This is a simple question, but I'm still in the crawling before walking stage.
Must I calibrate every time I change the Start and Stop frequency?
I have an 80-10 meter dipole and a 2m/70cm in my attic. I also have a self-built ground plane made out an a SO-239 and 5 wires. I have a couple of mobile antennas that I haven't checked out yet.
Just wondering if I need to calibrate each time I change frequency ranges, e.g. I checked the 80 voice band. I then check everything on 40, 20, 15 , and 10 without recalibrating since they all from the same coax feeder. When I switched to my 2m/70cm, I recalibrated again and then checked SWR.
Appreciate any suggestions. I spent the last week while waiting for my VNA to arrive watching YouTube videos. Very helpful. Until 2020, I had been away from Ham Radio for 40 yrs, so I am just getting back into it and looking forward to our Winter Field Day to set up antennas and use my VNA.

Walt/WB4ZUT

Hello,

Everytime you change start/stop frequency you have to calibrate again, the
software has no interpolate function like a real VNA has like HP ...
Or you could calibrate a bigger range but with the limited points, the
resolution isn't that good anymore

regards, jac pe1kch

On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 5:43 AM Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
wrote:

> This is a simple question, but I'm still in the crawling before walking
> stage.
> Must I calibrate every time I change the Start and Stop frequency?
> I have an 80-10 meter dipole and a 2m/70cm in my attic. I also have a
> self-built ground plane made out an a SO-239 and 5 wires. I have a couple
> of mobile antennas that I haven't checked out yet.
> Just wondering if I need to calibrate each time I change frequency ranges,
> e.g. I checked the 80 voice band. I then check everything on 40, 20, 15 ,
> and 10 without recalibrating since they all from the same coax feeder. When
> I switched to my 2m/70cm, I recalibrated again and then checked SWR.
> Appreciate any suggestions. I spent the last week while waiting for my VNA
> to arrive watching YouTube videos. Very helpful. Until 2020, I had been
> away from Ham Radio for 40 yrs, so I am just getting back into it and
> looking forward to our Winter Field Day to set up antennas and use my VNA.
>
> Walt/WB4ZUT
>
>
>

The V2P4 does interpolate.  For example, for SWR, I'll do one 401 point calibration over 80 thru 10 meters. And then save different zoomed regions,say to cover 80-60m, 40-30m, etc.. Typically I use 101 or 201 points on these zoomed in regions to speed the response (0.5 sec for 101 points, 1 sec for 201) to facilitate tuning.  I can check a dummy or the cal standards over any of these zoomed in regions and get exactly what I'd expect.

Welcome back to the hobby!
And, I don't think you can calibrate too much, I tend to calibrate every
time I change anything.
Also, give the instrument about 10 minutes or so to "warm up". Yes, it is
solid state but it's recommended to have a warm up period to let everything
settle down.
I'm anal about calibration and I don't feel one can calibrate too
much...but that's just me.
Tim K4SHF


On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 6:50 AM Lou W7HV via groups.io <louandzip=
yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

> The V2P4 does interpolate. For example, for SWR, I'll do one 401 point
> calibration over 80 thru 10 meters. And then save different zoomed
> regions,say to cover 80-60m, 40-30m, etc.. Typically I use 101 or 201
> points on these zoomed in regions to speed the response (0.5 sec for 101
> points, 1 sec for 201) to facilitate tuning. I can check a dummy or the
> cal standards over any of these zoomed in regions and get exactly what I'd
> expect.
>
>
>

On 1/5/22 1:49 AM, pe2kxh wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Everytime you change start/stop frequency you have to calibrate again,
> the software has no interpolate function like a real VNA has like HP ...
> Or you could calibrate a bigger range but with the limited points, the
> resolution isn't that good anymore
>
I can't speak for sure to the NanoVNA2, but the original NanoVNA
firmware does do linear interpolation between calibration points. So if
you calibrated from 1-50 MHz, and then set start/stop to 10-20, the
measurement would use the calibration points from ~9.5 to ~20.5 MHz,
interpolating between points.

> regards, jac pe1kch
>
> On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 5:43 AM Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> This is a simple question, but I'm still in the crawling before
> walking stage.
> Must I calibrate every time I change the Start and Stop frequency?
> I have an 80-10 meter dipole and a 2m/70cm in my attic. I also
> have a self-built ground plane made out an a SO-239 and 5 wires. I
> have a couple of mobile antennas that I haven't checked out yet.
> Just wondering if I need to calibrate each time I change frequency
> ranges, e.g. I checked the 80 voice band. I then check everything
> on 40, 20, 15 , and 10 without recalibrating since they all from
> the same coax feeder. When I switched to my 2m/70cm, I
> recalibrated again and then checked SWR.
> Appreciate any suggestions. I spent the last week while waiting
> for my VNA to arrive watching YouTube videos. Very helpful. Until
> 2020, I had been away from Ham Radio for 40 yrs, so I am just
> getting back into it and looking forward to our Winter Field Day
> to set up antennas and use my VNA.
>
> Walt/WB4ZUT
>
>

Good morning,
If you only have a few feed lines / antennas you want to check with a simple SWR or return loss why don't you save calibration for each range in one of the calibration spots and recall them for future use? You have 6 slots in the instrument and if you use the PC software you can load a corresponding calibration file. For simple measurements like return loss and swr that will work just perfect.

A word of caution though, if you ever measure an outside antenna, make sure you discharge your antenna lines before you hook up the Nano or a Tiny SA. There is enough capacity in a coax cable to store ample of static energy to kill the front end if the antennas are outside and prone to static charges from wind, snow or rain. A typical cable like RG8 has ~30pf per 1 ft so a 100ft feedline will have 3000pf. so, shorting the center pin to the shield before use, and staying away from using it in dry static times is a must since any discharged line will recharge quickly. The typical gas discharge protectors used by hams will not protect the Nano.

John

Thanks so much for the confirmation that I am doing it correctly.
Another question:
I saw another Ham at a field day using his NanoVNA on his laptop rather
than read it off his 2" screen.
I downloaded software, but it was the Smith Chart.
Is there a software that will let me run it through 2VP4 to my laptop to
read it out?


On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 7:25 AM Jim Lux <jim@luxfamily.com> wrote:

> On 1/5/22 1:49 AM, pe2kxh wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > Everytime you change start/stop frequency you have to calibrate again,
> > the software has no interpolate function like a real VNA has like HP ...
> > Or you could calibrate a bigger range but with the limited points, the
> > resolution isn't that good anymore
> >
> I can't speak for sure to the NanoVNA2, but the original NanoVNA
> firmware does do linear interpolation between calibration points. So if
> you calibrated from 1-50 MHz, and then set start/stop to 10-20, the
> measurement would use the calibration points from ~9.5 to ~20.5 MHz,
> interpolating between points.
>
>
>
> > regards, jac pe1kch
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 5:43 AM Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > This is a simple question, but I'm still in the crawling before
> > walking stage.
> > Must I calibrate every time I change the Start and Stop frequency?
> > I have an 80-10 meter dipole and a 2m/70cm in my attic. I also
> > have a self-built ground plane made out an a SO-239 and 5 wires. I
> > have a couple of mobile antennas that I haven't checked out yet.
> > Just wondering if I need to calibrate each time I change frequency
> > ranges, e.g. I checked the 80 voice band. I then check everything
> > on 40, 20, 15 , and 10 without recalibrating since they all from
> > the same coax feeder. When I switched to my 2m/70cm, I
> > recalibrated again and then checked SWR.
> > Appreciate any suggestions. I spent the last week while waiting
> > for my VNA to arrive watching YouTube videos. Very helpful. Until
> > 2020, I had been away from Ham Radio for 40 yrs, so I am just
> > getting back into it and looking forward to our Winter Field Day
> > to set up antennas and use my VNA.
> >
> > Walt/WB4ZUT
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

--
Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
EyeCare Consultants
Evansville, IN 47708
(812) 426-2020 Phone
(812) 426-2828 Fax
WB4ZUT
wegenmaier@gmail.com
http://www.eyecare-consultants.net

Thank you so much for that advice since I plan to work the Winter Field Day
at the end of the month.
What is the name of the software to put on the laptop?

On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 8:31 AM John Cunliffe W7ZQ <n2nep@rochester.rr.com>
wrote:

> Good morning,
> If you only have a few feed lines / antennas you want to check with a
> simple SWR or return loss why don't you save calibration for each range in
> one of the calibration spots and recall them for future use? You have 6
> slots in the instrument and if you use the PC software you can load a
> corresponding calibration file. For simple measurements like return loss
> and swr that will work just perfect.
>
> A word of caution though, if you ever measure an outside antenna, make
> sure you discharge your antenna lines before you hook up the Nano or a Tiny
> SA. There is enough capacity in a coax cable to store ample of static
> energy to kill the front end if the antennas are outside and prone to
> static charges from wind, snow or rain. A typical cable like RG8 has ~30pf
> per 1 ft so a 100ft feedline will have 3000pf. so, shorting the center pin
> to the shield before use, and staying away from using it in dry static
> times is a must since any discharged line will recharge quickly. The
> typical gas discharge protectors used by hams will not protect the Nano.
>
> John
>
>
>

--
Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
EyeCare Consultants
Evansville, IN 47708
(812) 426-2020 Phone
(812) 426-2828 Fax
WB4ZUT
wegenmaier@gmail.com
http://www.eyecare-consultants.net

On Wed, 5 Jan 2022 at 14:57, Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thank you so much for that advice since I plan to work the Winter Field
> Day at the end of the month.
> What is the name of the software to put on the laptop?
>


Hello Walt
Might I direct you to the designer's website?

<https://nanorfe.com/nanovna-v2-software.html>

There are two software programs. I find that `nanoVNA-saver` works best
for me on my linux machines.
Otherwise, I believe that `nanoVNA-QT` is successful on Windows boxes.

If you try `-saver` be aware that there are two versions available:v 0.3.8
and v0.3.9. I find that 3.9 is buggy (on linux) and will not load properly.
YMMV

73

Dave, G1OGY

_._,_

>
>

Thanks, Dave...that is a big help. I am currently Windows based but may
have to try Linux one day. Was a Mac user for 15 yrs and loved them, but
trying to find business software for medical practices are very limiting
for Mac and there are hundreds in the PC WIN world... so I have to make the
switch back in 2003 to PC.
I will download the software tonight when I get home. Appreciate it.
73's
Walt / WB4ZUT

On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 9:26 AM Dave (G1OGY) <g1ogy@g1ogy.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 5 Jan 2022 at 14:57, Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you so much for that advice since I plan to work the Winter Field
>> Day at the end of the month.
>> What is the name of the software to put on the laptop?
>>
>
>
> Hello Walt
> Might I direct you to the designer's website?
>
> <https://nanorfe.com/nanovna-v2-software.html>
>
> There are two software programs. I find that `nanoVNA-saver` works best
> for me on my linux machines.
> Otherwise, I believe that `nanoVNA-QT` is successful on Windows boxes.
>
> If you try `-saver` be aware that there are two versions available:v 0.3.8
> and v0.3.9. I find that 3.9 is buggy (on linux) and will not load properly.
> YMMV
>
> 73
>
> Dave, G1OGY
>
> _._,_
>>
>>
>
>

--
Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
EyeCare Consultants
Evansville, IN 47708
(812) 426-2020 Phone
(812) 426-2828 Fax
WB4ZUT
wegenmaier@gmail.com
http://www.eyecare-consultants.net

Dave,
This is the software I downloaded yesterday and only saw the Smith Chart
and I couldn't get it to work.
I am Win 10. I d/l Cypress executable file then the Windows executable.
When I tried to enter Star/Stop Freq and test nothing happened. I will say
I did not have the V2P4 plugged in, so that may have been the reason. But I
was looking for similar screens on the V2P4 instead of the Smith Chart to
come up.
I will read the instructions again and see what I did wrong.
I will run all my antennas tonight or this weekend and save them into the 6
memories.
Walt/WB4ZUT

On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 9:26 AM Dave (G1OGY) <g1ogy@g1ogy.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 5 Jan 2022 at 14:57, Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you so much for that advice since I plan to work the Winter Field
>> Day at the end of the month.
>> What is the name of the software to put on the laptop?
>>
>
>
> Hello Walt
> Might I direct you to the designer's website?
>
> <https://nanorfe.com/nanovna-v2-software.html>
>
> There are two software programs. I find that `nanoVNA-saver` works best
> for me on my linux machines.
> Otherwise, I believe that `nanoVNA-QT` is successful on Windows boxes.
>
> If you try `-saver` be aware that there are two versions available:v 0.3.8
> and v0.3.9. I find that 3.9 is buggy (on linux) and will not load properly.
> YMMV
>
> 73
>
> Dave, G1OGY
>
> _._,_
>>
>>
>
>

--
Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
EyeCare Consultants
Evansville, IN 47708
(812) 426-2020 Phone
(812) 426-2828 Fax
WB4ZUT
wegenmaier@gmail.com
http://www.eyecare-consultants.net

On Wed, 5 Jan 2022 at 15:57, Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com> wrote:

> I will say I did not have the V2P4 plugged in, so that may have been the
> reason. But I was looking for similar screens on the V2P4 instead of the
> Smith Chart to come up.
>
>
Walt
On either software, you'll have to have the nanoVNA USB physically
connected to the PC to allow the software to read the data from the device.
And - certainly on `-saver` - there is a software "Connect" button/dialog
which you must execute before data will flow.

Dave, G1OGY

Ok, I have the -Saver up and running, connected to the laptop and
calibrated on the 2VP4, but nothing is going to the graphics. I scan and
found COM6 SAA2. I click on Connect to Device and nothing shows up on
either the Smith Chart or the other 3 charts. I'm sure I'm doing something
simple wrong, but not sure what.
When I run the Saver program, I get this error in the CMD section. It looks
like it is ok on the Saver program, but nothing seems to be active or work.
How do I get the NanoVNA-QT program and load it? I followed the directions
below, but don't see the QT program anywhere:

On Windows, please run CypressDriverInstaller_1.exe first to install the
USB-CDC driver. On Linux and MacOS, no drivers are needed. Download and run
.AppImage or .dmg directly.

Windows driver (CypressDriverInstaller_1.exe)
<https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/CypressDriverInstaller_1.exe>

If using Windows 10, you may need to update your NanoVNA firmware to the
latest version.
Download 20200507 (Latest version)

Linux AppImage (64 bit)
<https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/20200507/NanoVNA_QT_GUI-x86_64.AppImage>

Linux AppImage (32 bit)
<https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/20200507/NanoVNA_QT_GUI-i386.AppImage>

Windows executable
<https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/20200507/vna_qt_windows.zip>


I'm afraid to update the firmware since things on the unit seem to work
well and I don't know if my version is that old since I just got it.

Any suggestions on where to go from here?

Walt

On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 10:03 AM Dave (G1OGY) <g1ogy@g1ogy.com> wrote:

> On Wed, 5 Jan 2022 at 15:57, Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I will say I did not have the V2P4 plugged in, so that may have been the
>> reason. But I was looking for similar screens on the V2P4 instead of the
>> Smith Chart to come up.
>>
>>
> Walt
> On either software, you'll have to have the nanoVNA USB physically
> connected to the PC to allow the software to read the data from the device.
> And - certainly on `-saver` - there is a software "Connect" button/dialog
> which you must execute before data will flow.
>
> Dave, G1OGY
>
>
>

--
Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
EyeCare Consultants
Evansville, IN 47708
(812) 426-2020 Phone
(812) 426-2828 Fax
WB4ZUT
wegenmaier@gmail.com
http://www.eyecare-consultants.net

Ok, was able to get Q-T program to run and am trying to calibrate now for
146-147 MHz. Calibration worked and I am getting measurements.
I should be able to change the number of points without having to
recalibrate, but will anytime I change freqs.
I saved this first calibration to my computer.
This is COOL!!!
Now I have to create a short cut for this program so I don't have to go
into my zip folder to find it.
Thanks,
Walt/WB4ZUT


On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 7:12 PM Walter Egenmaier via groups.io <wegenmaier=
gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

> Ok, I have the -Saver up and running, connected to the laptop and
> calibrated on the 2VP4, but nothing is going to the graphics. I scan and
> found COM6 SAA2. I click on Connect to Device and nothing shows up on
> either the Smith Chart or the other 3 charts. I'm sure I'm doing something
> simple wrong, but not sure what.
> When I run the Saver program, I get this error in the CMD section. It
> looks like it is ok on the Saver program, but nothing seems to be active or
> work.
> How do I get the NanoVNA-QT program and load it? I followed the directions
> below, but don't see the QT program anywhere:
>
> On Windows, please run CypressDriverInstaller_1.exe first to install the
> USB-CDC driver. On Linux and MacOS, no drivers are needed. Download and run
> .AppImage or .dmg directly.
>
> Windows driver (CypressDriverInstaller_1.exe)
> <https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/CypressDriverInstaller_1.exe>
>
> If using Windows 10, you may need to update your NanoVNA firmware to the
> latest version.
> Download 20200507 (Latest version)
>
> Linux AppImage (64 bit)
> <https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/20200507/NanoVNA_QT_GUI-x86_64.AppImage>
>
> Linux AppImage (32 bit)
> <https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/20200507/NanoVNA_QT_GUI-i386.AppImage>
>
> Windows executable
> <https://nanorfe.com/downloads/NanoVNA-QT/20200507/vna_qt_windows.zip>
>
>
> I'm afraid to update the firmware since things on the unit seem to work
> well and I don't know if my version is that old since I just got it.
>
> Any suggestions on where to go from here?
>
> Walt
>
> On Wed, Jan 5, 2022 at 10:03 AM Dave (G1OGY) <g1ogy@g1ogy.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 5 Jan 2022 at 15:57, Walter Egenmaier <wegenmaier@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I will say I did not have the V2P4 plugged in, so that may have been
>>> the reason. But I was looking for similar screens on the V2P4 instead of
>>> the Smith Chart to come up.
>>>
>>>
>> Walt
>> On either software, you'll have to have the nanoVNA USB physically
>> connected to the PC to allow the software to read the data from the device.
>> And - certainly on `-saver` - there is a software "Connect" button/dialog
>> which you must execute before data will flow.
>>
>> Dave, G1OGY
>>
>>
>
> --
> Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
> EyeCare Consultants
> Evansville, IN 47708
> (812) 426-2020 Phone
> (812) 426-2828 Fax
> WB4ZUT
> wegenmaier@gmail.com
> http://www.eyecare-consultants.net
>
>
>
>

--
Walter H. Egenmaier, O.D
EyeCare Consultants
Evansville, IN 47708
(812) 426-2020 Phone
(812) 426-2828 Fax
WB4ZUT
wegenmaier@gmail.com
http://www.eyecare-consultants.net