Tiny Spectrum Analyser - Any Good?

ICQPodcast Episode 339

In this episode, Martin M1MRB is joined by Leslie Butterfield G0CIB, Dan Romanchik KB6NU and Edmund Spicer M0MNG to discuss the latest Amateur / Ham Radio news. Colin M6BOY rounds up the news in brief and this episode’s features is TinySA is it any good?

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We would like to thank David Peet (KG5WSA) and Jonn Sandon (G8DVB) and our monthly and annual subscription donors for keeping the podcast advert free. To donate, please visit - http://www.icqpodcast.com/donate

News stories include: -

• Pella Amateur Radio Club APRS Balloon Spans the Globe
• Arecibo Dish to be Decommissioned
• National Amateur Radio Day resolution Introduced into Congress
• Radio Communications Regulations (General User Radio Licence for Short Range Devices) Notice 2020 in force
• 144Mhz TEP Openings
• Sunspot Cycle 25 to Set Records?
• Get on the Air for Christmas Campaign Update
• Netherlands Radio Amateurs Face 2021 Fee Increases
• G Prefix Callsigns New Full Exam Pass
  

The ICQPodcast can be downloaded from http://www.icqpodcast.com

 

Hi, I purchased one a few weeks ago. Put it on the bench and fired up my HP 8921A, frequency readout is close, RF level from the service monitor shows the same level as the generator. For under $80 bucks it is a real deal. It would be nice if it had a metal case.

 

I sprung for the Comet after my last one choked out. Now for short money you can get a decent one so no excuses if you build and install antennas.

 

Bought one, charged it, turned on: Can't read it, Fonts too small. Switches hanging around the edges look fragile. By the way my eyes test 20/20.

 

I bought my TinySA from Amazon (UK), it is an absolutely brilliant device for the money, with tremendous support from the developer Erik Kaashoek

I can easily read the display, the fonts are not too small for me and my eyesight is anything but 20/20.

In addition to the spectrum analyser facility it also serves as a signal generator.

Take a look at the web site for further info - https://www.tinysa.org

• Spectrum Analyzer with two inputs, high quality MF/HF/VHF input for 0.1MHZ-350MHz, lesser quality UHF input for 240MHz-960MHz.
• Switchable resolution bandpass filters for both ranges between 2.6kHz and 640kHz
• Color display showing 290 scan points covering up to the full low or high frequency range.
• Input Step attenuator from 0dB to 31dB for the MF/HF/VHF input.
• When not used as Spectrum Analyzer it can be used as Signal Generator, MF/HF/VHF sinus output between 0.1MHZ-350MHz, UHF square wave output between 240MHz-960MHz.
• A built-in calibration signal generator that is used for automatic self test and low input calibration.
• Connected to a PC via USB it becomes a PC controlled Spectrum Analyzer
• Rechargeable battery allowing a minimum of at least 2 hours portable use
• Due to the low cost and very small form factor there are certain relevant limitations.

Highly recommended!

 

When is the last time you got your eyes tested LOL

 

If he doesn't respond to your question, he can't see it! ;-)
How many fingers do I have up?

 

I bought one a couple months ago wo its pretty dam good.no issues no compliants...so i got a second one for my portable kit on the go. well worth every dollar....looks like complainer's is like naaayyyyers there to ruff with the toys........and looking for a complaint to give......hey get one and i'll know youll love it......compared to equipmet of 20 years ago and farther back in time ...swr meter heck i retired that long ago....mini analizer cant be beat..

 

and my eye's isnt the best and i can see it perfectly well.......it works...

 

My eyes aren't the greatest either, and I have always lusted after a nice SpecAn, like the ones at work (that can't leave the building).
Much like the NanoVNA, I have been holding out in anticipation that they will upgrade this unit to a metal case and a 4" screen. I have one of those new 4" NanoVNAs now and it is worlds better than the original model while at the same time being basically the same device. Some of the other features are worth the wait there too, like USB-C and a huge battery, plus a little more band coverage into the GHz.

Might not be able to hold out though. Maybe buy 2, one now and one later when it's upgraded. Still less than a used HP on ebay.

 

Bought one a while ago, 38 bucks shipped on eBay. How could one go wrong, works well.

 

So... 20/20 means that you can see the same things at 20 feet that a person with normal eyesight can see at 20 feet. The big "E" at the top of the chart is the 20/200 mark (as in, you can see what a person with normal eyesight sees at 200 feet).

Neither of these address your reading acuity. The characters are small, but legible.

There are excellent, inexpensive magnifier sheets or lenses available. I have a Xiegu G90 with a very small display and magnification helps.

I have the Tiny SA and there are some excellent You Tube videos which show it in comparison to an HP Spectrum Analyzer.

I also own and recommend the Nano VNA (both the SMA and UHF connector versions).

 

Hi George,

I have a couple of the TinySA's as Martin mentioned in his feature review re: our discussion in the podcast. I also have a Tek/TG and a Siglent (with TG). But the TinySA does have it's place, especially in the field. I'm 67 and a bigger screen does help. But I also use an 8" Windows tablet with the TinySA velcro-attached to the back and that works, too.

73,

Frank
K4FMH

 

I bought one a couple months ago and for a small device its quite nice.
after calibrating it for 2 meter tuned up a 2 meter vertical perfectly
maybe not as good as a more expensive bench meter but it does the job nicely.
while the fonts are small if you are having problems reading them this might help.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Phone-Sc...artphone-iPhone-4-5-6-7-Plus-Samsun/809657448

 

love it ...