Another tinySA video posted on youtube
Ham Radio Crash Course posted a video showing the tinySA
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Apologies if this is not the right place to ask¡
I was wondering if TinySA would help to look for sources of potential radiated EMC problems with a NF probe. I imagine setting it up, making changes to a design and looking for relative improvements.?
I am thinking about embedded electronics designs rather than specifically RF projects.?
thanks.?
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Re: More info on how to use second tinySA as tracking generator added to wiki
On Sat, Aug 29, 2020 at 07:52 AM, Erik Kaashoek wrote: ? ?See here:? ? ?... The dynamic range in this setup is limited due to the reverse leakage thru the mixers ..
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Erik,
? ?I compared the two tinySA tracking generator set-up against a NanoVNA-H4 s21 measurement.? I see what you mean about limited dynamic range.? Far better to own a NanoVNA and a tinySA and let each do what it does best.? When you only own a hammer everything looks like a nail.
? ?30MHz LPF, NanoVNA-H4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??30MHz LPF, two tinySA tracking generator set-up
? ? ? ? ?
? In a pinch if you own two tinySA's and no NanoVNA (unlikely with the low cost of each device) then the two tinySA tracking generator setup may suffice for a NanoVNA s21 measurement - if you aware of the dynamic range limitations.??
- Herb
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Re: New FW release: Number of bus solved and normalize ask for reference level
Hi Erik Works great, thank you Kind regards Kurt ? ? New FW released
Version v1.0-62
Changes:
- Bug solved: trace store command not working
- Bug solved: Overload flashes in normalized mode
- Normalize activation now asks for reflevel and sets reflevel to manual
- save/recall [id] command added, does store/load of preset (yes, confusing....)
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Re: User review video on youtube
After some feedback an updated video was posted
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Re: More info on how to use second tinySA as tracking generator added to wiki
On Sat, Aug 29, 2020 at 07:52 AM, Erik Kaashoek wrote:
See here:?
Thanks Erik, ? ?The two tinySA tracking generator set-up is totally understandable now.? I noticed one spelling err ... ? ? The dynamic range in this setup is limited due to the reverse leakage true the mixers
Should be 'leakage thru' .
? - Herb
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More info on how to use second tinySA as tracking generator added to wiki
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User review video on youtube
IMSAY Guy posted two review video's on youtube
The comparison is done to a HP8921A spectrum analyzer, current second hand price on eBay around $3000.
Interesting information of someone experiencing the tinySA first time.
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On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 01:45 PM, Stephen Laurence wrote:
With the addition of a tiny oscilloscope and a small digital multimeter, I could have a complete lab in my pocket. ?The soldering iron might (literally) burn a hole in my pocket, though.
Not sure what the best quality and most cost effective "tiny" oscilloscope and small digital multimeter are on the market. Any suggestions that are best to pair with the tinySA and nanoVNA?? ?My Fluke 101 seems like a good fit, though I have no idea regarding a tiny oscilloscope.? I've been really impressed with the SH72 soldering iron that can be found at times on eBay and any time I've ever looked on Aliexpress.? Looks like they're at an even better price point than when I invested in my few I've been playing with to make even SMD tweezers using two and the "J" style tips.?
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On Sat, Aug 29, 2020 at 03:34 AM, Stephen Laurence wrote:
... I think that when the probable next version comes out hopefully with a bigger screen ( I wish I could solder the flexible ribbon with confidence, as a 3.2¡± screen makes for easier viewing and hardly overlaps the existing case), I will be getting it so that the current sa can be used as a tracking generator and sig gen.
Steve, ? Several members of my ham club purchased two tinySA's so that one of them could be used separately as a sigen/tracking generator.? The HBTE group (home brew test equipment) recently added a tracking generator daughter board to their small SA design.? ? For a second tinySA used as a tracking source, Erik has suggested adding an attenuator and rf preamp at the LO output of the second tinySA for better dynamic range. That recommendation was actually for a set-up using an external mixer and any external generator.? When using two tinySA's in a tracking generator set-up, I don't believe the extra external components are necessary but the wiki isn't clear about the set-up details.
- Herb
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Re: New FW release: Number of bus solved and normalize ask for reference level
Hi Erik That was a quicky, thank you. I can manage to re-record the news in the video (some 50 minutes long) as I will use it tomorrow at a HAM Event 350km and 3.5hours drive away, so I leave at 6 o¡¯clock in the morning ? Kind regards Kurt ? ? New FW released
Version v1.0-62
Changes:
- Bug solved: trace store command not working
- Bug solved: Overload flashes in normalized mode
- Normalize activation now asks for reflevel and sets reflevel to manual
- save/recall [id] command added, does store/load of preset (yes, confusing....)
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
Hi Erik Super, thank you for the responces.
Yes that is better as which ref level to chose depend on what to expect will happen Kind regards Kurt ? ? ? May better to ask for ref level after normalize action.
If you want the normalized level at the bottom you enter 80
if you want it at the top you enter 10
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New FW release: Number of bus solved and normalize ask for reference level
New FW released
Version v1.0-62
Changes:
- Bug solved: trace store command not working
- Bug solved: Overload flashes in normalized mode
- Normalize activation now asks for reflevel and sets reflevel to manual
- save/recall [id] command added, does store/load of preset (yes, confusing....)
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
May better to ask for ref level after normalize action.
If you want the normalized level at the bottom you enter 80
if you want it at the top you enter 10
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I think the Wiki has bloomed since I last looked at it.
I did not realise the sa could do all that. Especially such a range of attenuation. Another 40db (from an external attenuator and one is approaching noise floor (after the attenuator has been validated by the vna).
I think that when the probable next version comes out hopefully with a bigger screen ( I wish I could solder the flexible ribbon with confidence, as a 3.2¡± screen makes for easier viewing and hardly overlaps the existing case), I will be getting it so that the current sa can be used as a tracking generator and sig gen.
Steve L. G7PSZ
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
So, after hitting the normalize button a keypad screen to ask for which level to normalize?
And should the reflevel be set such that the normalized level is in the middle of the screen? So reflevel = normalized level + 5 * scale?
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
Hi Erik Thank you, indeed that would cure the problem. Have you considered to include normalization to a used defined level ? to allow a better view for level changes going below the 0 dB line at the bottom of the screen ? Kind regards Kurt ? ? On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 06:13 PM, hwalker wrote: The red overload warning is triggered because the tinySA can currently account for external attenuation and amplification, but not for level offsets due to the normalization or trace math routines.
This is indeed a bug as the overload warning should trigger on the actual input signal and not on the normalized level
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
Hi Herb Thank you for the comment. As Erik respond it is a bug as 0dBm is a warning level. In my video I demonstrate the Normalization by Normalize to no input signal (the noise floor) and then apply a small signal just 10dB above noise level. Then I can measure the low pass filter drop off directly as the 0 dB reference line is flat over the entire frequency range. Another way of testing the calibration and filter correction constants incl. level offset. Kind regards Kurt ??? ? ? On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 03:35 PM, Kurt Poulsen wrote: When using the DISPLAY NORMALIZE the overflow warning is enabled and will continuously flash red color. Same applies for When storing a trace and the use the Subtract mode. It is a matter of internal calculation which has no bearing on the actual usage as such.
Kurt,
? ?Erik added the normalize menu option when I was trying to duplicate his tracking generator set-up during beta testing.? In the standalone mode, I use it as a quick check of any attenuator or pre-amp that I introduce into my test set-up - as follows (the sequence is the same as I would use for normalizing the output of a tracking generator) :
?30MHz calibrator output at zero span? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 30MHz output normalized to 0dBm? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?40dB attenuator, value can be read directly
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? that level triggers the compression
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? warning (red colored letter) display.
 ?? ? 
?
60MHz, 2nd harm. calibrator output at zero span? ? ? ? 60MHz, 2nd harm. output normalized to 0dBm? ? ? ? ? ?40dB attenuator, value can be read directly
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? that level triggers the compression
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? warning (red colored letter) display.
 ?? ? 
? At both of the test frequencies above, the 40dB attenuator is measured correctly after normalization.? The red overload warning is triggered because the tinySA can currently account for external attenuation and amplification, but not for level offsets due to the normalization or trace math routines. The actual measured levels are none the less correct.
? Normalization is a one step STORE/SUBTRACT procedure so the same applies to those menu options.
? - Herb
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 06:13 PM, hwalker wrote:
The red overload warning is triggered because the tinySA can currently account for external attenuation and amplification, but not for level offsets due to the normalization or trace math routines.
This is indeed a bug as the overload warning should trigger on the actual input signal and not on the normalized level
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Re: A possible probpem with the Noramlize and Stor subtract function
On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 03:35 PM, Kurt Poulsen wrote:
When using the DISPLAY NORMALIZE the overflow warning is enabled and will continuously flash red color. Same applies for When storing a trace and the use the Subtract mode.
It is a matter of internal calculation which has no bearing on the actual usage as such.
Kurt, ? ?Erik added the normalize menu option when I was trying to duplicate his tracking generator set-up during beta testing.? In the standalone mode, I use it as a quick check of any attenuator or pre-amp that I introduce into my test set-up - as follows (the sequence is the same as I would use for normalizing the output of a tracking generator) : ?30MHz calibrator output at zero span? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 30MHz output normalized to 0dBm? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?40dB attenuator, value can be read directly ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? that level triggers the compression ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? warning (red colored letter) display.  ??  ?  ? 60MHz, 2nd harm. calibrator output at zero span? ? ? ? 60MHz, 2nd harm. output normalized to 0dBm? ? ? ? ? ?40dB attenuator, value can be read directly ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? that level triggers the compression ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? warning (red colored letter) display.  ??  ?  ? At both of the test frequencies above, the 40dB attenuator is measured correctly after normalization.? The red overload warning is triggered because the tinySA can currently account for external attenuation and amplification, but not for level offsets due to the normalization or trace math routines. The actual measured levels are none the less correct. ? Normalization is a one step STORE/SUBTRACT procedure so the same applies to those menu options. ? - Herb
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Kurt Poulsen