Tuesday, June 9, 2020

NanoVNA, Millen Dip Meter, Kilo-Megacycles, and Measuring the Speed of Light (Video)



Yesterday my NanoVNA arrived.  This morning I was looking for info on how to use it and I found this really wonderful video from Joe Smith.  

 Wow.  Joe gives a really useful intro to the capabilities of this amazing little device. He even reaches back in time and compares NanoVNA results with those obtained by a Millen Grid Dip Meter.  He pulls out of his junk box an attenuator that is so old that it is marked in "Kilo-Megacycles."  (Shouldn't we revive terms like that?)

 Joe also gives us a taste of what it is like to live and work in the GHz range.  He warns us never to touch the SMA connectors on our NanoVNAs (too late Joe).  And -- get this -- he uses a torque wrench to connect the little SMA coax connectors to the NanoVNA.  I'm not kidding.  A torque wrench.   Joe connects surface mount capacitors and inductors that have their values specified not only in picofarads and microhenries, but also at the specific frequency at which they were measured.  

 My understanding of the Smith Chart was greatly improved by watching Joe's video. 

 Icing on the cake:  Joe wraps up the video by using the NanoVNA to MEASURE THE SPEED OF LIGHT.  Great stuff.  Thanks Joe.  

 Here is Joe Smith's YouTube channel:  
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsK99WXk9VhcghnAauTBsbg

Now I have to get the software to use the NanoVNA with my computer. 
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4 comments:

  1. TonyJune 9, 2020 at 1:53 PM

    Have you all seen the price of SMA torque wrenches!

    Fortunately for me, my son is buying a 3D printer. [I knew all that university money was well spent :-) ]

    I have put my order in for one of DuWayne's clever alternatives to the pricey "proper" wrench:
    see:
    http://kv4qb.blogspot.com/2020/02/sma-torque-wrench-for-nanovna.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. richJune 9, 2020 at 10:05 PM

    Bill he also does videos as IMSAI Guy - on YouTube.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DuWayneJune 10, 2020 at 3:12 PM

    The AntScope2 software is designed to support various models of RigExpert antenna analyzers for your Windows PC or Mac.
    Now it also supports the NanoVNA and is open Source

    https://rigexpert.com/products/software/antscope2/

    ReplyDelete
  4. TriggerJune 18, 2020 at 7:17 PM

    Bill, thanks for posting the video, I have been dipping in and out of it during the day. A fair bit of it is over my head but I will say that I learned more about these neat little tools in 30 minutes than in days looking at other stuff on the internet. Thanks again, 73, Tryg

    ReplyDelete