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Reviews For: mRS miniVNA 0.1-180Mhz

Category: Antenna Analyzers

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Review Summary For : mRS miniVNA 0.1-180Mhz
Reviews: 30MSRP: 315 or 240 Euro
Description:
* Frequency coverage 0.1Mhz to 180MHz
* DDS Generator with 0 dBm output
* 2 Ports allow Transmission Measurements e.g. filters, traps
* USB1.1 and USB2 compatibility
* RS232 optional socket for Pocket PC`s or Remote Displays
* Fast Scan (typical 0.6 sec for 500 points)
* Use of an internal Industrial Directional Coupler
* High Reflection Dynamic Range 40dB to 35dB (VSWR 1.06:1 or better)
* Wide Transmission Dynamic Range > 50-55dB
* Measures VSWR, RL, Rs, Z +/-jx, Phase, Cable lenght, R/L/C
* Finds Minimum VSWR automatically
* New transparent box with LED indicators for the operation status
* In-Circuit-Programming for future firmware onboard CPU upgrades
* Operation from 3.6V Phone Batteries possible (current drawn <150mA)
* Software compatible with Windows and Linux operating systems.
* Save and Load of previous measurements
* Software for Pocket PC available
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.miniradiosolutions.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00304
TANAKASAN Rating: 2008-02-16
You Get What You Pay For Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This unit is OK but you get what you pay for.

1) My unit has a calibration error and frequency measurement is 4.2 KHz out. This can be zeroed out using the software but it doesn't take account of drift.

2) There's no manual and if you don't know how to interpret parts of the display then you need to hit the Yahoo forum.

3) Some antenna measurements have a very noisy display due to reception of broadcast signals.

4) It's in a plastic case with no RF shielding.

Tanakasan
FRASER Rating: 2007-11-26
Amazing value and performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a need for a simple VNA for frequency response tests on amplifiers, filters, feeders and antennas. I could not find a built unit anywhere near the price in Europe. Building one was an option but was more expensive. The MiniVNA fitted my requirements perfectly. I can now plot the required frequency responses with ease and carry out real-time adjustments in a Shack or Field deployment.

The small size of the MiniVNA is far more convenient than my bench mounted Spectrum Analyser and Tracking Generator. This unit also blows away my MFJ259 antenna analyser. Graphical displays of SWR etc. are a joy to use.

The 100kHz to 180 MHz 0dBm DDS output makes a very useful and accurate CW signal generator when set to fixed frequency mode and combined with a suitable attenuator.

I can recommend this unit to anyone with a similar requirement to mine and accepts that it is a simple VNA with an excellent price point / performance ratio. It would be unfair to compare it to the expensive offerings of HP and the like.

The software is adequate for the task and there is good 3rd party software support including DOS and Linux varients :-) I had the miniVNA up and running within 10 minutes of unpacking it.

I recommend that any purchaser of this product join the miniVNA Yahoo Group where they will find plenty of information and help.
VA7DH Rating: 2007-07-18
A useful RF tool with some limitations Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I would give the miniVNA a 5 but for one snag that I just ran into. I was trying to sweep a Buxcomm 7 band OCF antenna. I had already used an MFJ259 to see how well the antenna would match up on the areas of interest on different bands. I fired up the miniVNA on the antenna and instead of getting a nice trace on my PC saw a lot of noise. I live at the edge of Victoria BC and can only assume that I was seeing a lot of QRM from commercial radios of all types. I couldn't get a decent trace. I decided to run the antenna through my B&W VS300A antenna tuner. I tuned up on the various bands with that using the tuner as a preselector. It cleaned the trace up quite nicely. Unfortunately the tuner masked the antenna VSWR. I was concerned about that possibility when I bought the miniVNA. RF noise areound a city is just a fact of life. I can still check out 2m and 6m antennas reasonably well. I can also use the minVNA to tune filters, that sort of thing. I guess if I want to tune up dipoles I will have to take them with me out in the country where strong RF isn't present. So, buyer beware. This could be a problem for you and could be for most antenna analyzers in a similar situation. I'm not disappointed in it overall. It's still a fine tool. You just need to be aware of its limitations.
SM0GAW Rating: 2007-01-22
Great VNA Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Before I didn’t know what I did and I didn’t see what I did . With the VNA I saw what I did and I started to understand antennas. The very best antenna learning tool I have seen!! I have both versions and I am very happy with them. With screenshots you can rather exact compare antennas before and after and keep a copy of your antenna data. If something happen to the antenna or coax you can see that by comparing data.
This instrument was for 10 years ago 20 kg of equipment 220 V to a price of 50 to 100 000$
I am convinced this instrument is one of the best and cheapest on the market.
Order one (mini) greatVNA today and you will never regret that step. It is the best buy you ever have done for your shack.
A big thanks to all involved in the development
Best regards
SM0GAW
Curt
IZ3ATV Rating: 2006-12-17
Analyze me please! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own #282 and I'm using it connected to a low-cost VIA C3 notebook.
I started measuring antennas and other items around my shack and ended recalibrating s-meter readings of my olfd IC-725 with help of a couple of attenuators.
I agree with some criticism about software and phase measure readings, BUT miniVNA is the best buy for my hobby EVER.
What I can confirm is that this analyzer worth much more it costs and in my opinion is a must-have. It can improve your homebrewing a huge.
I2DMI Rating: 2006-12-11
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received the no. 284. I have installed it in few minutes and I was able to "SEE" colour diagrams of my antennas.
Fantastic !!!!
I'm going to sell my obsolete MFJ-269
Frank I2DMI
VK4APN Rating: 2006-10-18
Stunning Test Equipment - 5 Star Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Outstanding instrument. Opens a whole new world in measurements and feedback for antenna projects, filters & stubs etc. Takes guess-work and assumptions out of equation (almost). You may have to be a bit patient with delivery schedules, but absolutely worth the wait. Excellent forum of users on Yahoo groups.
PETEMILLIS Rating: 2006-08-14
Fantastic analyser, fantastic software Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have only had my MiniVNA (serial number 163) for a couple of days but have not stopped using it. Installation of the hardware and software under WinXP is a breeze. Everything worked straight away (well, once I had selected the correct com port which took all of 20 seconds!)

The latest software that has been written for it is so straightforward to use, and the user interface is very clear. I have no problems with this at all. It is running extremely well on my old Panasonic CF-28 laptop, which isn't the fast computer in the world, and I have no problems with hesitating display.

The support available through the user group is excellent - thanks guys.

The MiniVNA is most definitely a purchsse I am happy with and glad I made. I love experimenting with antennas, feedlines and phasing, and this is a fantastic tool for the job.

Pete M3KXZ
Brighton UK
DL5VZ Rating: 2006-06-10
minivna no. 36 at work Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Like the 60Mhz vna the new one is a "must have" for antenna engeneering HAM´s. This little "Blue Box" helps me a lot in Selfmade Antennas, Traps and Coaxstubs and saved me much more Euro´s than the miniVna costs.In difference to other´s like MFJ or RF1 you have an ideal overview on the spectrum of frequency you have chosen with the easy to use and understand software.Very important to me is the availability of UNIX/Linux to use as operating system. So my congrats to both Soft- as Hardware Team of miniVna, you make HOMEBREWING easier and interesting for many Radio Amateurs, ...keep carry on ...
my best regards
Alexander, DL5VZ
SM7JUN Rating: 2006-06-09
Excellent! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received this little device a few weeks ago and I must say it really stand out.
I have tried it on filters and antennas and I find it most useful. A great product that I would recommend for every HAM lab.