To add to Jim's comments, I also use the VNWA3 and wish that I had
bought one years ago. The Yahoo group is a wealth of expertise. I'm
currently building a set of OSL standards for UHF connectors. One of
the members of the Yahoo group, Kurt Poulsen OZ7OU, has written several
papers on building & calibrating both male and female versions of these
standards.
73 charlie, k1xx
On 10/30/2015 1:42 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> Anyone considering a VNA owes it to themselves to look at the VNWA 3e,
> designed by a German EE prof and built by some hams in the UK. It is,
> in several ways, superior to the Array Solutions products and at half
> the cost. I paid $769 three years ago, including calibration kit,
> inexpensive case, and shipping to my home in W6. It's also well
> supported by a Yahoo group that is monitored both by DG8SAQ, the
> designer and software/firmware author and the UK hams who build it.
>
> http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html
>
> The cables and cal kit are SMA; I mostly use the VNWA with UHF
> connectors to measure systems and antennas at HF. I've accumulated a
> variety of connector adapters from ham flea markets, and made my own
> UHF short and open that are plenty good enough for HF measurements.
> The key is to make the distance between short and open as nearly equal
> as possible. Distance to the 50 ohm load doesn't matter much.
>
> When buying adapters, by all means try to avoid the shiny un-branded
> stuff sold for a few bucks each. I try to buy either Amphenol branded
> parts or those stamped with mil-spec numbers.
>
> Obviously, greater precision of calibration is needed if you're
> measuring at UHF. The VNWA goes to 500 MHz full spec, reduced spec to
> 1.3 GHz.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> On Fri,10/30/2015 5:21 AM, Michael Tope wrote:
>> Wayne, you might check with Array Solutions. They list the following
>> accessories in the price list under the AIM-4300 Analyzer:
>>
>> AS-PLS-U Standard Calibration load set PL259 up to 1 GHz $50.00
>> AS-PLS-N Standard Calibration Load Set Type-N up to 1 GHz $60.00
>>
>> http://www.arraysolutions.com/pricelist.htm
>>
>> I am assuming since they call it a "set" that it includes an open,
>> short, and load, but you would need to confirm that with them.
>>
>> 73, Mike W4EF...........
>>
>> On 10/29/2015 5:00 PM, Wayne Kline wrote:
>>> Fellow TT'ers
>>> I bought a VNA type antenna analyzer . Just scratching the
>>> surface to it' s capabilities. One thing I know I need to build a
>>> set OSL Open Short Load
>>> termination calibrator fittings. Spent some time on Google SMA
>>> homebrew are easy to find... ( f I had bought a SARK 100 which
>>> has an SMA connector I would be golden ) But I need info for
>>> an UHF or N connector .
>>> Not wanting to reinvent the wheel anybody have info on
>>> such animals ?
>>> Wayne W3EA
>>>
>>
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