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Used VNA Recommendation Needed

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that_rf_guy:
Hi all,

I've recently started a new gig designing RF hardware primarily around ~5.7GHz. We need to pick up a VNA for general lab use that can go up to 6GHz but won't break the bank. A NanoRFE VNA6000 would likely suffice as I don't plan on taking any particular difficult measurements - we just need to get a sense of whether our circuits are working roughly in the ballpark of what's expected. However there's a load of good, old, used equipment out there that may prevent better value and that's why I've come to y'all for suggestions  :) If you had ~$2000 USD to spend (although our budget is flexible if needed) on a general purpose VNA for your lab, which one would you choose?

joeqsmith:

--- Quote from: that_rf_guy on December 03, 2024, 05:51:48 pm ---Hi all,

I've recently started a new gig designing RF hardware primarily around ~5.7GHz. We need to pick up a VNA for general lab use that can go up to 6GHz but won't break the bank. A NanoRFE VNA6000 would likely suffice as I don't plan on taking any particular difficult measurements - we just need to get a sense of whether our circuits are working roughly in the ballpark of what's expected. However there's a load of good, old, used equipment out there that may prevent better value and that's why I've come to y'all for suggestions  :) If you had ~$2000 USD to spend (although our budget is flexible if needed) on a general purpose VNA for your lab, which one would you choose?

--- End quote ---

From the last time someone asked:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/best-vna-for-around-or-under-$2000/

tszaboo:
Used big box VNAs go for around 1000 USD/GHz. So good luck.

rfclown:

--- Quote from: tszaboo on December 03, 2024, 07:13:14 pm ---Used big box VNAs go for around 1000 USD/GHz. So good luck.

--- End quote ---

I agree. You want the VNA no go beyond your frequency of interest. You also need cal kit, cables, etc. $2000 doesn't get much for 5.7 GHz work. You want good cables and adapters at that frequency. I like the older Megaphase. I use two exactly like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185198139177?_skw=megaphase+cable&itmmeta=01JEKTZXTHQY88Y5R64VCCCR6V&hash=item2b1eab5729:g:AEoAAOSw1iFhqnwC&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmedK1U0ZpAkNRBhQAE3YgeI2hDsyzCm1dQJOTw75wHF1oUoB3NEbv7TiFo7p0JIB9NiFgW2%2FDoQQX6eQnVYNW5UllsSF5u6rGb9wbHt4ektyY3olhlucu39UTPwADFWIX1z%2Fry73mlUXaoZ%2BPeyxMf95kp1%2B0wpLHNNwHTVmnyt8pYcBxnK9MK0VRB2824cjeSqtM%2B3NKg2cZJhv3N7RG20y1rnzVA4hYC40yOecbWmLCZ0NVFTXZY2WsqhIgMPLxgM87TWq6rgvPLSGZUqQEwyDlHL%2BV9NrepqlClRRy6qg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7rd__r0ZA
You can waste a lot of time struggling with crappy cables and adapters at 6 GHz.

I bought my first VNA when I was in a similar situation. My new gig wanted me to do work for which I need a VNA (matching at 915 MHz). I explained the situation and suggested a used HP8753 which at the time (2009) could be bought for $5k or rented for $500 a month. They agreed to the monthly rent, but then balked with the rental company required financial information. I told my employer that I'd rent them one for $500/month, and they agreed. I bought a 8753B on eBay for $1800 without a test set and used directional couplers and splitter that I had. I already had a 85033C cal kit which had been given to me. I later bought a 85046A test set. When the vector display started to dim (a problem with B versions), I bought a 8753C on eBay and sold the B on eBay. Through the years I've bought newer units on eBay and sold older ones. Two gigs later, I was renting my employer ESG signal generators, power supplies, power meters/sensors, VSA transmitter testers. All things bought on eBay. They rented test equipment, and I could way undercut the going rate.

Remembering more of my story. Before the VNA, I was buying stuff on eBay and bringing it to work on my own dime (power supply, power meter/sensor, signal generator, spectrum analyzer, all HP stuff that I was familiar with) because my employer was expecting to do RF work with no equipment. They brought me in because their radios had to be a few feet apart to work. It was only when I got to a point of needing a VNA that I didn't just buy one myself and bring it in (they wanted to use a PCB antenna that I'd need to match). The other stuff I'd bought was all lower cost. I was building up a cache of equipment to be able to do contract work from home.

tszaboo:

--- Quote from: rfclown on December 08, 2024, 07:17:46 pm ---I bought my first VNA when I was in a similar situation. My new gig wanted me to do work for which I need a VNA (matching at 915 MHz). I explained the situation and suggested a used HP8753 which at the time (2009) could be bought for $5k or rented for $500 a month. They agreed to the monthly rent, but then balked with the rental company required financial information. I told my employer that I'd rent them one for $500/month, and they agreed. I bought a 8753B on eBay for $1800 without a test set and used directional couplers and splitter that I had. I already had a 85033C cal kit which had been given to me. I later bought a 85046A test set. When the vector display started to dim (a problem with B versions), I bought a 8753C on eBay and sold the B on eBay. Through the years I've bought newer units on eBay and sold older ones. Two gigs later, I was renting my employer ESG signal generators, power supplies, power meters/sensors, VSA transmitter testers. All things bought on eBay. They rented test equipment, and I could way undercut the going rate.

--- End quote ---
These are the agreements that I'm a bit jealous about. In Europe it seems that employers expect you to BYOD, sometimes even if you work as a consultant. I think the only reason I'm getting reimbursed for something simple as a car drive is because they are legally required to do so.

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