#884

Episode 884
This was sent to the channel by WellHome Innovation (not a sponsor). This model of NanoVNA operates up to 3 GHz. It as a nice metal case and larger display. Let's take a look...
Buy: www.amazon.com/dp/B08NPHYLH7
About: www.sysjoint.com/en/content/?1...
Be a Patron: / imsaiguy

[@TangoMikePapa]

Finally someone is doing a video for F V2.

[@tseckwr3783]

Thanks for the informative video.

[@DonzLockz]

I got this about a month ago. I got a bit of a learning curve ahead of me but I think it was a good choice. :)

[@robertmontgomery3892]

I purchased the NanoVNA-F V2 a year ago and I've been quite happy with it.

[@robertmontgomery3892]

I just checked my version and I see that it's actually the original version.

[@jafinch78]

Looking forward to more videos regarding. Resisting the urge to splurge, since thinking better to invest in a huge paperweight to have some boat anchor scrap value at the least and the optional improved performance.

[@dougn7bfs]

Enjoy your videos and appreciate your sense of humor, so thanks for taking the time to share. I've got one of the 'Mini600' single port analyzers that has a battery that looks just like that one, any thoughts as to where one can find the battery? I've searched for the part number on the battery but no luck so far...

[@ats89117]

Looking forward to seeing your VNA comparison. The V2 uses significantly different circuitry than previous nanoVNAs, including a real directional coupler, so it should be a significant hardware improvement, but we'll see. Unfortunately, it doesn't support a lot of the PC software. Speaking of the PC software, I'm surprised you're not using it...

[@IMSAIGuy]

Sorry, I just hate PC based test equipment. The laptop just gets in my way. Can you point me to a schematic for this unit

[@alklapaxida850]

for the money that unit is fantastic but i must say its not just the cost that i like about it its the size and weight when you carry a spec-ann (50ghz = 10kg /more ghz more kg's) around for 10 hours and your arm goes numb you have alot of respect for this that are light (and yea i am talking about tingling all the up to your shoulder)

[@rjordans]

Looks like the one you linked is out of stock already... Anyway, thanks for getting and showing the inside

[@albyboy4278]

I bought it the first day when it came out, from sysjoint, 130 € 🤦 Money well spent 😁 I got a deal because it helps me build antennas for SDR hobby. I don't have the money to buy an HP network analyzer 😅 That black component is just a micro speaker that makes the beep beep sounds is not an inductor 😄

[@avdeur]

Thanks. Clear and instructive video as usual. 73 Albert PA5OXW

[@TheElectronicDilettante]

If you ever get bored( I doubt that could happen), will you please do another tear down of the NanoVna-F. Specifically, pulling the battery pack. Im curious if they used the original NanoVna pcb and just zip tied it to one of these displays with GUI builder built in. I think that because that was one the ways I was going to add a 5” display to my V2 and the back of one of the Nextion displays I purchased looks exactly like yours. As always thanks for the great content and information. - Jason Burchell

[@howardhiggins9641]

One of the important factors to getting reliable measurements, besides consistent tightness on the connectors, is using high quality components for calibration. Even a decent 50 ohm dummy load will be crap above 300 MHz. Spend the extra bucks, or time building your own, and take care of them.

[@IMSAIGuy]

My gold standard is an Inmet load, spot on 50.0 ohms and good to 18 GHz. most of the cheap loads I've measured were ok up to 1.3 GHz (that is as high as my setup will measure well) They do vary from 49 to 51 ohms, but that is still good enough for any home measurements. you might be interested in: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIKoiZqiZ911ras kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmrJe3eobMRpqqs kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZLOk4N7g697jqM

[@N0AGI]

hi - thanks for doing these videos on NanoVNA. I had a related question. I am exploring to purchase a Network Analyzer. Is there a difference between a "Virtual Network Analyzer" and a "Network Analyzer" ? is it just marketing or is there a functional and mechanical difference between the two types. Thank you.

[@robert5634]

It stands for "Vector" Not virtual!!

[@N0AGI]

@@robert5634 indeed, i misspoke. I knew it was vector. Thanks for the nudge

[@viheliumgroup9357]

Is there someone that is willing to help me learn to use my VNA-F2 V2? I underhand how to test antennas to insure they are tuned correctly but I'm looking to understand what all it can do in relationship to Helium devices.

[@IMSAIGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3u8lnmmntaMbsU

[@mpm990]

you are missing the 4Giga version 😁 (Nanovna v2 plus 4), and have you heard about the "LibreVNA" version that can go up to 6Giga ?

[@IMSAIGuy]

I tried to get a Libre. Do you know a way to get a unit for the channel?

[@mpm990]

@@IMSAIGuy no sorry, I just saw this product on the Hackaday site, then Github and finally I saw that it was on sale on Aliexpress 400 € .. I read a lot of good about this VNA but also that there is a drift when it heats up .. I'm waiting for tests

[@jyreprejoles7604]

How do you properly turn off it?

[@IMSAIGuy]

Just flip the switch. Nothing to worry about

[@jyreprejoles7604]

@@IMSAIGuy in display mode?

[@IMSAIGuy]

it doesn't matter@@jyreprejoles7604

[@VintageElectronicsGeek]

My V2 covers 50KHz~4.4GHz. ~Jack, VEG

[@IMSAIGuy]

you are correct. Thanks! the firmware defaults to 3GHz so I wonder if the upper range is noisy (low dynamic range).

[@VintageElectronicsGeek]

@@IMSAIGuy I just got mine in the beginning of August, mine came that way out of the package, I was afraid to try and upgrade the firmware just encase it was a fluke and it mod it to 3GHz. If I try to sweep an antenna I notice the upper end does display oddities. Would be interested in how yours performs for comparison. Your the reason I bought mine, it was a tool I didn't realise I needed....I was actually at the time entertaining an old Grid Dip Meter, then you dropped a video and I couldn't be more happier! Thanks! ~Jack, VEG

[@ernestb.2377]

The term is 'semi-rigid' 🤪

[@bwilder2324]

I didn't see a response to my comment below. You kind of extolled the virtues of this unit, which I think kind of creates an obligation to correct the record. It's great that you figured out that the unit lacks sine wave output. But that's not really the biggest issue with this unit. As I noted in my previous comment, the PORT 2 VSWR gets worse and worse as you go up in frequency, reaching almost VSWR 2.4 : 1 at 3 GHz. This would be bad even in an instrument like a spectrum analyzer or 50 ohm terminated oscilloscope - but is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE on a instrument intended for precision "thru" impedance measurements. Please check this out and respond, before more folks like me get suckered into buying this SERIOUSLY FLAWED DESIGN.

[@IMSAIGuy]

I have not measured port 1 S11 separately. It is just a simple PI attenuator and should be ok. the high frequency performance of that vna is poor above about 1.8GHz. other later vna designs are better. here is a video on the noise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2KlaI2kpMZjaLs

[@Barc0d3]

@@IMSAIGuy can you give some example of later designs where it was improved? :)

[@IMSAIGuy]

@@Barc0d3 at the time I was thinking of the LIbre VNA

[@robust5615]

please look at this device 23-6200MHz Portable VNA SWR 6G Vector Network Analyzer Reflectometer NanoVNA Type With 3.2" Touch screen GS-320

[@IMSAIGuy]

looks like it is from arinst.net/

[@jafinch78]

Interesting, I've not seen these before. I'll have to read into, thanks for sharing.

[@robust5615]

@@IMSAIGuy I think it is not from arinst.. maybe clone?

[@bwilder2324]

You did a test where you measured the S11 input return loss at the input port of your spectrum analyzer. Why didn't you do a similar test for the Port 2 input of the Nano VNA-F V2 itself? I ask because, for me, the biggest disappointment when it comes to the SYSJOINT Nano VNA-F V2 was that the PORT 2 input VSWR is HORRIBLE. The spec on the sysjoint.com webpage is 1.1 : 1 which at 27.4 return loss is marginally acceptable, but the ACTUAL VSWR only meets this number for VERY LOW FREQUENCIES. At 3GHz my unit's PORT 2 VSWR is 2.4 : 1 corresponding to a return loss of less than 9.5 dB which is totally unacceptable. This high port VSWR at higher frequencies will introduce random X sub L, and X sub C terms that vary with cable length at the output of the DUT, which in the case of filters, can badly screw up the accuracy of high frequency stop band measurements. The work around is to brute force the input VSWR of PORT 2 by adding a 10 dB precision low VSWR microwave attenuator. Unfortunately this attenuator may cost you more than the Nano VNA-F V2. I would be interested in seeing what the Port 2 S11 reflection return loss and VSWR looks like on loopback on your unit.