Hi Alan, i am a technician in the antenna field, i work with a VNA from 1990 HP8752C, your video is the best i can see! With my compliments 73 form Italy 👏👏👏👏
I’m a 50 year old Electrical Engineer and I love your content. Your videos are some of the most valuable content on RU-vid. I work in the power industry and, while I love my job, I must admit that I’m a little jealous of what you get to do for a living, on and off RU-vid. Thank you for great content!
Great presentation! This video is the most comprehensive explanation about the basic theory and use applications of the NanoVNA that I've found on RU-vid. There are other RU-vid video showing specific use cases (like SWR measurement) but so far this video is the best overview I've found. I'm trying to get up to speed understanding and using a NanoVNA H4. I'm glad you noted that software updates are available to increase the number of measurement points. Thank you!
I am an electronics technician as far as I know you are the best electronics teacher, especially in the field of amateur radio..... I learned a lot from you, thank you for that👍
I am not a ham and this tool is not much needed for the type of electronics that I play with.... But, your presentation was so great that I watched it all the way to the end. I learned a lot and enjoyed it. That just goes to show you how great of a teacher and RU-vidr that you are. Thanks, Alan. Atta-boy!
Thanks for this great overview. It makes me understand the big picture instead of trying to connect together patches of knowledge strewn all over the internet.
Thanks a lot Alan, excelent video as always! I own a nanoVNA already since some time, and I am still so amazed by this little wonder device, for the radio amateur this gadget brings sooo many new ways to look at things and eventually understand them! Without any doubt this is the device of the year for the RF entusiasts!
Excellent presentation as usual, Alan! The NanoVNA is something present on my wishlist for quite some time ( I got the curve tracer this Christmas, thus the VNA is next ) It is good to see a clear presentation of its ups and downs, as well as a clarification on versions available in the marketplace. The discussions on fora often drift and span across many years, making it hard to reach a decision.
I was first introduced to VNA in Japan over 20 years ago when I was shown how my company tuned an NMR probe. Amazed at how much high tech, high price tech equipment has become available to the hobbyist!
Thanks for this excellent video. The time and effort that you invested in your presentation is much appreciated. And thanks for making it freely available to all.
Great video, as usual. To have a Powerpoint support is really an help specifically for the non-native speakers like me. To produce all that in a so comprehensive way implies a lot of time and knowledge, so many thanks to share. Be sure this is very helpful and appreciated.
Bill-N6EF-Excellent presentation. I learned more about the NanoVNA from your presentation than any other video I've seen yet. I've been using it incorrectly for antenna measurements in relation to the calibration but now I understand what I was doing wrong. Thank you. Subscribed.
Wow, Alan! That's about 60 dB of information in a 1 dB package! ... Just sayin! :) ... Love it all, but my comprehension is just on the edge of understanding what all you're saying. I'm familiar with the Smith Chart, Complex Impedance, imaginary math and all that, but this is a whole new tool to me. So, I'm hoping you will pick it up again and spread it all out in a series to show us all how, why and when to use all of its capabilities. Thank you, as always, for sharing your expertise. Hope you are doing well. 73! Neil, K7WK
I do have a series of smaller, application specific videos on the NanoVNA - which can be found here: ru-vid.com/group/PL4ZSD4omd_AylEyNCQYR3RcEb0olukPEJ
Outstanding introduction to VNA technology. Just like the "SDR" radios that are now all over for a hundred bucks this nano toy lets people wet their feet without breaking the budget. However, these toys are not even in the ball park to a professional HP VNA.
I always enjoy your WELL DONE and INFORMATIVE videos. Just like being back in EE classes in college without the cranky professors, course/book cost, commute and classroom distractions/goofballs.. Hi hi. 73, Glenn
Another great presentation Alan. I am going to watch this while trying out the unit which I bought a while ago but still sits on the shelf. I bought one of those test boards that lets you measure different parameters. By the way, you probably have one of the most professional presentation styles on RU-vid. Not one " Ummm " in 32 minutes😊
@@w2aew HaHa, I don't believe that. I know part of your work for Tektronix is to do presentations so I know where your good presentation skills come from.
You should make a video talking about misconceotions/legends (or maybe not so much) in RF. Like, cutting coax cables to length multiple of wave lenght... you know... this sort of things. I'd love to hear it from someone with your experience.
Excellent video Alan I just bought one of the nanovna, mine must be a very early model, but the price was right. Your explanation of functions was just fantastic!!! 73 Randy Ve3jpu
plz focus on digital communication...u have a great skill in communicating hard ideas in simple ways. I still remember ur IQ back to basics videos... they got me started on a great hobby i am a retired engineer & i value ur work cheers
Been looking at these for sometime. My MFJ just don't cut it. The price makes it look good. Been off ham radio for about 20 plus years. The technology is mine bonding. At 75 years old don't help. Will be checking your RU-vid videos KQ4CD Paul ⚓️
@26:40 +/-, The yelliw trace is the logMag of reflection coeff. If you ignore the sign, inverting the trace, would that then equal the return loss in dB ?
So when doing a full cal the ISOL should have a 50R load on Port 2 and Port 1 is left open, is that correct ? I've only used it for Port 1 styles of measurements so far and am venturing into 2 port measurements. Thanks for the great instruction videos. Very helpful and educational as usual.
va3get QUESTION. 😄good video. One thing I have noticed is no you tuber has shown the nanoVNA being used outside. I have 2, It is almost impossible to read when out side in the brightness cloudy or sunny, blanket over us, still cannot read them as easily as indoors. Any thouughts.
would it be possible to add external amplifier with inverted loss curve on output, to make it more or less few dbm on full scale ? And if yes, will it cause bad measurements and will need to tweek it ? I just get SAA-2N for my project and thinking of ways to make it better. Any idea? Cost is not a problem :)
Hello Alan. I am in the process of purchasing a VNA for a land mobile radio shop we own. We also work on ham stuff but mostly professional radio. I am looking at the TTR503A from Tek and at the Copper Mountain Technologies TR1300/1 and Copper Mountain Technologies M5045 for contenders. Our primary goal is to characterize VHF and UHF cavities, duplexers, filters, combiners. Transmission lines and antennas. Based on your expertise and opinion which of these units would you consider to be the best choice for a long-term investment? I thank you for your accurate response and insightful videos. 73 de HR2PAC.
@@w2aew Thank you for the response. That is a shame if Tek is going to discontinue the TTR500 line. I was really looking forward to purchasing such a unit, but I am concerned now about the technical support that a discontinued product may or may not have. I am not familiar with the Copper Mountain Technologies gear and quality of products, maybe you can shine a light on that. Can you provide any insight into those CMT units I mentioned? Again, thank you and keep going with those great videos.
@@w2aew I guess that the final decision to be made is to invest in a VNA that does 2-Port 1-Path measurements or 2-Port 2-Path measurements as well as the additional features it may have. I will have to analyze all the available options from Copper Mountain Tech and decide. Thank you again Alan for all your valuable insight.
@@w2aew UPDATE 12/28/2021: As of today, our Copper Mountain Technologies VNA is in the mail and on its way to us! We bought the TR1300/1 with CAL kit and two phase stable N test cables. Cannot wait to "play" with it and start to characterize all of the RF devices we use. Thank you, Alan, for the excellent advice and valuable content. Happy Holidays!
Thank you for this video. If I install N to SMA adapters on the NanoVNA SSA-2N to test an HT antenna, do I need to calibrate with SMA Short/Open/Load caps, or can I calibrate using the N caps, then install the SMA connectors and proceed with testing?
@@w2aew Thank you for your reply. I’m new to RF, and I am finding a wealth of information on your channel. I’m currently building an RF sampler based off another one of your videos. I can tell I’m going to be spending a lot of time in your channel!
You managed to touch on a few things in there that I wasn't aware of, even though I'm a regular in the mailing list. I have an H4 purchased from randl, but haven't messed around with upgrading the firmware yet. Is all of the stuff you talked about in here present in a "stock" nano?
