tiny sa - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2020, 09:03:22 am
content: has anyone tried one of these yet?,just wondered if they are any good?https://tinysa.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.HomePage

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 12:21:38 pm
content: In the video for it you can see that it has spurs, or the shielding is not so good. That said it's affordable.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 08:56:59 pm
content: I'd be more interested if it went to lower frequencies.

author: fmkit
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2020, 09:03:52 am
content: nano VNA not using pair of SI4432 transceivers, interesting how tiny sa does 2.7kHz RBW

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2020, 12:09:56 pm
content: I am going to buy one when they are off pre-order. Regarding the limitations, it's fine for non "laboratory" use.

author: tonyalbus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2020, 03:00:59 am
content: Quote from: m3vuv on August 03, 2020, 09:03:22 amYeps ;-)

author: 0culus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2020, 05:04:59 am
content: It's like anything else in this arena, you get what you pay for. Personally, I feel that the nanoVNA punches well above it's weight. Once a 6 GHz model comes out it will bethego-to low cost VNA solution. Having watched Tony demo the tinySA in his video above though, I don't think that the tinySA is as good of a value as the nanoVNA. A calibrated spectrum analyzer is a different instrument than a VNA and it is less forgiving of cheapness. Still, it's better than nothing at all on a budget.However, I would definitely recommend saving up for a better spectrum analyzer if you're serious about RF.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2020, 06:37:51 am
content: Good enough for typical amateur radio work though. I’m wondering if it’ll scrape by for IIP3 measurements.At the price though that can’t be beaten. You’re lucky if you can get a broken 182T chassis here for 3x that.

author: erikka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2020, 11:44:05 am
content: OIP3 measurement demonstrate from here:https://youtu.be/ioM0Si3qI-Y?t=79The video clearly demonstrates the possibilities and limitations of the OIP3 measurement

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2020, 11:50:18 am
content: Nice. Will watch that whilst eating lunch.I just ordered a tinySA yesterday

author: syau
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2020, 11:14:03 pm
content: https://youtu.be/jkiMjHDQz1Q

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2020, 11:20:17 pm
content: FFS I'd have it open in two minutes. It's not rocket surgery.I checked mine out when I bought it to make sure it works and it does. I also built a 40dB power tap so I don't toast it. I imagine in the wrong hands it'd get toasted as quickly as a commercial SA.

author: LogicalDave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 04:27:15 pm
content: I had to try the TinySA so I ordered from one of the official dealers (http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=75243) and was pleasantly surprised.100kHz to 960MHzFrequency and amplitude accuracy are surprisingly good out of the box3kHz RBW setting for sub-GHz workWorks to +10dBm, but it's easy to overdrive and create artifacts...it works best with lower level input signals (-10dBm or less)Amplitude bounces around a little; I saw about 2dB absolute accuracy out of the boxTouch screen UI works wellFast sweepFeature rich: cursors, max hold, zero-span, presets, some automated measurement, etc.Nearly instant-onBelow are some pictures of RF signals from an IFR 2025 signal generator shown on the TinySA. My next post shows the output of the same signal generator on better (and much more expensive) gear for comparison. The pictures below show CW and FM modulated signals at several spans and power levels. I included some pictures that illustrate a few problems with the TinySA driven at 0dBm. Overall, I'm extremely impressed; it's not lab gear, but there is now a useful (for many purposes) pocket-sized, touch-screen, 960MHz spectrum analyzer for $55 new!There are many good things to say about this SA (did I mention it costs $55?), but what really distinguishes it from other low-cost SAs is its RBW (lowest=3kHz). Most other low-cost SA gear has RBW so coarse (200-260kHz) that it's useless for examining most signals under 1GHz (usually narrow-band FM). Commercial broadcast FM uses ~75kHz deviation in 100kHz or 200kHz channels. The amateur 2m band uses 5kHz deviation (sometimes 2.5kHz). Most sub-GHz IoT applications use 10-100kHz deviation. So 3kHz RBW lets you look at these signals in a meaningful way whereas other low-cost SA gear just shows you a giant useless blob.My wish-list for the next version (which I will surely buy) include: 4" screen, metal case, 1kHz or 300Hz RBW.

author: LogicalDave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2021, 04:43:11 pm
content: Here's what the same IFR2025 RF signal generator output looks like on an Anritsu MS8609A(sorry, I hadn't let it warm up so the rubidium standard hadn't locked yet, but it's close enough).It seems that we're finally in the age where hobby RF development can occur on nearly any budget thanks to tools like the TinySA, the newer nano-VNA V2s (SAA2:https://nanorfe.com/nanovna-v2.html), and the TPI-100x (https://rf-consultant.com/).