Used VNA Recommendation Needed - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: that_rf_guy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 03, 2024, 05:51:48 pm
content: Hi all,I've recently started a new gig designing RF hardware primarily around ~5.7GHz. We need to pick up a VNA for general lab use that can go up to 6GHz but won't break the bank. A NanoRFE VNA6000 would likely suffice as I don't plan on taking any particular difficult measurements - we just need to get a sense of whether our circuits are working roughly in the ballpark of what's expected. However there's a load of good, old, used equipment out there that may prevent better value and that's why I've come to y'all for suggestionsIf you had ~$2000 USD to spend (although our budget is flexible if needed) on a general purpose VNA for your lab, which one would you choose?

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2024, 07:13:14 pm
content: Used big box VNAs go for around 1000 USD/GHz. So good luck.

author: rfclown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2024, 07:17:46 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on December 03, 2024, 07:13:14 pmI agree. You want the VNA no go beyond your frequency of interest. You also need cal kit, cables, etc. $2000 doesn't get much for 5.7 GHz work. You want good cables and adapters at that frequency. I like the older Megaphase. I use two exactly like this:https://www.ebay.com/itm/185198139177?_skw=megaphase+cable&itmmeta=01JEKTZXTHQY88Y5R64VCCCR6V&hash=item2b1eab5729:g:AEoAAOSw1iFhqnwC&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmedK1U0ZpAkNRBhQAE3YgeI2hDsyzCm1dQJOTw75wHF1oUoB3NEbv7TiFo7p0JIB9NiFgW2%2FDoQQX6eQnVYNW5UllsSF5u6rGb9wbHt4ektyY3olhlucu39UTPwADFWIX1z%2Fry73mlUXaoZ%2BPeyxMf95kp1%2B0wpLHNNwHTVmnyt8pYcBxnK9MK0VRB2824cjeSqtM%2B3NKg2cZJhv3N7RG20y1rnzVA4hYC40yOecbWmLCZ0NVFTXZY2WsqhIgMPLxgM87TWq6rgvPLSGZUqQEwyDlHL%2BV9NrepqlClRRy6qg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7rd__r0ZAYou can waste a lot of time struggling with crappy cables and adapters at 6 GHz.I bought my first VNA when I was in a similar situation. My new gig wanted me to do work for which I need a VNA (matching at 915 MHz). I explained the situation and suggested a used HP8753 which at the time (2009) could be bought for $5k or rented for $500 a month. They agreed to the monthly rent, but then balked with the rental company required financial information. I told my employer that I'd rent them one for $500/month, and they agreed. I bought a 8753B on eBay for $1800 without a test set and used directional couplers and splitter that I had. I already had a 85033C cal kit which had been given to me. I later bought a 85046A test set. When the vector display started to dim (a problem with B versions), I bought a 8753C on eBay and sold the B on eBay. Through the years I've bought newer units on eBay and sold older ones. Two gigs later, I was renting my employer ESG signal generators, power supplies, power meters/sensors, VSA transmitter testers. All things bought on eBay. They rented test equipment, and I could way undercut the going rate.Remembering more of my story. Before the VNA, I was buying stuff on eBay and bringing it to work on my own dime (power supply, power meter/sensor, signal generator, spectrum analyzer, all HP stuff that I was familiar with) because my employer was expecting to do RF work with no equipment. They brought me in because their radios had to be a few feet apart to work. It was only when I got to a point of needing a VNA that I didn't just buy one myself and bring it in (they wanted to use a PCB antenna that I'd need to match). The other stuff I'd bought was all lower cost. I was building up a cache of equipment to be able to do contract work from home.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2024, 09:16:46 am
content: Quote from: rfclown on December 08, 2024, 07:17:46 pmThese are the agreements that I'm a bit jealous about. In Europe it seems that employers expect you to BYOD, sometimes even if you work as a consultant. I think the only reason I'm getting reimbursed for something simple as a car drive is because they are legally required to do so.

author: rfclown
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2024, 03:00:19 pm
content: The employer that was renting several things went public, and then could no longer deal with me as both a full time employee and a vendor. That was a sad day. They bought the equipment they were renting, but the monthly checks were a way better deal. I also had several other things of mine that I was using at work without charging them rent but didn't want to rent to them because then I'd have to share with others (I wanted them to stay on my bench). When I left the company, I offered to sell them that gear, and they accepted.