| W7LJT |
Rating:      |
2021-02-06 | |
| Great buy for the tekkies among us |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I first bought the original 2.8" Nano and I was pleased. Coming from a calibration lab background I appreciated what it could do. Only issue was the screen size. So when the 4" version came out I jumped on it. I wasn't disappointed. I have a big old HP 8754 what can do some things better but for convenience the Nano is super. |
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| WA5RR |
Rating:      |
2021-02-05 | |
| Wow Factor in a Tiny Package |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After many years of borrowing other ham's analyzers or just tuning with an SWR bridge, I spent the remainder of a gift card on a NanoVNA. It was a great choice!
This tiny device measures everything that the pricier analyzers do at a fraction of the cost. I've already used it to tune a new 6-meter halo and then I swept my EFHW antenna. It showed SWR dips on 7 HF bands and, with the computer software, I took screenshots of the results to share online with others.
Once you learn the calibration process, everything else is a matter of setting it up correctly. There is a ton of help on the NanoVNA forums and YouTube. In my past 38 years as a ham, this has to be one of the best pieces of test equipment for the value I've ever owned. |
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| VE5CQ |
Rating:      |
2021-02-04 | |
| $10,000 in the Palm of Your Hand |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Just got this one last month from Aliexpress for $39.84 Canadian. I've had other analyzers, but this one requires a whole new approach. The NANO VNA not only performs the scans and provides the numbers, but instantly gives 2D and Polar charts for everything that it sees. Just a few years ago, in terms of Ham Radio history, instruments like this would have been worth $10,000 or more.
Being a bit older and far-sighted, I was concerned about the small screen, but was happy that my bifocals could help me see everything that was going on clearly. Once attached to any computer, the readings and graphs become larger and clearer and are a joy to behold.
There is a small learning curve which frightened me at first, but configuration is really a breeze once you go through it a few times. Since the NANO VNA pretty much covers 99% of common Amateur Allocations, I gave away my other analyzers and cast my lot entirely with this handy-dandy gizmo.
You can determine the nitty-gritty details of just about any antenna with this little thing. I measured all my rubber duckies and was both pleased and horrified by just how good or bad factory ducks can be. A real eye-opener! There are $1.77 antennas out there that vastly outperform $35 ducks, but you'll never know until you try them with the NANO VNA.
My greatest satisfaction came from analyzing Off Centre Dipoles with 4 or 6 to 1 Baluns. Then graph it out and see where all the sweet spots are. Something that took days to calculate not all that many years ago, now appears instantly on your screen.
Ham Radio has always had its elitists, insisting you couldn't possibly be a real ham unless you laid out a big wad of cash. But this gizmo is so cheap and so capable, NO ham should be without one, especially if you home-brew! Smaller than a pack of cigarettes, I promise you WILL be impressed.
Enthusiastically recommended, but be prepared to invest in a brief learning curve.
73 de VE5CQ |
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| WB4IVG |
Rating:      |
2021-01-25 | |
| One Great piece of equipment for the size and cost! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I am an RF and Antenna Engineer of some 50 years and a Ham longer than that. This is Dynamite in a SMALL Package! I own quite literally thousands of dollars of test equipment for testing various RF and Antenna systems this little Gem has only one drawback as far as I can see that is the tiny display if it were twice as big it would be even better, however that said if you use it as I do with an accompanying LapTop and Software the tiny display hardly even figures into the equation. I use numerous pieces of test equipment daily this one does have a little bit of a learning curve but not bad and does not only everything it claims but way, way more. In short this little device packs more bang for the buck than anything I have purchased in a long long time! |
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| K8RFT |
Rating:      |
2021-01-25 | |
| Amazing value, super usefulness |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Amazing value!
The NanoVNA is a very helpful and educational tool for a ham. The advantages and uses are already well detailed on the internet. I want to add some suggestions.
First, when ordering a NanoVNA, also order the connector adapters you will need. (I didn't know, at the time!) I now have male and female adapters for connecting the Nano's SMA connectors to UHF, BNC, F and MCX. Another very useful adapter is the BNC to dual banana jack/binding posts, as made by Pomona. I think I spent about as much on adapters as on my original NanoVNA clone - $47.
As many have said, the screen is small (2.8 inches) and hard to read in bright light. It's not very useful outdoors, especially in sunlight. I finally ended up ordering a NanoVNA-F clone from AliExpress. It is much easier to use, and to read. It has fewer firmware variations than the "original" design, which is now called the NanoVNA-H. Changing or updating the -F firmware is simpler to do than with the -F models.
There is now also a NanoVNA-H4, with a larger screen, but that screen is not the TFT type of the -F, and not as easy to read in bright sunlight.
There is FREE PC software to use with the -F and -H which can do additional analysis, store readings data, print reports and charts, and capture screenshots from the NanoVNA.
A very important step in learning to use the NanoVNA is to join - and read! - the Groups.io-nanovna-users. That group is very active and helpful, and it has a large section of uploaded files with hints, tips, operating suggestions and tutorials. There is also a very helpful WIKI, and I would recommend anyone thinking about buying a NanoVNA join the group and explore the Files section and the WIKI before ordering one. It can be a complex device, with a lot of settings and variables, so it does take some learning. Compensating for that, it can tell you so much more than the other popular, portable analyzers can.
Just imagine - you can carry an excellent, very useful and versatile antenna analyzer in your shirt pocket! (you'll need at least one, maybe a couple of connector adapters in another pocket, though!) |
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| KD0VE |
Rating:      |
2021-01-24 | |
| Outstanding value! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Bought one of these cuz it was hard to believe the claimed functionality at the advertised price. I'm impressed! I am probably not going to buy the RigExpert AA-600 I planned as this little device will do everything I need. Youtube tutorials are a key. |
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| AJ4YN |
Rating:      |
2020-12-22 | |
| Incredible value for the money |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The NanoVNA is a fine piece of RF test equipment for filters, amps, and antennas. Surprisingly accurate despite the low cost. I measured S21 magnitude and it is within a dB over a 50 dB range.
The Smith chart function can be set to read out directly in ohms and uH or Pf. Great for checking coils etc. For instance, a 800nH inductor in series with a 10 ohm resistor will read 10 ohms 800nH. The conversion from R+Jx to component value is done on-the-fly as the frequency is changed.
Crystals can be checked for resonance and series resistance if the sweep is narrowed to a few hundred KHz.
This is must have gear for any ham operators who use a antenna! I do wish the screen was larger, though. |
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| KE7MU |
Rating:      |
2020-07-27 | |
| Fit my needs, love it! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I just got it today, and already checked SWR on my 80 meter loop. Verified with radios used. Love it but some of it's capabilities are over my head. Great learning tool, would buy it again, and better than my 30 year old VA1 by Autek. |
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| N4ATS |
Rating:      |
2020-06-07 | |
| Super for the price |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Being an RF Engineer and having access to the big buck toys , I just had to try one and was totally amazed how accurate it is. For the price you cant beat it. I was so amazed I bought the 4.2 inch version the same day and will give this one to my friend. I put a pocket camera on it so it shows up in a 20" display and that makes life easier... |
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| NZ2Z |
Rating:     |
2020-06-06 | |
| You get what you pay for |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I have three MFJ analyzers and was curious about this one. If you want bank for your buck this is it. Price gap between the NanoVNA and the next SWR anazyzer is almost $200. It can be a but difficult to handle the little roll menu dial, but with patience it can be done. It is probably just has a higher degree of difficulty than my smallest HT.
What I did like about this is the range. I have VHF and UHF antennas and have always had a difficulty testing them. At last I found something that has the range.
There is a Windows app that can be used.
This device will also re-familiarize you with Smith Charts.
All and all, it is worth the money spent.
Bob nz2z |
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