Re: One use for a Tiny SA
If the image goes through, my setup for testing my 10Ghz system on the bench. Sean
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Re: One use for a Tiny SA
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Re: One use for a Tiny SA
Gone are the days of MASERS cooled with liquid helium.
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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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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of
mchenryproj via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2021 11:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [tinysa] One use for a Tiny SA
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Hello group.
I recently expanded my amateur radio hobby to include 10 GHz portable operations.? One of the most expensive things in going that far up in freq naturally is test gear.? For those that are not aware of this, a "Universal" free satellite TV LNB (about $30 US
on Ebay and Amazon) makes a decent front end for the Tiny SA.? I was able to use such an LNB modified with a 25 MHz TCXO to monitor my transmissions on 10368.100 MHz by plugging the Tiny SA through a 20dB pad (for safety) into the output of the LNB and setting
the mid point on input 2 to 618.100 MHz.? Iused a 100 KHz spread.? The LNB needs power on the coax so I also needed a Bias T to feed the 12 vdc to it and block the DC from getting into the Tiny SA.? Another few bucks on Ebay/Amazon.? Further, using a wide
band receiver like my Icom IC-R30 I can also listen to the signal downconverted from the LNB at 618.1 MHz.? The Tiny SA clearly shows the frequency and relative power levels. I can even use it as a Field Strength meter to see how changes in the system affect
my relative output.
Now, to make this even easier, the Europeans have an Amateur Satellite with a 10GHz downlink.? There is now a single box that powers an LNB through a built in Bias-T and has a pass through port out to say and SDR receiver as well as down converting further
to a 2m (145MHz) frequency.? I have seen it advertised on Ebay for about $45 US.
to Recap, a stable LNB (around $30) the box (about $45) and the Tiny SA and one can effectively receive 10+ GHz signals for analysis.? Do the audio mod and you have waterfall and audio as well.? Velcro the 2 boxes together and you have a handy tiny 10GHz receive
station.
FYI stuff,
Sean
KB8JNE
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Re: WARNING: Mirfield sold clones after they promised not to do so.
I have just ordered a TinySA from Mirfield Electronics in the UK. Will be interesting to see what I get :)
Chris
(G8IPN)
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On 19/09/2021 00:19, ch.2.10.2020@... wrote: Anyone known to be dealing with counterfeit goods in the UK eventually gets investigated and a visit from trading standards and UK customs.
If they are continuing to deal in counterfeit goods, especially after knowing about it, then they are in trouble. It's the dealers responsibility to stop doing so and report it all to trading standards and customs ASAP, otherwise they risk loosing their freedom/liberty once the visit comes about.
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Hello group.
I recently expanded my amateur radio hobby to include 10 GHz portable operations.? One of the most expensive things in going that far up in freq naturally is test gear.? For those that are not aware of this, a "Universal" free satellite TV LNB (about $30 US on Ebay and Amazon) makes a decent front end for the Tiny SA.? I was able to use such an LNB modified with a 25 MHz TCXO to monitor my transmissions on 10368.100 MHz by plugging the Tiny SA through a 20dB pad (for safety) into the output of the LNB and setting the mid point on input 2 to 618.100 MHz.? Iused a 100 KHz spread.? The LNB needs power on the coax so I also needed a Bias T to feed the 12 vdc to it and block the DC from getting into the Tiny SA.? Another few bucks on Ebay/Amazon.? Further, using a wide band receiver like my Icom IC-R30 I can also listen to the signal downconverted from the LNB at 618.1 MHz.? The Tiny SA clearly shows the frequency and relative power levels. I can even use it as a Field Strength meter to see how changes in the system affect my relative output.
Now, to make this even easier, the Europeans have an Amateur Satellite with a 10GHz downlink.? There is now a single box that powers an LNB through a built in Bias-T and has a pass through port out to say and SDR receiver as well as down converting further to a 2m (145MHz) frequency.? I have seen it advertised on Ebay for about $45 US.
to Recap, a stable LNB (around $30) the box (about $45) and the Tiny SA and one can effectively receive 10+ GHz signals for analysis.? Do the audio mod and you have waterfall and audio as well.? Velcro the 2 boxes together and you have a handy tiny 10GHz receive station.
FYI stuff,
Sean
KB8JNE
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Re: WARNING: Mirfield sold clones after they promised not to do so.
Anyone known to be dealing with counterfeit goods in the UK eventually gets investigated and a visit from trading standards and UK customs.
If they are continuing to deal in counterfeit goods, especially after knowing about it, then they are in trouble. It's the dealers responsibility to stop doing so and report it all to trading standards and customs ASAP, otherwise they risk loosing their freedom/liberty once the visit comes about.
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A little OT but I found a keypad repair kit on eBay a while back that I used to repair a TV remote. It was a collection of adhesive domes that replaced the function of the worn keypad rubber. It actually worked great! Look as ebay item 252443162910. It's been several years and the remote is still working A1. I see that now you can buy collections of the conductive disks pretty cheap from offshore but I am extremely satisfied with the results I got from this kit. I have also used tiny bits of aluminum foil super-glued to the rubber in a pinch. In this case the fob buttons were badly worn on the outside as well as the inside and the plastic case was cracked and missing a chunk. Eight bucks was well spent on a new wardrobe for the PCB. The SA test was necessary because the previous owner had installed the coin cell battery backwards. The electronics survived, the battery did not. 73 -Jim NU0C On Sat, 18 Sep 2021 16:54:00 -0400 "Bill Cromwell" <wrcromwell@...> wrote: Hi Jim,
I learned how to thinly slice off the conductive tips from those keypads
and super-glue unworn tips sliced off from abandoned TV remotes :) Use a
sharp Exacto knife and take your time. The idea is an extension of
building radio gear from scrap television sets so long ago.
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
On 9/18/21 3:32 PM, Jim Shorney wrote:
I just used mine to check a key fob for used car. Easy-peasy. Circuit board functional, rubber keypad shot. Eight bucks for a replacement case with keypad later and I have a new looking key fob.
73
-Jim
NU0C
On Sat, 18 Sep 2021 12:11:48 -0400
"Bill Cromwell" <wrcromwell@...> wrote:
Hi,
Once upon a time I used a mil surplus spectrum analyzer full of vacuum
tubes. It was the size of my mini-fridge. The power cord was short and
*heavy*. When it finally died I did not replace it. I bought a tinySA
and immediately bought a second one. Now I have one to break and the
second one to use while I order a replacement for the first one. I wish
to not ever be without a spectrum analyzer again. I also acquired a
nanoVNA and will be buying a second - same reasons. I started
discovering the problems with my antenna farm (and correcting them).
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
On 9/18/21 9:46 AM, DAVE REISER wrote:
Hello Group,
I'm a retired EE and remember using a HP8551 55 years ago.? WOW! Have
things changed.
I bought my TinySA upon the recommendation of Vitor in Portugal. It is
fabulous.? Congratulations to Erik and team.
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Hi Jim,
I learned how to thinly slice off the conductive tips from those keypads and super-glue unworn tips sliced off from abandoned TV remotes :) Use a sharp Exacto knife and take your time. The idea is an extension of building radio gear from scrap television sets so long ago.
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
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On 9/18/21 3:32 PM, Jim Shorney wrote: I just used mine to check a key fob for used car. Easy-peasy. Circuit board functional, rubber keypad shot. Eight bucks for a replacement case with keypad later and I have a new looking key fob.
73
-Jim
NU0C
On Sat, 18 Sep 2021 12:11:48 -0400
"Bill Cromwell" <wrcromwell@...> wrote:
Hi,
Once upon a time I used a mil surplus spectrum analyzer full of vacuum
tubes. It was the size of my mini-fridge. The power cord was short and
*heavy*. When it finally died I did not replace it. I bought a tinySA
and immediately bought a second one. Now I have one to break and the
second one to use while I order a replacement for the first one. I wish
to not ever be without a spectrum analyzer again. I also acquired a
nanoVNA and will be buying a second - same reasons. I started
discovering the problems with my antenna farm (and correcting them).
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
On 9/18/21 9:46 AM, DAVE REISER wrote:
Hello Group,
I'm a retired EE and remember using a HP8551 55 years ago.? WOW! Have
things changed.
I bought my TinySA upon the recommendation of Vitor in Portugal. It is
fabulous.? Congratulations to Erik and team.
|
I just used mine to check a key fob for used car. Easy-peasy. Circuit board functional, rubber keypad shot. Eight bucks for a replacement case with keypad later and I have a new looking key fob. 73 -Jim NU0C On Sat, 18 Sep 2021 12:11:48 -0400 "Bill Cromwell" <wrcromwell@...> wrote: Hi,
Once upon a time I used a mil surplus spectrum analyzer full of vacuum
tubes. It was the size of my mini-fridge. The power cord was short and
*heavy*. When it finally died I did not replace it. I bought a tinySA
and immediately bought a second one. Now I have one to break and the
second one to use while I order a replacement for the first one. I wish
to not ever be without a spectrum analyzer again. I also acquired a
nanoVNA and will be buying a second - same reasons. I started
discovering the problems with my antenna farm (and correcting them).
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
On 9/18/21 9:46 AM, DAVE REISER wrote:
Hello Group,
I'm a retired EE and remember using a HP8551 55 years ago.? WOW! Have
things changed.
I bought my TinySA upon the recommendation of Vitor in Portugal. It is
fabulous.? Congratulations to Erik and team.
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Wonderful!? Welcome back to the hobby!?
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The TinySA, and NanoVNA - which I’m learning how to use now - are ?taking the place of a number of rather large, heavy, and outdated pieces of test gear on the bench that I can’t wait to get rid of.? These much smaller devices are more
than accurate enough for most any radio work.?
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73 de KW4H
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Hi Steve,? I forgot to put in my profile that I am EX-WA3TRS? My license expired several years ago, now I'm waiting for exams to be given locally again.
Erik is a genius with the TinySA.? I wish I had one when working in a lab.
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Hi Steve,? I forgot to put in my profile that I am EX-WA3TRS? My license expired several years ago, now I'm waiting for exams to be given locally again.
Erik is a genius with the TinySA.? I wish I had one when working in a lab.
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Hi,
Once upon a time I used a mil surplus spectrum analyzer full of vacuum tubes. It was the size of my mini-fridge. The power cord was short and *heavy*. When it finally died I did not replace it. I bought a tinySA and immediately bought a second one. Now I have one to break and the second one to use while I order a replacement for the first one. I wish to not ever be without a spectrum analyzer again. I also acquired a nanoVNA and will be buying a second - same reasons. I started discovering the problems with my antenna farm (and correcting them).
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
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On 9/18/21 9:46 AM, DAVE REISER wrote: Hello Group,
I'm a retired EE and remember using a HP8551 55 years ago.? WOW! Have things changed.
I bought my TinySA upon the recommendation of Vitor in Portugal. It is fabulous.? Congratulations to Erik and team.
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I’d also like to chime in on this.? I’m a ham operator, retired radio tech and certified electronic technician, and just used a TinySA to align a National HRO-60 superhet radio, including all of its coil packs.? It was absolutely flawless.?
The only extra thing you might need to do is put a step attenuator on the output for those times when you want a signal level that’s just above the noise level.? And if you want to check a radio’s oscillator frequency, just put the external antenna on the
TinySA, set the frequency range, and wave it near the oscillator tuning cap.? I’m still learning about the TinySA’s capabilities, but so far it’s been a great experience.
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Hello Group,
I'm a retired EE and remember using a HP8551 55 years ago.? WOW!? Have things changed.
I bought my TinySA upon the recommendation of Vitor in Portugal.? It is fabulous.? Congratulations to Erik and team.
|
Hello Group,
I'm a retired EE and remember using a HP8551 55 years ago.? WOW!? Have things changed.
I bought my TinySA upon the recommendation of Vitor in Portugal.? It is fabulous.? Congratulations to Erik and team.
|
On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 12:35 AM, Neil Preston W0NRP wrote:
firmware versions
Hello Neil, The actual firmware version is V1.3-317 from 2021-08-23. Link: A text file with the menu tree is attached: ReadMe_tinySA_menu_V1.3-317.txt
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No there is not a release description for each version.
Erik continually fixes small bugs and adds new features. Highly recommend that you update.
Roger
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Is there a list of feature improvements and bug fixes for the various firmware versions?
I've had my TinySA for some time now, and I'd like to know what's new.
Thanks,
Neil
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Re: WARNING: Mirfield sold clones after they promised not to do so.
I agree. I have just contacted Martin at Mirfield Electronics this afternoon as I have discovered I have one of the ‘clone’ SA’s and he has offered to replace If it If I return in.
In my mind that is excellent customer service and deserves positive support across our community, something severely lacking in other circles.
Jules - G4UET
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Re: WARNING: Mirfield sold clones after they promised not to do so.
Yep they swapped mine no questions and Erik confirm the replacement was genuine
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Peter
M0PWX
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It seems like Mirfield deserves accolades instead of toasting. Anybody
can get a gold star on their report card when everything is going well.
The real test comes when there is a problem. There are some people I
prefer to deal with because of the way they *immediately* cleaned up any
mess that happened :)
73,
Bill? KU8H
bark less - wag more
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Re: WARNING: Mirfield sold clones after they promised not to do so.
Bill,
Remember that Mirfield sold counterfeit ones, were warned and taken off the approved list, came back on and now have supplied counterfeit ones again. Yes there may be extenuating circumstances but it doesn’t look good.
Best
Tim
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On 17 Sep 2021, at 17:53, Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell@...> wrote:
Hi Charles,
It seems like Mirfield deserves accolades instead of toasting. Anybody can get a gold star on their report card when everything is going well. The real test comes when there is a problem. There are some people I prefer to deal with because of the way they *immediately* cleaned up any mess that happened :)
73,
Bill KU8H
bark less - wag more
On 9/17/21 10:57 AM, charles707456@... wrote:
To be fair when I contacted Mirfield regarding my clone tinySA, I had no problem - I was offered a replacement Zeenco unit or a refund. As I had by then ordered a Zeenco unit direct I opted for the refund which was paid immediately in full.
I expect dealers can just as easily be conned as end users, and I suspect Mirfield were a victim rather than a perpetrator in this affair.
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Aleksander Shalygin
DAVE REISER WA3TRS
Jim Shorney
Roger Need