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Reviews For: NanoVNA-H

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : NanoVNA-H
Reviews: 9MSRP: Around $60
Description:
The 'H' allows function to 1500 MHz, TDR function, etc.
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1594.6
KT4WO Rating: 2023-01-06
NANOVNA-H4 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Picked this up from R&L(USA) over a year back
and just LOVE IT! I also had the small version but
gave it to a buddy.
For less than $100 - every ham needs one.
I has so many features that most I haven't tried
yet. If you do any antenna tuning - get one!

Add a TinySA-Ultra and you are ready.
LNXAUTHOR Rating: 2021-12-26
cost-effective tools Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have two H versions, both in plastic cases, one in 4.3" and the other, a more recent purchase, in 2.8"

these are inexpensive, cost-effective tools for amateur radio operators... i, like many i suspect, simply use these for swr sweeps of various antennas at different frequencies, although they are much more capable than that

there are many variations and different software versions; for example, my 2.8" analyzer has a firmware variant dated 11/2021 by dslord... the analyzer, costing less than a Grant, features an sdhc slot to store snapshots, along with labeling of recall settings on the screen to contain frequency ranges (i.e., 144-148, 7.0-7.3, 1.8-30, etc), which is very handy!

the 2.8" version also slips easily into the pocket or bag and weighs almost nothing...

i have since sold off my MFJ-259 and RigExpert (which i liked, but that was too bulky and inconvenient)

the only caveat is that these analyzers may be hard to read in bright sunlight, so keep that in mind for field operations...

and of course they are more fragile, more so than my 259, which i nicknamed 'Bouncing Betty,' as it continued working fine after a six-foot drop onto concrete 15 years ago

i think every ham should have one of them on hand... the usb pc connection and free analyzer software is also nice
VE3TMT Rating: 2021-12-26
Great little tool if you build antennas Time Owned: more than 12 months.
17 month update...this little gem is still working just fine. In the time since my first review, I have built a 4el VHF/7el UHF satellite beam and completed a VHF installation in the SUV. The analyzer proved itself each time. Indispensable and a must have if you like building antennas or just like to check the state of your existing ones

I just took ownership of a NanoVNA-H4, purchased off Amazon and arrived two days later. I just finished building a five element two meter beam and wanted to sweep it before putting it up on the tower. It did just what I needed.

I see the "F" version has the 4.3" screen. Although my box says H, I can confirm it has the larger screen and the metal case.

Version shows 0.5.0 build date Feb 21, 2020 so it's a new one. I paid $159.99 CAD for it. Not bad when the local Ham Shop in Toronto wants $459 for an MFJ259C.

I am totally happy with this unit.
W5MW Rating: 2021-12-25
Cheap. went dead after 3 days Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had this thing in a box, until my MFJ -269 bit the dust at 18 years. I figured out how to work it, and with the Saver PC software was pretty impressive, until it quit 3 days later. It has juice in the battery, and switch works, but screen only has a dim glow. Tried all the forum tricks to wake it up, but it’s dead. It was cheap, but also very unreliable.
G8WWD Rating: 2021-01-17
Great value for money and powerful facilities Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought one of these via Amazon and it only took a couple of days to arrive. I found that it is much easier to use with the various PC software programs that are freely available online. It is really easy to sweep an antenna, balun, tuned circuit, etc. to see what the impedance and resonance is.

However, as with every piece of test equipment, you have to be careful how you interpret the results. Those results are only as good as how they are interpreted by the user! It is very easy to become "obsessed" with the 50 ohm, 1:1 SWR, when in fact the antenna that you are testing may not actually exhibit 50 ohms on its resonant frequency at its feedpoint. As a result, you could actually be detuning your antenna from the resonant frequency that you want, by aiming for a 1:1 SWR at 50 ohms. Just remember to think a little beyond the readings!

Having said that. The nanoVNA is no different from any other Antenna Analyser in this way. They can all easily lead you up the garden path if you don't add a little common sense and think about your interpretation of their output readings.
KD2TTM Rating: 2020-09-01
Does more than I need it to at a bargain price. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed to tune an end-fed half-wave I bought for portable use. I live in a rural area and only know a couple of hams, and none with an antenna analyzer. I bought an AURSINC NanoVNA-H (Rev. 3.4) and watched some on-line videos to learn how to operate it.

It did an excellent job and was fun to use. And it does so much more... I can look forward to learning lots more about it and taking advantage of its other features.
G4AON Rating: 2020-08-15
Excellent value Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The NanoVNA series have revolutionised antenna and filter measurements for budget minded hams.

Mine is a 4” screen, 1.5GHz model. For 50% more, there are 4.3” screen versions with higher screen resolution. I didn’t feel the need to pay more than the 79 GBP mine cost from Amazon.

They are all made down to a price, with flimsy switches. Due to their delicate construction they are better suited to use on a bench, as opposed to outdoor antenna work. It is not hard to fabricate a case with a pair of N sockets if you intend to use one for a lot of antenna testing.

I cannot fault the accuracy, or the versatility, of these instruments. There are manuals on the web, plus free Windows software. The instructional videos by W2AEW on YouTube are excellent and give a good insight into their use.
W5HEX Rating: 2020-07-31
Great Analyzer at the price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My model is the NanoVNA-H 4 model with the 4" screen. I have a RigExpert AA-35 for HF but wanted something for 2 Meters and 440 insterad of borrowing my friends or spending $250 + for a meter for those bands. I found the NanoVNA-H 4 on R&L's website for just under $60.00. It arrived quick and after watching a few videos of how to calibrate it, I was up and running. I took reading with my RigExpert on HF and compared then to the Nano and they were extremely close to the same readings on both. 1.25 vs 1.26 etc for example. I then confirmed my VHF reading with my friends MFJ meter and again...spot on. I love this meter and would recommend it to budget minded hams. It does way more than I need but fills my antenna building needs just fine. Just remember to calibrate it before using.
N4UE Rating: 2019-12-16
Excellent 'first choice' for a NanoVNA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's hard to describe just how dynamic and evolving the market is for these devices!
I simply suggest that anyone in the market for one of these devices, join the (different) NanoVNA-Groups.io.
I have the original (2.8" screen), the 'F' model (with the 4.3" screen) and just recently received the 'H' model. The 'H' model still has the 2.8" screen, but has MANY advancements over the original. Good to 1500 MHz, TDR function, battery indicator, etc.

Just be aware, this is a MOVING target. Many more models will be coming, there are LOTS of sellers out there, some good, some not so good. Software updates/added functions, almost daily from all over the world. Hard to keep up, honestly!!! But, that's a GOOD thing! They come with calibration tools, etc.
However, the good news is that as they grow in popularity, you can now get them from WalMart, Amazon, etc. So, you don't have to worry about delivery from China. To be honest, the first VNA I ordered never arrived. However, I ordered it a day before the Chinese National Holiday, where the WHOLE country takes off. I got a refund. ha ha
On the Groups.io Site, you can find who is selling the 'clones' and who is the 'better' source.

My 'H' model was sold by a chap in Ky and it arrived VERY fast and the 'H' models have a plastic case. BTW, the 'F' model (about 2X the price), has a nice metal case and that 4.3" screen, but not as advanced (yet) as the 'H' model. YET.

I might add that I have a newer Rigol SA/TG in my shop, but these 3 VNAs are a blast to play with.

FWIW

rton
N4UE