On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 09:22 AM, Joe WB9SBD wrote:
My local club has a MFJ-259 analyzer. that we know is way out of wack.
it needs re calibration.
Joe, I suspect you need more than re-calibration! The MFJ is not that accurate to begin with and only needs calibration if it was done poorly at the factory (this happens at MFJ) or you have replaced components. I own a MFJ-259-B and they are sensitive to having the front end diode detector bridge blown out from static or RF. It happened to mine and I had to send it back for repair. Here is what I suggest you do to see if you have a hardware failure. Under 10 MHz. you should get good SWR and R/X readings even with a crummy load. Just take some resistors from your bench poke one side down the SO239 and hold the other side to the threaded part with a clothespin, See what you get for readings at from 2 to 10 MHz with 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200 resistors.. You should be in the ballpark for SWR and R. If you are not you are in for a repair job. Roger
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On 12/1/21 9:22 AM, Joe WB9SBD wrote: Morning all!
I love my NanoVNA-H4. it JUST NOW probably has saved me from really screwing something up.
My local club has a MFJ-259 analyzer. that we know is way out of wack. it needs re calibration.
I found online a complex and very through calibration ummmm, how to do it.
it as a part needs some pure non-inductive restive loads.
12.5, 50, 75, 100, 200 ohms. and OPEN as well as SHORT.
I found online some nice amphanol pl-259's
and a set of precision resistors. It did not say if they were pure carbon or inductive.
Well I'm thinking they are inductive in some way.
I used a DVM,? actually 3 of them, to pick out perfect dead on resistive values for each load and soldered them into the P-259's
After soldering I again re measured with the DVM's the values and are dead on!
So went to do the calibration of the MFJ unit and when i attached each load. NONE were even close resistance wise in the display! I know this thing was out of alignment, but wow!
Then I got to think hmmmm whats the VNA say these loads are?
And WOW! It agrees with the MFJ.
the "50" ohm comes in like 80,,? the 200 is like 160,, etc. NONE are even close.
I did not make a note of the inductance if any, but suspect that is what is happening.
so anyone know of a place with resonable price loads in pl-259 format?
OR resistors that are for sure non inductive? so I can make my own again? For HF use and UHF connectors, I use Caddock non-inductive resistors in the TO-220 package. MP-820 series.? 20W (if heat sinked).? You can do better with SMTs, but "is it worth it?" for HF?? The nice thing is that if you accidentally transmit (at low power) into the load, it doesn't vanish in a puff of smoke.? They are a bit pricey ($9 these days)
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The MFJ, It's the local clubs that they loan out to people to use.
I know it's messd up so thought at least make it as accurate as it can be for them.
Joe WB9SBD
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On 12/1/2021 12:01 PM, Reinier Gerritsen wrote: The only resistors that you should use are smd resistors. Use 0805 or 0603 sizes. For 50 Ohm, best results can be obtained with two 100 Ohm resistors in parallel. Short is a copper disk, open is a connector with the pin cut off. For the typical PL-259 use, the frequency is a few 100 MHz at the most, so a OPEN is almost identical to nothing connected at all.
Kurt Poulsen wrote an article on making a PL-259 calibration kit, see
And when you have a NanoVNA, why bother with a shitty MFJ?
Op 1-12-2021 om 18:22 schreef Joe WB9SBD:
Morning all!
I love my NanoVNA-H4. it JUST NOW probably has saved me from really screwing something up.
My local club has a MFJ-259 analyzer. that we know is way out of wack. it needs re calibration.
I found online a complex and very through calibration ummmm, how to do it.
it as a part needs some pure non-inductive restive loads.
12.5, 50, 75, 100, 200 ohms. and OPEN as well as SHORT.
I found online some nice amphanol pl-259's
and a set of precision resistors. It did not say if they were pure carbon or inductive.
Well I'm thinking they are inductive in some way.
I used a DVM,? actually 3 of them, to pick out perfect dead on resistive values for each load and soldered them into the P-259's
After soldering I again re measured with the DVM's the values and are dead on!
So went to do the calibration of the MFJ unit and when i attached each load. NONE were even close resistance wise in the display! I know this thing was out of alignment, but wow!
Then I got to think hmmmm whats the VNA say these loads are?
And WOW! It agrees with the MFJ.
the "50" ohm comes in like 80,,? the 200 is like 160,, etc. NONE are even close.
I did not make a note of the inductance if any, but suspect that is what is happening.
so anyone know of a place with resonable price loads in pl-259 format?
OR resistors that are for sure non inductive? so I can make my own again?
Joe WB9SBD
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The only resistors that you should use are smd resistors. Use 0805 or 0603 sizes. For 50 Ohm, best results can be obtained with two 100 Ohm resistors in parallel. Short is a copper disk, open is a connector with the pin cut off. For the typical PL-259 use, the frequency is a few 100 MHz at the most, so a OPEN is almost identical to nothing connected at all.
Kurt Poulsen wrote an article on making a PL-259 calibration kit, see
And when you have a NanoVNA, why bother with a shitty MFJ?
Op 1-12-2021 om 18:22 schreef Joe WB9SBD:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Morning all!
I love my NanoVNA-H4. it JUST NOW probably has saved me from really screwing something up.
My local club has a MFJ-259 analyzer. that we know is way out of wack. it needs re calibration.
I found online a complex and very through calibration ummmm, how to do it.
it as a part needs some pure non-inductive restive loads.
12.5, 50, 75, 100, 200 ohms. and OPEN as well as SHORT.
I found online some nice amphanol pl-259's
and a set of precision resistors. It did not say if they were pure carbon or inductive.
Well I'm thinking they are inductive in some way.
I used a DVM,? actually 3 of them, to pick out perfect dead on resistive values for each load and soldered them into the P-259's
After soldering I again re measured with the DVM's the values and are dead on!
So went to do the calibration of the MFJ unit and when i attached each load. NONE were even close resistance wise in the display! I know this thing was out of alignment, but wow!
Then I got to think hmmmm whats the VNA say these loads are?
And WOW! It agrees with the MFJ.
the "50" ohm comes in like 80,,? the 200 is like 160,, etc. NONE are even close.
I did not make a note of the inductance if any, but suspect that is what is happening.
so anyone know of a place with resonable price loads in pl-259 format?
OR resistors that are for sure non inductive? so I can make my own again?
Joe WB9SBD
|
Morning all!
I love my NanoVNA-H4. it JUST NOW probably has saved me from really screwing something up.
My local club has a MFJ-259 analyzer. that we know is way out of wack. it needs re calibration.
I found online a complex and very through calibration ummmm, how to do it.
it as a part needs some pure non-inductive restive loads.
12.5, 50, 75, 100, 200 ohms. and OPEN as well as SHORT.
I found online some nice amphanol pl-259's
and a set of precision resistors. It did not say if they were pure carbon or inductive.
Well I'm thinking they are inductive in some way.
I used a DVM,? actually 3 of them, to pick out perfect dead on resistive values for each load and soldered them into the P-259's
After soldering I again re measured with the DVM's the values and are dead on!
So went to do the calibration of the MFJ unit and when i attached each load. NONE were even close resistance wise in the display! I know this thing was out of alignment, but wow!
Then I got to think hmmmm whats the VNA say these loads are?
And WOW! It agrees with the MFJ.
the "50" ohm comes in like 80,,? the 200 is like 160,, etc. NONE are even close.
I did not make a note of the inductance if any, but suspect that is what is happening.
so anyone know of a place with resonable price loads in pl-259 format?
OR resistors that are for sure non inductive? so I can make my own again?
Joe WB9SBD
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
This is great info, Dislord. Many thanks for your continued support.
John, wa3jrs
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On Dec 1, 2021, at 11:19 AM, DiSlord <dislordlive@...> wrote:
?You use my fw on V2Plus4? In v1.1 i extend points count to 401 and port all features from H/H4 (all V2 models), XTAL measure not work on V2Plus4 (you not see correct measure on display). Measure on SAA2N work, but can give errors
PS new V2Plus4 use different LCD and my fw not work, need use last fw version from nanorfe.com
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
You use my fw on V2Plus4? In v1.1 i extend points count to 401 and port all features from H/H4 (all V2 models), XTAL measure not work on V2Plus4 (you not see correct measure on display). Measure on SAA2N work, but can give errors
PS new V2Plus4 use different LCD and my fw not work, need use last fw version from nanorfe.com
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
Hello DiSlord,
Thank you! This is exactly the information I was looking for! I appreciate your response and your excellent NanoVNA firmware work. I updated all three of my units (H4, SAA2N and V2plus4).
With Appreciation,
Alan W2AEW
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
Also i write on this forum (need translate from Russian):
Cable measure and renorm
DISPLAY->PORT Z option, used for measure different from 50Om load on NanoVNA, example need measure 75Om load, need calibrate NanoVNA as before on 50Om, and setup PORT Z = 75Om, NanoVNA recalculate measured result for this
XTAL measure
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
Specifically, the L/C MATCH, CABLE, SHUNT LC, SERIES LC and SERIES XTAL functions? Any guidelines or typical use cases would be welcome. CABLE - this cable measure util, need calibrate nanoVNA and connect cable (there should be nothing on the other end of the cable) NanoVNA measure cable wave impedance, length (need setup correct velocity factor) and cable lost in marker position (this just S11 logmag / 2) wave impedance measured - search first frequency then it rotate on 180 degree, divide this frequency on 2 and measure reactance at this point. L/C mathc calculate how convert impedance at marker position to 50 Om, suggest up to 4 solution how connect SRC SHUNT (L or C), SERIES (L or C) and LOAD SHUNT (L or C) SHUNT LC, SERIES LC and SERIES XTAL - this improved port of this (need translate) Also read this SERIES XTAL used for measure XTAL i use Phase Shift Method, need only setup NanoVNA frequency range for see both resonsnce (see attachment) And setup crystal connection R (for NanoVNA = 50Om, if used rystal Measuring Adapter as on link need set 12.5Om) Nano Search phase shift (use interpolation, this allow get good results on low point count or on big frequency range)
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On 30/11/21 15:33, DiSlord wrote: NanoVNA H/H4 and NanoVNA V2 have diferent hardware and software, LiteVNA more like V2 (in hardware) then H/H4
Yes UI look same, but this is only because I am engaged in the development of these interfaces and it is easier for me.
Everything regarding the conduct and methods of measurements, calibration, protocols, everything is different.
Different PCB, structure. Interesting. NanoVNA firmware is heading towards being an operating system that hides the details of the underlying hardware but still delivers comparable capabilities. - Roland 9V1RT
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Re: Coax loss RG8 vs RG8X
Top is the Tram RG8X on Transform sweep. Bottom is the Tandy RG8 on transform sweep. I haven't set up for another S21 check yet, but can anyone see anything in here that I might be missing?
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
I did some work attempting to measure crystals with the original Nano.
Of course, it's covered in the manual.
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
Alan, I love your videos, some of the best, and I have learned so much from them!
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
Thanks Larry. The google result doesn't seem to come up with anything *specific* about how DiSlord's implementation of these measurements are intended to be used. And the second link which points to a video on making XTAL measurements is actually *MY* video on the topic.
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
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On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 03:51:22 p.m. EST, Alan ¡°W2AEW¡± Wolke <alan.wolke@...> wrote:
I've done a bit of searching through the past messages, but haven't found what I'm looking for....
I've recently updated my unit to DiSlord's v1.0.69, and there are a lot of interesting new features.? What I am looking for is - has anyone put together, or knows where to find, a usage guide or set of recommended guidelines for the use of the new Marker>Measure features?? Specifically, the L/C MATCH, CABLE, SHUNT LC, SERIES LC and SERIES XTAL functions?? Any guidelines or typical use cases would be welcome.
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Re: Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
Alan,
Would a simple google search help?
Looks like there's useful info.
Also - have a look over at eevblog.com - lots of good info in the various forums and a number of their members also lurk in the Nanovna forum(s).
You haven't said what model of device you're using - if it's an SAA unit, you may have problems as the output is not CW - there's talk about that in various messages.
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On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 03:51:22 p.m. EST, Alan ¡°W2AEW¡± Wolke <alan.wolke@...> wrote:
I've done a bit of searching through the past messages, but haven't found what I'm looking for....
I've recently updated my unit to DiSlord's v1.0.69, and there are a lot of interesting new features.? What I am looking for is - has anyone put together, or knows where to find, a usage guide or set of recommended guidelines for the use of the new Marker>Measure features?? Specifically, the L/C MATCH, CABLE, SHUNT LC, SERIES LC and SERIES XTAL functions?? Any guidelines or typical use cases would be welcome.
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Questions on Dislord v1.0.69 features
I've done a bit of searching through the past messages, but haven't found what I'm looking for....
I've recently updated my unit to DiSlord's v1.0.69, and there are a lot of interesting new features. What I am looking for is - has anyone put together, or knows where to find, a usage guide or set of recommended guidelines for the use of the new Marker>Measure features? Specifically, the L/C MATCH, CABLE, SHUNT LC, SERIES LC and SERIES XTAL functions? Any guidelines or typical use cases would be welcome.
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The GitHub says windows software, so I can only imagine it only works on windows.
73, Willie N1JBJ
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On Nov 30, 2021, at 10:34 AM, Francesco <realfran@...> wrote:
?Yes the best is to ask to Joe Smith is one wonderfully fellow and very fund on the sobjet, I learned one lot from him.
I give one good advice read please the manual bifore you ask any question to him like precise question.
Wach the different videos from him.
Best regards.
Francesco.
G7OYO
*Sent:* Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 3:16 PM
*From:* "Larry Rothman" <nlroth@...>
*To:* "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [nanovna-users] Nanovna
Roy, since it's based on Labview, it may run under any OS that Labview has been ported to.
Best to ask the author, Joe Smith at EEVBLOG ( ) or on this forum.
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 09:59:54 a.m. EST, Roy J. Tellason, Sr. <roy@...> wrote:
On Monday 29 November 2021 11:43:59 am Francesco wrote:
Is freware you daunload for the NanoVNA, but please read bifore the Manual is very important. Looked that stuff over, and it looks pretty interesting. Is that software windows-only? I don't run windoze here at all...
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin
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Yes the best is to ask to Joe Smith is one wonderfully fellow and very fund on the sobjet, I learned one lot from him. I give one good advice read please the manual bifore you ask any question to him like precise question. Wach the different videos from him. Best regards. Francesco. G7OYO *Sent:* Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 3:16 PM *From:* "Larry Rothman" <nlroth@...> *To:* " [email protected]" < [email protected]> *Subject:* Re: [nanovna-users] Nanovna Roy, since it's based on Labview, it may run under any OS that Labview has been ported to. Best to ask the author, Joe Smith at EEVBLOG ( ) or on this forum.
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 09:59:54 a.m. EST, Roy J. Tellason, Sr. <roy@...> wrote: On Monday 29 November 2021 11:43:59 am Francesco wrote: Is freware you daunload for the NanoVNA, but please read bifore the Manual is very important. Looked that stuff over,? and it looks pretty interesting.? Is that software windows-only?? I don't run windoze here at all... -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin
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Roger Need
Troy - K4JDA
Francesco