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Recently purchased a tinySA from aliexpress Zeenko Store -

The first self-tests were fine prior to updating the firmware, but I'm having failures on Test 10 and 11 since updating to the most recent.? Did I do something wrong in the process?

On Mon, Jan 18, 2021 at 10:13 PM, Nicholas R wrote:

, but I'm having failures on Test 10 and 11 since updating to the most recent

Can you post somewhat bigger pictures of both test 10 and 11 with their message? Not the final selftest status screen
?
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Hopefully this is helpful.

I seem to be getting intermittent Test 3 errors as well.

On Mon, Jan 18, 2021 at 11:18 PM, Nicholas R wrote:

Hopefully this is helpful.

It seems your attenuator is bad.
You can verify this by enabling the cal output at 30MHz (MODE/Cal Output/30MHz) and putting the tinySA in low input mode with center 30MHz and span 10MHz.?
Set LEVEL/ATTENUATE/MANUAL 0 (0 dB attenuation) and write down the level of the 30MHz signal
Then increase the attenuation in 1dB steps and see how the noise floor moves up and the level of the 30MHz signal stays the same.
If the 30MHz signal level suddenly makes a jump up or down when changing the attenuation write down the attenuation levels before and after the jump and post your observation.
If the attenuator is bad you can contact your seller and the issue will be resolved


?
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On Mon, Jan 18, 2021 at 11:41 PM, Nicholas R wrote:

I seem to be getting intermittent Test 3 errors as well.

This could also be caused by an attenuator problem but it is not a big problem, just on the edge
?
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I went through the 1dB steps between 0 and 30 and this seems like the biggest change:

Clear.
You can contact Maggie from the Zeenko store on AliExpress and ask for a solution, refer to these messages as evidence.
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Thank you for the help.? I will follow up with Zeenko store.

On Mon, Jan 18, 2021 at 11:46 PM, Erik Kaashoek wrote:

It seems your attenuator is bad.
You can verify this by enabling the cal output at 30MHz (MODE/Cal Output/30MHz) and putting the tinySA in low input mode with center 30MHz and span 10MHz.?
Set LEVEL/ATTENUATE/MANUAL 0 (0 dB attenuation) and write down the level of the 30MHz signal
Then increase the attenuation in 1dB steps and see how the noise floor moves up and the level of the 30MHz signal stays the same.
If the 30MHz signal level suddenly makes a jump up or down when changing the attenuation write down the attenuation levels before and after the jump and post your observation.

Erik,
? To take the drudgery out of manually entering 31 attenuator values, would it be possible to either add a module to TinySA-App (Settings?) that performs an extended attenuator test, as outlined by yourself above, or write a separate executable that performs an extended attenuator test?? An extended attenuator test would also help hugen to detect a device with a borderline bad attenuator in the QA process before shipping it.

? Does the manufacturer? specify the number of operations the attenuator can be switched (MTBF?) before it needs to be replaced?

? I can throw something together for myself in C#, but my programming skills are not good enough that I would trust publicly releasing an executable.

- Herb

There is already such an attenuator linearity test in the code. But disabled at the moment.
It steps through all 64 attenuator positions (0.5dB per step) and if all is well it should draw a perfect straight line on the display.
Will see if I can re-enable it.

The attenuator is solid state so it should not deteriorate over time. The early FW used in manufacturing did not test all attenuator positions as I was unaware of the less than zero fall-off rate of the attenuator.
In the current production all attenuators are tested to eliminate these? bad attenuators but there could be post production stress caused by low temperatures during air shipment.

On Tue, Jan 19, 2021 at 09:54 AM, Erik Kaashoek wrote:

... There is already such an attenuator linearity test in the code. But disabled at the moment.
It steps through all 64 attenuator positions (0.5dB per step) ...

While playing around with some code to also step through the 64 attenuator positions,? I noticed that 0.5 dB steps can be entered from the on-screen keypad but only only 1 dB steps can be programmed using the 'attenuate' command (i.e. attenuate 15.5 displays Atten: 15dB on the tinySA status display.? Is that an intentional limitation??

- Herb

For interest sake, I ran the new test...

This picture is very good evidence of a failing attenuator. Suggest you take this up with your supplier.?
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On Tue, Jan 19, 2021 at 03:33 PM, hwalker wrote:

I noticed that 0.5 dB steps can be entered from the on-screen keypad but only only 1 dB steps can be programmed using the 'attenuate' command (i.e. attenuate 15.5 displays Atten: 15dB on the tinySA status display.? Is that an intentional limitation

Herb. I was not sure 0.5dB steps where needed and it is working by accident in the tinySA
?
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On Wed, Jan 20, 2021 at 12:25 PM, Nicholas R wrote:

For interest sake, I ran the new test...

Nicholas,
What type of sources have used in combination with the tinySA?
Any sources that generate possibly more than +10dB?
?
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I hadn't had it long and hadn't used it with anything other than the included antenna and hooking it up to itself.? I suppose it could have been hit with static, but I was mindful of that when I was using it.

Thanks, as long is you did not have the antenna close to a transmitter antenna it should be ok
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I wonder if there are some static issues. Not having a schematic I wonder if there is ESD protection on the input. An analyzer that can only be used if it is in a static free environment is kinda limited especially with a plastic case.

John

Hello All;

Hello:? ?My tinySA appears to have an attenuator issue also... it's a real unit, from R&L. I have also verified the PCB etc.?
My testing shows a large attenuator error pic 1, and pict 2 shows the same for the calibration, it looks to be about 7dB low.?
To be honest, that doesn't bother me that much, the unit works for my needs. I don't need the tinySA to take accurate field strengths or absolute measurements.

However, when I trigger the self test, I get several errors,? Pic 3.? it shows Test 1 Above Critical, Test 10 Signal Level critical. TEst 12 Attenuator Fail.
I know about the display fail, no waterfall, that's not a big deal to me.?
My question is related to the operation, what do Test 1 and Test 10 test for and negative results mean??
Is the SA just uncalibrated, or are these errors critical and will they malfunction the unit in some way??
Is there a list of the test items, and what the errors mean? A TinySA for Dummies??

Cheers!

Steve?