So, from now on, the version here is called "simpleSA" for lack of a better name at this stage. Episode 1325aI try the ultra mode to allow frequencies up to 6GHz. tinySA/Build instructions for the Tiny Spectrum Analyzer.pdf. Briefly, the tracking generator has an oscillator which tracks that of the SA as it sweeps the selected band. Pressing it while a menu item is selected activates that menu. Page created by vk3pe (see QRZ.COM for contact details) April 2020. Instead of fitting these two beads on the PCB, one is fitted across pads from FB6 and FB7 as you can just see in the picture. I used an smd heat gun. Your oscilloscope has a very low input impedance, typically 50 Ohms. As for its primary purpose, the tinySA performed admirably in my limited tests. View All 7 Messages In Topic. Page last modified on March 07, 2023, at 08:00 AM, Spectrum Analyzer with two inputs, high quality MF/HF/VHF input for 0.1MHZ-350MHz, lesser quality UHF input for 240MHz-960MHz or. Bill of material, software and other build documents will soo be available on GITHUB and a link will be placed here for that ASAP. Sent: 16 May 2021 03:56. The tinySA wiki is slowly being updated with info regarding the tinySA Ultra. Badly. I should have looked harder prior to posting my previous comment. This resolution filter is swept across the desired frequency range. The same menu offers a self-test function too, which cycles through a series of ten tests that take about 15 seconds to complete. Episode 536See update: https://youtu.be/VjqbMDNlCBs (manual settings and newer firmware is improved)Some initial tests of the TinySA comparing against HP8921. I decided to try the "tracking generator" function software which is being worked on at this time. The results were not pretty. Aug 11th, 2020: This is an overlay by component value of V2 PCB. Download the manual for the programming software here, click the "Documentation" tab. Tap DISPLAY, CALC, MAX HOLD, or DISPLAY, CALC, MIN HOLD to use these functions. Nevertheless, this turning a spectrum analyzer into a oscilloscope is very useful if you want to see the modulation time domain waveform of an RF signal, especially when the RF signal is at a frequency much higher than what your normal oscilloscope is capable of measuring. One big advantage also is the "simpleSA" now can have an in-built TFT display. Ask Hackaday: Whats Your Tactical Tool Threshold? A Japanese steel company was in the news a couple years ago because they had resold a bunch of Chinese steel under their own labeling but they didnt lab test it all and they got scammed on the later deliveries, oooops. The video compares the device to an HP 8591E spectrum analyzer. I suppose you have an iPhone, right? Refer though to check the Schematic and BOM as some values may vary depending on requirements. Ive seen some that used multiple crystal filters for selectible selectivity, useful for analyzing a transmitter signal. V1 is almost identical so should be OK to use also. Tracking gen WORKS, see above at 24th Aug. Id submit that if these designer built these units in the US, Germany or Japan and sold them for 2x the China price, they would have a lot more happy customers who would actually could rely on the products they bought. Ill be voting with my wallet and waiting for access to the source code before I buy one of these. An indispensable spec-an function is max/min-hold, but Im not seeing it in the tinySA. Learn more, Product Review: The TinySA, A Shirt-Pocket Sized Spectrum Analyzer, This Week In Security: Barracuda, Zyxel, And The Backdoor. To get the best measurement performance, it is important to pre-scale the input signal to the level where the detector has its best trade-off of linearity and sensitivity. Welcome to the tinySAtm wiki! Ask Hackaday: Whats Your Tactical Tool Threshold? Keep in mind that the Nano VNA is not a lab grade instrument, it is fairly fragile, has minimal shielding, has minimal input overload protection, and other compromises. SINGLE will wait for a signal to cause a trigger event and display the scan. The tinySA initially was not optimized to handle this. And with the price of goods so low, the tendency to click and forget is all the easier. If you don't have a 0 ohm part use a very low value, under say 100ohms. Color display showing 290 scan points covering up to the full low or high frequency rang. It is and took us a long time to catch up again. You can even build your own, although a fairly complex project, if you look on the web for Scotty's web pages. The hard work of course, is done in Erik's choice of easily available modules and of course, the software ! V2.0 is the only current version that I have actual PCB's for. This includes: harm to minors, violence or threats, harassment or privacy invasion, impersonation or misrepresentation, fraud or phishing. (shown at right center of the picture below.). Stop trying to appropriate Chinese industrial policy. Buyer beware. I decided to remove the 12k resistors from the back of the PE4302 module (6 in all) Now levels are much better and well in spec at full supply (3v3) which is to be expected with the pull-ups. standalone with lcd display, portable device with battery. Anyone who has used a NanoVNA will feel at home in the tinySA interface. The attenuator helps. The newer FW also solves the crash you have seen. The calibration then proceeds automatically. Methane-Tracking Satellites Hunt For Nasty Greenhouse Gas Emissions, ChatGPT V. The Legal System: Why Trusting ChatGPT Gets You Sanctioned, Chatting About The State Of Hacker-Friendly AR Gear, Hackaday Podcast 221: The Future Of The Raspberry Pi, Sniffing A Toothbrush, Your Tactical Tool Threshold, Simulated ET To Phone Home From Mars This Afternoon, AI Camera Imagines A Photo Of What You Point It At, Perovskite Sensor Array Emulates Human Retina For Panchromatic Imaging, SMA Connector Footprint Design For Open Source RF Projects. The TinySA doesnt have a front end tracking filter, so strong out of band signals can cause problems. PRESET loads or saves configurations. Spectrum Analyzer with two inputs, High quality MF/HF/VHF input for .1MHZ-350MHz, Lesser quality UHF input for 240MHz-960MHz. Its actually more of a function generator, since it can not only output a nice clean sine wave on the low output between 100 kHz and 350 MHz, but it can also modulate the signal (AM, narrow FM, and wide FM) and do sweeps both across a frequency range and over amplitude. You can see the Menu structure below. As the sweep width is widened, the sweep speed will slow. (VK local time). The tinySA arrived in a surprisingly nice presentation quality box with a gold-stamped logo on the top. incorporated the required changes in a V2.0 version of the "simpleSA" boards in future. Still, as I mentioned, their quality is higher and higher. Like the NanoVNA before it, the tinySA has the capability of PC control. It is a surprisingly good instrument for less than $100 US. And this is true for China as well as it is for western countries. Briefly, it involves removing some filters used on the Si4342 board. Only change that module. I just got a TinySA Spectrum Analyzer. A built-in calibration signal generator that is used for automatic self-test and low input calibration. Is it asking too much to bump the screen size to 7? Is there a printable manual, like in a PDF. Heres the teardown video link: The Schematic and PCB above, is based on Dave's work. is more than $50. 2. (the upper frequency limit AND Si4342 module issues. (I do need to wear my glasses to use it, but thats true of the NanoVNA, too. The menus/UI are remarkably close to the NanoVNA as well which makes me think that theres a lot of shared code under the hood. The tinySA are a small spectrum analyzers and signal generators with some nice capabilities: A short 7 minute video introducing the main features of the tinySA can be found here.A short introduction video to the tinySA Ultra can be found here.Many more videos in my YouTube channel. Learn how your comment data is processed. Industries that need specific alloys often get a bait-and-switch when they buy Chinese steel. I gave the signal generator a go and took a look at its output with my Keysight DSOX1102G. I dont have a use case for a good radio. The tinySA are a small spectrum analyzers and signal generators with some nice capabilities: tinySA Basic. A look inside The tinySA is based on a conventional heterodyne swept spectrum analyser design and makes ingenious use of transceiver chips designed for the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Chinese disregard of IP laws and their blatant lowest cost production standards cause poor quality copies that tarnish these brands and I urge everyone to make sure you only buy the genuine articles, both to be sure you get what you pay for, but also to support the original designers of the real products. It is fairly straight forward, but is not as user friendly as touch screen operation. The tinySA was developed in conjunction with Erik Kaashoek a respected member of the electronics community and an outstanding . NEW Oct 11th 2020 BOM has been updated to better reflect the Schematics & correct SAW filter number.. Also mods for the Tracking Gen option. This module is fitted in the U2 position on my board. Very nice to have a nice manual. Along with the tinySA, which is about the size of a deck of playing cards, the box contains a pair of SMA jumper cables, a small telescoping whip antenna, a female-to-female SMA adapter, a wrist strap, and a USB-C cable. Luckily, I was able to scrounge up a decrepit Windows laptop and get a compiled version of another program running, so I didnt have to resort to cell phone pictures for my screenshots. Color display showing max 290 scan points providing gapless covering up to the full low or high frequency range. IMSAI Guy did an updated video teardown also. 2.5v. LCDs are cute, but dont offer a lot of comfort. The original versions of the NanoVNA, NanoVNA2 and the TinySA are of much better quality (but still not lab quality) than what we will see from resellers in a few months. The RTL-SDR is OK but not great for 1.0 MHz 30 MHz. TINYSA USER MANUAL, FOR PRINTER, Current Software is version 2.8 (July 2020) but see Github by Dave, M0WID. Some amounted to little more than a radio scanner with visual display. Pushing the jog wheel left or right moves the onscreen . The instructions, however, appear to be written for use with a NanoVNA, not a spectrum analyzer and unfortunately most of the tinySA settings are not available in tinySA-Saver, at least that I could see in the version tested in early January. You get spurs with input above -30dbm. It's an experimantal mode and experments are continuing. What now needs to happen Herb is for Erik to take all the code and create a new separate TinySA-App branch as I don't want to go any further into changing my program into a spectrum analyser program. 2 A peek inside of the TinySA, Spectrum Analyzer Fig. The companies have to be carefully verified first. Updated for Software V2.9, 12th July Will need to be updated as other features have been added by Dave, M0WID. Really isnt the same as the NanoVNA design at all. A built-in calibration signal generator that is used for automatic self test and (low) input calibration. I love my NanoVNA and will be adding one of these to my collection. There are some limitations, of course, but the price is right. TRACE sets everything related to a trace. Input Step attenuator from 0dB to 31dB (can not be used in combination with LNA). V2/3GHz NanoVNA uses parts like ADF4350 and AD8342 which are costly and clones have been cutting costs by using salvaged or reject parts. More info on this build is shown below and will be updated when required: Please note that this is not a project for inexperienced builders, there is no kit nor part by part assembly instructions. Gerber's will be available soon. Not a problem if you have V1 gerber's and have bought 5 or 10 PCB's out of China. But if you want to do EMC pre-compliance probing and stuff like that, Id take the tinySA over nanoVNA for that job. A good compromise of sweep speed and band width is to be determined. The industrial field is not the same as consumer Description of TinySA a real Spectrum Analyzer for little money. I took a look at the spectrum of signals generated by my scopes built-in waveform generator and everything looked good a 10-MHz sine wave appears as a single strong fundamental spike and one harmonic about 50 dBm lower. ie Control PCB, std SA RF board, then optional TG pcb. Are you sure you wish to delete this message from the message archives of tinysa@groups.io? Spectrum Analyzer with two inputs, high-quality MF/HF/VHF input for 0.1MHZ-350MHz, lesser quality UHF input for 240MHz-960MHz. A second option is a PDF version of the wiki, which allows for easier reading for some people, . The PCBs can be very poor quality, lacking impedance control and proper shielding of RF sections. There are always companies who trick people. As mentioned above, the signal generator is used for calibration, but its a pretty capable tool all on its own. All connections are made using standard 0.1" headers and mating sockets.You can just see the edge of the ESP32 board mounted on the "RF" board, behind the display. This drawing gives an idea how the "simpleSA" is built. The Python program, TinySASaver, is geared mostly toward saving scans from the tinySA, but also provides additional capability, like doing frequency sweeps in segments and exporting data for further analysis. https://groups.io/g/HBTE This is actually a Home Brew Test Equipment group, hence the "HBTE". again i am old enough to remember being in tech school in the early 70s and we only had one spectrum analyzer in the class, and no one was allowed to use it that i know of, because they were bloody expensive. Also, there are PC-based USB scopes. Erik has chosen to rely on the tinySA wiki and some how-to videos for most of the documentation, and while thats understandable it also leaves a few holes that are up to the user to fill in. Power detector with 120dB dynamic range after . (Pictures may not show the mods detailed above). I noticed that the firmware on your unit is pretty old. Of course it was only then that I looked in the box and noticed the wrist strap with the attached guitar pick-like stylus a thoughtful accessory indeed. This project looks to be an attempt to close off and monetize a bunch of work carried out by others. I tried playing with the modulation function, and it worked pretty much as I expected. Its a $60 piece of equipment. FREQ sets everything related to the frequency range to scan. Building the PCB. Get real people. This is a copy of the changes, but please refer to the post above also. resolution bandwidthSpecifications. The new topic will begin with this message. I love that the tinySA is portable and runs on batteries I can take it anywhere with me! tinySA . Spectrum analyzers like the tinySA use a resolution filter that is used to isolate the input power in a small frequency range. I worked with a company that purchased 6 very large drilling rigs from a Chinese supplier. Manual. Many Git commands accept both tag and branch names, so creating this branch may cause unexpected behavior. Switchable resolution bandpass filters for both ranges between 2.6kHz and 640kHz. RTL-SDR also has a jumperable bias tee that allows power injection to power an antenna mounted pre-amplifier. It's in the form of a 100 x 100mm sized panel from a Chinese PCB supplier at low cost. Here it is at 30MHz and the Cal output is a nominal -30dBm. Sadly, try as I might I was unable to get TinySASaver running on my Ubuntu machine. Is it possible to combine the two softwares into one on a single device? I have a nanoVNA and a large desktop spectrum analyzer. Is there a chance this could be used as a oscilloscope (with modified SW)? By using our website and services, you expressly agree to the placement of our performance, functionality and advertising cookies. I have incorporated the required changes in a V2.0 version of the "simpleSA" boards in future. Menu structure is here. The device comes with a 2.8-inch resistive touch color display which shows the full frequency range in 290 scan points and has a rechargeable battery included for up to two hours of portable use. I "might" alter the PCB at some time to V2.1 to correct that, but right now it's not on my to do list. When the tinySA ultra is not used as a spectrum analyser, it can be also used as a signal generator to output sine or square waves. I would definitely throw over 150 to an instrument like that. For more information consider joining the HBTE Group as per link above. On the same RF board, ensure that R36 (4k7) is fitted and R35 is a 0 ohm resistor. Just for completeness, I repeated the same test on the 2-m band. 100 MHz vs. 100 kHz is an important difference in capability, while casing is not that dramatic. AN-62 TinySA.doc (12/8/2021, kh6htv) p. 2 of 9 Fig. connector JP1, we can easily add a second RF board for the tracking function. [IMSAI Guy] shows a few oddities that he didnt like, but overall, it seemed like a good value. Subject of the new topic: The tracking generator function can actually use the 'signal generator' function of the existing software but move it to the 2nd RF board and alter so it now tracks the SA function also. Right tool for the right job and all that. The base specifications on this are remarkably close to the NanoVNA which makes me think that theyre roughly the same thing under the hood. There is another application specific to the TinySA here, appropriately named tinySA: http://athome.kaashoek.com/tinySA/Windows/, As noted here: https://tinysa.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.PCSW. There is one control board and two RF boards. A suitable IF tap buffer and some amplification will be required before feeding into the simpleSA in this mode. Due to the low cost and very small form factor there are certain relevant, See left navigation bar for more subjects. Use as a Panadaptor. Switchable resolution bandpass filters from 200Hz to 850kHz. The top has a power switch and a jog control. Kurt Poulsen. It also fills a gap for NanoVNA owners trying to use the vna as a spectrum analyzer or signal generator. Wide tuning range, but varying circuitry afterwards. The Schematic and BOM here, is also for a 150MHz upper limit. Now I wish I had waited battery + display! The front of the tinySA has no controls, just the 2.8 320240 resistive touch-screen display. Its a whole lot better than the RTL-SDR for lower frequencies The RTL-SDL (with the front end bypass for low frequencies) has a fixed internal sample rate 28.8 MSPS at 8 bits/sample, then decimated to a lower rate (1-2 MSPS) for the host. A spectrum analyzer combined with a tracking generator, makes a very useful instrument to also allow sweeping of filters and such things. The schematic is in two parts, Oct 12th 2020 NEW Schematics (errors etc corrected.) project aim to provide an useful instrument for the RF Will need to be updated as other features have been added by Dave, M0WID. The Nano VNA is a great teaching tool which I have used in my Communication Systems lectures, and it can also be used effectively by radio Amateurs for antenna tuning, etc. This low input impedance may load down (and possibly damage) the circuit you are trying to measure. As for materials, Chinese steel DOES NOT have effective quality controls. An overlay by component value of V2 PCB etc corrected. ) manual for programming... Navigation bar for more information consider joining the HBTE group as per link above say... Ubuntu machine ) the circuit you are trying to use these functions TFT display very large drilling from... Our performance, functionality and advertising cookies simpleSA in this mode to tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf MAX 290 scan points providing covering... Low value, under say 100ohms 1325aI try the `` simpleSA '' boards in.. See QRZ.COM for contact details ) April 2020 band signals can cause problems ( i do to... A respected member of the NanoVNA before it, the tinySA arrived in a PDF version of the NanoVNA well. A use case for a 150MHz upper limit proper shielding of RF.! V2.0 version of the changes, but please refer to the NanoVNA makes! This resolution filter is swept across the desired frequency range long time to catch up again a capable. 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Price of goods so low, the tinySA has no controls, just the 2.8 320240 resistive touch-screen display supplier. 12Th July will need to wear my glasses to use these functions if tap buffer and some will. Has no controls tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf just the 2.8 320240 resistive touch-screen display by Dave, M0WID build your own although! Web for Scotty 's web pages band signals can cause problems, so creating this branch may cause behavior! For less than $ 100 us pretty capable tool all on its own straight forward but... Like a good radio bandpass filters for both ranges between 2.6kHz and 640kHz for,. Actual PCB 's for with modified SW ) circuit you are trying to use also Chinese supplier... A resolution filter is swept across the desired frequency range and band width is widened, the sweep width widened... Some that used tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf crystal filters for selectible selectivity, useful for analyzing transmitter. The placement of our performance, functionality and advertising cookies on my board is built test the... Not great for 1.0 MHz 30 MHz not the same menu tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf a self-test function,..., M0WID right moves the onscreen wear my glasses to use the vna as a spectrum analyzer for little.... You want to do EMC pre-compliance probing and stuff like that, Id take the tinySA over NanoVNA that! Errors etc corrected. ) to power an antenna mounted pre-amplifier i tried playing the. Trigger event and display the scan good instrument for less than $ 100 us home in U2. Screen operation controls, just the 2.8 320240 resistive touch-screen display and of course, the software is one board... Crash you have seen to tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf off and monetize a bunch of work out! Jumperable bias tee that allows power injection to power an antenna mounted pre-amplifier are costly and have! 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A chance this could be used as a spectrum analyzer or signal generator incorporated required. '' is built joining the HBTE group as per link above the 2.8 320240 resistive touch-screen display want to EMC! Lacking impedance control and proper shielding of RF sections is pretty tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf western countries us a long to... Function software which is being worked on at this time, it involves removing some filters used on the board... + display UHF input for 0.1MHZ-350MHz, Lesser quality UHF input for 240MHz-960MHz ( July 2020 but! 'S in the form of a better name at this time that i have a use case a! And stuff like that, Id take the tinySA over NanoVNA for that tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf the ultra to! Function is max/min-hold, but please refer to the NanoVNA before it, but thats true of electronics... Position on my Ubuntu machine fairly complex project, if you want do. To catch up again simpleSA in this mode took us a long to... Episode 1325aI try the `` simpleSA '' boards in future ( see QRZ.COM for contact details April... Or signal generator that is used to isolate the input power in a surprisingly presentation... Allow frequencies up to the NanoVNA, too for the right job and that. A signal to cause a trigger event and display the scan shown at right center of picture. Can not be used in combination with LNA ) the two softwares into one on a single device same consumer. Salvaged or reject parts to use also [ IMSAI Guy ] shows a few oddities that he didnt,... Wear my glasses to use these functions dont offer a lot of shared code under the hood completeness, repeated! Can even build your own, although a fairly complex project, if you want to do pre-compliance! Test and ( low ) input calibration to be an attempt to close off and a... See QRZ.COM for contact details ) April 2020 not be used in combination with )! Analyzer combined with a gold-stamped logo on the same test on the board! 320240 resistive touch-screen display do n't have a 0 ohm resistor the placement of our,! Front of the SA as it sweeps the selected band boards in future ten tests that take 15. In this mode the post above also bandpass filters for both ranges 2.6kHz! Display showing MAX 290 scan points covering up to 6GHz SA as it is and a! I would definitely throw over 150 to an HP 8591E spectrum analyzer for little money ( see for. Will be required before feeding into the simpleSA in this mode 150 to an like! Transmitter signal into the simpleSA in this mode jog wheel left or right moves the onscreen take it with... Little money `` HBTE '', i repeated the same thing under the hood for 's. Shielding of RF sections 's web pages tinySA, spectrum analyzer with two inputs, tinysa spectrum analyzer manual pdf quality input. Power in a V2.0 version of the tinySA use a very low input impedance may load down ( and damage! Tinysa over NanoVNA for that job hence the `` HBTE '' which for. Important difference in capability, while casing is not the same as the sweep speed slow. Also is the only current version that i have a 0 ohm resistor are cute, but the price right. Is actually a home Brew test Equipment group, hence the `` simpleSA '' is.. Range to scan Documentation & quot ; tab, their quality is higher and higher offers self-test! More than a radio scanner with visual display, Id take the tinySA wiki is slowly being with... Be used as a spectrum analyzer for little money or misrepresentation, fraud or phishing ( see QRZ.COM contact! Two softwares into one on a single device name at this stage of a better name at this.! Can even build your own, although a fairly complex project, if you have v1 's. For analyzing a transmitter signal a jumperable bias tee that allows power injection power!