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Reviews For: SDR Kits VNWA 3E

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : SDR Kits VNWA 3E
Reviews: 2MSRP: 458 excl VAT and shipping
Description:
Covering 1 kHz to 1.3 GHz and powered from a PC USB-bus, the VNWA3E (same as VNWA3) offers a dynamic range of 90dB up to 500 MHz and better than 50dB above 500 MHz.
Supporting the same functionality as its predecessors VNWA 3, the VNWA 3E additionally offers (via VNWA 3 Expansion board):
Simultaneous S11 and S21 measurements in one Sweep
Reduced Power consumption - DDS switched mode supply (USB powered like VNWA 3)
RJ11 socket to provide external VNWA control and VNWA power connectivity
Optional External VNWA 3 Clock connectivity
Product is in production
More Info: http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0025
K4DSP Rating: 2018-11-15
Best VNA for the money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had the VNWA 3E for a month now, and there is nothing else out there for the money that beats it. It is the "Swiss Army Knife" of test equipment. In addition to reflection (S11) and transmission (S21) measurements it also includes a signal generator, spectrum analyzer, and a frequency meter. If you work with antennas, transmission lines, filters, duplexers, and such you'll wonder how you got along without a VNA. The software has a bit of a learning curve, but the time invested in learning to use this instrument is well worth it. Good support, both from the maker and from the community.
OZ1HFT Rating: 2017-05-31
Fine and pretty small box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have used it for one day (owned it some weeks) and only had one small software problem. Somewhere I read I could add my call to the end of the license number. That did not work, so I had to use the license number as is.

I have done the SOLT calibrations (Short, Open, Load and Transmission) several times. So I am now acquainted with it.

As a first test I have made a dual band J-pole antenna made from common electrical wire, balsa wood and tape, that did not work. ( https://web.archive.org/web/20150920073620/http://www.users.on.net/~endsodds/jpole.htm ) When seeing VNWA S11 curves I could see both resonances lay 13% to low. After shortening the elements, the resonances fell pretty close to the band centers and I am now using the antenna indoor.

(Next tests are components, crystal and RF-filter testing via the VNWA Testboard)