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Recomendations for a VNA
Hi gang,
I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ |
"Bob Liesenfeld" wrote in message ... Hi gang, I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ Have a look at Paul's VNBA at: http://users.adelphia.net/~n2pk/ Accuracy is wonderful, software is elegant. These are being kitted in the $200 range. Don't let the price mislead you- this is a lab quality instrument. No affiliation, just admiration. Dale W4OP |
"Bob Liesenfeld" wrote in message ... Hi gang, I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ Have a look at Paul's VNBA at: http://users.adelphia.net/~n2pk/ Accuracy is wonderful, software is elegant. These are being kitted in the $200 range. Don't let the price mislead you- this is a lab quality instrument. No affiliation, just admiration. Dale W4OP |
It might be possible to find a donation, too, and of course that
wouldn't have to be new (but might be). My specific recommendations would be biased so I'm going to avoid giving them. However, I think you should make a wish-list of features, first, and perhaps your students could help you come up with those. It would even be a chance to engage them in a little research. I'd say you should have an instrument that's easy to learn and use, and that introduces the students to a good range of the capabilities of a good VNA. It would be good if it introduces them to the importance of calibration, and just _what_ should be calibrated on a VNA. It would be good if it can make s-parameter measurements. The concept of having the ability to make calibrated measurements at the end of a (possibly fairly long) transmission line is very useful. In actual use, I'd look for ways to illustrate that they (all of them) have limitations: there are tradeoffs in the design of a VNA, made with an eye to the intended application(s). I know that HP published some nice application notes about VNA applications and calibration and accuracy limits. Likely Rohde & Schwarz and Anritsu and others have similar ap notes. If you have trouble finding HP ones, I may be able to help, but they're likely on the Agilent web (somewhere). Also look for articles in the HP Journal...again, I can help if you can't find anything. Cheers, Tom Bob Liesenfeld wrote in message ... Hi gang, I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ |
It might be possible to find a donation, too, and of course that
wouldn't have to be new (but might be). My specific recommendations would be biased so I'm going to avoid giving them. However, I think you should make a wish-list of features, first, and perhaps your students could help you come up with those. It would even be a chance to engage them in a little research. I'd say you should have an instrument that's easy to learn and use, and that introduces the students to a good range of the capabilities of a good VNA. It would be good if it introduces them to the importance of calibration, and just _what_ should be calibrated on a VNA. It would be good if it can make s-parameter measurements. The concept of having the ability to make calibrated measurements at the end of a (possibly fairly long) transmission line is very useful. In actual use, I'd look for ways to illustrate that they (all of them) have limitations: there are tradeoffs in the design of a VNA, made with an eye to the intended application(s). I know that HP published some nice application notes about VNA applications and calibration and accuracy limits. Likely Rohde & Schwarz and Anritsu and others have similar ap notes. If you have trouble finding HP ones, I may be able to help, but they're likely on the Agilent web (somewhere). Also look for articles in the HP Journal...again, I can help if you can't find anything. Cheers, Tom Bob Liesenfeld wrote in message ... Hi gang, I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ |
I just got through building up the VNA that Dale mentioned. Kit price is 250
dollars, plus 5 dollars shipping in the USA. Right now, I am etching the power supply board, and I hope to have the unit up and running later this afternoon. Pete "Tom Bruhns" wrote in message m... It might be possible to find a donation, too, and of course that wouldn't have to be new (but might be). My specific recommendations would be biased so I'm going to avoid giving them. However, I think you should make a wish-list of features, first, and perhaps your students could help you come up with those. It would even be a chance to engage them in a little research. I'd say you should have an instrument that's easy to learn and use, and that introduces the students to a good range of the capabilities of a good VNA. It would be good if it introduces them to the importance of calibration, and just _what_ should be calibrated on a VNA. It would be good if it can make s-parameter measurements. The concept of having the ability to make calibrated measurements at the end of a (possibly fairly long) transmission line is very useful. In actual use, I'd look for ways to illustrate that they (all of them) have limitations: there are tradeoffs in the design of a VNA, made with an eye to the intended application(s). I know that HP published some nice application notes about VNA applications and calibration and accuracy limits. Likely Rohde & Schwarz and Anritsu and others have similar ap notes. If you have trouble finding HP ones, I may be able to help, but they're likely on the Agilent web (somewhere). Also look for articles in the HP Journal...again, I can help if you can't find anything. Cheers, Tom Bob Liesenfeld wrote in message ... Hi gang, I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ |
I just got through building up the VNA that Dale mentioned. Kit price is 250
dollars, plus 5 dollars shipping in the USA. Right now, I am etching the power supply board, and I hope to have the unit up and running later this afternoon. Pete "Tom Bruhns" wrote in message m... It might be possible to find a donation, too, and of course that wouldn't have to be new (but might be). My specific recommendations would be biased so I'm going to avoid giving them. However, I think you should make a wish-list of features, first, and perhaps your students could help you come up with those. It would even be a chance to engage them in a little research. I'd say you should have an instrument that's easy to learn and use, and that introduces the students to a good range of the capabilities of a good VNA. It would be good if it introduces them to the importance of calibration, and just _what_ should be calibrated on a VNA. It would be good if it can make s-parameter measurements. The concept of having the ability to make calibrated measurements at the end of a (possibly fairly long) transmission line is very useful. In actual use, I'd look for ways to illustrate that they (all of them) have limitations: there are tradeoffs in the design of a VNA, made with an eye to the intended application(s). I know that HP published some nice application notes about VNA applications and calibration and accuracy limits. Likely Rohde & Schwarz and Anritsu and others have similar ap notes. If you have trouble finding HP ones, I may be able to help, but they're likely on the Agilent web (somewhere). Also look for articles in the HP Journal...again, I can help if you can't find anything. Cheers, Tom Bob Liesenfeld wrote in message ... Hi gang, I know there are several professional engineering types on the list, so I thought I'd post this here. I teach at a technical college and it is budget time. My boss asked me for a "wish list" and a vector network analyzer came to mind. What I had in mind would be something we could use to characterize small signal BJT and JFET circuits at say 3-30MHz. VHF and UHF would be nice, but not required. I'd be looking for something that could provide real and imaginary values, so as to be able to develop s parameters for various circuits. In order to qualify for consideration, the unit would have to be new, and non-kit. :( I know HP and others make things like this. Any recommendations? BTW, I know something like this is going to run in the kilo or tens of kilo buck range. Hey, it's their money and they asked. ;) ;) ;) Thanks for the input. Bob WB0POQ |
On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 14:17:15 GMT, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote: I just got through building up the VNA that Dale mentioned. Kit price is 250 dollars, plus 5 dollars shipping in the USA. Right now, I am etching the power supply board, and I hope to have the unit up and running later this afternoon. Please let us know how you get on.... -- The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies. |
On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 14:17:15 GMT, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote: I just got through building up the VNA that Dale mentioned. Kit price is 250 dollars, plus 5 dollars shipping in the USA. Right now, I am etching the power supply board, and I hope to have the unit up and running later this afternoon. Please let us know how you get on.... -- The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies. |
Hi Paul,
I just finished it this evening......................it is a good piece of equipment, and worth the money. Tomorrow, I will do more in-depth testing. It appears to have resolution to 6 digits, which is good. It consists of a pair of 9851 DDS chips, with a 1496 being used as a direct conversion detector. I think I am going to build another one, so I can use one at home and one at work. Pete "Paul Burridge" wrote in message ... On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 14:17:15 GMT, "Pete KE9OA" wrote: I just got through building up the VNA that Dale mentioned. Kit price is 250 dollars, plus 5 dollars shipping in the USA. Right now, I am etching the power supply board, and I hope to have the unit up and running later this afternoon. Please let us know how you get on.... -- The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies. |
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