Difference between revisions of "VNA"

Revision as of 18:02, 15 August 2012

Vector Network Analyser

This project is to develop PC and FPGA software in order to use Hermes (and possibly Mercury, PennyLane and Metis) as a Vector Network Analyser.

Project Leader: Phil VK6APH

Update 14 August 2012

FPGA code for Hermes has been developed and tested that enables the transmitter (which will be used as the VNA signal source) and receiver in Hermes to be phase synchronous.

PC code has been written (in C# using the free Visual Studio 2010 software) to implement the Reflection function of a VNA. The code draws a Smith Chart, which is zoomable, and displays the Impedance being measured as a complex value on the chart. Additionally, the equivalent series and parallel impedance is displayed as are the equivalent component values at the measurement frequency. The VSWR and Return Loss are also displayed.

The code enables Open/Short/Load calibration to be made (presently at a single frequency); the calibration data can be saved to a file and subsequently re-loaded as required. The repeatability of measurements after loading the previous calibration data is excellent.

The screen shot shows the current status of the PC software. An number of items being displayed are for debug purposes only and will be removed when no longer required.

The additional code required in the Hermes FPGA is very small. In which case a future version of code will include the ability to use Hermes in VNA mode via a Command & Control flag.

VNA Screen Shot. Click to enlarge.