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G0FTD > TECH 21.02.08 14:01l 63 Lines 2392 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 000923051PZT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Mini VNA arrived.
Path: IZ3LSV<IW2OHX<UA6ADV<GB7CIP<GB7COV<GB7MAX<GB7PZT
Sent: 080221/0749Z @:GB7PZT.#24.GBR.EU [Kidderminster] #:92300 XSERV410h
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:49:09 +0000
From: g0ftd@gb7pzt.#24.gbr.eu (Andy)
To: tech@eu
Subject: Mini VNA arrived.
This week I've purchased one of the Mini Radio Solution's Vector Network
Analysers. I currently own a Palstar too, which is a self contained
"antenna analyser" for 0-30Mhz, which I currently class as the gold
standard in this class.
The mini VNA covers 0.1 - 180Mhz but it's not a self contained unit.
It requires a PC or Palmtop PDA to display the information to the user.
It's not a resource hungry device, so any old machine will do the job.
There is Windows/Linux/DOS and WinCE PDA software available.
The mini VNA really is mini. It really is a fag packet with two BNC
connectors on it and could easily get lost!
Well it gets my approval.
The supplied software is perfectly adequate for the job but I suspect
that other improvements could be made in future. The supplied software
doesn't have the ability to display a Smith Chart yet for example.
Another oddity of the software is that it will not display the phase
angle between current and voltage in a circuit.
However everything else is there, and the phase of the reflected wave
coming back down the line available as is all the impedance, reactance
and all the other stuff that a real VNA would display.
Users of equipment like the Anritzu Sitemaster series will feel at
home with the mini VNA.
However the other good thing to realise is that the VNA is a 2 port device.
You can measure filter responses from LC networks, Xtals etc.
There are other 3rd party software FOR, all freeware. They take the saved
data (from a *.csv file) and display the same info plus a Smith Chart
and I versus V phase too. My favourite 3rd party software so far
is ZPLOTS+, which is actually a spreadsheet display program with macro's
to control the operation of the VNA. All you need is Excel or similar.
There are a few things to consider when you get one of these units:
- You're expected to know what a VNA does. So don't expect an RF
measurements tutorial. If you want a glorified SWR meter then get an
MFJ unit instead ;-)
- There's no docs for the software either. If you've purchased a VNA
then you really out to know how to use it.
- The Yahoo user group is poor. What is needed is a G4IDE style group
and run in a more professional way.
Other than that, I recommend the mini VNA.
- Andy -
G0FTD @ GB7PZT
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