Author Topic: NanoVNA Custom Software (Read 553096 times)

joeqsmith · « **Reply #750 on:** January 22, 2021, 02:54:55 am »

Updates to the manual reflect the revision of software used for my upcoming review.

https://github.com/joeqsmith/NanoVNA_V2Plus

joeqsmith · « **Reply #751 on:** January 23, 2021, 04:08:41 am »

Review of the new NanoVNA V2 Plus 4

KE5FX · « **Reply #752 on:** January 23, 2021, 08:20:13 am »

Looks like a great contribution, Joe -- especially nice to see the automated crystal measurement functionality. Shame about the artifacts you were seeing in narrow spans. I wonder if slowing down the sweep would help with those?

How exactly is the software installed? Looks like there are 18 files with .zip.xx suffixes...?

Belgarath · « **Reply #753 on:** January 23, 2021, 05:33:01 pm »

Hi Joe,

Thanks very much for the exhaustive review, nice to hear about real world measurements.

I just downloaded and installed your software. I will play with it in the next days.

I use a V2+4, I bought a couple weeks ago to play with. About the narrow band measurement, I was having problems for the past week trying to draw a crystal filter using the vna_qt software.

Using the NanoVNAv2+4 in stand alone mode brought some light when used with the averaging (cf. attached pictures). Indeed measurements have been made with fresh SOLT calibration. The filter is a Yaesu 455k 500Hz.

Could this behaviour be caused by clock jittering within the nano ? If so, the various software might benefit to implement the averaging parameter.

Best Regards, 73's

François / F4HTX

update 1 : Added the same measurement with joeqsmith software (450 to 460kHz / 1024pts)

joeqsmith · « **Reply #754 on:** February 07, 2021, 06:01:10 pm »

A few people have asked me about the software missing. It was moved to released.

KE5FX · « **Reply #755 on:** February 07, 2021, 06:43:42 pm »

Quote from: joeqsmith on February 07, 2021, 06:01:10 pm

A few people have asked me about the software missing. It was moved to released.

Gotta say, I still have no idea what to do with 21 .zip files. How about a standardized installation procedure?

joeqsmith · « **Reply #756 on:** February 08, 2021, 04:23:21 am »

It's just a spanned zip file to get around Github's file size limitation.

https://sourceforge.net/p/sevenzip/discussion/45798/thread/9cefe2c2/

Adiy · « **Reply #757 on:** February 26, 2021, 02:02:53 pm »

The program seems to be a great tool for NanoVNA

and I am able to run V2+ with the LabVIEW code without any hardware issue as of now.
I want to perform S11 sweeps continuously and store the files therefore I want to know the following:
1. How can I change the frequency sweep?
2. How can I can get the real and imaginary parts of the data? I use the USB sniffer software (device monitoring studio) to monitor the port (COM 3 in my case) but still unable to decrypt from the long strings of data (up and down)
3. In the program there are some hex numbers passed to the serial port like 2300 4042 0F00 0000 0000, what is the reason of this arrangement? is there any command list documentation available?

A reply would be really appreciated.

Best Regards
Adiy

joeqsmith · « **Reply #758 on:** February 26, 2021, 05:56:26 pm »

Quote from: Adiy on February 26, 2021, 02:02:53 pm

The program seems to be a great tool for NanoVNA and I am able to run V2+ with the LabVIEW code without any hardware issue as of now.
I want to perform S11 sweeps continuously and store the files therefore I want to know the following:
1. How can I change the frequency sweep?
2. How can I can get the real and imaginary parts of the data? I use the USB sniffer software (device monitoring studio) to monitor the port (COM 3 in my case) but still unable to decrypt from the long strings of data (up and down)
3. In the program there are some hex numbers passed to the serial port like 2300 4042 0F00 0000 0000, what is the reason of this arrangement? is there any command list documentation available?

A reply would be really appreciated.

Best Regards
Adiy

I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear about problems with that software. It's really an engineering tool that I put together to evaluate the Nano.

It sounds like you haven't actually taken the time to read the manual or even watch the video as both certainly cover your first question. I suggest you start there.

I don't understand what you are asking with your second question. Combined with your third question, it sounds like you would like to write your own software. The best thing to do may be do download the open source code and start there. There are also several groups for the various versions of the Nano that you may want to consider joining. If that's your end goal, I would not waste your time with the manual or video as I don't go into any details about the protocol or any of the math behind it.

Yes, the designer's of the V2+ made a command document available that everyone may freely download from their site.

Miti · « **Reply #759 on:** February 28, 2021, 07:43:56 pm »

Quote from: joeqsmith on December 03, 2020, 12:48:38 pm

Looking in the area of 80 to 140MHz on the V2+4, there are two spurs rather than the one seen with the V2+. The frequency is a little off between the two VNAs. More interesting is the V2+ spur would show up at random times, the spurs seen with the V2+4 are always present. As with the V2+, it doesn't appear to be a local source.

@joesmith,

I can't duplicate the spurs that you see on my V2+4. The first time I tried, there was a clear single spur around 136MHz, but after a power cycle, it was gone. After each power cycle I get (or not) different spurs in different places. See below.

joeqsmith · « **Reply #760 on:** February 28, 2021, 10:16:21 pm »

I wonder if you were to increase the number of sample points like I show if you would see two of them.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg3352770/#msg3352770

Miti · « **Reply #761 on:** March 01, 2021, 01:07:25 am »

Wouldn’t reducing the span achieve the same thing? Unless these spurs are dependent on frequency and span settings and the moon phase, which I’ve seen on an HP SA at work (there’s an internal spur that shows up only at a narrow range of center frequency and span settings), reducing the span around the frequencies of interest would give me more resolution.

Edit: The forum does whatever it wants when posting from mobile. I couldn't get it to attach two different pictures. Now should be correct.

joeqsmith · « **Reply #762 on:** March 01, 2021, 01:55:15 am »

I have no idea but if you wanted to try and replicate what I have, I would start with the same settings. If you like, I could also try running mine in other configurations as well.

I haven't seen the V2+4 available for some time. We are now waiting to see one of these 6GHz units on the market.

Miti · « **Reply #763 on:** March 01, 2021, 02:09:01 am »

How do I do that, I thought you don’t share your SW.

Miti · « **Reply #764 on:** March 01, 2021, 11:41:27 pm »

Here are some screen shot using the crappy "VNA View" with 401 and 600 points.

joeqsmith · « **Reply #765 on:** March 06, 2021, 11:00:20 pm »

Ever wonder how much torque it takes to rip an end launch connector off a circuit board?

DrNefario · « **Reply #766 on:** March 07, 2021, 07:47:04 pm »

Great work! Thank you very much. I successfully installed the NanoVNA V2 Plus ver 0.10 and ran the setup.
I know that the manual says that the software supports both the NanoVNA V2+ and V2+4, however I see from some of the posts (i.e. reply # 716, 3p68xtal_originalNano.PNG ) that the original NanoVNA seemed to have some support. I have the original and not the V2+ or V2+4 yet. I would like to add a transfer relay to be able to get 4-port S-Parms, so I tried to run with v0.10 and don't get the green light on the "Link" command button. It does seem able to communicate with it as in the status window I see "NanoVNA V240+,Protocol 241, FW 243.244". Note that I had upgraded the FW a couple of times and have been using it with NanoVNA-Saver.
My question: is there any way to get this to work with your software or is support for the original not planned? - Maybe with different firmware?

joeqsmith · « **Reply #767 on:** March 07, 2021, 10:56:15 pm »

Dr Nefario,

Quote from: DrNefario on March 07, 2021, 07:47:04 pm

Great work! Thank you very much. I successfully installed the NanoVNA V2 Plus ver 0.10 and ran the setup.
I know that the manual says that the software supports both the NanoVNA V2+ and V2+4, however I see from some of the posts (i.e. reply # 716, 3p68xtal_originalNano.PNG ) that the original NanoVNA seemed to have some support.

You are correct that the manual mentions and this thread certainly covers that I did write some software to support the original Nano. You are also correct that my manual states:

• Supports both the NanoVNA V2+ and V2+4

It also states in the scope:

Quote

This software can be viewed as an engineering tool at best. Its primary use was to extend the author's understanding of V2+. It was never intended to be used as a general tool for radio hobbyist to tune their antennas. The software is fairly buggy and not very robust. Even under normal conditions, expect to run into several problems if attempting to use this software. It’s a very poor choice for the beginner.

I will assume that paragraph doesn't pertain to you personally.

Quote from: DrNefario on March 07, 2021, 07:47:04 pm

I have the original and not the V2+ or V2+4 yet. I would like to add a transfer relay to be able to get 4-port S-Parms, so I tried to run with v0.10 and don't get the green light on the "Link" command button.

Seems normal. I didn't try to run this software with anything except what the manual calls out. Were you expecting something else to happen?

Quote from: DrNefario on March 07, 2021, 07:47:04 pm

It does seem able to communicate with it as in the status window I see "NanoVNA V240+,Protocol 241, FW 243.244". Note that I had upgraded the FW a couple of times and have been using it with NanoVNA-Saver.

Both the original and the V2 Plus/4 do use USB and both simulate the old RS-232 comm ports. So assuming that's what you mean by the software being able to communicate with it, then it sure can. We are both humans. I speak English. If you spoke another language, there may be some crossover where I may understand you once in a while. I guess we could call that communicating as well. We humans go beyond what simple software can do. We can actually learn in some cases. Over time our communications may improve. I doubt you will see this with the software. Were you expecting otherwise?

Quote from: DrNefario on March 07, 2021, 07:47:04 pm

My question: is there any way to get this to work with your software or is support for the original not planned? - Maybe with different firmware?

Because the word "works" has lost much of its meaning lets say that it is certainly possible that if firmware were written for the original NanoVNA to support the same protocol as the V2+, it would indeed work, at least to the degree of how well the firmware was written. That would be true for ANY device, not just the original NanoVNA.

From what I understand, the open source software for the nano is very good. It has a large support group and is actually something put together for the amateur/CB radio group. The whole idea with it being open source is YOU can change it. If software isn't your thing, I suggest you start by politely asking the developers to add what ever features you want. This way everyone benefits.

If you really want to evaluate my software, the obvious thing to do would be to procure one of the supported products. I have no plans to support the older hardware at this time.

I have been following some of the development of the newer low cost VNAs. One in particular seems very interesting. If something like this becomes available, I would most likely procure one to review and make and software I write for it available for free as well.

Electro Fan · « **Reply #768 on:** March 10, 2021, 04:32:03 pm »

Quote from: joeqsmith on March 07, 2021, 10:56:15 pm

I have been following some of the development of the newer low cost VNAs. One in particular seems very interesting.

Which VNA might that be?

joeqsmith · « **Reply #769 on:** March 10, 2021, 05:42:47 pm »

Quote from: Electro Fan on March 10, 2021, 04:32:03 pm

Quote from: joeqsmith on March 07, 2021, 10:56:15 pm
I have been following some of the development of the newer low cost VNAs. One in particular seems very interesting.

Which VNA might that be?

https://github.com/jankae/VNA

https://github.com/jankae/VNA2

joeqsmith · « **Reply #770 on:** March 10, 2021, 05:53:26 pm »

I had a look at this one but there is very little documentation. I'm not sure if it would interface with the PC. The other was designed to run headless. This is more what I am after.

http://www.arinst.net/files/2114-ARINST-VNA-PR1/User-manual-ARINST-VNA-PR1-1-6200_ENG.pdf?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000023.2.38956f630VOcBJ&file=User-manual-ARINST-VNA-PR1-1-6200_ENG.pdf

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001683791887.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4037645ecHafMg&algo_pvid=36f641a7-2fa6-4475-b6c7-b7c1d206eca4&algo_expid=36f641a7-2fa6-4475-b6c7-b7c1d206eca4-0&btsid=0b0a556b16153985764111357e19c0&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

joeqsmith · « **Reply #771 on:** March 13, 2021, 08:43:55 pm »

An updated draft of the manual is available that provides additional details when using the original Nano to characterize crystals.

purpose · « **Reply #772 on:** March 14, 2021, 08:55:26 pm »

Mr. Smith... I present your/my crystal fixture.
Have to make some calibration jobbies, but seems to be about right.

joeqsmith · « **Reply #773 on:** March 14, 2021, 11:29:48 pm »

Looking good. If you perform a normal SOLT. then insert the fixture with the crystal socket shorted, what does the response look like from say 500KHz to 50MHz?

purpose · « **Reply #774 on:** March 15, 2021, 12:47:46 am »

Not sure which charts you wanted.


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Author Topic: NanoVNA Custom Software (Read 553096 times)

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