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Connecting NanoVNA, antenna, and manual tuner

 

Hello all,
I would like to connect my NanoVNA, antenna and manual tuner (MFJ-969).
I can connect the nano and antenna but am not sure how to bring in the tuner.
An example of what I am trying to do can be found here:
at the 3:43 mark.
I have found several videos similar to the above video but unfortunately they don't show their connections.
Thank You,
Steven/kc3dow


Re: Inductor model

 

On Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 12:58 AM, Roger Need wrote:


On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 11:58 AM, Mike wrote:


I made a new sending coil and it works a lot better now.
Looking better but you still have a large dip. Keep moving further apart
until you can barely see it and record the dip frequency as you go.

Roger
I moved the coil away until the frequency of the dip remained steady then moved a bit further. The vertical scale is 0.01dB/div so the dip is perhaps not as large as it seems.

--
Mike?


Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

 

Pedro,

You write "I have a nanoVNA S-A-A-2 which is useless because it doesn't measure Rs orXs independently in S21 mode, only measures impedance complex."

Recent firmwares from DisLord provide what you need for SAA2N (also for H/H4) about all Z variant measurements in s21 mode.
Path menu is : DISPLAY / FORMAT S21 (THRU) / MORE
At this menu level you can choose SERIES R, SERIES X, SHUNT R, SHUNT X and more.

I have used succesfully these features for testing choke baluns. When it was not yet available, I proceed with external calculations (LibreOffice sheet) from s21 data file, but now you can display a graph in real time !

For sure, it does not provide a solution for a larger screen ... Please note that these s21 derived parameters are also displayed as discrete values in the right panel of NanoVNA-App (version 1.1.215 from DiSlord).

I have enclosed the last firmware bin file for V2/S-A-A-2 (480x320 display) from DiSlord, version 1.3.18, if you want to upgrade your VNA.

73 - Jean-Roger


Re: Inductor model

 

On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 11:58 AM, Mike wrote:


I made a new sending coil and it works a lot better now.
Looking better but you still have a large dip. Keep moving further apart until you can barely see it and record the dip frequency as you go.

Roger


Re: Inductor model

 

On 6/29/23 11:40 AM, Fran?ois wrote:
Roger always has good ideas.
Attached is the measurement (via nanovna-saver) of a trape and I will then explain to you how the measurement is made.
When I read S11 Return loss I say it resonates at 18.085409 MHz. But look at the diagram S11 |Z|
Curious ? No ?.
73
I'd think somewhere between 18.082620 and 18.085096, because that's where the imaginary part goes through zero.


Re: Inductor model

 

On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 05:53 PM, Roger Need wrote:
You are way too close to the coil being tested. The inductance of your coil
is affected by the proximity of another coil and this affects the SRF
measurement. Once you have a dip on the NanoVNA you need to keep reducing
the distance until the dip is barely seen. Then you measure the frequency.
Roger

I made a new sending coil and it works a lot better now.

--
Mike


Re: Inductor model

 

Roger always has good ideas.

Attached is the measurement (via nanovna-saver) of a trape and I will then explain to you how the measurement is made.

When I read S11 Return loss I say it resonates at 18.085409 MHz. But look at the diagram S11 |Z|

Curious ? No ?.
73
--
F1AMM
Fran?ois

De la part de Roger Need via
Envoy¨¦ : jeudi 29 juin 2023 18:53


Re: Inductor model

 

On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 10:15 AM, Mike wrote:


I had to wind my pickup coil around the end of the inductor to get enough
coupling for a response.

The dip is fairly close to the SRF estimated by Coil64, which was 15.58MHz.
Mike,

You are way too close to the coil being tested. The inductance of your coil is affected by the proximity of another coil and this affects the SRF measurement. Once you have a dip on the NanoVNA you need to keep reducing the distance until the dip is barely seen. Then you measure the frequency.

Roger


Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

 

Nanovna-F has 4.3 inch IPS screen and is much more readable outdoors.
--
Doug, K8RFT


Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

 

On 6/28/23 3:30 PM, Pedro Madeira CT7AHV wrote:
Hello to all,
Thanks for all your inputs, I made a few searches and I saw the devices you
told.
Actually, I just need to work up to 150MHz, I build solid state amplifiers
and I need to tune the low pass filters. I also build antenna transformers,
Baluns, Ununs and RF chokes and need to measure them.
I have a nanoVNA S-A-A-2 which is useless because it doesn't measure Rs or
Xs independently in S21 mode, only measures impedance complex.

Isn't complex impedance Rs + Xs j?

But you said S21, which is also complex (although often displayed as magnitude and phase). But convertible to equivalent series R and X, with some math. There's been some discussion of this on the list, and it's not "instrument" dependent.



Tuning low
pass filters with this nanoVNA is also not possible because the measurements
are not accurate enough as my other VNA. I performed some comparisons and
the Transmission Loss in dB is very different, and yes I made proper
calibrations. The nanoVNA I have is just good enough to do SWR
measurements...
That seems odd.. how much rejection do you need to measure? (I'm assuming the passband isn't a problem). The little original NanoVNA does just fine at 60dB down, although I don't know that I'd want to commit to 1 dB uncertainty in the stop band.

The NanoVNA is probably not the right tool for aligning a 6 can diplexer for 2 meters.


My goal is to have a VNA independent of the use of a computer, that's why
I'm looking for a VNA with screen bigger than 3 inches! Which model should
be the most accurate? I know all these are Chinese devices, but maybe I can
find a reliable one for my works...

Well, yes - the tiny screen is a pain. I was checking some feedlines earlier this week outdoors and not only is the 3" screen hard to see, it's hard to take a picture of.

But if you're tuning something on a bench, it seems a computer isn't a deal breaker. I use a RPi to talk to a NanoVNA using NanoVNA-Saver, and it will display on as large a screen as you can plug in.




Thanks, best 73
Pedro Madeira
CT7AHV/C91AHV


Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

 

Hello to all,
Thanks for all your inputs, I made a few searches and I saw the devices you
told.

Actually, I just need to work up to 150MHz, I build solid state amplifiers
and I need to tune the low pass filters. I also build antenna transformers,
Baluns, Ununs and RF chokes and need to measure them.

I have a nanoVNA S-A-A-2 which is useless because it doesn't measure Rs or
Xs independently in S21 mode, only measures impedance complex. Tuning low
pass filters with this nanoVNA is also not possible because the measurements
are not accurate enough as my other VNA. I performed some comparisons and
the Transmission Loss in dB is very different, and yes I made proper
calibrations. The nanoVNA I have is just good enough to do SWR
measurements...

My goal is to have a VNA independent of the use of a computer, that's why
I'm looking for a VNA with screen bigger than 3 inches! Which model should
be the most accurate? I know all these are Chinese devices, but maybe I can
find a reliable one for my works...


Thanks, best 73


Pedro Madeira
CT7AHV/C91AHV


Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

Robert Rose
 

I recently bought the SeeSii nanoVNA-H4 which has a 4" screen. I love the larger screen. It is useful up to 1.5 GHz, but my use for HF radio is just 3 to 30 MHz, plus VHF and UHF, so this is fine for me.

If you look at the nanoVNA menu structure map you will see that the H4 gets you some useful additional functions, including two more memory locations and 201, 301, and 401 sweep points options. The extra sweep points come at corresponding increase in sweep time, however.

As with all of the nanoVNA units, however, it is best to remember that the basic nanoVNA circuit design is open source, and you are getting what you pay for. Chief concern is component quality, shielding, and soldering.

73
Bob Rose "Zayde"
robert.rose@...
KN6UXD
DM13ld
SKCC 27222


Re: Outliers in group delay measurement

 

Thanks Fran?ois for the response and taking the time. I wanted to put another plot on here, this is with another NanoVNAH4 I have and the outlier is in the middle of the sweep at ~130MHz. The calibration of the device does not get rid of it. I would like to know if there is a way to remove it experimentally or if anyone knows what the cause is.


Re: Inductor model

 

On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 04:57 PM, EB4APL wrote:


Hi, I still keep a true GDO but I had nor used it for a long time.

When I built my Poor Ham Scalar Network Analyzer some years ago, I also
built a pickup coil wound in an old 35 mm film canister with a BNC
connector. I connect it to the Return Loss Bridge? and used it as a GDO
but much more convenient. When I got the nanoVNA I tested it with it and
the results are very good, you can measure the resonance of any? circuit
without physically connecting to it.? I uploaded some pictures to the
Photos section.

Ignacio
Nice job Ignacio. How many turns on your pickup coil?

I had to wind my pickup coil around the end of the inductor to get enough coupling for a response.

The dip is fairly close to the SRF estimated by Coil64, which was 15.58MHz.

Pictures attached.

--
Mike


Photo Notifications #photo-notice

Group Notification
 

The following photos have been uploaded to the Pickup coil ( /g/nanovna-users/album?id=287692 ) album of the [email protected] group.

* CAM01346r.jpg ( /g/nanovna-users/photofromactivity?id=3641350 )

*By:* EB4APL <eb4apl@...>



---

The following photos have been uploaded to the Pickup coil ( /g/nanovna-users/album?id=287692 ) album of the [email protected] group.

* CAM01348R.jpg ( /g/nanovna-users/photofromactivity?id=3641351 )

*By:* EB4APL <eb4apl@...>


Re: Inductor model

 

Hi, I still keep a true GDO but I had nor used it for a long time.

When I built my Poor Ham Scalar Network Analyzer some years ago, I also built a pickup coil wound in an old 35 mm film canister with a BNC connector. I connect it to the Return Loss Bridge? and used it as a GDO but much more convenient. When I got the nanoVNA I tested it with it and the results are very good, you can measure the resonance of any? circuit without physically connecting to it.? I uploaded some pictures to the Photos section.

Ignacio

El 28/06/2023 a las 8:22, Mike escribi¨®:
Ah, the old days! It's been 50 years since I've used a GDO (when G = grid!).

I'll give that a go, thanks.
--
Este correo electr¨®nico ha sido analizado en busca de virus por el software antivirus de Avast.
www.avast.com


Photo Pickup coil.jpg uploaded #photo-notice

Group Notification
 

The following photos have been uploaded to the Pickup coil ( /g/nanovna-users/album?id=287692 ) album of the [email protected] group.

* Pickup coil.jpg ( /g/nanovna-users/photofromactivity?id=3641345 )

*By:* EB4APL <eb4apl@...>


Added album Pickup coil #photo-notice

Group Notification
 

EB4APL <eb4apl@...> added the album Pickup coil ( /g/nanovna-users/album?id=287692 ) : A coil for using the nanoVNA as a GDO.


Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

 

Hi Robert,

I have tried several times to send a message to cqxiegu, but I never got an answer.

I can't understand how a company like Xiegu can not respond to customer inquiries.

Other hams have contacted me who have had a similar problem to mine and have gone through an odyssey to get it fixed.

I hope I won't be forced to buy an icom 705, especially to avoid arguing with my wife....hi

Thanks and 73


Maurizio IW2GOB

Il 28/06/2023 15:58, Siegfried Jackstien ha scritto:
nanovna v2plus4, lite vna64, nanovna h4, nanovna -F V2, etc etc

there are a handful of vna and vna v2 with 4 inch or 4.3 inch screens

i recommend to use one of the newer v2 models that go up to 3 or even up to 6 ghz cause the older models (1.5ghz) only have a clock up to 300mhz and above that (900mhz or 1.5ghz) is measured in harmonic mode (with reduced sensitivity and dynamic range) ... the newer v2 models are much better on the higher frequency area

maybe a lite64 is for you?? or a plus4 or ... a vna6000??? (a bit expensive in my view)

greetz sigi dg9bfc

ps an option is to buy a cheaper version and add a 4 inch screen to it ... just needs the fw for that bigger screen to be uploaded in the device

Am 28.06.2023 um 04:45 schrieb Pedro Madeira CT7AHV:
Hello to all
Recently I saw a nanoVNA somewhere with a bigger screen than the normal 3 inches.
Can someone tell me the model please?

Thanks in advance
73

Pedro Madeira
CT7AHV/C91AHV







Re: NanoVNA with bigger screen

 

Hi Pedro
This is the biggest screen I have seen so far:

73
Fredrik