From: liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid   
      
   Arie de Muijnck  wrote:   
      
   > On 2026-01-24 17:15, john larkin wrote:   
   >   
   > > I think sine waves are boring - they just go around in circles - but   
   > > we may be doing some RF switch modules and I guess people will expect   
   > > some sort of S-parameter things. Or at least a spec of some Sxx at   
   > > some max frequency, which will be 3 GHz in our case.   
   > >   
   > > I guess we can buy a cheap Amazon VNA and measure a couple of points.   
   > > We could check its calibration with a couple of hanks of hardline or   
   > > something.   
   > >   
   > > Sounds like an intern project.   
   > >   
   > > Can anyone suggest a suitable small inexpensive VNA? We might use it   
   > > 10 times in its lifetime.   
   > >   
   > > The generic Amazons are about $150 for 3 GHz and twice that for 6.   
   > >   
   > >   
   > >   
   > >   
   > >   
   > > John Larkin   
   > > Highland Tech Glen Canyon Design Center   
   > > Lunatic Fringe Electronics   
   >   
   > The best one I know of is the NanoVNA NanoVNA | Very tiny handheld Vector   
   > Network Analyzer  Discussion group and more info at   
   > nanovna-users@groups.io | Wiki   
      
      
   That's the one I used, there are several models with different frequency   
   ranges but they are all priced much the same.  The only negative points   
   are the flimsy connectors and the lack of information.   
      
   Mine came with two short extension leads and I find these should always   
   be used so as to take the strain off the sockets.  For high frequency   
   work, the device needs to be calibrated with the terminations on the far   
   end of the leads, so the leads don't become part of the measurement.   
      
   The only information was an A4 sheet giving a map of the menus - nothing   
   else at all!  There is plenty of information on the Web, including the   
   supplier's own website, but the device does so many things that the   
   purchaser could easily be swamped with unnecessary information.   
      
   What does it measure?   
   Impedance   
   Resistance   
   Inductance   
   Conductance   
   Susceptance   
   SWR   
   Smith Chart   
   Time domain reflectometry   
   Pulse response   
   Series resonance   
   Parallel resonance   
   Q factor   
   Crystal resonance   
   Signal generator   
   R.F. Frequency response & bandwidth   
   etc.   
      
   All with a choice of Log or Lin scales and frequency range.   
   Frequently-used settings can be saved in 6 onboard memories and the   
   results downloaded to an SD card.   
      
      
      
   --   
   ~ Liz Tuddenham ~   
   (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)   
   www.poppyrecords.co.uk   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)