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Just curious. This group has a lot of activity centered on the nanoVNA. I have wondered how group members will use their nanoVNA, how often, and what for? Antenna testing, feedline testing, circuit design..?
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Jon Titus, KZ1G
Herriman, UT

how often, and what for

Daily; so far mostly for documenting, code testing and tuning test jigs.
Once those swamps are drained,
tweaking LNAs and measuring inductors, transformers and antennas.

For me, it's a learning tool.? Seeing the effects of different setups is an education.? Of course it has the obvious purposes as well.? As a ham radio operator I learn the chatacteristics of my antennas and switches and all, and can make adjustments to achieve my goals and troubleshoot.
While I own two traditional VNAs, the simple user interface, small size, and speed of this little unit is unmatched.
Bob
On Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 02:02:18 PM PDT, Oristo <ormpoa@...> wrote:

> how often, and what for

Daily; so far mostly for documenting, code testing and tuning test jigs.
Once those swamps are drained,
tweaking LNAs and measuring inductors, transformers and antennas.

HI Jon,

For me a retired communication engineer, and avid experimenter, I use my
three VNA,s all the time, that is two or three times a week on development
ideas, testing constructed antenna, filters. baluns and chokes, etc. I
have a full lab of test equipment, but several are duplicate instruments is
function but not is practice, The lab VNA does not move from the test
bench. Then there are two portable VNA, One is a standalone but no
computer interface, quick testing, the NanoVNA fills the bill in doing all
of my field with the laptop. Hope that is a start on your question of use.
HI.

Mel, K6KBE

Using it almost daily for antenna measurements on homemade dipoles, coax line loss testing, RF attenuator testing, band stop filter testing, and on and on. Recently I started using Cat5 ethernet cable for an HF antenna transmission line (receive only), combined with a video balun at each end. The nanoVNA was incredibly useful for me to measure the line loss versus frequency, as well as the loss due the baluns. This thing has been a game changer for me, doing things I never dreamed I'd be able to.

Jon
Along with dog eared copies of Don Lancaster's classics, I have your complete series of microprocessor books buried somewhere in my achieves. Glad you are still around.

I do a lot of buying and selling at hamfests so my intended uses are concentrated in that area:

1. Sorting ferrites
2. RF pre-amp gain
3. Attenuator loss
4. Filter bandpass measurements
5. TDR cable checking
6. Generating correction factor files.
7. Generating RF current probe transfer impedance factors
8. Bridge directivity measurements
9, Directional Coupler coupling factor
10. Antenna resonance points
11. RF coaxial Transient suppressor checking (Most units purchased were dead from too much applied power)
12. 50 ohm matching network testing

Those are some of the things that I have done, or things I am working on procedures for. I already own equipment that can do a lot of what the nanoVNA does, but not in a single integrated portable package with the great software that Rune and the other developers have contributed. My sells are up at hamfests because I can pull the NanoVNA out and show a buyer, who may have been burned in the past, that an attenuator or filter is functional and not burned out. I am also now more selective in my own hamfest purchases. Most hams who have seen my NanoVNA in use have ordered one for themselves. Best $50.00 I've spent in a while. The caveat is that I usually already have the manufacture's data for the items I am testing so I am not "flying blind" and measurements within a couple of dB are good enough for me - and the hams I sell to.

-Herb

Recently I started using Cat5 ethernet cable for an HF antenna transmission
line (receive only), combined with a video balun at each end.

I pondered duplicating some stuff by Chris Trask / N7ZWY..

The nanoVNA was incredibly useful for me to measure the line loss versus frequency,
as well as the loss due the baluns.

A message with more detail on your nanoVNA measurements could be a nice application note..

I used the NanoVNA today to improve 80m matching of a ZS6BKW using two capacitors at the 1:1 choke-balun that have little or no effect on the other bands.

Last night I used the nanoVNA to check a newly constructed dummy load that consists of 20 x 2W parallel resistors (film) in a tin.

Need to sort out a calibration for the revised connection (termination on dummy load is not sma) and also once reference plots obtained (using nanovna-saver) idea is to then fill tin with oil and re analyse to compare useful operating range.

Currently the swr is ok (less than 1:1.5) up to about 200 Mhz or so then climbs to about 4 at 430 Mhz so ok for 2M but not 70 cm.

LOTS to learn and still debating which firmware will be best for my needs without limiting options...

Have made comparison using YouKits FG 01 analyser (see a post made week or so ago) of broad band aerial and there are many projects I have in mind that the nanovna will be used e.g. hand held sat aerial, filter(s) as well as 'experimenting'!

Fingers crossed than Ohan Smit continues his excellent posting on his blog re a nanonvna-saver 'cook book'.... (no pressure Ohan, honestly <smile>).

Thank you to all contributors to this forum, your efforts are sincerely appreciated.

73 Nigel ZS6RN ex G8DEV

On 22.10.2019. 22:31, Jon Titus wrote:

Just curious. This group has a lot of activity centered on the nanoVNA. I have wondered how group members will use their nanoVNA, how often, and what for? Antenna testing, feedline testing, circuit design..?

Mostly for occasional antenna and filter measuring.


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73,

YT9TP, Pedja

I got it mostly to test my antennas, along with feed-lines, choke/baluns, and matching networks.
Also, it's a great learning tool!
How often? Occasionally, as I'm able.
73, --kv5r

Antenna measuring.? It works great for that.
Mike de N5BGZ

I am a HF guy and plan to use the nanoVNA testing antennas and filters, matching ckts and projects in the 1-30 MHz range almost exclusively. I would be just as happy if the vna worked in this area only. Guys wanting capabilities in the 100MHz plus range seem to have plenty of options.
Wayne Reed, K9NE
Linton IN

I used it to help build this 2 bay, circularly polarized 450 MHz antenna. Each bay tuned for frequency and impedance. 75 ohm matching stubs tuned. And then the final tweaking of the two paralleled 100 ohm bays to get a 49.7 ohm resonant antenna at 450 MHz.

The NanoVNA was invaluable for each step of the process.

Now on to pattern testing. It should give me 0 dB gain and be unaffected by the polarization of the distant reference antenna. We shall see.............


WA8TOD