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Greetings to all!
Looking for a signal generator with accurate and stable power output so that I can use it with NANOVNA for calibration etc.
Besides the RF EXPLORER COMBO one, any else worth to mention?

Thank you in advance!
73 de SV1CDN, Dennis.

TinySA perhaps? - Michael.

HI Dennis
TINYSA is a very good signal source to me.
And enough stable indeed.
73s de Gabriele, I4JXE

Inviato dal mio telefono Huawei

-------- Messaggio originale --------
Da: Michael <michael@...>
Data: mar 20 apr 2021, 16:38
A: [email protected]
Oggetto: Re: [nanovna-users] Generator

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 07:22 AM, Dionisis “Dennis” Drakopoulos wrote:

Greetings to all!
Looking for a signal generator with accurate and stable power output so that I
can use it with NANOVNA for calibration etc.
Besides the RF EXPLORER COMBO one, any else worth to mention?

You don't need a signal generator for use with the NanoVNA. It does its own calibration using the built-in signal generator.
And if you are considering using the NanoVNA as some type of spectrum analyzer it will perform poorly and you can check previous posts for the reasons why.

Roger

On 4/20/21 8:40 AM, Roger Need via groups.io wrote:

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 07:22 AM, Dionisis “Dennis” Drakopoulos wrote:

Greetings to all!
Looking for a signal generator with accurate and stable power output so that I
can use it with NANOVNA for calibration etc.
Besides the RF EXPLORER COMBO one, any else worth to mention?

You don't need a signal generator for use with the NanoVNA. It does its own calibration using the built-in signal generator.
And if you are considering using the NanoVNA as some type of spectrum analyzer it will perform poorly and you can check previous posts for the reasons why.

Roger

I use the builtin generator in the NanoVNA to help me put my old vacuum tube rigs solidly on a net frequency before I begin calling an SSB net.?? Without that, I have to call for help and ask someone to give me a count.? The problem is that my other signal generators are all old tube equipment, too.?? The NanaVNA works beautifully in this role.

73,

Maynard
W6PAP

TinySA indeed, yet they don't have a European supplier.

Thank you all for the help!
Besides NANOVNA use of the generator I have some other projects in my wishlist. So I am looking for the generator to have a +/-2dB power level accuracy and +/-1dB stability for up to 500MHz. Power level say -40dBm to 0dBm max would suffice for ham projects. Furthermore a CW sinusoid carrier would be great, a clean one as well. All within the radio amateur budget, not looking for a high end professional lab bench top equipment. For reference keep in mind RF EXPLORER Combo product.

73 de SV1CDN, Dennis!

On 4/21/21 7:04 AM, Dionisis “Dennis” Drakopoulos wrote:

Thank you all for the help!
Besides NANOVNA use of the generator I have some other projects in my wishlist. So I am looking for the generator to have a +/-2dB power level accuracy and +/-1dB stability for up to 500MHz. Power level say -40dBm to 0dBm max would suffice for ham projects. Furthermore a CW sinusoid carrier would be great, a clean one as well. All within the radio amateur budget, not looking for a high end professional lab bench top equipment. For reference keep in mind RF EXPLORER Combo product.

For really inexpensive - I'd look at one of the boards with a SiLabs chip on it I don't know if they go up to 500MHz.

Your accuracy and stability might be a problem for a "simple" device without some sort of leveler - the SiLabs parts have reasonably good PSRR, but ultimately, the output voltage is determined by the supply voltage, and, of course if you want 40dB of adjustment range, that's pretty much driving you to some sort of programmable attenuator.

The other strategy is using one of the many wideband RF systems on a chip - Those have wide range PLLs and I/Q and internal oscillators, as well as attenuators. This is what I assume is inside the RF Explorer in its many forms, something like an AD936x or a Lime Micro chip.? That might actually be the way to go - the LimeSDR Mini will go down to 100kHz and up to 3.8 GHz.? There is software to do simple signal generator with the LimeSDR Mini.

I can't find the signal generator models for sale, but I assume they're in the $150 range just like the spectrum analyzers are.

73 de SV1CDN, Dennis!

THe TinySA fits most of those requirements, I have used it to align tube ham radios and I needed to order some 10, 20 and 30db attenuate-rs in order to measure sensitivities i the -103db range.? The TinySA can produce cw, fm and am signals with various levels of modulation and sweep.

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On Wed, Apr 21, 2021 at 07:04 AM, Dionisis “Dennis” Drakopoulos wrote:

Thank you all for the help!
Besides NANOVNA use of the generator I have some other projects in my
wishlist. So I am looking for the generator to have a +/-2dB power level
accuracy and +/-1dB stability for up to 500MHz. Power level say -40dBm to 0dBm
max would suffice for ham projects. Furthermore a CW sinusoid carrier would be
great, a clean one as well. All within the radio amateur budget, not looking
for a high end professional lab bench top equipment. For reference keep in
mind RF EXPLORER Combo product.

I suggest the TinySA for your needs. It has a range of -8 to -76 dBm with 1 db steps up to 350 MHz in low frequency output mode. In high output frequency mode it goes from 240 to 960 MHz. with -34 dB to +16 db but in very large steps so you need an external programmable attenuator ( I bought one for $40 USD on eBay). The output is a sine wave and it can do frequency sweeping. You have limited modulation features as well. It's primary function is as a spectrum analyzer and it does a good job at that. Price is around $50 USD which is a bargain.

A new version (with better ESD protection) will be released in early May. You can get express delivery from the manufacturer's store on Ali Express or wait until the distributors get stock.

Roger

Colleagues, thank you very much!
Great community feedback!
Take care!
73!