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I bought a RigExpert AA-600 a few months ago. I got it directly from them with the Smith Chart option. It also measures L, C and R and has a TDR function. So far I have been very impressed. I have yet to explore the possibilities of the NanoVNA H4. From what I have read, I should be impressed wit it, too. We have various HP VNA's at work that cover up to 750 and 1500 MHz. Zack W9SZ On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 4:39 AM Arie Kleingeld PA3A <pa3a@...> wrote: Dan,
I own a MFJ-259B and a nanoVNA H3.2
The MFJ is used for field-day operating or when I assist other hams:
checking antennas or tuning them, checking coaxcables, etc.
The nanoVNA is in my shack, connected to pc + nanoSaver. The nano is
used for all kinds of RF measurements.
Love them both, my MFJ is still working fine (test it on a regular basis
on different loads), bought it in 1999 together with the MFJ carrying
pouch. Looking back: a good buy.
73,
Arie PA3A
Op 11-5-2020 om 19:06 schreef Dan Gilliam via groups.io:
I am preparing to purchase my first antenna analyzer product. I have an old MFJ-209 which has neither meters nor frequency readout. I love to
build antennas, especially for my ham club.
Can any of you give a reason pro or con as to why nanovna vs MfJ 259 series. I presume many are nanovna users due to the lower cost. Is there
any tradeoff that would discourage either?
Thanks in advance from a new subscriber to [email protected]
Dan K5KHZ
<> Virus-free. www.avast.com <> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
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GREAT QUESTION, GREAT THREAD!!
As a newbie to ALL of this (HAM, Antenna¡¯s, VNA¡¯s, analyzers...) I too have a long, STEEP slope to climb to learn any of this ¡°stuff¡±! I have an IT background, so have a little tiny bit of ¡°technical¡± knowledge, but not nearly anything all you smart guys have!
Having said that, I bought a NanoVNA to play around with and try to learn something, and hopefully along the way learn just enough to help me setup my shack (I just ordered a radio, and researching a VHF/UHF and a HF antenna) and tune the antenna¡¯s. So too have pondered this same question, would I have been better off just buying a cheap, simple ¡°Antenna analyzer¡±? I ended up getting the nano based on it can do the same thing the analyzer does, you just have to know how. But the ¡°how¡± part is the difficult part for a newbie like myself.
I think somebody should write some software (add to to Nanosaver!!!) that makes the nano work like a simple analyzer, or a NanoVNA for dummies like me! You select a menu item, ¡°Analyze Antenna¡±, it then tells you what exactly to do, you do it and click NEXT, until it has some simple results similar to an analyzer. And I mean dumbed down to the something like this:
[START selected menu item analyze antenna]
¡°Please connect the open calibration connector and press NEXT¡±
¡°Please connect the short.....¡±
¡°Please connect your antenna¡±
¡°How long is your feedline: xxx meters¡±
¡°Enter the HAM band you would like to test: xx meter band¡±
[Scan done, results displayed]
¡°Your antenna is tuned to: xxx.xxxx MHz and usable from xxx.xxxx to xxx.xxxxx in this band¡±
¡°Select next band to test: xx meter band¡±
...
...
The beauty of this would be it would be quick and easy, and it would setup all the settings and parameters required on the NanoVNA and in Nanosaver for you.
If somebody adds this to Nanosaver, I will offer to be the ¡°dummy¡± to test it!! ;)
--
Regards,
Chris
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"I think somebody should write some software (add to to Nanosaver!!!) that makes the nano work like a simple? analyzer, or a NanoVNA for dummies like me! "
This has already been done but unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since last December.
If you have any nanoVNA or NanoVNA-H, you can play with the firmware:
Last release:?
Also - if you have an IT background, NanoSaver is written in Python and is very modular - why not try you hand at creating a simple antenna analyser add-on?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 12:13:40 p.m. GMT-4, Birdman <ccarrara@...> wrote:
GREAT QUESTION, GREAT THREAD!!
As a newbie to ALL of this (HAM, Antenna¡¯s, VNA¡¯s, analyzers...) I too have a long, STEEP slope to climb to learn any of this ¡°stuff¡±!? I have an IT background, so have a little tiny bit of ¡°technical¡± knowledge, but not nearly anything all you smart guys have!
Having said that, I bought a NanoVNA to play around with and try to learn something, and hopefully along the way learn just enough to help me setup my shack (I just ordered a radio, and researching a VHF/UHF and a HF antenna) and tune the antenna¡¯s.? So too have pondered this same question, would I have been better off just buying a cheap, simple ¡°Antenna analyzer¡±?? ? I ended up getting the nano based on it can do the same thing the analyzer does, you just have to know how.? But the ¡°how¡± part is the difficult part for a newbie like myself.
I think somebody should write some software (add to to Nanosaver!!!) that makes the nano work like a simple? analyzer, or a NanoVNA for dummies like me!? You select a menu item, ¡°Analyze Antenna¡±, it then tells you what exactly to do, you do it and click NEXT, until it has some simple results similar to an analyzer.? And I mean dumbed down to the something like this:
[START selected menu item analyze antenna]
¡°Please connect the open calibration connector and press NEXT¡±
¡°Please connect the short.....¡±
¡°Please connect your antenna¡±
¡°How long is your feedline: xxx meters¡±
¡°Enter the HAM band you would like to test:? xx? meter band¡±
[Scan done, results displayed]
¡°Your antenna is tuned to:? xxx.xxxx MHz and usable from xxx.xxxx to xxx.xxxxx in this band¡±
¡°Select next band to test: xx meter band¡±
...
...
The beauty of this would be it would be quick and easy, and it would setup all the settings and parameters required on the NanoVNA and in Nanosaver for you.
If somebody adds this to Nanosaver, I will offer to be the ¡°dummy¡± to test it!!? ;)
--
Regards,
Chris
|
If the NANO's operated like an antenna analyzer, they would no longer be
VNA's. They are *FAR more capable* (and less expensive) than any of the
'antenna analyzers' on the market. Again, MFJ charges upwards or $340 for
their most capable VNA, and it covers from (only) 1.5 through 180 MHz, no
Smith Chart, minimal links to a PC, ...... And the MFJ units suffer major
inaccuracies at both ends of their respective frequency ranges. The
RigExperts costs 'around' $700 and sport a marginal resolution display,
especially for reading the Smith Chart.
I'm an EE with a degree in physics and have used the HP VNA's for some 30+
years. I own an HP 8753C for good reason. It compares quite favorably
with the NANO's, but is certainly not portable (80+ lbs.). I have
absolutely no use or need for 'antenna analyzers', a.k.a., a numbed down
VNA. A good o'scope, signal generator, and a crude home brew directional
coupler can do what most of the 'antenna analyzers' can accomplish.
Spend the time and effort and learn how to use the capabilities of the
NANO's It will teach you a whole bunch about all things RF. You'll never
go back to an 'antenna anaylzer' again. There are many good and
technically sound tutorials in the wiki which accompanies the NANOVNA
groupio groups. Both HP/Agilent/Keysite, R&S, and Tektronix offer a number
of good tutorials on the uses and power of the VNA applied to all things
RF. Many of these are posted in the wiki. NANOVNA.com, I read this
morning, but not confirmed, offers the 'instruction book' for the NANO's.
They are a powerful and capable piece of RF test equipment. They are a
game changer for the RF hobbyist!!
Dave - W?LEV
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On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 10:13 AM Birdman <ccarrara@...> wrote: GREAT QUESTION, GREAT THREAD!!
As a newbie to ALL of this (HAM, Antenna¡¯s, VNA¡¯s, analyzers...) I too
have a long, STEEP slope to climb to learn any of this ¡°stuff¡±! I have an
IT background, so have a little tiny bit of ¡°technical¡± knowledge, but not
nearly anything all you smart guys have!
Having said that, I bought a NanoVNA to play around with and try to learn
something, and hopefully along the way learn just enough to help me setup
my shack (I just ordered a radio, and researching a VHF/UHF and a HF
antenna) and tune the antenna¡¯s. So too have pondered this same question,
would I have been better off just buying a cheap, simple ¡°Antenna
analyzer¡±? I ended up getting the nano based on it can do the same
thing the analyzer does, you just have to know how. But the ¡°how¡± part is
the difficult part for a newbie like myself.
I think somebody should write some software (add to to Nanosaver!!!) that
makes the nano work like a simple analyzer, or a NanoVNA for dummies like
me! You select a menu item, ¡°Analyze Antenna¡±, it then tells you what
exactly to do, you do it and click NEXT, until it has some simple results
similar to an analyzer. And I mean dumbed down to the something like this:
[START selected menu item analyze antenna]
¡°Please connect the open calibration connector and press NEXT¡±
¡°Please connect the short.....¡±
¡°Please connect your antenna¡±
¡°How long is your feedline: xxx meters¡±
¡°Enter the HAM band you would like to test: xx meter band¡±
[Scan done, results displayed]
¡°Your antenna is tuned to: xxx.xxxx MHz and usable from xxx.xxxx to
xxx.xxxxx in this band¡±
¡°Select next band to test: xx meter band¡±
...
...
The beauty of this would be it would be quick and easy, and it would setup
all the settings and parameters required on the NanoVNA and in Nanosaver
for you.
If somebody adds this to Nanosaver, I will offer to be the ¡°dummy¡± to test
it!! ;)
--
Regards,
Chris
--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
|
On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 12:32 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: This has already been done but unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since
last December.
If you have any nanoVNA or NanoVNA-H, you can play with the firmware:
Last release:? Interesting... I'll have a look at that version of firmware, thanks!! On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 12:32 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: Also - if you have an IT background, NanoSaver is written in Python and is
very modular - why not try you hand at creating a simple antenna analyser
add-on? You did it!! You may have just killed months of my time!!! The challenge has been laid down.... ;) Software wise I'd have no problem doing that, BUT, I don't think I have anywhere near the knowledge/understanding for the electrical part of it to make it useful. Maybe down the road when I start learning me up as I build my "shack".
|
On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 12:32 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: This has already been done but unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since
last December.
If you have any nanoVNA or NanoVNA-H, you can play with the firmware:
Last release:? I just loaded the big font version you linked, it doesn't seem to have any "simpler functionality", just a bigger font. But I don't see any dumbed down functionality in there.... did I miss something? -- Regards, Chris
|
Its based on an older release, more bugs... less stability over 900MHz.
Please also check if you have TDR function?
Cheers
*73 de Lu¨ªs, CT2FZI*
*QRV @ 145.300 MHz | **CQ0VMST (VHF REP Monsanto)*
<>
<>
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On Wed, 13 May 2020 at 20:09, Birdman <ccarrara@...> wrote: On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 12:32 PM, Larry Rothman wrote:
This has already been done but unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since
last December.
If you have any nanoVNA or NanoVNA-H, you can play with the firmware:
Last release:
I just loaded the big font version you linked, it doesn't seem to have any
"simpler functionality", just a bigger font. But I don't see any dumbed
down functionality in there.... did I miss something?
--
Regards,
Chris
|
Go into the config screen and enable CH0 INFO
You'll see a screen like this:
Please remember,
1. You always need to calibrate the NanoVNA (ideally for the freq range you want to test) before you use it.2. Never transmit into the NanoVNA - it's not that kind of device.
Please search the forum WIKI and FILES sections for information on how to configure and use a VNA.The firmware I pointed you to provides a simple display that is good for antenna checks.
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On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 3:09:05 p.m. GMT-4, Birdman <ccarrara@...> wrote: On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 12:32 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: This has already been done but unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since
last December.
If you have any nanoVNA or NanoVNA-H, you can play with the firmware:
Last release:? I just loaded the big font version you linked, it doesn't seem to have any "simpler functionality", just a bigger font.? But I don't see any dumbed down functionality in there.... did I miss something? -- Regards, Chris
|
NanoVNA Set Channel: DISPLAY, CHANNEL, CH0 REFLECT Set Trace: DISPLAY, TRACE, TRACE 0, BACK, BACK, FORMAT, SWR BACK, TRACE, TRACE 1, BACK, BACK, FORMAT, SMITH Set Freq Range: STIMULUS START, 140M STOP, 450M Set Scale: DISPLAY, SCALE There are 9 horizontal lines, 0-8 To set each line to represent 1.0 SWR SCALE/DIV, 1, x1 To set line 1 as 1.0 SWR REFERENCE POSITION, 1, x1 ELECTRICAL DELAY should be 0, x1 Calibration: CAL, RESET, CALIBRATE Attach male to male cable to CH0 Attach female to female adapter at the end of the cable Connect OPEN standard to the cable and press OPEN Connect SHORT standard to the cable and press SHORT Connect the LOAD standard to the cable and press LOAD Disconnect the cable from CH0 and connect it to CH1 and press ISOLN Remove the female to female adapter and the LOAD standard Connect the cable to CH0 and CH1 and press THRU Press DONE Press SAVE 0 (0 is the power-on/reset default) WO4ROB ________________________________ From: [email protected] < [email protected]> on behalf of Larry Rothman <nlroth@...> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2020 12:17:41 PM To: [email protected] < [email protected]> Subject: Re: [nanovna-users] Pro or Con Go into the config screen and enable CH0 INFO You'll see a screen like this: Please remember, 1. You always need to calibrate the NanoVNA (ideally for the freq range you want to test) before you use it.2. Never transmit into the NanoVNA - it's not that kind of device. Please search the forum WIKI and FILES sections for information on how to configure and use a VNA.The firmware I pointed you to provides a simple display that is good for antenna checks. On Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 3:09:05 p.m. GMT-4, Birdman <ccarrara@...> wrote: On Wed, May 13, 2020 at 12:32 PM, Larry Rothman wrote: This has already been done but unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since
last December.
If you have any nanoVNA or NanoVNA-H, you can play with the firmware:
Last release: I just loaded the big font version you linked, it doesn't seem to have any "simpler functionality", just a bigger font. But I don't see any dumbed down functionality in there.... did I miss something? -- Regards, Chris
|
Great thread!
I have an MFJ-207, an MFJ-259(no letter), a Mini60 bluetooth, and an early NanoVNA (received in October, 2019).
The NanoVNA is great indoors, especially used with a PC or android. But it's nearly impossible for me to see and read it outdoors, at my antenna location. I hope very much to get the NanoVNA-F, but with so many other instruments already on hand, the priority is a bit low.
For new users trying to choose between an "analyzer" and a NanoVNA, I'd say that the Nano is cheap enough that you should get both! If you decide you don't like one, it shouldn't be hard at all to resell it, maybe on eBay or the QTH.com classifieds.
Doug, K8RFT
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The NanoVNA is great indoors, especially used with a PC or android.
But it's nearly impossible for me to see and read it outdoors, at my antenna location. An LCD viewfinder works:
|
A bit more expensive and does not have all the plotting capabilities (Smith
Chart) of the NANO's, but can be used in daylight and with a hand shield,
in the sunlight.
Accuracy Agility Instrument (AAI) Model N2061SA
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On Thu, May 14, 2020 at 1:19 PM Oristo <ormpoa@...> wrote: The NanoVNA is great indoors, especially used with a PC or android.
But it's nearly impossible for me to see and read it outdoors, at my antenna location.
An LCD viewfinder works:
--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
|
Hi,
Mine has the Smith Chart. I am not yet proficient with that tool but I have burrowed into the how-tos and tutorials. Until now I had only some vague notions. The fog is starting to clear. It has already helped me improve my station.
73,
Bill KU8H
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On 5/14/20 3:44 PM, David Eckhardt wrote: A bit more expensive and does not have all the plotting capabilities (Smith
Chart) of the NANO's, but can be used in daylight and with a hand shield,
in the sunlight.
Accuracy Agility Instrument (AAI) Model N2061SA
--
bark less - wag more
|
I use a cardboard box large enough to get my head into. It blocks the
sunlight enough to be able to read and operate the Nano.
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On Thu, May 14, 2020 at 12:07 PM DougVL <K8RFTradio@...> wrote: Great thread!
I have an MFJ-207, an MFJ-259(no letter), a Mini60 bluetooth, and an early
NanoVNA (received in October, 2019).
The NanoVNA is great indoors, especially used with a PC or android. But
it's nearly impossible for me to see and read it outdoors, at my antenna
location. I hope very much to get the NanoVNA-F, but with so many other
instruments already on hand, the priority is a bit low.
For new users trying to choose between an "analyzer" and a NanoVNA, I'd
say that the Nano is cheap enough that you should get both! If you decide
you don't like one, it shouldn't be hard at all to resell it, maybe on eBay
or the QTH.com classifieds.
Doug, K8RFT
|
An Android phone can be used also, it has a bigger screen that can be watched very well outdoors.
Ignacio EB4APL
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El 14/05/2020 a las 21:19, Oristo escribi¨®: The NanoVNA is great indoors, especially used with a PC or android.
But it's nearly impossible for me to see and read it outdoors, at my antenna location. An LCD viewfinder works:
--
El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr¨®nico en busca de virus.
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Chris K2STP
CT2FZI
Oristo