Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

and no reading glasses needed anymore ... grin

dg9bfc sigi

ps i already told to "diSlord" that you can hide half a dozen or more 18650 cells behind a 7 inch screen ... yes he is working on fw for 7 inch!!!!

Am 01.09.2022 um 22:34 schrieb John:

Bigger screen begets a bigger case which begets more weight/stability which
begets a bigger battery which begets longer use time... where is the down
side??

John
VE7KKQ

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 12:51 PM Siegfried Jackstien <
siegfried.jackstien@...> wrote:

IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS
THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:
I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up) so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH









Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

Bigger screen begets a bigger case which begets more weight/stability which
begets a bigger battery which begets longer use time... where is the down
side??

John
VE7KKQ

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 12:51 PM Siegfried Jackstien <
siegfried.jackstien@...> wrote:

IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS
THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:
I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up) so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH









Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

The following is a copy of my post of 30th August 2021 which illustrates my solution to the enclosure/connector issues:

The attached pictures show my solution to the SMA issue.

1) BNCs match all my other test gear removing the need for adapters
when interfacing. Indeed BNCs are the standard connector used for
professional test gear up to a few, GHz. (Perhaps 10GHz - Have to
check that).
2) Any risk of straining the SMA attachment point to the PCB is
eliminated.
3) The additional weight of the enclosure reduces the risk of the
nanoVNA being dragged off the workbench by the attached cables.
4) The aluminium enclosure adds a measure of screening - probably a
marginal. benefit.
5) The number of connection cycles permissible with BNCs while not
infinite, is far, far greater than the the very small number of
connection cycles specified for SMAs (in the hundreds if I remember
correctly).

The enclosure is made from extruded aluminium "U" section, readily available from eBay, with suitable apertures cut. I'm not sure that the reference planes for the BNC calibration pieces are perfect, but empirically, the results are the same as those obtained with the calibration devices supplied with the nanoVNA.

Michael. (GW7BBY/GB2MOP).

On 01/09/2022 20:40, Siegfried Jackstien wrote:
IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:
I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up)? so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH







Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

IF YOU REALLY HIT THE USB CABLE THAT TINY 2.8 INCH UNIT WILL FLY ACROSS THE ROOM HI HI

buy a 4 inch screen and print a bigger case maybe??

diSlord is experimenting with even bigger (7 inch) screens on the v2!!!

greetz sigi dg9bfc

Am 01.09.2022 um 16:09 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:

I recently purchased a NanoVNA (with a 2.8 inch screen). I was
wondering if anyone has designed/printed a stand for the
NanoVNA???

I'm looking for something that I can put the end of it into (so that
the SMA jacks are facing up) so I can attach an SMA antenna
for an HT to it.

With a stand... I won't have to worry about the NanoVNA falling
over if the USB cable between my laptop or tablet gets hit or
moves (more of a problem if holding a tablet) and since it will
keep the NanoVNA from falling over... I won't have worry about
anything touching the antenna to affect the measurements.

Thanks,

Mike - N1EVH




Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

sonnet works superb and is quite easy to use ;-)

see picture (circular polarized patch ... a square with truncated corners)

dg9bfc sigi

many thanks for making that list of the free eda soft ... maybe i will try one or two of them (BESIDES SONNET)


Am 01.09.2022 um 16:42 schrieb Jim Lux:

On 9/1/22 6:21 AM, Gary W9TD wrote:
EZNEC is now free.

EZNEC as a Method of Moments code that is derived from NEC is really a "wire" modeling code and doesn't do patches very well.

One can "grid" a patch, and put it over ground with soil properties set to match the substrate, but it doesn't have a way to do the ground plane on the other side of the substrate. (well, in NEC4 you could bury a grid of wires)).

NEC based codes will not do the matching sections or transmission line.


What the OP needs is a low cost tool that is designed for microstrip patches.

Ancient, but maybe PUFF (an early microwave circuit modeling package) would work?

At work we use HFSS, but that's sort of the antithesis of free.

I'd start with the list here:



Sonnet has a student version







Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 08:59 AM, Brian Howie GM4DIJ wrote:


The dielectric constant you chose might differ from the real one depending on
the material.
Many microwave materials publish TWO dielectric constant values; one which is used in standardized QC tests, and another one, the "design" value, which should be used for simluation. Be certain that you are using the correct one, the simulation tool will happily spit out beautiful, inaccurate plots.
Also, how are you decoupling the antenna from the measurement instruments? Do they change as you move you hand along the feedline? If so, the feedline is not adequately decoupled.
How big is your ground plane, if any is used? Is it adequate? An antenna's environment can mage a big difference.
73, Don N2VGU


Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

AT LEAST USE A PORT EXTENSION!!

a male female adaptor (port saver) ... if worn out just replace the adaptor and NOT the socket in the vna

any sma connector that you use often should have such an extender ... be it the vna or an sdr (funcube dongle, airpsy hf+, whatever)

so ... go any buy "a dozen" and put them on ALL of your sma sockets that you use more then 5 times a year :-)

dg9bfc sigi

Am 01.09.2022 um 17:27 schrieb F1AMM:

You may have forgotten that you can put an extension cord of the length you want between the nanaoVNA box and the location where you are going to do the calibration. Even the imperfections of the extension will be compensated by the calibration. I did a test with a 93 ¦¸ cable.

Take advantage of this extension to change the type of connector. Switch to a female BNC socket for example, firmly fixed on a support. SMA are too fragile to be screwed and unscrewed too often.


Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

you shoud measeure a ht antenna like you would use them .. means hold the vna in your hand

the coupling to the body is needed on some if not all ht antennas (the transmiter needs something "to feed against" ... a virtual ground so to speak)

you see big changes if you hold the vna or not?? no wonder!! ... the case of the vna is to small for a ground on 70cm and even more on 2m ...

think about ....

dg9bfc sigi

Am 01.09.2022 um 20:20 schrieb n1evh via groups.io:

I don't think I'm going to need any of those BNC to SMA
connector holders... as I have a few of these that I could
put onto the NanoVNA...

<>

or if you want them gold plated...

<>

These would sit right against the body of the NanoVNA.

I'm looking for a stand... that I can put the other end into
so that the antenna connectors (SMA, BNC, whatever) would
be facing up... to keep the HT antennas vertical. an not
touching anything when testing them. I was wondering if
anyone has made one or just designed one so it could be
printed out on a DC printer.

If you just stand the NanoVNA on its end and you have it
connected to a laptop or tablet with a USB cable... morning
the laptop or tablet around... will make the USB cable move
and most likely make the NanoVNA fall over. A plastic stand
to put the NanoVNA in... would keep it from falling over.

Mike - N1EVH

On 9/1/2022 12:46 PM, Dave Merrill wrote:
If you have access to a 3-D printer, there are a ton of designs for NanoVNA
cases, holders, connection extensions, etc. Here is but one:

Many public libraries have Maker Labs. You upload the design file to their
server and they notify you when it's done. My library charges a nominal fee
for the amount of materials used.

Dave N9ZC

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022, 9:28 AM F1AMM<18471@...>? wrote:

You may have forgotten that you can put an extension cord of the length
you want between the nanaoVNA box and the location where you are going to
do the calibration. Even the imperfections of the extension will be
compensated by the calibration. I did a test with a 93 ¦¸ cable.

Take advantage of this extension to change the type of connector. Switch
to a female BNC socket for example, firmly fixed on a support. SMA are too
fragile to be screwed and unscrewed too often.
--
F1AMM Fran?ois

De la part de n1evh via
Envoy¨¦ : jeudi 1 septembre 2022 16:10











Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

I don't think I'm going to need any of those BNC to SMA
connector holders... as I have a few of these that I could
put onto the NanoVNA...

<>

or if you want them gold plated...

<>

These would sit right against the body of the NanoVNA.

I'm looking for a stand... that I can put the other end into
so that the antenna connectors (SMA, BNC, whatever) would
be facing up... to keep the HT antennas vertical. an not
touching anything when testing them. I was wondering if
anyone has made one or just designed one so it could be
printed out on a DC printer.

If you just stand the NanoVNA on its end and you have it
connected to a laptop or tablet with a USB cable... morning
the laptop or tablet around... will make the USB cable move
and most likely make the NanoVNA fall over. A plastic stand
to put the NanoVNA in... would keep it from falling over.

Mike - N1EVH

On 9/1/2022 12:46 PM, Dave Merrill wrote:
If you have access to a 3-D printer, there are a ton of designs for NanoVNA
cases, holders, connection extensions, etc. Here is but one:

Many public libraries have Maker Labs. You upload the design file to their
server and they notify you when it's done. My library charges a nominal fee
for the amount of materials used.

Dave N9ZC

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022, 9:28 AM F1AMM<18471@...> wrote:

You may have forgotten that you can put an extension cord of the length
you want between the nanaoVNA box and the location where you are going to
do the calibration. Even the imperfections of the extension will be
compensated by the calibration. I did a test with a 93 ¦¸ cable.

Take advantage of this extension to change the type of connector. Switch
to a female BNC socket for example, firmly fixed on a support. SMA are too
fragile to be screwed and unscrewed too often.
--
F1AMM Fran?ois

De la part de n1evh via
Envoy¨¦ : jeudi 1 septembre 2022 16:10








Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

You have to look closely at their data sheets, but they come up with i.d.? numbers that are not FR4.? That was a specific material no longer made..
But this is much like making a Xerox copy on your Cannon copier.? ? FR-4 has become a General term for any Epoxy/Fiberglass board material..??
Measuring the Er at a specific frequency can be fun.? ?When the material sample is big enough, I like to make a patch antenna that is expected to come out near the frequency of interest.? ?Usually I cut the patch with a razor knife, then measure it's actually frequency.? ?Trim if necessary.
Next I use Roger Cox's patch antenna program.? I play with the Er value in the program until it predicts the frequency I measured.? ? ? Next you can take the bandwidth you got from the sweep, and again backing into Roger's patch program, get a good number for the? Loss Tangent.? ? ?Kent

Here is Rogers website.? ?It says Patch 2.0, but it's really Patch 20

On Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 11:32:32 AM CDT, W0LEV <davearea51a@...> wrote:

Yes, I spaced the Rogers products.? Thank you for mentioning the Rogers
4350 substrate.

FR-4 is available everywhere and is relatively inexpensive.

What's more and being critical, both the dielectric constant and dielectric
thickness of FR-4 board may vary across a large sheet.? Been there, done
that being paid to force Fibre Channel "square waves" across 15-inches of
FR-4 with no dispersion.? Bad things happen for EMC/RFI when the
pre-emphasis is jacked (by the designers to make it function) in an attempt
to accomplish that stated goal.? The GM of the division dictated absolutely
bargain basement prices on every component of the system.? Ultimately, he
got egg on his face and I was banned from working further with that
division.? Standard practice with the present-day Corporate America:? Slay
the messenger!!

Dave - W?LEV

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 3:51 PM KENT BRITAIN <WA5VJB@...> wrote:

? Hi Dave
Very very difficult to get Duroid processed these days.I don't know of any
US shops that will touch that stuff any more.(Rumors of one in California
with a Plasma etcher)
If you want plated though holes, you have to etch the raw material to make
it porous enough to take the Copper.? Do you know what kind of chemicals
are necessary to etch Teflon!!!? ? Stuff the EPA does not like!
Rogers 4350 is a ceramic filled material that uses FR4 processing.? Not
quite as low Er and loss tangent as Duroid, but it's not bad.? And regular
PCB houses can process it.? Kent


? ? On Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 10:43:29 AM CDT, W0LEV <
davearea51a@...> wrote:

? I was also going to suggest you actually measure the ¦År of the PCB you
actually used at the frequency you intend to use it.? The ¦År of FR-4 board
falls between an upper an lower limit, but it is not controlled.? If you
want something more controlled and predictable, use RT/Duroid, but it is
expensive.? Also, Teflon board is also better controlled than FR-4, but
also expensive.? Both are far better substrates for microwave applications.

Dave - W?LEV

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 10:31 AM Diane BONKOUNGOU <dianebonk2@...>
wrote:

Hello everyone,
I used OpenEMS software for my simulation and I got simulation results
that are very different from my experimental result, I have a PCB antenna
whose resonant frequency is around 2.4GHz. I design the same thing on
OpenEMS but the simulation gives me a resonant frequency of around
2.66GHz.
Such a difference of 0.2GHz is important in RF, isn't it?? Knowing that
the
frequency range of Bluetooth Low Energy is 2.4-2.5GHz.
I have calibrated very well my NanoVNA and my experiment result must be
good. I know that because I tested the Texas instrument PCB IFA antenna
and
I get the same result as in their Datasheet.
Can you recommend a free tool for antenna simulation?
I have searched but I can only find OpenEMS based on the FDTD method. The
others are professional and paid tools for PCB trace antenna simulation.
Best regards.





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV











--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV


Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

On 01/09/2022 11:31, Diane BONKOUNGOU wrote:
Hello everyone,
I used OpenEMS software for my simulation and I got simulation results that are very different from my experimental result, I have a PCB antenna whose resonant frequency is around 2.4GHz. I design the same thing on OpenEMS but the simulation gives me a resonant frequency of around 2.66GHz. Such a difference of 0.2GHz is important in RF, isn't it? Knowing that the frequency range of Bluetooth Low Energy is 2.4-2.5GHz.
I have calibrated very well my NanoVNA and my experiment result must be good. I know that because I tested the Texas instrument PCB IFA antenna and I get the same result as in their Datasheet.
Can you recommend a free tool for antenna simulation?
I have searched but I can only find OpenEMS based on the FDTD method. The others are professional and paid tools for PCB trace antenna simulation.
Best regards.
On your 2nd point I get good correlation between 4NEC2, EZNEC models and VNA measurements for conventional non PCB antennas in most cases.

Brian

--
Brian


Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

On 01/09/2022 14:46, Diane BONKOUNGOU wrote:
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your reply, attached is my code. I put the dielectric at 4.8
it's FR4. I started with 4.29, my PCB was made by PCBway company. I remark
that when I increase permittivity the frequency decrease.
I also try to put a thickness to my copper traces, I finally forgot this
Idea.
After I changed the metal trace with the copper having losses. *%CSX =
AddMetal( CSX, 'ifa' );* change this with the second line
*CSX = AddConductingSheet( CSX, 'ifa', 59e6,
70e-6); %* 59 copper conductivity, 70e-6 is the losses
Also, I try to put a layer of copper in the PCB because it is a 4-layer PCB
and it gives me 2.66GHz, otherwise, I have 2.8GHz.
My PCB is 0.8mm thicker, with 4 layers of elements. And yes, you are right,
the mesh size can be a big factor. I spend a lot of time on the mesh part.
I tried using Detect edge but I get errors all the time. I ended up doing
the meshing by hand.
-I also check the simulation box position my PCB is inside, but I am
wondering if the position is good.
Best regards
I tried the file and get 2.8GHz. The S11 plot seems to be upside down. There must be a negative sign somewhere I've missed; the f_res is calculated for min |s11|. If I change it to max|s11| it makes sense. I have to change the dielectric by 1.5 times to get it down to 2.4GHz, which is away out ,so I don't think it's the choice of dielectric constant. Thickness of PCB didn't change it much.

The resonant frequency will go down if the elements are embedded. You have to make a 4 layer stack as you've pointed out. It's probably this causing the error. The PCB antennas I have are double sided PCB yagis .



Brian


Re: stand for the NanoVNA???

 

If you have access to a 3-D printer, there are a ton of designs for NanoVNA
cases, holders, connection extensions, etc. Here is but one:

Many public libraries have Maker Labs. You upload the design file to their
server and they notify you when it's done. My library charges a nominal fee
for the amount of materials used.

Dave N9ZC

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022, 9:28 AM F1AMM <18471@...> wrote:

You may have forgotten that you can put an extension cord of the length
you want between the nanaoVNA box and the location where you are going to
do the calibration. Even the imperfections of the extension will be
compensated by the calibration. I did a test with a 93 ¦¸ cable.

Take advantage of this extension to change the type of connector. Switch
to a female BNC socket for example, firmly fixed on a support. SMA are too
fragile to be screwed and unscrewed too often.
--
F1AMM Fran?ois

De la part de n1evh via
Envoy¨¦ : jeudi 1 septembre 2022 16:10







Re: Antenna simulation result different from experiment with NanoVNA

 

Yes, I spaced the Rogers products. Thank you for mentioning the Rogers
4350 substrate.

FR-4 is available everywhere and is relatively inexpensive.

What's more and being critical, both the dielectric constant and dielectric
thickness of FR-4 board may vary across a large sheet. Been there, done
that being paid to force Fibre Channel "square waves" across 15-inches of
FR-4 with no dispersion. Bad things happen for EMC/RFI when the
pre-emphasis is jacked (by the designers to make it function) in an attempt
to accomplish that stated goal. The GM of the division dictated absolutely
bargain basement prices on every component of the system. Ultimately, he
got egg on his face and I was banned from working further with that
division. Standard practice with the present-day Corporate America: Slay
the messenger!!

Dave - W?LEV

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 3:51 PM KENT BRITAIN <WA5VJB@...> wrote:

Hi Dave
Very very difficult to get Duroid processed these days.I don't know of any
US shops that will touch that stuff any more.(Rumors of one in California
with a Plasma etcher)
If you want plated though holes, you have to etch the raw material to make
it porous enough to take the Copper. Do you know what kind of chemicals
are necessary to etch Teflon!!! Stuff the EPA does not like!
Rogers 4350 is a ceramic filled material that uses FR4 processing. Not
quite as low Er and loss tangent as Duroid, but it's not bad. And regular
PCB houses can process it. Kent


On Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 10:43:29 AM CDT, W0LEV <
davearea51a@...> wrote:

I was also going to suggest you actually measure the ¦År of the PCB you
actually used at the frequency you intend to use it. The ¦År of FR-4 board
falls between an upper an lower limit, but it is not controlled. If you
want something more controlled and predictable, use RT/Duroid, but it is
expensive. Also, Teflon board is also better controlled than FR-4, but
also expensive. Both are far better substrates for microwave applications.

Dave - W?LEV

On Thu, Sep 1, 2022 at 10:31 AM Diane BONKOUNGOU <dianebonk2@...>
wrote:

Hello everyone,
I used OpenEMS software for my simulation and I got simulation results
that are very different from my experimental result, I have a PCB antenna
whose resonant frequency is around 2.4GHz. I design the same thing on
OpenEMS but the simulation gives me a resonant frequency of around
2.66GHz.
Such a difference of 0.2GHz is important in RF, isn't it? Knowing that
the
frequency range of Bluetooth Low Energy is 2.4-2.5GHz.
I have calibrated very well my NanoVNA and my experiment result must be
good. I know that because I tested the Texas instrument PCB IFA antenna
and
I get the same result as in their Datasheet.
Can you recommend a free tool for antenna simulation?
I have searched but I can only find OpenEMS based on the FDTD method. The
others are professional and paid tools for PCB trace antenna simulation.
Best regards.





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV











--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
--
Dave - W?LEV