Tuesday, July 27, 2021

1 to 4 GHz: nanoVNA 2 Plus4 vs. Keysight FieldFox


After a three week transit, my nanoVNA 2 Plus4 arrived in my mailbox. It was around $170 and I would not have spent that if the prior nanoVNA's hadn't given me the confidence to do so. But their performance has been incredibly accurate, so I ordered and had high expectations of the new VNA.

Today I finally had the opportunity to put the diminutive piece of test equipment on the bench to get a real idea of its performance.

The nanoVNA 2 Plus4 differs from the previous versions in several ways. It has:

  • A metal case
  • An internal 18650 Li-Ion battery (not included due to shipping restrictions)
  • A charge status indicator for the battery & charging from a computer's USB jack
  • Beefier controls for slewing the cursor and markers
  • A 4.4 GHz upper freq limit
  • 20dB more dynamic range than earlier nanoVNA's

It is primarily due to the increased dynamic range that I bought this VNA. Like most hams, I don't need to measure anything at 4 GHz but I do want the increased accuracy (hopefully!) that comes from increased dynamic range.

The FieldFox at my work QTH also has an upper frequency limit of 4 GHz and was perfect for comparing the S21 performance of the nanoVNA.

Test Preparations

Prior to each measurement, I calibrated both VNA's for the specific frequency range to be tested. For both VNA's I used the Agilent SOLT standards for the first three comparisons, ie the Agilent standards were used to calibrate both the FieldFox and the nanoVNA.

The fourth measurement is actually a comparison of the calibration standards that come with the nano vs. the Keysight's. I wanted to know how much difference a cheap set of SMA standards makes at 4 GHz compared with the Agilent standards. Prepare to be surprised.

I used nanoVNA-Saver on my laptop to control the nanoVNA. This program makes it much easier to operate the nano, place cursors, read the data presented and capture screenshots. I calibrated the combination as suggested by the nanoVNA's designer: calibrate the VNA itself first, then calibrate via nanoVNA-Saver for the same frequency range.

I also calibrated the FieldFox for each range measured. FWIW, its cal routine is almost identical to the Cal Assistant in nanoVNA-Saver, prompting the user as to which termination to place before proceeding to the next step.

It was impossible to make the two set-ups identical due to the nano having SMA connectors and the FieldFox having N-connectors. Adapters were needed to measure each device with both VNA's.

The Measurements

First up was a directional coupler designed to provide a 30 dB-attenuated sample of an inputted RF signal in the range of 900 to 2000 MHz.

I terminated the coupler's output with a 50-ohm load, then made measurements with both VNA's:


At first glance it appears that the trace presented by the FF is much flatter over its range than that of the nano. But take a look at the vertical axis of each graph and note that I had the FF's display adjusted for a more compressed scale (sorry about that). If the graph of the VNA-Saver's display were similarly compressed, its trace would appear much flatter than shown.

Both VNA's are within 1 dB of each other over the entire range of the coupler.

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Next was a bandpass filter for 980-1150 MHz:

  • Insertion loss was -1.05 dB on the FF; -1.18 dB on the nano
  • 30 dB bandwidth on the FF was 338 MHz; on the nano it was 351 MHz
  • 60 dB bandwidth on the FF was 520 MHz; on the nano it was 527 MHz.


 


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Next was a 25ft/7.6m length of Times Microwave RG-214 with N-connectors on each end. This simple test, with nothing more complex than coaxial cable, would speak volumes about the nano's ability to operate accurately at microwave frequencies.

I set up (and re-calibrated) both VNA's to measure the cable loss between 3.0 and 4.0 GHz and, not surprisingly, this is where the most significant difference existed between the two VNA's. But even at the upper limit of their frequency range, the biggest difference was only 1.4 dB.



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Finally I decided to use the nanoVNA to have another look at the RG-214 - but this time, I cleared the calibration files and then re-calibrated it with the SMA terminations that were included with it. Same cable, same nanoVNA, different calibration standards.

The two traces look almost identical:


 

Conclusion

A 4 GHz FieldFox costs $12,000 - this does not include the calibration terminations - they're an additional $800. We have ours professionally calibrated every year in June - the one used for these comparisons was just calibrated.

The nanoVNA costs $160, includes three SMA terminations (SOL) and has no means of being internally calibrated.

How can anyone not be impressed by the close correlation of these two VNA's, especially given the huge price delta? No, I'm not getting paid to say that and am in no way affiliated with anyone having anything to do with nanoVNA sales, development or anything else.

To be fair, the FieldFox is more than a VNA - for starters, it can measure all four S-parameters whereas the nanoVNA's only measure two. Luckily for us hams, the two parameters measured are (by far) the most useful ones.

When I retire, I'll lose access to all this high-dollar stuff that I've grown accustomed to over the years. It's nice to know that affordable test equipment is every bit as accurate in terms of S11 and S21 measurements all the way up to its advertised frequency limit.

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10 comments:

  1. Impressive !!! Thank You for your Time, Passion, Professionalism, and for Sharing.

    I have just received my nanoVNA 2 Plus4, but have yet to install a battery or even fire it up ~ YET.
    Although this will occur within a few weeks. Life's detractors (personal and clients) take priority to ham radio :)

    I own an original DG8SAQ VNWA and have learned a lot about antennas with it capabilities, since it's inception.

    Now, I am looking forward to the enhancements and embellishments of the nanoVNA 2 Plus4 as I expand my VHF-UHF capabilities.

    Thank you again for your excellent review!

    73,
    Gary Poss ~ K5WWQ
    Canyon Lake, Texas

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    Replies
    1. Hello Gary - I almost ordered a VNWA a long time ago but couldn't justify the price at the time. I'm glad these nanos came along. As you mention, in addition to being very useful pieces of test equipment, they are also very helpful in developing an understanding of various antenna parameters we read about...and Smith charts, etc.

      73,
      John

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  2. Wonderfully Done. Thank you so very much for the time and effort you put into this it is more appreciated than this simple email can express here.
    Albert (EI7II)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Albert - I'm glad you found the info beneficial.

      73,
      John

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  3. I think calibration on the V2plus4 unit itself is useless since it sends raw data on the USB port. This is not the case for "simple" NanoVNA models. Did you use ideal calibration standards, or did you enter the coefficients? That could make up for most of the difference. Also any adapter that is not included in the calibration will have some influence. Enjoy your V2plus4, it is a very nice piece of equipment!
    Reinier

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    Replies
    1. I did not enter any coefficients for the standards. Yes, I know the various adapters influenced the readings - I mentioned them so that anyone looking at the comparisons could take them into account.

      I agree with you about the calibration of the nanoVNA itself when used with VNA-Saver. If I hadn't have done it, my email inbox would be full of "Why didn't you ...." etc.

      Regardless of all the above, the fact remains that the nanoVNA agrees quite nicely with a much more expensive VNA, even at 4 GHz..

      73,
      John

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  4. https://m.facebook.com/groups/195041635181034/permalink/542765313741996/

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  5. Hello John,
    I am looking for the Choke impedance derived from S11 and S21 measurements (using series through method) with a NanoVNA and, as a check, with a high level bi-directional (calibrated 10/12term) VNA. Have you done such?
    If so, I would be interested in the s2p files of such.
    I am looking for this to compare and decide what is the best measurement method with the NanoVNA: S11, S21 or Y21 based. See my evaluation (upto now): http://www.archaeocosmology.org/eng/S21S11.htm

    Thanks for your feedback.
    All the best,

    Victor

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry, I added my comment (below) as a reply instead of a comment. Here goes again:

    Just to clarify for readers of this review, the Nano VNA "can" measure all (4) S parameters, just not simultaneously to S11 and S21. To add S22 and S12 to the test results, simply "turn the part around" and take another measurement.

    73 Frank W3PX

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  7. Nice post thank you Trevor

    ReplyDelete