Using the NanoVNA to Measure Antenna SWR and Resonance

Video demonstrating using the NanoVNA to measure resonant frequency and standing wave ratio of an antenna.

Link to my eevblog posts

Source for the NanoVNA

[dwyn]

Wow, so doing this live and snipping off the driven element a small amount at a time and showing is the direct effect, this was a fantastic video!!!

[sethlavinder]

That 1974 Antenna Handbook has to be the best edition ARRL ever put out! I reference mine frequently! Have 3 or 4 copy!

[LawpickingLocksmith]

Got mine in today's mail from ebay and you just have made my day! Thanks Joe!

[RideGasGas]

Electronics and motorcycles - two of my main activities :)

[quicho]

Hi. Where did you got nano vna software, cause the version i got is different.
In advance many thanks
Nelson, CE3llp

[daveization]

liked how ya gave it the rough handling treatment, to see if it would break

[xdev]

Can you please tell us more about those extenders that you use between the feed line on the VNA and the base of the antenna? Definitely looks useful for not only holding these kinds of antennas, but creating some separation for the measurements. Would also love to see a video on how to best measure HT antennas.

[johnwest]

Hi Joe. I think I have the same vintage ARRL antenna manual as yours. But physics doesn't usually change very fast, so we're probably OK. :)

[tomstrum]

Hi Joe, ...At 03:24 would be cool if demo'd Radials angle 90° R & Z at resonance (R=35, Z=0) & resulting VSWR Compared to Radials slanted down at resonance (R=50, interesting how depending on radiator Length & radials Angle, many Different R & Z values

[fotografm]

I used to have that HP network analyser in the lab where I worked in the 1980's. At the time it cost more than my house !!! Now you can get something similar for 50 USD. How times have changed 🙂

[flymario]

Is this instrument good for adjusting a receiving antenna or is this purely for transmitting? I have a HackRF and have discovered that the failures I may have been having with it are my ignorance that the antenna that comes with it might not be perfect for all frequencies and that you might need to adjust its length. I am hoping that this NanoVNA might be able to provide me the confidence that I am meeting those requirements as closely as I can.

[tomstrum]

the Dashboard & Gauges used for with Antenna measurements ??

[alsamson]

We’re is a link for the stand and clip for radial clip

[billybbob]

We live in a decent time for tiny effective electronic tools. What used to require a whole room can fit in my pocket. Bleeding edge tech advances have slowed enough for us to optimize the tech we have. The age of optimization. Why have tons of boxes with screens that only serve a single purpose. Every DVD player and TV can be reprogrammed to detect a fire in the room as well (found that out probing an infrared module while lighting my propane burner). I wonder if someone made a patent on that yet...

[tomstrum]

Interesting how if Perpendicular (90°) must be used or desired, AFAIK the vertical Radiator can be slightly Shortened (from resonance Length) & a Beta hairpin match used to achieve R=50, Z=0 at Resonance with Perpendicular 90° radials ?

[DaruoshAghajaney]

I want to know why someone disliked the video. (Facepalm).
Thanks for your efforts.

[lindseymontana]

For TV and 75 ohm coax, would you make and use a 75 ohm load to calibrate? Can you use coax as a calibration load?

[thuff]

You have convinced me it worth getting for portable work. Can you share what coax used on it and do you use crimp on connectors.

[tomstrum]

Thx for helpful informative video....Using this antenna tuning procedure on SWR & LogMag, .... thru 50 to 100 ft coax run, Does it make any difference where the Calibration is performed at ?? heard the Calibration should be performed at the Antenna Terminal location & Is that Required for Vna Accuracy or is Any Additional length of coax after Calibration OK to use ? ....

[gavinsaxby]

Very useful video. Can I ask for the model of HP analyser you have there? I think it might be 8754A, but the manual for that only shows a graticule on the screen, not a Smith Chart. Is that an overlay you added yourself?