NanoVNA SAA-2N Overview

One of the best tools for a Ham Radio Operator is a NanoVNA, these come in many different varieties. Today we take a look at the NanoVNA SAA-2N, this particular model was sent to me free of charge from AURSINC in exchange for this video review.
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[@w2aew]

At 14:10, when you start the calibration, it's a good idea to hit the RESET first. In some devices/firmware, this is a required step to clear the existing calibration. At 19:54, when you changed the stop frequency, notice that calibration indicator changed from C1 to c1, indicating that the current calibration condition doesn't match the current stimulus settings, and that the calibration is interpolating (not ideal).

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Alan, so this instrument was straight from the factory and had never had a user calibration applied. You make a fair enough point about resetting even though it’s evident no calibration was applied, it might not have been clear to everyone. The much larger offense was, as you mentioned, was adjusting the stop frequency, at the back of my mind I was thinking about discussing how it wasn’t matching the calibration. Which is why I did at 20:30…. Thanks for watching and for the comments.

[@Tater26013]

Ape, I just bought one of these today. Thanks for the in-depth video on this device. I am saving video for future use.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Tater. Glad you liked the video and congrats on the pick up 👍

[@petermiles6557]

The NanoVNA is such a useful piece of affordable test equipment. Thanks for the great review.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Peter 👍

[@petermiles6557]

@@TheSmokinApe One of my favourite channels. Keep up the good work.

[@i.kafritsas.5657]

Very easy and explanatory description. Thank you for your nice presentation.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@paulhastings3109]

Thank you everytime I get a better understanding VNA KQ4CD

[@TheSmokinApe]

Awesome, thank for watching Paul. BTW, I have you on the list for an antenna. How do I get a hold of you?

[@temporarilyoffline]

Class is in session! Great info

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching TO 👍

[@chrisalister2297]

Just received my same exact unit today. Looking forward to building some VHF/UHF antennas with it.

[@TheSmokinApe]

That's awesome Chris, I really like this particular model.

[@alsamson3419]

Very good review

[@TheSmokinApe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@fbrieden]

Well presented, and articulated information. Although I'm not as familiar with it's operation(s) as those who commented prior to me, your video will be an asset when I started getting acclimated to mine, which arrived today (11/9/2023) Thank you.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Awesome, glad the video was helpful

[@wild-radio7373]

👍😎 Thank you Professor Ape!♡

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Aname 👍

[@FEPLabsRadio]

These really are great tools. Good review Professor! I need to get me some of that N action.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out FEP 👍

[@barrykery1175]

Very good video. What you did not mention is, "How many sampling points can you set this model to do. My NanoVNA H4 came from the factory as only having 101 sampling points. Not near enough for me. After doing the firmware update, I was able to choose from 101 up to 401 sampling points. I let mine set at 401 sampling points 100% of the time. I wish they would allow up to 1000 sampling points. This amount is needed for checking antennas like a 160 meter off center fed antenna. Barry, KU3X

[@TheSmokinApe]

1,000points would be fantastic! I thought I did but I may have missed it in the video, I do have a separate video on the SA-2N just about data points: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmi9pp-Hmct6pZY Thanks for the comment Barry!

[@503Nick]

Would you consider making a video about nanoVNA firmware updates? Or did you already do one that I missed? Keep up the great vids

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Nick, I will put it one the list 👍

[@KE8ODY-WV-Ares-Ham-Dad-3O4]

What kind of connectors am I gonna need to hook up to normal vhf/uhf and hf stuff ? I don’t use N style most of mine are pl259

[@z95m]

I just got one of these models. Would love to see a video on how to update the firmware.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ll put it on the list, thanks for watching Nelson 👍

[@user-hv9pj8lr1r]

Hi, have a older Version S-A-A v2 with open Case, how to power Off the device. Disconnect the cable to the battery works but is not a fine solution.

[@FStewartIII]

thank you for your videos they are very helpful especially since I am very ignorant about NanoVNAs. Also in your accent I think I hear a bit of South Philly?

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks, glad you like the videos and fine them helpful. Not South Philly but I do love a good cheesesteak.

[@cwpiperman3373]

Question: My antenna coaxes are terminated with either PL-259 or BNC connectors (portable). I''m leaning to this NanoVNA model because of the more robust "N" connectors (vs SMA). How does one calibrate with an "N" jumper and an N to SO-239 (or "N" to BNC) adapter? In order to calibrate with the extended plane in the right place, it seems to me that you'd need to use a PL-259 Short, Open and Load, rather than calibrating with the jumper and the provided "N" connector SOLs and then adding the adapter after calibration to connect the antenna? How do most people deal with this? Thanks! Great presentation!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Some folks will sue so-239 standards. You can also add time delay to account for the movement in reference plane. Thanks for watching CW

[@Snakebyte70]

I watch a lot of your videos and I have a question thats kinda off topic about this video. I make a lot of my own yagi's and QFH's (for receive only) and I sometimes use 75 ohm RG6 coax...the kind for cable tv. When I go through the standard calibration for calibrating the vna and set my start and stop freqs for checking the swr..am I getting a false reading with it having 75 ohm coax or is it not enough of a difference to notice? My swr's seem to be pretty good on my yagi's but Im not sure if its way off having the 75 ohm coax on them. Thanks for the videos

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey J. The radio expects a 50 ohm impedance you when you calibrate the VNA at 50 ohms what you see is what the radio "sees" if you are testing from where the radio connects to the coax. if you want to know the impedance at the antenna feedpoint you would need to calibrate with a 75 ohm test standard. Hopefully that makes sense.

[@Scaliad]

New to all this... On your recommendation, and others, bought a nanoVNA-SAA2N from Amazon. Needed an SWR meter; glad I bought the VNA instead. Tested a 300 ohm twin lead fed folded dipole/doublet with a 1:1 balun that I built for a President Richard... President's SWR yields 1.0 across the 11m band, but the VNA yields 1.5 over the same range. I do believe the VNA is properly calibrated... Wondering if I should try to improve the SWR as tested by the VNA..., can I trust the President? It is named after Dick Nixon, afterall... Also, tested SWR for a number of rubber ducks (mostly Baoeng), and 771 types, as well as two Nagoya NA320a. The rubber ducks are all pretty good in a narrow range around 2m and 70cm. The Nagoya NA771s are terrible on either band, but the Abbree NA771 are very good. Nagoya 320a are very bad... looking for an alternative triband... The 1.5m rubber duck antennas, though different, that came with my Baofeng BF-R3 and my BTech UV-5X3 are both great in that band.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Personally, I would trust the calibrated VNA over the Nixon. Also, 1.5 isn't bad and you should be fine. My experience with the HT antennas mirrors yours, I have yet to find what I would consider a "good to great" tribander.

[@Scaliad]

@@TheSmokinApe Contacts in Maine, Pennsylvania, and Washington state all reported my transmissions, using the Dick and the diy antenna, as strong and clear. Next is getting a 160m doublet for my new FT-991a hung...

[@HeatR216]

As someone with zero VNAs, looking to make it one VNA, would you go SMA or N? Especially given that most antenna are SO/PL, you'll need adapters either way, thoughts? Thanks.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Ryan, you are exactly right you will need adapters either way so I would suggest placing the VNA features above the connectors. Thanks for watching!

[@davidspivey6298]

what kind of connector do we need to hookup Nano saa-2n to PL-259 connector male ,and what about the H-4 thanks 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

The H-4 is great! You just need an adapter, there are many options on Amazon.

[@docmonty5859]

Hello Ape, I am a noob to all the VNA's. Will this unit perform all the functions that the H4 will do? Along with testing antennas and feed line I want to be able to check attenuators. What are the benefits of purchasing this unit over the H4? Tnx, NI6J

[@TheSmokinApe]

Bigger screen, higher frequencies and durable case would be the list. Of all my VNA's I continue to use the H4 the most 👍

[@ramprasad1211]

Hi, I'm looking for a pocket VNA which can support upto 7.2Ghz. Any recommendations? And also a spectrum analyzer.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I'm not aware of any that meet that spec.

[@davidautry4857]

Nice video but it is more of a tutorial. Do you recommend this model? How does it compare to other brands? Is it a good buy? What else should I consider? Thanks.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey David. I like this unit very much, as for recommendations it will really depend on what you want to use it for... for most hams the H4 model is plenty by YMMV. I have a playlist showing a bunch of different models that may be helpful.

[@miken6imy]

If you were buying a VNA what would you recommend for brand and model?

[@TheSmokinApe]

It would depend a little on how I was going to use it, I am really happy with my H4 for Ham Radio use 👍

[@trevorstudent4625]

You need to calibrate the open without a coax jumper.

[@cmiltenberger]

Any recommendation for firmware version?

[@TheSmokinApe]

There are a few different firmware flavors you can run in these, for my H and H4 I have been running Dislord 1.1

[@davidspivey6298]

Hi Ape this is david w4btt how do you do a antenna sweep if you have 49:1 unun in line

[@TheSmokinApe]

I always to them with the unun in line. When I do that I just disconnect from the back for the radio or tuner and then patch into the Nano

[@carypeaden4147]

I passed all 3 Ham exams, and am now learning about ham radio by trying to use it. At the moment I just have a Baofeng HT and am only communicating and experimenting with that HT and antennas for VHF and UHF. Before long I will purchase an HF system and I will then be interested and experimenting with HF antennas. My Baofeng uses an SMA connector and my experimental UHF and VHF antennas use BNC connectors (so I go through an adapter). I see that the NanoVNA SAA-2N uses N type connectors. How much of a disadvantage is that. (I assume every connector I go through adds loss and distortion.) Should I just go with the regular NanoVNA that uses SMA connectors, or is there an advantage for stepping up to the V2 model even thought it will required another connector type? Is the connector type and adaptor loss a non issue?

[@TheSmokinApe]

You can account for the adapters and cables in the calibration. Yes, anything added to the transmission line will cause some level of loss. I don’t think you could go wrong with the 2n but I typically recommend the h4 to most hams 👍

[@paulhastings3109]

Just don't know what one to get in KQ4CD Paul

[@TheSmokinApe]

That is a common problem.

[@mikeZL3XD7029]

Could someone please do a video in Smith Charts and polar charts? I find them really hard to read.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Mike, I could probably put something together 👍

[@mikeZL3XD7029]

@@TheSmokinApe That would be awesome, I'm really enjoying your videos, I've learned heaps between you and Hayden. I've been a Ham for about 30 years and we didn't have this sort of information back then.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Mike, glad you like the videos...

[@georgetownsend3700]

QUESTION. How does one read a Nano outside, next to impossible in my experience.

[@TheSmokinApe]

It can be a challenge

[@VE9ASN]

Curious if an update would increase the data points above 201, i believe the newer versions go to 401?? 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

I updated my H4 and it increased to 401 👍

[@VE9ASN]

@TheSmokinApe I ask because watching your video, some of the options to select on your saa2n are not available on mine. Where you go to select more than 201 data points.....that icon is not showing on mine. I rewatched that part 4 times, it's not there....

[@TheSmokinApe]

there a few different flavors of firmware each with different options.

[@the_mad_swimbaiter455]

I have a cheap version but she works! I think 😆

[@TheSmokinApe]

They are super handy, so glad I got one when they came out 👍

[@ToNzHoLtZ]

We use N-Type in the telecommunication industry

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, better for higher frequencies. Thanks for watching HOLTZ...

[@rolandhaas6404]

Thanks for sharing! 73 DG1GHR

[@TheSmokinApe]

Anytime, thanks for watching Roland 👍

[@hugzmydiznik]

Please someone tell this guy his START freq is lower than the LOW END of his DUT.

[@gerardoavelinobenitezgomez9339]

you dont speak, you wispere and I can not understand

[@TheSmokinApe]

I actually had a cyst on my vocal cords when I made that video, it's since been removed.