Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
Roger,
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Thanks for the tip.? I ran the attenuator test and I’m definitely getting the steps, so there’s no doubt that the attenuator has failed.
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The attenuator chip in my TinySA is a PE4302.? It’s now obsolete; however, the drop-in replacement is a PE4312.? And the PE4312 is out of stock everywhere, with very long lead times.? I guess it’s a victim of the global chip shortage.?
There are sellers on eBay that claim to have the PE4302.? Weighing the options.? I have a well-stocked workbench and a huge lighted magnifying glass on a swing-arm – I might just go ahead and replace it.
?
Steve, KW4H
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On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 02:36 PM, Steven Reed wrote:
I’ve had my TinySA for a few weeks.? Today I ran the self-test and I’m getting the “Test 12: Attenuator Fail” when running the self-test.? All the other tests are passing.? This is the second TinySA I’ve had with
this failure popping up (the last one was returned for exchange) – is this a critical issue or can I ignore it?
?
You can check the attenuator for damage by running an extensive attenuator test.? You should get a flat green line.? If it has steps in it one or more sections of the attenuator have failed.? If you are handy with a hot air gun you can
replace the attenuator.
Roger
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@Dave:
As I happen to use, just by chance,?a white tip variant of the pen which Erik uses I think I recognise it as a Papermate 0.7 mm Non-Stop Mechanical Pencil.
For you these maybe the easiest and cheapest to buy from the UK store as it looks an "international" variant of the Paper Mate:
The white tip variant is called a Paper Mate Sharpwriter and can be purchased in smaller quantities:
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So far for the "real stuff", as opposed to the, probably much better, touchy recommendations from Karl Jan
(I myself at least managed to destroy my mechanical pencil during an internal investigation, most likely not by ESD but due to overloading).
?
What actually made me react on the topic is the point that this "Question" in itself shows that Erik is becoming a real star influencer on this forum.
Really hope he and we all benefit from this, because his tinySA is marvelous.
BenS
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
On Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 02:36 PM, Steven Reed wrote:
I’ve had my TinySA for a few weeks.? Today I ran the self-test and I’m getting the “Test 12: Attenuator Fail” when running the self-test.? All the other tests are passing.? This is the second TinySA I’ve had with this failure popping up (the last one was returned for exchange) – is this a critical issue or can I ignore it?
?
You can check the attenuator for damage by running an extensive attenuator test.? You should get a flat green line.? If it has steps in it one or more sections of the attenuator have failed.? If you are handy with a hot air gun you can replace the attenuator. Roger
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
Well, I didn’t plug the TinySA into anything directly (it never touched a live circuit or an RF output) – however, the only thing I can surmise is that the signal coming from the receiver’s RF oscillator and through the external whip antenna
might have been too much for the TinySA.? It’s not a situation where I would have thought an attenuator would have been necessary, but nevertheless I have to admit fault where fault is due – an attenuator was not used.? I’ve ordered another TinySA, and will
use the current one as a signal generator.? Eventually, I wanted two of these, anyway.?
?
So, a question for you Erik.? Other than failing the attenuator self-test, the TinySA is calibrating, receiving signals, and otherwise seems to be working.? With the “Attenuator Fail” happening, what operations with the TinySA will no longer
function correctly going forward?? It looks like I can still use it for some things.
?
Steve, KW4H
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Any external attenuator (even only 10dB) will help protect the tinySA
Many SA users (small and big SA's) always keep an external attenuator attached.
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For more info on the tinySA go to https://tinysa.org/wiki/
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Re: WARNING: Mirfield sold clones after they promised not to do so.
Kudos to Martin.
I emailed Martin at Mirfield Electronics on Monday about a problem I was having with the TinySA I had bought back in February. Less than an hour later he replied saying to send it to him for replacement. Posted it Monday and new unit arrived today, Thursday. I don't know if the first one was a clone but the new one came with hardware version V0.3.1_E and Serial number SA-21070275. Passed all self tests. Updated software to tinySA_v1.3-317-g9d82970 and again all self tests passed.?
Excellent service from Martin and I'll continue to purchase my amateur radio gear from him.
Colin
MM5AGM
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Erik,
I like the pen you use in your videos to touch the screen.? Where can I buy one like it?
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Kind Regards,
Dave
Dave Reiser
Phone:
301-216-5394
Mobile:
301-802-1929
Email:?
davereiser2outlook.com
520 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
Here's a 20dB Pi attenuator I made in a hurry for the front end
It's super ugly but it works very well and very accurate?
Made from an E24 1% 0805 resistor kit, bit of stripboard, and 2 SMA connectors.
My next one will be much prettier!
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
Full marks Erik...the TSA should always have an attenuated attached. ALIEXPRESS have good wide band attenuators available at around 5 or 6 USD.
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-------- Original message -------- From: Erik Kaashoek <erik@...> Date: 23/09/21 17:39 (GMT+12:00) Subject: Re: [tinysa] Attenuator Fail - Again
Any external attenuator (even only 10dB) will help protect the tinySA Many SA users (small and big SA's) always keep an external attenuator attached.
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For more info on the tinySA go to https://tinysa.org/wiki/
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
Any external attenuator (even only 10dB) will help protect the tinySA Many SA users (small and big SA's) always keep an external attenuator attached.
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For more info on the tinySA go to https://tinysa.org/wiki/
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Re: Firmware Update questions
Have a look at the wiki You can install the latest FW directly No master list, all have been improvements and are compatible.
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For more info on the tinySA go to https://tinysa.org/wiki/
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Firmware Update questions
Hello All,
I have a Tiny SA that was last updated February 3, 2021 and would like to install the latest stable update. It's hardware is V0.3...
Can I just install the latest update, or do the updates have to be installed sequentially?
Is there a master list of what the updates that have come out do or improve?? If so, where can this be found?
What is the latest stable update?
Does the Tiny SA come in a metal case for shielding?
Thank you.
--jeff
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Re: New video: September 2021 feature update
Amen to your last sentence. But even with my aged eyes, I love the size of this one.
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On Sep 22, 2021, at 4:26 PM, Ted Chesley <tedchesley@...> wrote:
? Hi Terry, wouldn’t surprise me if Erik is working on a new version 319, but 317 is the latest on the site and as you note, contains the new trace functions demonstrated in the video. Fingers crossed for a large screen version with wider bandwidth. This thing is really an amazing device at the price.
…..Ted (KD7AQO) On Sep 22, 2021, at 2:09 PM, Terry Perdue <K8tp@...> wrote:
?
Thanks, Ted. I didn't even notice the new menus after installing
1.3-317. I just saw that Erik was using -319, and thought I needed
that.
Terry
On 9/22/2021 12:19 PM, Ted Chesley
wrote:
Hey Terry, ver 1.3.317 is the latest and the subject of the video
.....Ted
-----------------------------------------
From: "Terry Perdue"
To: [email protected]
Cc:
Sent: Wednesday September 22 2021 12:10:57PM
Subject: Re: [tinysa] New video: September 2021 feature update
Erik,
Where do we find the latest file to download? The latest I can
find
is 1.3317.
Many thanks!
Terry Perdue
On 9/22/2021 7:49 AM, Erik
Kaashoek
wrote:
This
video demonstrates some of the new feature in the latest
firmware
update. Most important change is the new TRACE menu
allowing full
flexibility on how to use the three available traces. An
advanced
feature demonstrated is how to compensate frequency
dependent gain
of an amplifier or antenna using a stored trace defined by
a table
modeling the gain versus frequency
------------------------------------------
For more info on the tinySA go to
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
On eBay, I purchased an old HP step attenuator, 0 to 120db with a cutoff at 900MHz. Forty bucks. Used or retired brand name test equipment can be a good deal as long as the limitations are provided by the seller.
John VE7KKQ
Just curious - I bought these a while back (right after I got my tinySA):
I don't use my tinySA for anything major - just something to tinker with - is there anything wrong with the above attenuators?
Note: I got the 30dB version which doesn't appear to be available at that listing anymore.
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
Just curious - I bought these a while back (right after I got my tinySA):
I don't use my tinySA for anything major - just something to tinker with - is there anything wrong with the above attenuators?
Note: I got the 30dB version which doesn't appear to be available at that listing anymore.
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
The attenuator can also fail from ESD (static).? When using the antenna one has to be extra careful.? I lost an antenna analyser by walking around with a whip antenna attached to it.? Blew out the front end diodes with static.
Roger
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Re: New video: September 2021 feature update
Hi Terry, wouldn’t surprise me if Erik is working on a new version 319, but 317 is the latest on the site and as you note, contains the new trace functions demonstrated in the video. Fingers crossed for a large screen version with wider bandwidth. This thing is really an amazing device at the price.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Sep 22, 2021, at 2:09 PM, Terry Perdue <K8tp@...> wrote:
?
Thanks, Ted. I didn't even notice the new menus after installing
1.3-317. I just saw that Erik was using -319, and thought I needed
that.
Terry
On 9/22/2021 12:19 PM, Ted Chesley
wrote:
Hey Terry, ver 1.3.317 is the latest and the subject of the video
.....Ted
-----------------------------------------
From: "Terry Perdue"
To: [email protected]
Cc:
Sent: Wednesday September 22 2021 12:10:57PM
Subject: Re: [tinysa] New video: September 2021 feature update
Erik,
Where do we find the latest file to download? The latest I can
find
is 1.3317.
Many thanks!
Terry Perdue
On 9/22/2021 7:49 AM, Erik
Kaashoek
wrote:
This
video demonstrates some of the new feature in the latest
firmware
update. Most important change is the new TRACE menu
allowing full
flexibility on how to use the three available traces. An
advanced
feature demonstrated is how to compensate frequency
dependent gain
of an amplifier or antenna using a stored trace defined by
a table
modeling the gain versus frequency
------------------------------------------
For more info on the tinySA go to
|
Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
I’ve so far only used it with the external antenna on, measuring IF oscillator frequencies by waving the antenna near the oscillator tuning capacitor.? To my recollection, there’s been no chance for an overload.
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The main reason for input attenuator failure on any spectrum analyzer is front end overload. Are you making sure you don't have too much power at the input? Not just the main signal but others within the bandwith combined. A fellow ham
blew out the attenuator of his TinySA checking a 2-30Mhz preamplifier that unfortunately had a spurious oscillation at 200Mhz producing nearly 150mw of signal. I always recommend the use of a power limiter similar to
?
unless people are absolute certain the combined signals between 100Kz and 350Mhz will not exceed the input capabilities of the instrument.
John
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Re: Attenuator Fail - Again
The main reason for input attenuator failure on any spectrum analyzer is front end overload. Are you making sure you don't have too much power at the input? Not just the main signal but others within the bandwith combined. A fellow ham blew out the attenuator of his TinySA checking a 2-30Mhz preamplifier that unfortunately had a spurious oscillation at 200Mhz producing nearly 150mw of signal. I always recommend the use of a power limiter similar to
?
unless people are absolute certain the combined signals between 100Kz and 350Mhz will not exceed the input capabilities of the instrument.
John
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Roger Need
DAVE REISER WA3TRS
Colin Campbell
John Cunliffe W7ZQ