Has anyone used the eVNA from Minicircuits

MiniCircuits advertises a eVNA, that consists of a first cut signal processing box, that interfaces via USB cable to a lapyop/PC. The data analysis software for the PC is freely downloadable. The box of electronics needs to be purchased . 

I have NanoVna 2. There are several low cost VNAs now
https://groups.io/g/NanoVNAV2/topics

On Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:52:29 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
<dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:

>MiniCircuits advertises a eVNA, that consists of a first cut signal processing box, that interfaces via USB cable to a lapyop/PC. The data analysis software for the PC is freely downloadable. The box of electronics needs to be purchased . 

On 20/6/22 07:02, LM wrote:
> I have NanoVna 2. There are several low cost VNAs now
> https://groups.io/g/NanoVNAV2/topics

So, you're telling us that you don't have an answer to amal's question?

Comparing a $200 toy with an $8000 instrument is pretty dumb, don't you 
think?

> On Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:52:29 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
> <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> MiniCircuits advertises a eVNA, that consists of a first cut signal processing box, that interfaces via USB cable to a lapyop/PC. The data analysis software for the PC is freely downloadable. The box of electronics needs to be purchased .

Am 20.06.22 um 01:53 schrieb Clifford Heath:
> On 20/6/22 07:02, LM wrote:
>> I have NanoVna 2. There are several low cost VNAs now
>> https://groups.io/g/NanoVNAV2/topics
> 
> So, you're telling us that you don't have an answer to amal's question?
> 
> Comparing a $200 toy with an $8000 instrument is pretty dumb, don't you 
> think?
> 
>> On Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:52:29 -0700 (PDT), amal banerjee
>> <dakupoto@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> MiniCircuits advertises a eVNA, that consists of a first cut signal 
>>> processing box, that interfaces via USB cable to a lapyop/PC. The 
>>> data analysis software for the PC is freely downloadable. The box of 
>>> electronics needs to be purchased .

And Amal's question was exactly WHAT?

These are NOT toys, and the Mini Circuits is vaporware in
comparison. Let's see how it fares when it is in the hand of
users.

I have a DG8SAQ network analyzer since > 10 years. It is limited
to 1.3 GHz but delivers wonderful results with things like 12-term
error correction. I can use it to create Spice models of
precision crystals including Q of the resonances with built-in
Windows software. For my Rohde & Schwarz ZVB I first had to
write substantial software, and I consider the ZVB's user
interface hostile in comparison.

Maybe it's better to wait until the new Analog Devices ADL5960
bears fruit. 20 GHz BW and a simplified synthesizer interface
look very promising, with on-chip reflection bridge.
1 chip + 6 GHz synthesizer chip per port.

Gerhard

<  https://groups.io/g/VNWA    >

On 20/6/22 13:23, Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
> Am 20.06.22 um 01:53 schrieb Clifford Heath:
>> On 20/6/22 07:02, LM wrote:
>>> I have NanoVna 2. There are several low cost VNAs now
>>> https://groups.io/g/NanoVNAV2/topics
>> So, you're telling us that you don't have an answer to amal's question?
>> Comparing a $200 toy with an $8000 instrument is pretty dumb, don't 
>> you think?
> And Amal's question was exactly WHAT?

What's wrong with asking whether anyone has used the Minicircuits eVNA?

> These are NOT toys, and the Mini Circuits is vaporware in
> comparison. Let's see how it fares when it is in the hand of
> users.

I would expect considerably better performance than any of the NanoVNA 
versions, even though thosey are credible at their respective price 
points. They have many weaknesses though, such as no filtering on the 
receivers, making them effectively unusable in environments where you 
have ambient signals.
> I have a DG8SAQ network analyzer since > 10 years. It is limited
> to 1.3 GHz but delivers wonderful results with things like 12-term
> error correction. I can use it to create Spice models of
> precision crystals including Q of the resonances with built-in
> Windows software.

Yep, Baier knows what he's doing. You won't get useful crystal models 
from a NanoVNA though.

> Maybe it's better to wait until the new Analog Devices ADL5960
> bears fruit. 20 GHz BW and a simplified synthesizer interface
> look very promising, with on-chip reflection bridge.
> 1 chip + 6 GHz synthesizer chip per port.

The price point looks set to be pretty eye-watering though.

> Gerhard
> 
> <&nbsp; https://groups.io/g/VNWA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; >
> 
>