English - NanoVNA - 2020 - Part 1
English - NanoVNA - 2020 - Part 1
English - NanoVNA - 2020 - Part 1
(Standard-
Version)
A Vector Network Analyser covering
50kHz to 900MHz for under 50 Euros
Part 1:
„Getting Started Manual“ for 50kHz to
900MHz in three parts
Version 1.6.
Author: Gunthard Kraus, DG8GB
Tettnang / Germany,April 24th,2019
1
Remark to this manual (= part 1):
Every part of the manual can be used individually and
independently
And if you only want to work with the device itself (battery or power
adapter operated) please use
C)
Information:
The software „NanoVNA-saver-v0.2.2-1.exe can be found on the
Web under
https://github.com/mihtjel/nanovna-saver/releases
2
Contents
A): The device (with battery or power adaptor)
Content Page
1. A short introduction 5
2. What is inside? 6
5. Remeber this 9
6. Preparation 8
9. Sweep Settings 13
15. Attenuation and Group Delay in the pass band of the low pass filter 24
16. Markers 26
3
18. Properties of a shielded filter coil 38
25. Calibration 49
4
A): The device (with battery or power adaptor)
1. A short introduction
On the left there are of two SMA sockets: the RF input and output. The upper socket is the
transmit port (CH0) and is the channel for S11 measurements (reflection). The lower
socket is the receive input (CH1) and used for transmission measurements (S21).
In the centre of the top is a USB type "C" connector. This has a symmetrical design so it
does not matter which way the USB cable is inserted. This USB port is used to supply the
device with +5V and send data to a PC. The blue LED next to it serves as the "Battery
LED" and lights up as soon as a supply voltage is applied. To the right is the on / off switch
followed by a blue "System LED". It flashes on certain events or states and finally on the
right there is the Multi Function Switch ("MFS") which has a dual function:
If it is pressed after switching on it calls up the main operator menu. Because the MFS is
also a rocker switch it can be used to effect the measurement results. It can move markers
along the frequency axis in both directions. That is how a certain frequency of interest can
be highlighted on the screen.
5
Number of scanning points: 101 (fixed)
2. What is inside?
A detailed overview of the user menu can be found in part 3 of this manual. Take a closer
look and memorise it so that you know where and how to do something without searching.
6
3. What do we need / what should we order?
If you search for this device on Ebay (input: e.g. "vector network analyser" or "NanoVNA"),
you get countless hits, mostly in the range between 35 and 60 Euros. But you should
check exactly what is included with the device.
We need:
a) Two short coaxial cables (normally: RG174) with SMA connectors on both ends
c) A SOLT calibration set (SOLT = Short / Open / Load / Through). It consists of four
parts:
Short = Ideal short circuit in an SMA plug
Open = Ideal open circuit in the form of an SMA plug that just has a small
open tube inside.
Through = SMA coupling with sockets at both ends (SMA, Female to Female
adaptor)
Important:
To obtain the best accuracy the VNA must be calibrated. This can be carried out later but
for this another SMA 50Ω termination and SMA Female to Female adaptor are
required. These can be purchased on The Internet.
It is also worth purchasing two particularly high quality Teflon SMA cables
approximately 30cm long (e.g. from Huber Suhner). The two cable included in the kit
are, unfortunately, poor quality.
7
4. Information about the power supply of the device (battery operation
or external voltage source)
a) The simplest method is to supply the NanoVNA from a PC via the USB connection. The
board contains appropriate protection for the +3.7V circuits when a +5V supply is used. A
blue "Battery LED "indicates whether the supply voltage is correct and a blue "status LED"
lights up when the NanoVNA is switched on.
b) There is room on the circuit board for a modern flat Lithium polymer battery and two
solder points on the PCB are marked with "+ / - / Battery". The battery should not exceed
4mm in thickness otherwise the bottom plate will not fit.
Result:
The charging current of the battery is (even when turning up the power supply up to +20V)
correctly limited to exactly 0.35A (1/10 of the Ah rating). If the power supply is set to +5V
(USB connection) then the current drops after 1 to 2 hours until it reaches zero (battery
fully charged).
First conclusion:
There is no risk of overcharging when soldering the battery onto the board and
using a USB +5V supply for the NanoVNA.
The battery was soldered onto the board and the NanoVNA switched on. It took almost
four hours for the screen to go dark and the electronics to stop. At a current consumption
of about 110mA the battery stored energy was about 440mAh - that is about right. Once
the USB connection is made to a PC it recharges the battery. This was checked after a few
hours to be true!
Second conclusion:
The battery should remain soldered to the board. Without USB it provides power
(e.g. outdoors when measuring an antenna). When a USB connection is made to a
PC the battery is correct recharged. A "power bank" as used for smartphones can
extend the time without USB power to several days.
8
B): The NanoVNA on the PC
5. Remember this
If you have already and completely worked through this chapter and then switch off your
PC, then this list will help you what must be done when starting for a new session.
9
6. Preparation
Unfortunately the two SMA cables included in the kit can cause trouble: not only their
characteristic impedance may not be quite correct (between 52 and 54Ω instead of 50Ω
when measured with a time domain reflector), but at one end the SMA connector fell off
because the crimping of the plug onto the cable was poor. This means that the result of
calibration often gives meaningless values.
10
7. Starting the software
Very quickly clear result can be presented with large diagrams on a PC screen for those
who have access to a PC with its constant power supply for the NanoVNA. That will be
described now with help and advice from Andreas Zimmermann, DG3SAZ. All that is
required is the NanoVNA, the USB connection cable and the necessary PC program.
Once the free software is downloaded from The Internet, just switch the NanoVNA on. The
most popular software is called:
NanoVNA-saver-v0.2.2-1.exe
It can easily be copied to a USB stick and operated from there. After starting the program,
wait 10 seconds because a dark DOS Screen appears followed by this picture:
11
8. Display settings required
This menu is called up via a button in the lower left corner of the screen. Among the many
possible options, four settings are important at the beginning:
4: Up to 6 diagrams can be
displayed at the same time on
the screen (mostly four are
enough). For each individual
diagram the following options
can be selected:
|S11| |S21|
S11 R + jX TDR
12
9. Sweep Settings
13
10. Sweep - programming for 50 kHZ to 900MHz
For this the frequency range and the number of segments are selected.
So we find in our example a resolution of 445.5 kHz/step and thus the the accuracy
is considerably increased (see the pink frame).
But this will also increase the calculation time and you should watch the green progress
bar during sweeping.
14
11. Start calibration with the calibration data
Kurt Poulsen, who determined the calibration data for the VNWA3 has supplied:
"Calibration data for the NanoVNA with the supplied SOLT - Calibration set ". Thanks
for that!
In our case using firmly connected, high quality measuring cables with male SMA plugs
this specifies the following values to be entered for the three SOL-standards (Short /
Open / Load) for male SMA plugs:
Because the three standards (= SOL) are specified as „male“ - versions you need a
„Through“ adapter (= SMA female - female) for the connection to the measuring cables
with male pluges. But this causes an additional delay of 50.7 Picoseconds = an
additional phase shift...
You find the complete „Calibration Setting File“ on the next page.
Remark:
The software wants to know the resistance value of the LOAD standard as precise as
possible.
If you don't own a high presicion measuring set for this purpose simply use the ideal value
of 50 Ω. This gives s small and visible but acceptable error.
I own an old but very accurate analogue Wheatstone Bridge. So I found my personal
LOAD Standard value of 49.85 Ω for the following list.
15
Here comes the „Calibration standards“ list with the values to be entered:
Step 1:
Click „Calibration“ on the screen
Step 2:
Delete „Use ideal values“(= pink
frame)
Step 3:
Enter all data values.
Step 4:
Search for „New“ in the small
window for the settings name, click
on „Save“ and enter another name
for the Calibration settings (green
frame)
E.g.: I use
bug fixed_Poulsen_02
Step 5:
Click on „LOAD“.to use these
settings
16
12. SOLT Calibration
At the middle of the Calibration Menu you find the „Calibration assistent“ which guides
you during the SOL calibration process for S11.
The pictures show a practical tip for storing the SOLT components. It is an empty
pill box that came as a small gift from my pharmacy.
The letters "S", "O" and "L" have been scratched onto the three standards using a
needle.
OK starts the procedure, just follow the instructions. Please do not loose patience if
it takes a long time. The green bar in the sweep field shows the progress!
The "SOL" process announces each stage (Short / Open / Load), continue with
"Yes". Finally the missing calibration for S21 uses "Isolation" and "Through".
17
.
Important:
You should also save this calibration using a name to your choice......might be
that in the future more special calibrations for other frequency ranges are
necessary...
But:
Never forget to load the correct Calibration File for your actual project when you
start your PC next morning or the next time....
And now follows a final proof to test the success of this work!
18
13. Testing the calibration quality
Attention:
The curves are only reliable and reproducible if you have used a
SMA torque wrench for every SMA connection (torque = 0.45Nm)
Let's start with the SHORT standard and use all new features of software version v0.2.2-1
The frequency range is always 50kHz ….900MHz.
Remark:
You can use the scroll wheel of your mouse to zoom the diagrams!
Not so bad....
19
Now the OPEN-Standard from 50 kHz to 900 MHz:
OK.
20
Connect the two Huber Suhner measuring cables via the Through adapter together to
get S21:
21
At last: the reflection coefficient S11 of the LOAD standard:
Compare the quality of the NanoVNA to the well known VNWA3 regarding the S11 values
of a Huber Suhner High Precision Termination:
Remark:
When testing in the frequency range up to 12 GHz you'll know at once why the
Huber Suhner is the favorite solution and not the LOAD Standard supplied with the
kit (...but Suhner is more expensive...).
22
14. Testing a 110 MHz - Lowpass Filter
23
15. Attenuation and Group Delay in the Pass Band of the LPF
If you want to see these features: first click right on the S21 gain diagram and open
„Frequency Axis“ to reduce the frequency span to 50kHz ...200MHz.
Afterwards click once more on the diagram and choose „Data Axis“. Set the data axis
range to 0....-1 dB-
Warning:
24
Never change the span of the frequency axis in
the diagram by entering new values for start or
stop frequency followed by a new sweep without a
new calibration procedure!
Otherwise:
Remember:
You can save five independent calibrations in the registers c0...c4 on the NanoVNA
board itself.
But if you work with the NanoVNA -saver software you can create and save on the
PC as many calibrations as you like.
The „original calibrations c0...c4“ of the board are frozen and you have again acces
to them when disconnecting the board from the PC and using the Recall -
command.
25
16. Markers
Marker 1 (below the Sweep Menu) has been activated for a frequency of 100 MHz. Use
the mouse (= drop and drag) for shifting to other frequencies in a diagram.
b) Marker size,
colour, number and
type can be set on
the marker menu and
on „Display setttings
26
17. A Bandpass for 10.7 MHz
That is it!
A Chebchev BPF with a centre
frequency of 10.7 MHz, realised with
Amidon ferrite ring cores (Q = 150).
Step 1:
Generate a SOLT Calibration File for a frequency range of 5 MHz to 15 MHz using 20
Segments.
Step 2:
Save this file under a new name, e.g.:
„Suhner 30cm_Poulsen_5M-15M_20Seg“
and load it.
Step 3:
Start a sweep from 5 MHz up to 15 MHz using 20 Segments and add Marker 1 for 10.7
MHz
The left illustration uses a frequency range from 5....15 MHz, the right one from 10...11.5
MHz
27
The same procedure for S21:
The left illustration shows a remarkable stop band attenuation of -90 dB for f = 5 MHz
and -60 dB for 15 MHz.
In the right illustration you see the pass band with a minimum attenuation of 2.1 dB at f =
10.9 MHz. (..it is true: the alignment procedure should be repeated and improved...)
In a Smith Chart you get nice loops when presenting S11 of the pass band and you can
easily demonstrate this:
5 MHz / +1
(= right end of the horizontal axis).
28
Now a special S11 and S21 test:
This gives an
overview of the stop
band attenuation S21
and the wide band
reflection S11.
29
17.1. Automatic Analysis
Really fine because you automatically get all parameters of a filter after a sweep.
We want to have a look at the 10.7 MHz Filter from the last chapter. But pay attention to
work through the preparation in the correct manner.
Step 1:
Do a SOLT calibration with a higher resolution for a reduced frequency span. My
new Calibration File is applied and saved as
Calibration settings = newest version from Kurt Poulsen (see last chapter)
After opening „Sweep settings“ the „Averaging Sweep using 3 values“ was selected.
This reduces the influence of noise
Step 2:
A sweep from 9.5 MHz to 10.5 MHz with 20 Segments is used.
Step 3:
Open the menu „Analysis“ (at the middle of the lower
border of the screen) and delete „Run automatically“.
Step 4:
Set Marker 1 at the centre frequency of 10.7MHz.
Step 5:
Start the sweep.
30
This ist the result:
All details shown in the left hand window are described on the following page:
„2“ = Marker 1 indicates the exact centre frequency (10.771488MHz) with a gain of
S21 = -2.207dB
„3“ = Marker 2 gives the lower corner frequency (10.485MHz). S21 has decreased by
3dB and is now -5.207 dB
„4“ = Marker 3 gives the upper corner frequency (11.065774MHz). S21 has
decreased by 3dB and is again -5.207dB
31
More information can be found when opening the „Analysis“ Menu:
32
33
17.2. Set Sweep as Reference
If you do that, then the next result will be shown together with the first ( but with another
colour). So you can compare and recognise any variation.
Step 1:
(Red frames). If you use a dark background for your diagrams you should first change to a
bright colour for the reference sweep (Yellow or Pink). Default is „Dark Blue“ and this
does not work very well on a black screen...
Step 2:
Sweep and tab on
34
Step 3:
After the first sweep I have misalignded the BPF slightly followed by a new sweep.
Any differencies caused can always be best seen using the S11 presentation:
Click
Reset reference
Personal remark:
The sweep speed is too low for „real time alignment of a good or misaligned filter“ and
cannot be changed or increased. So the reference sweep option is better used for final
testing of production filters against a good reference filter.
35
17.3. Saving the Touchstone Files generated
36
This is the S21 result:
37
18. Properties of a shielded filter coil
c) Exact values of inductance „L“, quality factor „Q“ and series resistance „R“ at a
frequency of f = 30 MHz
Now the correct Calibration file (50 kHz ...900 MHz) must be loaded and the sweep
started.
a) R and X = f(f)
38
b) Q = f(f)
R = 1.606 Ω
L = 992.48 nH
Q = 119-1
39
19. Ferrite Rod Antenna for VLF Experiments
These antennas came with old valve radio sets and are a good choice for Very Low
Frequency (= VLF) experiments in the range of a few Hertz up to 150 kHz or so. There you
find signals of Submarine Communication, the „Schumann Resonances of the Globe“,
Time and Frequency Standard Transmissions like DCF77 and so on.
At first create a new Calibration File for the frequency range from 50 kHz up to 5 MHz
and 20 segments. Save this file under a new name and load it.
R is low up to 1....1.5
MHz. Then follows an
exponential rise. This
will dramatically
reduce the quality
factor Q.
40
The decrease of Q in the upper
range is presented in this diagram.
Marker 1 at f = 1 MHz
delivers all interesting
information.
Using
L = 8.6244 µH and N = 10 turns
Attention:
Due to fringing effects of the magnetic flux the inductance for other turn values will
vary and not strictly follow the formula „ L = AL x N2“. It is better to choose
the turns given by the formula for a desired inductance and to test the result with
your NanoVNA. Then do a correction of the turn number and measure again.
41
20. Lambda Loop Antenna for the 70cm - Band
This is a 4NEC2
simulation of the 3D
radiation pattern.
Maximum gain is
approx. 3.5dBi.
42
Measured S11 at the Input Socket:
43
C): Standalone operation
21. Operator menu for the NanoVNA
44
22. Familiarisation with the device
First, make sure that both RF inputs are open and switch on. If the battery is missing
power the NanoVNA via the USB cable supplied connected to a laptop or PC. The
computer must be turned on to provide the +5V we need for a power supply.
Unfortunately, nothing happened for me, no LED lit after switching the power switch on
and the screen remained dark. This signalled the first rework because the USB C socket
on the board was poorly made so that when the cable was plugged in there was no
contact. It was reworked carefully by bending the tiny PCB inside the socket until it was
exactly central AND the metal sheath of the shield ensured a snug fit for the plug. Do not
forget to test that turning the plug through 180 degree also makes contact.
The corresponding information text is tiny with this small screen size but everyone has to
see how they gets along with it (I've been working for a long time, for example, soldering
using a stereo magnifier).
45
23. The first successful measurement: LOAD properties
The screen should now only show S11 in the Smith Chart and Cartesian form from
50kHz to 900MHz.
The Smith Chart only shows one marker for such a small reflection this is in the centre of
the chart (50Ω). The corresponding series connection for the input impedance at 468MHz
is shown on the top, far right as:
No wonder there is such a big spread. With such small voltage levels and the noise that
can be seen. Because this noise increases with frequency it is better to use the middle of
the S11 curve to estimate from the Cartesian diagram.
Task:
Move the marker (by pressing the MFS to the left) to 144MHz and determine the S11
values there.
46
24. The sweep options
The main menu has an option "Stimulus". When this is chosen there are the following
options:
b) Using "Centre" and "Span" we select a certain centre frequency as well as a span
around this centre frequency
101 frequency points are always used. If the range of 460MHz to 470MHz is required:
Step 2: Tap on "Start" followed by a tap on the right edge of the box showing the
displayed frequency (right bottom corner of the screen). This will open a small
keyboard to enter the new starting frequency as "460.0M"
Step 3: Do the same again for the stop frequency but enter "470.0M"
Finished!
47
24.3. CW operation at 465MHz
48
25. Calibration
Important:
Everything practised so far would not provide accurate results and would be meaningless
without a prior calibration.
If you want to make measurements over a narrower frequency range (e.g. an antenna or
bandpass filter), then extra calibrations are required with the results stored in one of the
memory locations C1 to C4. These can be selected next time the associated frequency
range is used and the calibration data will be setup automatically.
Before a practical example is explained take a closer look at the information on the left
side of the screen. This should be checked before taking an important measurement to
make sure that everything is activated. When the NanoVNA is switched on the data in
memory C0 is used to activate "Error Terms” stored from a previous calibration
determined. These are:
D (Directivity)
R (Reflection tracking)
S (Source Match)
49
Note:
The topic is explained well in the Application Note
The SMA sockets on the NanoVNA should always be protected from damage using one of
these two options (changing a socket on the board in case of damage is a very delicate
mission):
a) Fit an SMA Male to Female adaptor onto each socket using the suggested torque
(torque spanners are available on The Internet). This means that the measuring cables
only come in contact with these adaptors that would be easy to change if required.
b) As already mentioned, the two SMA cables included in the kit can cause trouble. Not
only is their characteristic impedance not quite correct (54Ω instead of 50Ω as measured
with a time domain reflectometer) and an SMA connector just dropped off one of mine!.
This was because the crimping of the plug onto the cable was poor. The result of
calibration is often meaningless until this is known
50
27. SOLT calibration (50kHz to 900MHz) for C0 memory
1) Start the NanoVNA and permanently connect the SMA cables to the two RF ports (CH0
and CH1)
=========================================
2) Open the main menu (tap the screen) and select "DISPLAY" followed by "TRACE".
Select the yellow curve "TRACE 0" and then "SINGLE". Select "BACK". then tap on
"FORMAT" then "LOGMAG”
=========================================
3) Do the following actions for Trace 1: BACK / DISPLAY / TRACE / TRACE 1 then
FORMAT and LOGMAG
==========================================
4) The Start - Stop settings required are:
50kHz to 900MHz
==========================================
5) Start the calibration process with a reset so that all old calibration data is deleted: From
the main menu (begins with "DISPLAY") tap CAL then tap on RESET.
================================================
6) The CAL menu also contains CALIBRATE, tap that option.
51
Attention:
The manual recommends that, if possible, both inputs CH0 and CH1 should be
terminated at the cable ends by 50 Ω.
This requires another Female to Female SMA adaptor and another terminaton for
CH1. This is the only way to get the last one little bit of accuracy.
The next step continues with ISOLATION highlighted in green. For this CH0 and CH1
should be terminated with 50Ω. Then tap on ISOLATION.
================================================
The last step is THROUGH highlighted in green. For this the terminators are removed and
both cable ends are connected using the Female to Female adaptor. Then tap on
THROUGH to complete the calibration process.
=================================================
Finally tap "DONE" and store the result in memory C0 with "SAVE 0". Now accurate
measurements can begin.
To be absolutely sure, look at the left edge of the display to see if it shows the following:
C0 / D / R / S / T / X
The empty pill box came as a small gift from my pharmacy. The letters "S", "O" and "L"
have been scratched on the standards using a needle.
52
28. Example: A Chebyshev - low pass filter with fg = 110MHz and N = 5
Step 2: Check that CH0 and CH1 are on the "LOGMAG" display. If necessary switch off
Trace 3 (= the Smith Chart).
Step 3: Open the main menu and then select CAL / CALIBRATE
Step 4: Carry out a complete SOLT calibration and save the result using SAVE 4 in C4.
53
29. Conclusions (good / bad / changes ...)
It is great: a small, handy device with sufficient accuracy for practical use.
Cheap price.
Saves up to three older 19 inch devices (hp8410 / hp8745 / hp8620) on the work bench.
With a USB connection and the free software (NanoVNA-saver v0.2.2.-1.exe) from
The Internet a PC can be used very comfortably to control the device and display the
results on elaborate diagrams. It behaves like a big machine.
Very small screen with even smaller font size. Touch screen operation is not easy with a
finger but better with a stylus. Better operation using a PC and the program "NanoVNA-
saver-v0.2.2-1.exe".
In standalone operation there are only 101 measuring points: this makes measuring
filters difficult so careful consideration is needed for the sweep range selected. (this is no
longer a criticism when using a PC)
The Micro USB C connector on the board is a bit wobbly and at first mine was
unreliable. It required rework but works now fine.
The SMA cables supplied had a wide tolerance (52....54Ω instead of 50Ω) and were
poorly crimped. In fact one connector fell off! High quality Teflon cables or, if necessary,
Semirigid cables are recommended as replacements.
The Multi Function Switch (MFS) is a somewhat delicate device and requires very gentle
use.
SOLT calibration data is not included with the purchase. This is now available for
PC operation using the NanoVNA Saver software (thanks to Kurt Poulsen) as
described in Part 2.
54