Good proposal,
Just like an "external amp" I'd prefer an "external conversion" that shifts everything frequency related (+ is upconverted, - is downconverted). Would be nice if it fits in the frequency menu but no more space. EXPERT CONFIG or MEASURE are alternatives. For the todo list
--

But it only goes up to 20 GHz!? (lol).

Hi,?
when aligning superhet receivers it could be handy to see frequency for marker with +-IF. Probably it could be as another item under Measure menu? IF could be set in Config menu.
What do you think?

Thinking [email protected]?needs the reminder as well and more-so.? B^|)

开云体育

Ooer...

Thankyou for that warning.

No I did not. However, I have seen the screenshots of the failed tests and I watched closely as the tests progressed on mine. The worst failures are the two bandpass tests, where the actual (yellow) trace has to be within the green rectangle. It was nicely in these on both, so I am confident it is ok. I have not got the time to update at present but will as soon as time allows.

Steve L

Hi Steve,

Have you updated the firmware before celebrating the self test pass? It is apparent in my clone that the firmware that came with it had been modified that self test always passes even though the data displayed on screen behind the text during the test is the same as that which the official firmware calls a fail.

All the best.

https://phys.org/news/2021-02-quantum-entire-radio-frequency-spectrum.html

I suggest you read the Wiki to learn about how to get into terminal mode (serial USB) and issue console commands.? Also watch the excellent videos by the developer Erik.

https://www.tinysa.org/wiki/


Roger

Hello Roger, the answer to your questions is no, I has had this for about 2 months, and this is the first time I had time to play with it. I am going to use it on CB's, when I read on how to use it. One question for you, how do I get into the?
( clearconfig1234 ) still learning and reading on how to use this. I am going to use it for aligning the CB's and setting the frequencies on the radios. I have a Oscilloscope and Signal Generator, so I have most of the battle won, but need to understand the tinaSA a bit more. How to reset this is my main concern, Thank you for your help,Mark

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 10:49 AM, Roger Need wrote:

The one that Steve posted, that is made by Infineon, is one example and they are only a few cents in volume.? I suspect that if these were installed on the TinySa input mixing products would not be seen and therefore? no effect on performance when operating in Spectrum Analyzer and Signal Generator output mode.

There needs to be some sort of ESD protection on the connectors of the TinySA.? Walking around with the supplied antenna attached is just looking for ESD failure.? Years ago I owned a MFJ-259B antenna analyzer and attached a small whip for some measurements.? It was a dry winter day and ESD destroyed the front end.

? ?The transient suppressors purchased from Agilent were $400 devices rated from dc -10GHz, yet their documentation still warned (big black letters) that they were subject to generating signals in the presence of complex modulated signals.?

? ?I agree that if all you are measuring is unmodulated carriers or simple AM/FM carriers that mixing components will not likely be an issue.? For those situations, if you want accurate measurements, you just need to characterize the back to back diodes across the range you intend to use them at.? If you only need relative measurements then this is not important.

? The other consideration is that if either diode fails because of an ESD event, you have no indication? and are not protected from future ESD events of a similar nature.? Commercial transient suppressors also have a 3dB series network that fails open if the diode fails.? Your front end is protected and the series open devices gives a visual indication (no signals passed) that a catastrophic event has occurred.

? Grabbing an antenna attached to a receiver without first grounding yourself was a big no-no in our shop and quickly got you put on the remedial training list.

- Herb??

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 08:24 AM, hwalker wrote:

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 01:18 AM, Stephen Laurence wrote:

There have been a lot of postings on the various nanovna groups, saa2 in particular, about static discharge damage, and adding an esd diode diodes across each input. The?ESD101B102ELE6327XTMA1, seems popular, (and cheap) with a bilateral breakdown voltage of 5.5v.

Would this give any protection from input overload to the Tinysa? It is a tiny device and cannot dissipate much power but the very low capacitance is not so important for a spectrum analyser and maybe a physically bigger one, but with a 5v (or lower) breakdown voltage would be better.

Steve,? ??
........
? ? The thing we learned about limiters is that since a diode is a non-linear device it is subject to acting as a mixer when subjected to pulse signals and creating signals that really aren't there.? Its very embarrassing failing a device because of signals created by your test set-up.? We eventually just annually ordered new 2W 6/10/20dB attenuators that were sacrificial elements against accidental frontend overload.? Much cheaper than replacing the front end attenuator inside the spectrum analyzer.

Back to back limiting diodes a the front-end of a receiver or spectrum analyzer can generate mixing products but their level depends on the voltage where the diodes begin to have any significant conduction.? Historically they have been avoided at the front end of a high-performance communication receiver with a low noise floor because they affect the spurious free dynamic range(SFDR) and lower the OIP3.? And the high capacitance of these diodes limited their application to HF/VHF applications.

Today there are many vendors manufacturing ESD protection devices with much higher conduction and clamping voltages and shunt capacitance? that is a? fraction of a pF. They solve the problems described above in many applications.? The one that Steve posted, that is made by Infineon, is one example and they are only a few cents in volume.? I suspect that if these were installed on the TinySa input mixing products would not be seen and therefore? no effect on performance when operating in Spectrum Analyzer and Signal Generator output mode.

There needs to be some sort of ESD protection on the connectors of the TinySA.? Walking around with the supplied antenna attached is just looking for ESD failure.? Years ago I owned a MFJ-259B antenna analyzer and attached a small whip for some measurements.? It was a dry winter day and ESD destroyed the front end.

Roger

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 01:18 AM, Stephen Laurence wrote:

There have been a lot of postings on the various nanovna groups, saa2 in particular, about static discharge damage, and adding an esd diode diodes across each input. The?ESD101B102ELE6327XTMA1, seems popular, (and cheap) with a bilateral breakdown voltage of 5.5v.

Would this give any protection from input overload to the Tinysa? It is a tiny device and cannot dissipate much power but the very low capacitance is not so important for a spectrum analyser and maybe a physically bigger one, but with a 5v (or lower) breakdown voltage would be better.

Steve,? ??
Most of those postings are guessing that its ESD damage in the absence of any other logical explanation.? I worked in EMC for a number of years and we used R&S and Agilent spectrum analyzers costing in the tens of thousands of dollars. The Agilent spectrum analyzers had a fused input in the coaxial connector that limited power.? We purchased transient? ?limiters for all our analyzers.? The commercial limiters from Agilent costed 9x the price of a tinySA.

? ? The thing we learned about limiters is that since a diode is a non-linear device it is subject to acting as a mixer when subjected to pulse signals and creating signals that really aren't there.? Its very embarrassing failing a device because of signals created by your test set-up.? We eventually just annually ordered new 2W 6/10/20dB attenuators that were sacrificial elements against accidental frontend overload.? Much cheaper than replacing the front end attenuator inside the spectrum analyzer.

? I have 3 other USB spectrum analyzers (RFExplorer, Anrinst SSA-TG, and TSA4G1) that all cost much more than the tinySA.? Only the Anrinst device has a power warning label on it and it is pretty much the same as what hugen intends to use.? The fact that hugen is being proactive and adding the warning label says a lot about his commitment to his products and user base.? Add the technical support that Erik has continued to provide and the tinySA is an absolute bargin.

- Herb?

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 02:30 AM, Roger Need wrote:

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 08:02 AM, Hugen wrote:

I will continue to pay attention to community feedback and actively improve production.

Hugen,

I have a suggestion for you.? Why not add one of these SMA 20 dB attenuators to the TinySA package?? They are available in China for only a few dollars and would only raise the price of the TinySA package a little bit. ? This would mean signals up to 1 watt could be safely be used with the TinySA and if a higher level was used it would damage the attenuator but probably save the TinySA.

Thanks for your suggestion, it is now available.

It is recommended to add it to the shopping cart and purchase with tinySA to avoid expensive shipping.

On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 12:33 AM, Carsten Bormann wrote:

On 2021-02-04, at 17:02, Hugen <hugen@...> wrote:

SA-20020001

Is that the first one from the batch that was made in the year 2002?

SCNR.

Grü?e, Carsten

Sorry, I made a stupid mistake, it's 2021. The serial number should be in SA-YYMMxxxx format, and the correct serial number should be 2101xxxx.??Except for the 137 units that have been sold, the ones produced later will be revised.

Yup
Also "software, a product that is never completed"

When using as a bandscope connected to a receiver IF the tinySA (like all heterodyne swept spectrum analyzers) radiates and care must be taken to avoid ingress of the tinySA radiation into the IF of the receiver. The actual effect will depend on your receiver so no general guidance can be provided.
--

Surely it is better to pick off an if signal from the receive path of your transceiver or receiver. It does mean opening the case and working out where to put the coax ending in a tiny capacitor. If you have a very fancy set, there might be a suitable output provided through a socket on the back.

You will not have to adjust the sa when changing bands, and as long as there is no rf flying around the shack you will not have to worry about damage during transmit.

The sa is not sensitive enough to pick up weak signals direct off the aerial without a preamplifier anyway.

Steve L