Developer Cary Wang based in Vancouver, Canada has created a new low-cost fully featured Vector Network Analyzer that is both easy-to-use and allows S parameter export.
Watch the demonstration video below to learn more about the xaVNA two port Vector Network Analyzer which offers users a typical frequency range of 137MHz to 3.5GHz, and a guaranteed frequency range of 140MHz to 2.5GHz.
xaVNA has been designed to plug directly into a spare USB connection and requires no additional power supply, and all measurements are completed using an intuitive and easy to use UI on a computer.
Specifications of xaVNA include :
• Frequency range (guaranteed): 140MHz to 2.5GHz
• Frequency range (typical): 137MHz to 3.5GHz (achieved in iteration 1 prototype)
• Signal level: -20dBm to 10dBm (achieved in iteration 1 prototype)
• S11 trace noise: <<0.1dB (achieved in iteration 1 prototype) • S11 dynamic range: >50dB (achieved in iteration 1 prototype)
• S21 dynamic range: target >=70dB (achieved 50dB in iteration 1 prototype)
• Dimensions of the VNA board: 10cm x 10cm
• Weight: <200g
• Interface: Micro USB
• RF ports: SMA Female
• Current draw: ~500mA @ 5V
• No warm-up needed: achieves spot-on measurements within 1 minute of power up
• Windows, Linux, and Mac OS will be supported
It is both open source hardware and open source software, with a GitHub repository containing all schematics, PCB layouts, FPGA VHDL, and software that will be kept updated during development. A VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) allows you to measure the impedance of an arbitrary device (such as an antenna) across a wide range of frequencies, as well as the transmission coefficient (gain/loss and phase) of a two port device (such as an amplifier, filter, or isolator).
It can do everything an antenna analyzer can do, but 10x better: it gives you phase information as well, and lets you see the exact complex impedance of an antenna, allowing you to easily design matching networks without tedious trial and error tuning.
Source: Kickstarter
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