[ARCHIVED THREAD] - ANTENNA ANALYZER for $50 (Page 1 of 5)
Posted: 8/23/2019 12:34:40 PM EDT
|
@K9-Bob sent me this a few days ago, looks pretty cool for $50 https://www.ebay.com/itm/NanoVNA-Vector-Network-Analyzer-HF-VHF-UHF-Antenna-2-8-TFT-Screen-50KHz-900MHz/264392475099 USA Vendors... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nanovna-50KHz-900MHz-Vector-Network-Analyzer-VNA-UV-VHF-UHF-HF-Antenna-Analyzer/163804773031 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SHLQ5TF/?coliid=IE1X3VRYRU125&colid=TX5U83RWF2DO&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it  #350 NanoVNA Vector Network analyzer 900MHz VNA for $50 |
|
Quoted:
Got a link to the thermal viewer? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000029318779.html This SDR receiver looks pretty interesting also: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32982272778.html |
|
Quoted:
Don't know what you're missing. Its one of the most useful tools an amateur radio operator can have. Takes difficult, annoying and confusing tasks and makes them easy and almost fun. |
|
Quoted:
I'm just doing basic VHF stuff. I'm fixing to break into HF soon and I know I'll want one then. Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't know what you're missing. Its one of the most useful tools an amateur radio operator can have. Takes difficult, annoying and confusing tasks and makes them easy and almost fun. |
|
Quoted:
Go HF, the world opens up. The world on a wire, it is great. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't know what you're missing. Its one of the most useful tools an amateur radio operator can have. Takes difficult, annoying and confusing tasks and makes them easy and almost fun. |
|
Quoted:
Don't know what you're missing. Its one of the most useful tools an amateur radio operator can have. Takes difficult, annoying and confusing tasks and makes them easy and almost fun. Quoted:
Quoted:
I’m not quite ready for an antenna analyzer in my life |
 #359 NANOVNA USB control from PC using NANOVNAsharp Remote Operation, Files, Drivers, Manual etc. |
|
Attached File ...and checking my Amazon tracking information every 5 minutes 
What a great deal. Already thinking about how I can make a better enclosure for it. |
|
Quoted:
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/16697/historyerase_jpg-1071189.JPG ...and checking my Amazon tracking information every 5 minutes
What a great deal. Already thinking about how I can make a better enclosure for it. |
|
Quoted:
I saw that just the other day. I'm not quite ready for an antenna analyzer in my life, but I'd love to know how this works out for when I do.  The NanoVNA, a beginners guide to the Vector Network Analyzer |
|
There are cheaper SDRs that are good. https://www.amazon.com/s?me=A37V0QGFC9C912&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER |
|
Quoted:
There are cheaper SDRs that are good. https://www.amazon.com/s?me=A37V0QGFC9C912&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER 
|
|
I ordered one on Sunday and it was delivered Thursday. I thought ordering from fleabay it would take a while to get it, especially when I got the email receipt with the seller name in Chinese hieroglyphics. Surprise! As a basic review of sorts, I played with it for awhile today, just checking some antennas and matching the results against my 269c pro. Spot on! Maybe even better. As small as it is it has a easy to read display and the touchscreen works great, but use a stylus it is a small display. It will be interesting to see how it works as a dip grid meter and maybe for tuning filters. I wonder if I can use it to tune cavity filters for repeater use, guess I'll find out.
It seems a bit fragile, just open boards no case to speak of, the rotary push button seems like it could be short lived, then again I'm not the most delicate man with thinks. All the same I'll stick to stylus use only. Haven't tried the computer control yet but reviews seem to indicate it as a bit buggy. I did realize that I needed to find some adapters, Amazon came through with that. Ordered a small assortment kit this morning. All in all for the small cost I'm happy thus far. It saves $300 over a 269c pro and is a whole bunch handier. |
|
Received mine as well.
Have not done a lot with it yet, sure it will be useful! Also unable to find software that will DL to my Windows 10 PC, that would be Real Nice. Here is an abbreviated user manual that I found and printed. AND, ARFCOM did not cost me too much $$$$ for a change! Thanks OP! Will be interesting analyzing a few end feds, 122 and 244 feet, IIRC. http://alloza.eu/david/WordPress3/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/NanoVNA-User-Guide_20190524.pdf |
|
I got mine in, first time was frustrating. This thing is small.
How small? That's a .22LR laying on top of it and it's sitting on top of a SignaLink USB. I went to the Google Drive referenced in the video above. Best thing I did. Make sure to download the menu flow chart. Use 'Menu -> Trace -> Trace 0 -> Single' to get the single yellow line. BTW: that's a trace of 5BTV that clearly needs some physical adjusting to get resonance closer to where I need it for each band. And taking this out into the backyard will make that much easier to do. If you're interested in resonant antennas that you homebrew than get this. And download the software that's in the zip folder at the google drive location if you don't want this thing reminding you have bad your eyes have gotten over the years. Attached File |
|
Quoted:
Could you please post the link for the program you down loaded? I tried a few and could not get them to work, using WINBLOWS 10. Thank You.  How to use NanoVNA with a PC Trying to copy/paste the actual link was ugly. |
|
Quoted:
Yes. After you calibrate it with the tools included then just turn one trace on to swr. Quoted:
Quoted:
Is this magic box easy enough for a dumb general class grunt to use? Just need it to test the swr of some antennas , nothing fancy.For simple SWR tests that is really easy to use go with a MFJ-269C or one of its brothers. The reason being is that it is too easy to get lost on the NanoVNA and get readings that can be misinterpreted and cost you a final on your radio. The calibration slugs that came with mine weren't labeled. And I think I got 2 opens and a short instead of an open/load/short. After the county fair this weekend I'll ohm them out and see. Or maybe I didn't do the calibration right? So into my kit for our ham radio booth I'm tossing the MFJ in it's travel case "just in case". Because 2 minutes with it and I'm confident the coax/connectors/vertical have all arrived and been assembled without shorts or opens. When I'm confident with the NanoVNA and it's readings correlate with the MFJ then I'll grab it when wt/size is important or I'm testing new antennas and want a sweep. |
|
Quoted:
I'm going to go with a no vote on it. For simple SWR tests that is really easy to use go with a MFJ-269C or one of its brothers. The reason being is that it is too easy to get lost on the NanoVNA and get readings that can be misinterpreted and cost you a final on your radio. The calibration slugs that came with mine weren't labeled. And I think I got 2 opens and a short instead of an open/load/short. After the county fair this weekend I'll ohm them out and see. Or maybe I didn't do the calibration right? So into my kit for our ham radio booth I'm tossing the MFJ in it's travel case "just in case". Because 2 minutes with it and I'm confident the coax/connectors/vertical have all arrived and been assembled without shorts or opens. When I'm confident with the NanoVNA and it's readings correlate with the MFJ then I'll grab it when wt/size is important or I'm testing new antennas and want a sweep. |
|
Does anyone who has had a chance to put this thing through it's paces have any major complaints? I've noted it's size (old eyes, and all that), and it possibly being fragile. I can live with those. I own an older mfj analyzer, and am happy with it, but think I want / need the sweep function. I have built way more antennas than I have room for, it's my favorite part of the hobby, so this little toy...er...tool will be useful, I'm sure, especially for multi-band antennas. |
|
Quoted:
Time for Derek45 and K9Bob to order one. 
plus, I've spent all my money on bullets and primers Attached File |
So I go out to the mailbox to find a VERY small padded envelope from China. It didn't feel like it had something in it big or solid enough to be one of the Nano VNAs. I open the envelope and find this:
W. T. F. The tracking site is bogus, but the tracking number does show a package in transit on USPS.com from China and went through Chicago on the 10th. So I'm wondering...do I file a dispute with Ebay now or wait to see if something shows up tomorrow? |
|
Quoted:
So I go out to the mailbox to find a VERY small padded envelope from China. It didn't feel like it had something in it big or solid enough to be one of the Nano VNAs. I open the envelope and find this: https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/22875/2019-09-13_21_41_27-1089329.jpg W. T. F. The tracking site is bogus, but the tracking number does show a package in transit on USPS.com from China and went through Chicago on the 10th. So I'm wondering...do I file a dispute with Ebay now or wait to see if something shows up tomorrow? HKCMA I was willing to pay the extra $20 for "Fullfilled by Amazon" and get it here sooner rather than ??? |