EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: cio74 on July 04, 2016, 06:42:05 pm
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Hello,
Whilst still debating which SA to buy I have decided to get a hobby-grade VNA, basically any decent performance under £500 mark will do. I came across these 2 models:
miniVNA PRO by minicircuits - http://miniradiosolutions.com/minivna-pro/ (http://miniradiosolutions.com/minivna-pro/)
VNWA 3E by sdr-kits / DG8SAQ - http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html (http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html)
The above will be used for HF ham related radio projects.
Any recommendation or major difference between the two? Has anyone tried both of them and can comment on performance and/or software capabilities/features?
Perhaps a 3rd candidate?
Thanks.
Cio
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The radio club I visit has the VNWA 3E and people seem to be happy with it. The software crashes every now and then but I'm ready to blame that on the weird computer it ran on.
Not sure I would be willing to put 600 EUR (plus shipping) on the table for it though.
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Hello,
Whilst still debating which SA to buy I have decided to get a hobby-grade VNA, basically any decent performance under £500 mark will do. I came across these 2 models:
miniVNA PRO by minicircuits - http://miniradiosolutions.com/minivna-pro/ (http://miniradiosolutions.com/minivna-pro/)
VNWA 3E by sdr-kits / DG8SAQ - http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html (http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html)
The above will be used for HF ham related radio projects.
Any recommendation or major difference between the two? Has anyone tried both of them and can comment on performance and/or software capabilities/features?
Perhaps a 3rd candidate?
Thanks.
Cio
I'd go with the VNWA3. It will go to 500MHz with 90dB dynamic range and 'better than' 50dB dynamic range to 1.3GHz.
I have a VNWA2 so I'm slightly biased. I added a TCXO to mine so its specs are essentially the same. I've been quite happy with it. I built an RF-IV kit (http://www.makarov.ca/vna_payment.htm (http://www.makarov.ca/vna_payment.htm)) and an S parameter test set (allows measuring S12 and S22 without reversing the device under test) from an SMA transfer switch. It was invaluable for tuning some low pass filters for an HF amplifier.
There is a yahoo group for support that you might want to check out. groups.yahoo.com and search for the VNWA group. Support appears to be excellent through this group.
Orin.
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I guess broken HP machines don't pop up locally too often in your area.
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... I built an RF-IV kit (http://www.makarov.ca/vna_payment.htm (http://www.makarov.ca/vna_payment.htm)) and an S parameter test set (allows measuring S12 and S22 without reversing the device under test) from an SMA transfer switch. It was invaluable for tuning some low pass filters for an HF amplifier.
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Yes, this is what I plan to use it for. They also claim is a basic SA for up to 100MHz, is that thing working on the v2 version and if so is it any good?
I guess broken HP machines don't pop up locally too often in your area.
Not really, no, and when they do they are anything but cheap. I don't know what's going on but in the US it seems so easy to get used test equipment for a good price whilst in the UK/EU is so much expensive.
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... I built an RF-IV kit (http://www.makarov.ca/vna_payment.htm (http://www.makarov.ca/vna_payment.htm)) and an S parameter test set (allows measuring S12 and S22 without reversing the device under test) from an SMA transfer switch. It was invaluable for tuning some low pass filters for an HF amplifier.
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Yes, this is what I plan to use it for. They also claim is a basic SA for up to 100MHz, is that thing working on the v2 version and if so is it any good?
I haven't tried the SA. There is basic information in the help file that can be downloaded from http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html (http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html) As they say, it's pretty rudimentary. I have an 8568A, so don't need the SA functionality.