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  • Some measurement tools

    From Richard Menedetter@2:310/31 to All on Monday, January 04, 2021 13:33:22
    Hi All!

    I bought some amateur radio measurement tools, and thought you might be interested.

    A NanoVNA v2
    A really, really cool Vector Network Analyzer from 50 kHz to 3 GHz.
    (attention there is a v1 that can reach only 900 MHz and is slightly worse)
    It has 2 SMA jacks. 1 for output and measurement of reflected power, and the other for input.
    So you connect an antenna to port 0 and measure SWR for example.
    Or you connect a filter between the 2 ports and measure its characteristic.
    The NanoVNA has a tochscreen and batteries and costs around 50 USD.
    It can also be used with a PC program, so that you see the diagrams on the big monitor.
    https://nanorfe.com/nanovna-v2.html

    A TinySA
    A Tiny Spectrum Analyzer.
    It is a bit of a toy, but a very interesting one.
    Very similar to the NanoVNA as it comes with its own touch screen and battery. Costs arounf 45 USD.
    https://www.tinysa.org/wiki/

    A "USB LTDZ 35-4400M"
    That is really a toy.
    A small USB PCB that needs a PC program.
    A spectrum analyzer and tracking generator for 35 MHz to 4.4 GHz
    It is not very sensitive. (USD 30)

    A "jumbospot MMDVM hotspot"
    Actually I have the big version with 2 radios. (only really needed for DMR I think)
    But the above single radio version with shell costs 25 USD on Aliexpress.
    You need a Raspberry Pi (Zero) to use it.
    It adds a radio and small display and can act as a DMR/D-Star/Yease Fusion/NXDN hotspot and a POCSAG pager sender.
    You can install pi-star on the RPi and add the radio onto the GPIO ports. During lock down I had some time to play with it again, and it works just GREAT!
    https://www.pistar.uk/

    CU, Ricsi

    ... Time may be a great healer, but it's also a lousy beautician.
    --- GoldED+/LNX
    * Origin: A want is a need with priority. (2:310/31)
  • From Ivan Mikhalev@1:154/30 to Richard Menedetter on Monday, January 04, 2021 08:03:49
    Re: Some measurement tools
    By: Richard Menedetter to All on Mon Jan 04 2021 01:33 pm

    Hi All!

    I bought some amateur radio measurement tools, and thought you might be inte

    A NanoVNA v2
    A really, really cool Vector Network Analyzer from 50 kHz to 3 GHz. (attention there is a v1 that can reach only 900 MHz and is slightly worse) It has 2 SMA jacks. 1 for output and measurement of reflected power, and the So you connect an antenna to port 0 and measure SWR for example.
    Or you connect a filter between the 2 ports and measure its characteristic.
    I got one myself, cool bit of kit. But I got it from Aliexpress, even though the manufacturer says not to get one there. Didn't notice any problems with it yet.
    --- SBBSecho 3.11-Linux
    * Origin: War Ensemble - warensemble.com - Appleton, WI (1:154/30)
  • From Richard Menedetter@2:310/31 to Ivan Mikhalev on Monday, January 04, 2021 15:45:28
    Hi Ivan!

    04 Jan 2021 08:03, from Ivan Mikhalev -> Richard Menedetter:

    A NanoVNA v2
    I got one myself, cool bit of kit. But I got it from Aliexpress, even though the manufacturer says not to get one there. Didn't notice any problems with it yet.

    I got mine also there.
    Mine works great as well. (I also bought the v1 version previously.)
    I have noticed 2 details. Some come without battery or without RF shielding. Mine has both, so I was lucky ;)

    CU, Ricsi

    ... If you left without a reason, don't come back with an excuse.
    --- GoldED+/LNX
    * Origin: The shortest distance between new friends is a smile. (2:310/31)
  • From Ivan Mikhalev@1:154/30 to Richard Menedetter on Wednesday, January 06, 2021 04:42:27
    Re: Some measurement tools
    By: Richard Menedetter to Ivan Mikhalev on Mon Jan 04 2021 03:45 pm

    I have noticed 2 details. Some come without battery or without RF shielding. Mine has both, so I was lucky ;)
    Truly lucky. Mine comes in a metal case, which looks to be welded together. Part of the reason I chose to go the Aliexpress route.
    --- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
    * Origin: War Ensemble - warensemble.com - Appleton, WI (1:154/30)
  • From Richard Menedetter@2:310/31 to Ivan Mikhalev on Wednesday, January 06, 2021 13:44:00
    Hi Ivan!

    06 Jan 2021 04:42, from Ivan Mikhalev -> Richard Menedetter:

    I have noticed 2 details. Some come without battery or without RF
    shielding. Mine has both, so I was lucky ;)
    Truly lucky. Mine comes in a metal case, which looks to be welded together. Part of the reason I chose to go the Aliexpress route.

    Sounds better than mine :)
    But at least it has RF shielding over the RF sensitive components.
    Works nicely.

    CU, Ricsi

    ... No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. --- GoldED+/LNX
    * Origin: Even a small star shines in the darkness. (2:310/31)
  • From Ivan Mikhalev@1:154/30 to Richard Menedetter on Thursday, January 07, 2021 11:18:02
    Re: Some measurement tools
    By: Richard Menedetter to Ivan Mikhalev on Wed Jan 06 2021 01:44 pm

    Sounds better than mine :)
    Definitely more durable. But my 50ohm load started malfunctioning recently, so gotta buy a new one. Don't know if I should go for cheaper or more expensive calibration kits though.
    --- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
    * Origin: War Ensemble - warensemble.com - Appleton, WI (1:154/30)