Help me recommend a VNA.

[joeqsmith]

If you can wait for nano V3 (ETA 1 year), it is most likely going to reach at least 90dB dynamic range and will be full two port (all 4 S parameters at once).

Have there been any reviews of the V2 yet?   Did the company solicit the larger channels offering free units for review?  It's been out a while and I don't see much about it.   

[OwO]

I think there are some reviews on nanovna-users. I have no idea if they are doing any marketing, but I don't see anything on youtube yet. I can't promise anything but they are allegedly still doing free samples for developers working on PC software support for the V2, so you might want to try sending them a PM on tindie.

[Mechatrommer]

I can't promise anything but they are allegedly still doing free samples for developers working on PC software support for the V2, so you might want to try sending them a PM on tindie.

i hope not the kind of crap developers that dont know how to export S-parm data properly to CSV. since i already own KC901V i dont have to consider NanoV2 as it doesnt give me any benefit. if V3 can go up to 6GHz and can do full 4-parm then i might consider it given it has about the same or very close or maybe even twice the price of V2. and also given the SW is not developed by the said crap developers.

[croma641]

In Italy:

DEEPACE KC901V
List price
    €2.239,00 (Taxes included)


Nano Vna (not the original)
€ 32 shipping included from Aliexpress

Nano Vna V2
€ 62 shipping included from Tindie

different expectations , different prices - but the chinaVNAs  price/performance ratio (including tons of infos from groups.io) is fantastic.

'73
Andrea IW2FDH, Milan

[joeqsmith]

I think there are some reviews on nanovna-users. I have no idea if they are doing any marketing, but I don't see anything on youtube yet. I can't promise anything but they are allegedly still doing free samples for developers working on PC software support for the V2, so you might want to try sending them a PM on tindie.

I wasn't aware they were offering them to software developers.  This is a nice deal.  In my case, I doubt I will be doing any software for it and have no problems paying for it.  I only want it out of personal curiosity.     

The V3 sounds even more interesting and I look forward to seeing what your company comes up with.   Hopefully they learn to market them in such a way that it becomes very profitable and you can continue the efforts. 

[Mechatrommer]

I tried the v2 sw. The simulated s1p file is ok, but no comma delimited csv, so if i want to view in excel, i have to make another converter program for it. Why they still want to follow classic equipment? csv is so farking easy to do..

[cjheath]

If you can wait for nano V3 (ETA 1 year), it is most likely going to reach at least 90dB dynamic range and will be full two port (all 4 S parameters at once).

I also have been working on a VNA design for some time. I was planning to put the couplers and mixers for each port on a separate PCB (Tx/LO in, filtered low-IF out), and allow two or three ports on the same VNA. Have you thought about supporting an optional third port, to allow testing diplexers, circulators, etc?

[OwO]

I also have been working on a VNA design for some time. I was planning to put the couplers and mixers for each port on a separate PCB (Tx/LO in, filtered low-IF out), and allow two or three ports on the same VNA. Have you thought about supporting an optional third port, to allow testing diplexers, circulators, etc?

Well, that's the difference between a personal project and a contract project

If this was personal project I'd make it modular and allow up to 4 ports. Unfortunately V3 still does have a tight cost target to meet, and the customer indicated very little market demand for 3 or 4 port VNAs. Maybe when I get to it I'll design a VNA for my own use that will max out my design abilities (120dB dynamic range, 4 ports, 1k points/s sweep, 6GHz, full two port), but it will be ex🅱ensive to build and thus be completely useless commercially. That is fine, I'm employed to do open source and unprofitable projects most of the time.

[virtualparticles]

Hi! I would suggest a Copper Mountain Technologies M5065 or S5065 if you are gong to need the Time Domain function. This will be your lowest cost lab grade VNA with real metrology.

Dynamic Range: 130 dB typical, 125 spec (10 Hz IFBW)
Directivity: 46 dB
Noise Floor: -130 dBm/Hz
Output: + 5dBm out max

By the way, Dynamic range is max output power - 10 Hz noise floor level or 5 - (-120) = -125 dB
Directivity sets the reflection accuracy, +/- 3.3 dB at -36 dB, +/- 1 dB at -26 dB S11 (10 and 20 dB higher than directivity)

https://coppermountaintech.com/vna/m5065-2-port-6-5-ghz-analyzer/

Thanks!

[Gandalf_Sr]

One exactly like mine that I was watching on eBay just sold for $3,500 + $50 shipping, I could let mine go for that kind of money.  If the OP isn't interested, I think I'll list on eBay tomorrow.

I am curious about your picture.  The unit is sitting on a shelf with no depth.   This is similar to my home office where my equipment sits on wire shelves.  There's lots of air flow and it takes up little space but there's no place to work.   What are you using for a workspace when you use equipment like this?   

At home, I have one of my mom's old portable wooden tables from her garden but in many cases, I slide a sheet of FR4 under the equipment.  A while back I was running some tests and had three DMMs on a sheet and it was really sagging.   I've since soldered some wedges to add some strength.  Then parts roll off onto the floor so my latest one has a lip soldered around the outside edge.  I normally will run a ground strap to it but it's now evolved so the wrist strap will plug into the table.   A real hack job but strong enough to support meters and various small test jigs.

It's a deeeeep shelf that I included in my workshop, actually a window ledge.

Mine's still for sale but I haven't got round to listing on eBay. I had an inquiry from Hong Kong but that seemed too difficult shipping-wise.