Measured the 30 MHz output level using a calibrated Anritsu MS2713C?spectrum analyzer. I offset the analyzer and cables at -30 dBm for the correct level, using known calibrated equipment. The reading from my Ultra is -35.32 dBm. The frequency was 16 Hz low. Pretty remarkable consistency.? When measured with an accurate power meter, including all of the harmonics, the total level was -33.32 dBm.
Stuart K6YAZ Los Angeles, California
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 03:38:41 AM PST, Martin via groups.io <martin_ehrenfried@...> wrote:
Tried adding multiple votes, but it doesn't seem possible.
All analysers are out of calibration, but there is a trend towards being slightly low of -35.0 dBm
-35.17 dBm on an HP 8563E
-35.30 dBm on a Signal Hound SA44B
-35.57 dBm on a Rigol DSA815
Regards,
Martin
|
Re: Driver issues on Windows 10 and 11
Besides the possibility of bricking my unit there's the actually danger of damaging my only computer.? And there's no one around here, to fix it correctly.? ?So I can't update my SA.? Because the risk is extremely dangerous.
Best regards, Bruce Hawkins - AC6DN.? Sent from my Android phone.? And from: ac6dn@...
On Dec 28, 2023 1:07 PM, Andrew Harman <Nexus9d9@...> wrote: ? ? I'm only an old intermediate user and this frustrates me.? ?On earlier posting on this there were several other bips mentioned.? Using a USB hub was my first attempt to correct, second was the Memory Integrity setting and third was the USB driver removal and reinstallation.? I had opted not to use the STM package but stay with Eriks.? What I initially found was a reference to some other security features maybe it was in the User Account Control (s/s other than simply running as an admin) being embedded in Windows 10.? I have to see if I can find that reference again but it wasn't very detailed and my memory is fading off.
? ?What I did find is that running Erik's program under Windows 8.1 it ran flawless without any driver or security issues.? The 8.1 computer having third party software and freeware is "Air Gapped" meaning not networked.? (That's the highly recommended and standard gov't IT protocol these days.)? ?So native drivers and security settings were good to go.? ?
? ?? What bothers me about the Zadig USB driver install is you do have to be cautious, as he states, since other hardware (like usb keyboards) may not work with an applied driver.? Also stated was windows doing driver checking and the potential for rollback on reboot - meaning you maybe should remove the original driver.? Its a bit of a red flag and yes its recoverable but I'm not sure its the most ideal scenario for everyone. ( I see a potential for other unknown issue creepage along the way)? ?For security and assurance I'm personally opting for the fewest possible third party apps and as much native support as possible.??
? ? What I'm most interested in is learning about those other hidden security features (if) or in the meanwhile will use the "keep it simple stupid" method? by using 8.1 for flashing.? But that's only me.? There are always other options.? ?Whether I use your correction or not I'm glad you've put it on the table.? ?Thanks for sharing.
Andy
|
Ah, Herb Yes, thanks --
For more info on the tinySA go to https://tinysa.org/wiki/
|
Re: Driver issues on Windows 10 and 11
? ? I'm only an old intermediate user and this frustrates me.? ?On earlier posting on this there were several other bips mentioned.? Using a USB hub was my first attempt to correct, second was the Memory Integrity setting and third was the USB driver removal and reinstallation.? I had opted not to use the STM package but stay with Eriks.? What I initially found was a reference to some other security features maybe it was in the User Account Control (s/s other than simply running as an admin) being embedded in Windows 10.? I have to see if I can find that reference again but it wasn't very detailed and my memory is fading off.
? ?What I did find is that running Erik's program under Windows 8.1 it ran flawless without any driver or security issues.? The 8.1 computer having third party software and freeware is "Air Gapped" meaning not networked.? (That's the highly recommended and standard gov't IT protocol these days.)? ?So native drivers and security settings were good to go.? ?
? ?? What bothers me about the Zadig USB driver install is you do have to be cautious, as he states, since other hardware (like usb keyboards) may not work with an applied driver.? Also stated was windows doing driver checking and the potential for rollback on reboot - meaning you maybe should remove the original driver.? Its a bit of a red flag and yes its recoverable but I'm not sure its the most ideal scenario for everyone. ( I see a potential for other unknown issue creepage along the way)? ?For security and assurance I'm personally opting for the fewest possible third party apps and as much native support as possible.??
? ? What I'm most interested in is learning about those other hidden security features (if) or in the meanwhile will use the "keep it simple stupid" method? by using 8.1 for flashing.? But that's only me.? There are always other options.? ?Whether I use your correction or not I'm glad you've put it on the table.? ?Thanks for sharing.
Andy
|
On Thu, Dec 28, 2023 at 10:02 AM, Erik Kaashoek wrote:
To compare levels you better use a cable connection with adequate attenuation
Erik, ? The user's last photo shows a noise floor of -90dBm, and no FM signals detected, with an antenna attached to the low port.? In addition to failing self-test 3, wouldn't that indicate probable front-end damage to the low input - most likely the input attenuator?? The antenna connection should rule out the likelihood of a bad input cable.? Herb
|
To compare levels you better use a cable connection with adequate attenuation --
For more info on the tinySA go to https://tinysa.org/wiki/
|
Also note that if I apply a digital low pass filter to the signal (this is available within the oscilloscope) using a cutoff frequency of 50 MHz I then obtain a value of -36.16 dBm (versus the -35.21 dBm value I obtained without the use of the digital low pass filter).
Just FYI,
Don wd8dsb
|
I connected the TinySA Ultra to my Rigol digital oscilloscope input via a 6 inch piece of RG-316. ?Tee connector on scope input with 50 ohm load. ?Scope displaying Vrms. ?Using the oscilloscope waveforms voltage measurement in RMS I then converted this to power using the 50 ohm load value and then calculated dBm, and I obtained a value of -35.21 dBm.
I did not submit this in the poll but think it¡¯s a pretty valid measurement technique.
Just FYI,
Don wd8dsb?
|
Re: Frequency sweep report
On Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 02:32 PM, Erik Kaashoek wrote:
You can create a python application on a PC connected to the tinySA using the supplied tinysa.py library that does that
On Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 02:41 PM, hwalker wrote:
You will need to write a customized application to accomplish what you want to do.
Is there something already done and tested, perhaps something unofficial, made by an ordinary user of TinySA Ultra ?
|
On Thu, Dec 28, 2023 at 04:31 AM, Andy G0FTD wrote:
Trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff here with the many posts and
bits of info scattered about.
I have updated the firmware on my Tiny SA Ultra.
Done the self tests and calibrations, all passed.
Now do I have to do a CLEAR CONFIG after this ?
What exactly is it clearing ?
? ? CLEAR CONFIG is a hard reset.? It will clear any calibrations you have performed and require you to re-do them. It is advisable to perform a CLEAR CONFIG immediately after you perform a firmware update to wipe out any extraneous trash remaining from the previous firmware update.? A level calibration must be performed after a CLEAR CONFIG or loaded from a configuration file.? It is also advisable to perform a CLEAR CONFIG if you have accidently messed up your configuration settings and are experiencing strange symptoms. Herb
|
Hi,
This image is produced while I am broadcasting at 169 MHz near the TinySa (40cm).
The second image shows the same broadcaster (TI launchpad Kit) broadcasting and at 429MHz with an antenna on the high side.
It feels that something is wrong with the low side ...
What next?
Amir
|
Trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff here with the many posts and
bits of info scattered about.
I have updated the firmware on my Tiny SA Ultra.
Done the self tests and calibrations, all passed.
Now do I have to do a CLEAR CONFIG after this ?
What exactly is it clearing ?
73 de Andy
|
Re: Driver issues on Windows 10 and 11
Update:? I had said earlier that I found that updating the driver via Windows Update fixed my problem.? Unfortunately that was only 1/2 the fix.?? After updating the driver, and therefore fixing the "Driver not found" and warning icon issue, I then had an error "Cannot open DFU device 0483:df11" The fix to this is to replace the installed driver with one that allows DFU updates.? I followed the instruction and installed the WinUSB driver  Follow this link?? It worked like a charm and I was able to update my firmware.
|
Re: Driver issues on Windows 10 and 11
Thank you for the awesome information.? For me. all that was required was to install the device driver as per your instructions using Windows Update and displaying the Optional Updates.? ?There is was.
|
That occurred to me after I made the measurement. I will have to measure the loss of a lowpass filter at 30 MHz before I make the measurement again. I also will make the 30 MHz measurement on a couple of spectrum analyzers, (Agilent and Anritsu).
I believe that the third harmonic was about -17 dB from the 30 MHz output, so the difference should not be great on the power meter. The even harmonics are fairly low, as they should be.
Stuart
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 10:03:25 AM PST, hwalker <herbwalker2476@...> wrote:
On Wed, Dec 27, 2023 at 09:48 AM, Stuart Landau wrote:
?
I just measured the calibrator at 30 MHz on my mini ultra using my Mini-Circuits Pwr sens 4GHS USB power meter. Using averaging, it reads -33.32 dBm.
?
This is a very accurate meter. I did not use a cable between the Ultra and the sensor, just one microwave-type N to SMA adapter. I will cross-check against an HP sensor later in the day.?
?
Stuart, ? In order to perform level calibration at much higher frequencies, the 30MHz calibration output is rich in harmonics and therefore a power meter will not provide an accurate reading for 30MHz ( the power sensor will integrate 30MHz and all other harmonics ).? You could try using a 30MHz LPF between the calibrator output and the Ultra input and you should get a reading closer to -35dBm. Herb
|
I set the internal -30dBm cal to 0 and 2dB/div and get -34.4 I did not submit a vote The old girl had not been turned on since I got the tiny's 
|
I own two Ultra units.? Both measured the same level of -36.0 dBm on a Siglent scope in FFT spectrum analyzer mode.?
|
Measured -34.8dBm on an old HP-8553B after calibration using the 30MHz CAL output from the HP-8552B IF section.
|
On Wed, Dec 27, 2023 at 11:14 AM, Hans Boon wrote:
Erik,
I like the way in which the SD card is accessible on the Lite_VNA64.
No need for touching the card in the device.
Hope you may be able to implement the function.
? ?DiSlord re-wrote the original operating system used by the liteVNA64 over a period of months. The revised operating system allows a PC to see the liteVNA64 SD card as an external drive. You might notice that he did not do the same for the NanoVNA-H4, which shares an operating system similar to the Ultra.? The Ultra certainly has enough memory to accommodate the required change in operating systems, but the required time and effort is daunting and would require a long period of beta testing to ensure it didn't introduce bugs that break legacy operation.? Erik's current high level of support for the tinySA, Ultra, and any current development on future products most likely does not leave time for an operating system re-write. Herb
|
Erik,
I like the way in which the SD card is accessible on the Lite_VNA64.
No need for touching the card in the device.
Hope you may be able to implement the function.
Regards,
Hans, pa2hbn
|
Roger Need