NanoVNA Custom Software - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2019, 11:54:25 am
content: Table of ContentsFor those unable to use the search, the following links should help guide youInstalling the software:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4037716/#msg4037716https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4041214/#msg4041214https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4055866/#msg4055866Software not finding the lvsound2.dll:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4095544/#msg4095544Adding a Transfer Relay:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4058836/#msg4058836https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4060027/#msg4060027https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4060045/#msg4060045Running the software on high resolution monitors (resize):https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg3617154/?topicseen#msg3617154https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg3813608/?topicseen#msg3813608https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg3621361/?topicseen#msg3621361https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg3616560/?topicseen#msg3616560https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4038201/#msg4038201cyp_eev's non-contact Q measurement test fixture:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/rf-microwave/nanovna-custom-software/msg4132957/#msg4132957****************** The beginning **************************Is there a document that describes the communications for the NanoVNA?

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 05:22:02 pm
content: I have started working on the communications and have a simple Smith chart now working.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 05:37:33 pm
content: Hm, there is the official GitHub repository which should allow at least reverse engineering:https://github.com/ttrftech/NanoVNA

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 10:12:55 pm
content: It's never a good sign when you have to reverse engineer something. Someone had started a list of commands and someone else posted the BAUD. It's easier for me to just sniff it. All seems fairly basic so far.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 10:51:48 pm
content: Isn't sniffing another way of reverse engineering? Anyway, all the communication commands seem to be implemented in main.c (array "commands"). So that might have been worth a look.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 11:48:41 pm
content: Quote from: 0xdeadbeef on July 23, 2019, 10:51:48 pmYou bet it is. Did I post something otherwise? Ideally, it would have been documented. Of course, you could say the code "IS" the document.

author: syau
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2019, 11:55:17 pm
content: Another alternative is groups.iohttps://groups.io/g/nanovna-userssupport by a seller who sell nanovna in aliexpress.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2019, 12:13:19 am
content: I signed up before it arrived. This is where the few people posted the list of commands and BAUD rate. I've been asking them a few questions as I go. So far things are pretty intuitive. I was a bit concerned when I saw them use the third harmonic for anything above 300MHz but the group claims it's normal. Bug wise, it's the only real problem I have seen so far beyond the cheap rocker switch. I would like to replace it with something better but the touchscreen handles most of it.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2019, 02:09:12 am
content: Made some progress. There's a 100pF capacitor attached.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2019, 10:56:32 pm
content: I made an attempt to get the S21 working but ran into a snag sorting out channel 1. I took a step away from it for a few days and will have another look. A couple of paragraphs of detailed documentation would have gone a long way to help this project.Most of the channel 0 measurements are now sorted out. The plan will be to have the graph change modes so the SWR will eventually be shown on the main graph in place of the Smith chart.Shown for the most part with a bad SOLT using a 200ohm resistor.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2019, 01:29:27 am
content: Walking away for a while helped. Both channels are now sorted out. Next step is to add the remaining cursor readouts, finish up the graphs and add the ability to store some references.Shown looking at a Showa crystal filter.

author: KC3EKL
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 28, 2019, 02:18:27 am
content: Are you going available? I am a bit unsatisfied with the VNA Sharp but lack the skills to write anything better myself.73, KC3EKL Curtis

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2019, 03:34:09 am
content: I havn't thought about it. The reason I started working on it is because the included software wouldn't work. The cursor readouts would be blank or flash. It just wasn't usable.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 12:21:19 am
content: Short demo showing the current status of my LabView interface for the NanoVNA.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2019, 01:27:38 am
content: The software is almost good enough. I finally added the return loss readout plus support for a couple of storage references and a few other features. It needs a few more features and I may restructure the communications before wrapping it up. It's getting close.I plan to make some sort of video on the NanoVNA. Not so much a review but more of a demo showing the basics of how to use it. I don't plan to dive into all the math or make it too detailed at this point. If there is anything you want to see, feel free to ask. I doubt I will get to it until next weekend so there is plenty of time.

author: hagster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2019, 09:06:09 pm
content: Any video would be interesting. Thinking about getting one of these myself. Does it require a LabVIEW licence to run your custom software¿

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2019, 09:08:57 pm
content: It would be an EXE just like any other program, no license required.

author: hagster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2019, 09:15:13 pm
content: Great news

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 03:45:43 am
content: I'm kind of tempted to buy one just to see how it compares to my Keysight VNA's. It is much more tempting if there will be good software to use with it.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 11:53:43 am
content: Quote from: TheSteve on August 01, 2019, 03:45:43 amWhat don't you like about the included software?

author: Theboel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 01:02:58 pm
content: Just curious can the graph show one by one.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 01:11:43 pm
content: Quote from: Theboel on August 01, 2019, 01:02:58 pmWhat do you mean by showing one by one? Are you asking about my software, or what's included with the VNA?

author: Theboel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 02:47:47 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on August 01, 2019, 01:11:43 pmyes its about Your software.can we choose to show one big graph like only the smith chart alone ?

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 03:42:58 pm
content: Quote from: Theboel on August 01, 2019, 02:47:47 pmI am still not sure what you are asking. If you watched the above video, you can see how it cycles through the different retangular, Smith and polar plots. If you want to know if I support displaying retangular and Smith chart on a single graph, then the answer is I do not. I just don't have a need for it. If you are asking if I can make the Smith chart take up the full screen with nothing else displayed, currently the graphs size and location are fixed. The three plots on the right will be moved to a separate page or I may remove them all together.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 04:32:57 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on August 01, 2019, 11:53:43 amI've just bought one to have a bit of a tinker. The s/w I have is OKish, probably the only gripe I have is the Smith chart is a bit fuzzy. It's just a grey-on-white bitmap and the resolution's not that great.Yours is looking pretty neat Joe