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Showing posts with label NanoVNA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NanoVNA. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Q-31 Receiver Filter Fix with the NanoVNA


The picture above shows my problem. As predicted by the Murata data sheet and as warned by R.A. Penfold, that nice 455 kc ceramic filter has a significant response at around 640 kc.   This caused me to hear Brother Stair twice as often as I should have.  Clearly a spur exorcism was called for. 


Click on the picture for a better image.  As noted last time, my first idea was to build a series 640 kc trap LC circuit and put it ahead of the ceramic filter.  But I had trouble getting the desired high Q.  So I then thought about putting a wider 455 kc filter ahead of my 12 kc filter.  I would, of course, need one that did NOT have the 640 kc spur.  I found a 455B filter in my junk box.  I used the NanoVNA to look at its response.  No spur at 640 kc!  Yea!  


Next I put the two filters together, 455B first, then the 12 kc filter.  Success!  You can see on the NanoVNA that there is no spur at 640 kc. 

With close to the desired termination impedances, the passband at 455 kc looked pretty good.  I just put 1500 ohm resistors in series at the input and output of the dual filter combo. 

It worked.  Spur exorcised!  I no longer hear each SW broadcast stations at two spots on my dial.  

Saturday, June 27, 2020

SolderSmoke Podcast #223 Field Day, Club Talks, Patreon, NanoVNA, Farhan Video, SPRAT, BIG MAILBAG



SolderSmoke Podcast 223 is available: 


27 June 2020

Quarantine Field Day!   
Ironically, THIS YEAR we are both participating
Pete's FD Plan, Bill's FD plan 

Talking to Clubs: 
Pete's talk to the Cedar Valley Iowa Club
Bill's talk to the Vienna Wireless Society

Pete's Bench
DDC SDR
Ideas from the Summer SPRAT
Mean Well Voltage Regulator

SHAMELESS COMMERCE DIVISION: PATREON.   SS is an  SV DELOS WANA-BE!
We got our very first Patreon Patron!  Jonathan Magee from the UK!  Upper Left on the blog.
Continue to use our site for your Amazon purchases. 

Bill's Bench
NanoVNA
Understanding L Networks
+/- 6kHz Ceramic filter for Q-31
Lobes, Nulls and WSPR

Miscellaneous: 
Farhan's feedback Amplifier Video
British Antarctic Broadcast heard (sort of)

MAILBAG:
Mauro VA6BRO liked the SolderSmoke book.  Thanks Mauro
Tryg in Galway Ireland is listening.  Hope to get you the signed books Tryg. 
Michael N4MJR suggested that I use N2 Corona Quarantine Radio as my phonetics.  I dunno... 
Ed DD5LP has been helping us get SS rebroadcast on a German SW broadcast station. Stay tuned! 
Rogier PA1ZZ in California sent an e-mail about the Don Lee Broadcast System.  Thanks Rogier!
Rick KE3IJ  Silver Skirt on his 2B also. W3GOO did it.  Rick traded his Commodore 64 for the 2B.  Yea! 
Walter KA4KXX has a simplified circuit for the MMM!  From UK
Peter VE1BZI thank us for the tribal knowledge.  Dipolo Crilolo
Peter VK2EMU Wee need someone to make the Constructor Crusader badge. 
Scott KA9P sent us the Amateur Wireless cover from 1934 with the Constructor Crusader thing. 
John GM4OOU Built lockdown rig.  we want pictures! 
Jerry KI4IO  His version of the Sproutie by AA7EE   FB 
Adam N0ZIB built a MMM
Wouter ZS1KE in South Africa -- comparing notes on Drake 2-Bs
Randall KD5RC wants to get started in HB. 



Friday, June 12, 2020

Software for Computer Interface with NanoVNA: NanoVNASaver


In the UK, "brilliant" is high praise indeed.  So when Tony G4WIF told me that the NanoVNASaver software was brilliant, I took heed. 

Being able to use the tiny (nano!) device with your computer makes it a much more accessible and useful tool, especially for those of us with fat-finger syndrome. 

The photo above shows the NanoVNA measuring Return Loss and SWR  on my 40 meter dipole. You can see the identical Smith Chart traces on the two screens. 

Download and installation was very easy. I got my Windows PC version from here: 

Other versions available from here: 

Coincidently, a fellow just today put out a video on how to use this software with the NanoVNA. 

Thanks Tony! 

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Alan Wolke W2AEW Explains the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) (Video)



I told Alan that his video on VNAs was -- for me -- very timely.  The video popped up on YouTube on the day than my NanoVNA was being delivered.  TRGHS. 

Alan does a great job in explaining what the VNA does.  Particularly useful for me was his explanation of the VNA's ability to measure phase differences (through the use of directional couplers).  

I am having fun with my NanoVNA, happily measuring SWR and the bandpass characteristics of various filters.  Mine came with what looks like a guitar pick -- this is used as a stylus to hit the small boxes on the touch-screen.  A nice touch...   

I wish there was some good software for use with this VNA.  Apparently the nice software described by Joe Smith (yesterday's blog post) is quite expensive.  Is there a free alternative out there? 

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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