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Looking for Simple NanoVNA guide

HomerBB

Sr. Member
Jan 4, 2009
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Rogers, Ar
What is woefully missing, but very much needed, is a user friendly guide for NanoVNA.
It must have:

1.) Step by step instructions
2.) Photos of each step
3.) Clear layman's language
4.) Be geared toward use for antenna analyzing

It must NOT have:

1.) A historical review of development
2.) Geek/nerd speak
3.) Useless ramblings about lab/shack layout
4.) Scientific calculations
5.) be a Youtube (I like my movies action/adventure genre.)

If anyone has this, knows where it exists, or can do this and post or share it, I believe the likely 98% of us who've bought one and are angry with the hickory nut shell complexity of what should be straightforward would greatly appreciate it.

And please don't tell me how dumb I am. I already know it.

After all, all I want to do is calibrate it and analyze antenna systems. . .

Homer
 

What is woefully missing, but very much needed, is a user friendly guide for NanoVNA.
It must have:

1.) Step by step instructions
2.) Photos of each step
3.) Clear layman's language
4.) Be geared toward use for antenna analyzing

It must NOT have:

1.) A historical review of development
2.) Geek/nerd speak
3.) Useless ramblings about lab/shack layout
4.) Scientific calculations
5.) be a Youtube (I like my movies action/adventure genre.)

If anyone has this, knows where it exists, or can do this and post or share it, I believe the likely 98% of us who've bought one and are angry with the hickory nut shell complexity of what should be straightforward would greatly appreciate it.

And please don't tell me how dumb I am. I already know it.

After all, all I want to do is calibrate it and analyze antenna systems. . .

Homer
i agree on skipping history and scientific calculations. Drop the $100. Words and college edgumacted words too
 
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Have you seen the epub manual on Amazon? It's under $3. I haven't bought it yet, but reviews says it's good. I don't know if it's super duper technical, though.

A guide to the NanoVNA Kindle Edition
 
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The book concentrates on the NanoVNA itself. It's well written and organized. It discusses the origins of the device. It describes the different versions, how to check and upgrade firmware and various mods and hacks. The different measuring techniques are well described. I'm surprised it only cost $3.
 
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I don't work anything higher than 70cm. But there may come a day...
I read where this particular units accuracy is optimized up to 340MHz. After that, I suppose it starts to fall off. Once I create a range and calbrate, I recheck it with the calibration standards and observe the Smith Chart to be sure it looks like a good calibration. So far, this device holds it's own against lab grade VNA's.

With the NanoVNA's rapid popularity and the developers motivation, I'm sure were going to see much better units. Might cost a little more, but will be worth it. I imagine the big makers are watching this device very carefully. Limitless marketplace for something like this. The Facebook and IO groups are buzzing with interest.
 
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Have you watch the various YouTube videos? There are many. I've learned a lot just from the videos. The Amazon book takes all the various Chinesium language documentation and translates it into a readable form. I kept scratching my head trying to decipher it.
 
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mudfoot said:
HomerBB....

I played around with the software tonight. The interface is quite simple. It is much easier inputting whatever frequency span you wish. The measuring format has a pull down dialog box where you can quickly choose the chart format. I also discovered that there are different firmware versions that let you choose whatever parameters you want it to function as. I haven't download it yet, but one version turns the device into antenna analyzer mode. It eliminates everything else that you don't need, so it removes unnecessary clutter.

The software allows to input different calibrations. The device only allows storage of 5 profiles, whereas the software let's you save however many you want. I'm setting up different saved ranges. Like, HF, VHF and so forth. When using the software you don't need to touch the device except to turn it on and connect/disconnect whatever antenna. I'm far from an expert, but I'm somewhat getting the hang of it. I'm going to load up each FW and play with them.
screenshot-2020-01-16-00-47-00-png.33372
 
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