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Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

and if you want to keep the coax off then use sma to bnc and bnc to banana direct

dg9bfc sigi

ps nicely build with those pcb as open short load :-) i made a similar thingy for my capacitance/ inductance meter (even smallish smd caps can be measured that way)

Am 20.07.2022 um 17:49 schrieb Roger Need via groups.io:

Try reading this groups's Wiki to learn more about testing jigs to measure components.

Roger




Re: nanoVNA for Nerds

 

with a 60 db attenuator inline you could measure a 60 db amplifier ... but in priciple you are right ... not really built for used inline after a rig ... but inline after an amp (with proper attenuation!!) yes that works

to say it short

RTFM!!!!!!

dg9bfc sigi

Am 20.07.2022 um 19:50 schrieb W0LEV:

Any amateur radio operator using a NANOVNA (or even the TinySA) should
absolutely know it's a low-power device and not fit for inline or
terminating installation!!!!!!! It ain't no Bird Wattmeter!!!!!!! If one
is not familiar with these sorts of test equipment, read the "welcome mat"
or "quick start" guide that is included in the box with all of them I've
bought (too many) well before even charging the unit(s)!!

Please.......please.........where did common sense go???? I know. Common
sense is not common and it is no longer taught.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 12:18 PM DougVL <K8RFTradio@...> wrote:

On Thu, Jul 14, 2022 at 07:56 PM, Ken wrote:

Be careful about suggesting using nanoVNA as an SWR Meter. Most SWR
Meters are
used between a transmitter and an antenna to show the SWR in the
transmission
line at an operating frequency. The nanoVNA is connected to a
transmission
line and antenna to show what the SWR will be when fed from a
transmitter at
various frequencies. It would lead to disaster if someone connected a
nanoVNA
between a transmitter and antenna.
That's another good reason or feature of the Nano's price! If you blow it
up (by transmitting into it), it probably won't break the bank. BUT if the
transmitter blows up too, well then you'll wish you looked (and learned)
before you jumped.

--
Doug, K8RFT






Re: Low pass filter

 

On 7/20/22 13:53, Donald S Brant Jr wrote:
Your filter looks fine, no funny stuff in the response. You might try expanding the scale of the S21 trace downwards to see how far down you can see the harmonic attenuation.
73, Don N2VGU
Cool.

Here's a screenshot with only S21 on the lower left graph.

73

Stan
KM4HQE


Re: Correction of error introduce by a transmission line connect to the VNA port 1

Diane BONKOUNGOU
 

Hello Siegfried,
Thanks for your response.
So If I cut more of my cable could I reduce the number of circles (the
phase shift)?. I struggle to correct the delay with a lot of circles.
Best regards.

Le ven. 15 juil. 2022 ¨¤ 15:35, Siegfried Jackstien <
siegfried.jackstien@...> a ¨¦crit :

You have to calibrate at the cable end with open short load
And with such big cable soldered to such a tiny pcb your results will be
at least questionable...
On so high frequencies even an sma to n adaptor will shift your smith 90
degrees around... A long cable if not calibrated out will show a handfull
of circles (as you can see)..
Dg9bfc sigi

Am 15.07.2022 14:20 schrieb dianebonk2@...:




Hello everyone,
I am a beginner in using the NanoVNA, I have a calibration problem after
connecting a transmission line into the VNA. You can see some pictures of
the result in the attached document after connecting the cable to the VNA
in the attached file.
Could someone tell me how to correct the impedance shift introduced by
the
cable? Thanks
I went to the "electrical delay" menu to correct the problem by adding a
delay but it got worse. I don't know what to do.

I want to solder the cable afterwards into a PCB where we have antenna
traces.












Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

On 7/20/22 10:12 AM, W0LEV wrote:
SMA connectors are for good two reasons: 1) Small size and 2)
Frequency response.
SMA connectors are bad for one reasonable consideration: Limited service
lifetime for mates/demates.
500 mate/demate cycles is typical spec sheet number, but I'd say that there are plenty of SMAs that have seen a lot more cycles and are just fine, as long as they're not bent or damaged.

There's a paper out there by some folks at Maury Microwave, where they mated/demated an SMA thousands of times with the intent of understanding the degradation in repeatability.

The reason a spec sheet calls out a number like 50 or 500 cycles is because that's a "testing" number that is bigger than the customer is likely to use, but which is small enough that the price is reasonable.

Typically it would derived from some MIL-STD and is basically a statement that the connector will meet the requirements after that many cycles.

Another thing to watch out for is a loss or mismatch spec. Most connectors do NOT have anywhere near the loss in the data sheet, it's more driven by the lowest number that is practical to measure in a manufacturing environment.

So an SMA (Amphenol M39012) at 1 GHz is 0.06 dB max loss - that's pretty close to the minimum measurable loss at 1GHz without going to a lot of trouble.
Likewise, the mismatch (VSWR) is given as 1.05 to 1.20 plus some frequency dependent factor. It would be hard to measure a VSWR of 1.01 (46 dB RL), even if that is what the connector usually is.


Banana jacks/plugs work fine at HF but not at or above 50 MHz. BNCs and
Type-N connectors are appropriate at and above 50 MHz. Top "careless" use
of BNCs is around 1 GHz. From there on upward in frequency, either SMA or
Type-N connectors should be used.
Well, I'd say that banana jacks and similar single pin connectors are something that you need be aware of the non-ideal nature. Fortunately, with a NanoVNA, one can actually measure that non-ideal.




If you must, SO-239 / PL-259 connectors are *only* for HF use. Their
impedance is NOT controlled as are the other referenced RF connectors.
True, the UHF connector isn't constant impedance, however, if you have a set of calibration standards in UHF, then that is managed in the calibration.


Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

My understanding is that SMA connectors were originally designed for interconnections inside equipment which are usually installed and then not touched, so that the limited durability was not a factor; low cost was. It was only when they began to be used in test equipment that its durability shortcomings became apparent.
An improved design, intermateable with SMA, but with superior perfomance and durability and intended for test equipment, is the 3.5mm connector (and its derivatives, 2.9mm, 2.4mm, ...1.0mm, etc.) However it is also a precision connector so quite costly; but I am often able to convince my clients to install them on front panels of new test equipment we design.
Much of its improved performance is its use of air dielectric at the interface, which has more stable performance than the SMA's PTFE (Teflon?) interface with its variable air gap, and its beefier (thicker-walled) outer conductor construction.
I have purged my shack of UHF connectors; all cables are type N, BNC, SMA/3.5mm, or type F for RX-only. High-quality adapters or (preferably) replacement of equipment connectors when practical were used.
73, Don N2VGU


Re: Low pass filter

 

Your filter looks fine, no funny stuff in the response. You might try expanding the scale of the S21 trace downwards to see how far down you can see the harmonic attenuation.
73, Don N2VGU


Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

thanks

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 2:03 PM W0LEV <davearea51a@...> wrote:

Try cutting double or single sided FR-4 board to the required shapes.
Also, useful thicknesses of small copper sheets are available at Ace
Hardware (and likely other outlets). Keep in mind that these days, copper
is not cheap!

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 5:50 PM Fred Moore <n40cla@...> wrote:

Good afternoon Dave,

Do you know whether those copper blanks are available anywhere that can
be
bought? I have tried making some with not much success.

Fred - N4CLA

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 1:12 PM W0LEV <davearea51a@...> wrote:

SMA connectors are for good two reasons: 1) Small size and
2)
Frequency response.
SMA connectors are bad for one reasonable consideration: Limited
service
lifetime for mates/demates.

Banana jacks/plugs work fine at HF but not at or above 50 MHz. BNCs
and
Type-N connectors are appropriate at and above 50 MHz. Top "careless"
use
of BNCs is around 1 GHz. From there on upward in frequency, either SMA
or
Type-N connectors should be used.

If you must, SO-239 / PL-259 connectors are *only* for HF use. Their
impedance is NOT controlled as are the other referenced RF connectors.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 3:44 PM Observer <tvstreamdevice@...>
wrote:

Anyone has or seen an sma male to an open banana binding post to
connect
to components ?





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV









--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV






Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

Try cutting double or single sided FR-4 board to the required shapes.
Also, useful thicknesses of small copper sheets are available at Ace
Hardware (and likely other outlets). Keep in mind that these days, copper
is not cheap!

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 5:50 PM Fred Moore <n40cla@...> wrote:

Good afternoon Dave,

Do you know whether those copper blanks are available anywhere that can be
bought? I have tried making some with not much success.

Fred - N4CLA

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 1:12 PM W0LEV <davearea51a@...> wrote:

SMA connectors are for good two reasons: 1) Small size and 2)
Frequency response.
SMA connectors are bad for one reasonable consideration: Limited service
lifetime for mates/demates.

Banana jacks/plugs work fine at HF but not at or above 50 MHz. BNCs and
Type-N connectors are appropriate at and above 50 MHz. Top "careless"
use
of BNCs is around 1 GHz. From there on upward in frequency, either SMA
or
Type-N connectors should be used.

If you must, SO-239 / PL-259 connectors are *only* for HF use. Their
impedance is NOT controlled as are the other referenced RF connectors.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 3:44 PM Observer <tvstreamdevice@...>
wrote:

Anyone has or seen an sma male to an open banana binding post to
connect
to components ?





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV









--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
--
Dave - W?LEV


Re: nanoVNA for Nerds

 

The NanoVNA DOES have a setting to display SWR. It just generates its own
signal to measure it; it doesn't connect to a transmitter. The same with
the RigExpert AA-600. It generates its own signal to display the SWR over
the frequency range you choose. Last year I used the NanoVNA to measure the
SWR of a small magnetic loop antenna wound on a ferrite bar and used in the
400 to 600 kHz range. And I've used it in SWR mode to tune loop Yagis for
902 and 1296 MHz.

Zack W9SZ

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 12:50 PM W0LEV <davearea51a@...> wrote:

Any amateur radio operator using a NANOVNA (or even the TinySA) should
absolutely know it's a low-power device and not fit for inline or
terminating installation!!!!!!! It ain't no Bird Wattmeter!!!!!!! If one
is not familiar with these sorts of test equipment, read the "welcome mat"
or "quick start" guide that is included in the box with all of them I've
bought (too many) well before even charging the unit(s)!!

Please.......please.........where did common sense go???? I know. Common
sense is not common and it is no longer taught.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 12:18 PM DougVL <K8RFTradio@...> wrote:

On Thu, Jul 14, 2022 at 07:56 PM, Ken wrote:


Be careful about suggesting using nanoVNA as an SWR Meter. Most SWR
Meters are
used between a transmitter and an antenna to show the SWR in the
transmission
line at an operating frequency. The nanoVNA is connected to a
transmission
line and antenna to show what the SWR will be when fed from a
transmitter at
various frequencies. It would lead to disaster if someone connected a
nanoVNA
between a transmitter and antenna.
That's another good reason or feature of the Nano's price! If you blow
it
up (by transmitting into it), it probably won't break the bank. BUT if
the
transmitter blows up too, well then you'll wish you looked (and learned)
before you jumped.

--
Doug, K8RFT





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV





<>
Virus-free.
www.avg.com
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<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>


Re: nanoVNA for Nerds

 

Any amateur radio operator using a NANOVNA (or even the TinySA) should
absolutely know it's a low-power device and not fit for inline or
terminating installation!!!!!!! It ain't no Bird Wattmeter!!!!!!! If one
is not familiar with these sorts of test equipment, read the "welcome mat"
or "quick start" guide that is included in the box with all of them I've
bought (too many) well before even charging the unit(s)!!

Please.......please.........where did common sense go???? I know. Common
sense is not common and it is no longer taught.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 12:18 PM DougVL <K8RFTradio@...> wrote:

On Thu, Jul 14, 2022 at 07:56 PM, Ken wrote:


Be careful about suggesting using nanoVNA as an SWR Meter. Most SWR
Meters are
used between a transmitter and an antenna to show the SWR in the
transmission
line at an operating frequency. The nanoVNA is connected to a
transmission
line and antenna to show what the SWR will be when fed from a
transmitter at
various frequencies. It would lead to disaster if someone connected a
nanoVNA
between a transmitter and antenna.
That's another good reason or feature of the Nano's price! If you blow it
up (by transmitting into it), it probably won't break the bank. BUT if the
transmitter blows up too, well then you'll wish you looked (and learned)
before you jumped.

--
Doug, K8RFT





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
--
Dave - W?LEV


Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

Good afternoon Dave,

Do you know whether those copper blanks are available anywhere that can be
bought? I have tried making some with not much success.

Fred - N4CLA

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 1:12 PM W0LEV <davearea51a@...> wrote:

SMA connectors are for good two reasons: 1) Small size and 2)
Frequency response.
SMA connectors are bad for one reasonable consideration: Limited service
lifetime for mates/demates.

Banana jacks/plugs work fine at HF but not at or above 50 MHz. BNCs and
Type-N connectors are appropriate at and above 50 MHz. Top "careless" use
of BNCs is around 1 GHz. From there on upward in frequency, either SMA or
Type-N connectors should be used.

If you must, SO-239 / PL-259 connectors are *only* for HF use. Their
impedance is NOT controlled as are the other referenced RF connectors.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 3:44 PM Observer <tvstreamdevice@...> wrote:

Anyone has or seen an sma male to an open banana binding post to connect
to components ?





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*


--
Dave - W?LEV






Re: High impedance antenna measurments #applications

 

The NANOVNA can be used directly at 300-ohm resistance. Careful
calibrationn and placement of the cursor is required to ultimately read
values is required, but can be accomplished without introducing another
piece of uncertainty.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 4:01 AM Observer <tvstreamdevice@...> wrote:

Anyone has used the nano with an antenna bridge ( or noise bridge ?) to
measure antenna impedances other than 50 ohms, like 300 ohms and up ?





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
--
Dave - W?LEV


Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

SMA connectors are for good two reasons: 1) Small size and 2)
Frequency response.
SMA connectors are bad for one reasonable consideration: Limited service
lifetime for mates/demates.

Banana jacks/plugs work fine at HF but not at or above 50 MHz. BNCs and
Type-N connectors are appropriate at and above 50 MHz. Top "careless" use
of BNCs is around 1 GHz. From there on upward in frequency, either SMA or
Type-N connectors should be used.

If you must, SO-239 / PL-259 connectors are *only* for HF use. Their
impedance is NOT controlled as are the other referenced RF connectors.

Dave - W?LEV

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 3:44 PM Observer <tvstreamdevice@...> wrote:

Anyone has or seen an sma male to an open banana binding post to connect
to components ?





--
*Dave - W?LEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
--
Dave - W?LEV


New user questions - where to find answers #general #learning

 

New users of the NanoVNA have many questions about their new piece of test equipment.

They will find a lot of useful information and User Guides in the Files section of this group.
/g/nanovna-users/files

Answers to common questions and how to information in this group's Wiki
/g/nanovna-users/wiki

Over the years most questions have been answered more than once by other members. Just use the search feature of groups.io to find previous relevant posts in this group.

Roger


Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

On 7/20/22 8:44 AM, Observer wrote:
Anyone has or seen an sma male to an open banana binding post to connect to components ?
Typically, I use a BNC-dual banana jack and a SMA/BNC adapter.
I don't know that anyone sells a SMA-Banana

I've built them over the years. Usually, by cutting a SMA-SMA cable, splitting the coax and using a dual jack or plug - or by using individual jacks or plugs on the two conductors.

To get a decent calibration (if needed) you want to anchor the wires to the binding posts, so that they don't move.


Re: mini vs nano ?

 

On 7/20/22 7:08 AM, Observer wrote:
I have found the most, mouthful fed examples on how to use a vna.
But, can the miniVNA measuring techniques be directly applied to nano ?

In general yes. The miniVNA uses a different receiver design, and different ways of sampling the signals, but the basic concept is the same - look at reflected signal vs incident signal. Calibration done a similar way.


I looked through the first part of that writeup and it all looks like straightforward stuff.


Re: High impedance antenna measurments #applications

 

You can easily measure impedances up to several thousand ohms using the S11 (CH0 or Port1) shunt method if you have a decent test jig (see group wiki for details). The higher you go the worse the accuracy. Here is a previous post on the sibject.
Tests of 1K and 3K resistors attached.

/g/nanovna-users/message/20941

This topic of measuring components and what test jig to use has been discussed many times in this group. This post should answer many of Observer's questions...

/g/nanovna-users/topic/pitfalls_of_measuring/80744049?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C0%2C0&jump=1


Roger


Re: mini vs nano ?

 

On Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 07:08 AM, Observer wrote:


I have found the most, mouthful fed examples on how to use a vna.
But, can the miniVNA measuring techniques be directly applied to nano ?



Yes


Re: SMA to banana binding post

 

Try reading this groups's Wiki to learn more about testing jigs to measure components.

Roger