[David Hunt]

Here is what I found:

#1: SimSmith – Simple and intuitive to use with great documentation and instructional videos. The program has rich features and capability, and is actively being supported and developed. This is exactly what I was looking for.

http://www.ae6ty.com/Smith_Charts.html   (FREE, Windows application)

https://www.youtube.com/user/ae6ty   (YouTube videos from the designer)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKSyLSu4fm_1RHoO3Jvk4YQ   (more YouTube videos)

 

#2: Iowa Hills Smith Chart – simple to install and use. I like that this one provides trace coloring of standard component values that gives an indication of the sensitivity of the circuit. Iowa Hills also has several other useful FREE software applications.

http://www.iowahills.com/9SmithChartPage.html   (FREE, Windows application)

 

Here are some other programs that I found, listed for historical purposes only. Some I tried, most I didn’t. The on-line tools generally have limited (even broken) functionality. Others are more complicated than I was looking for at the moment. Some are no longer being developed or supported. Some cost money.

http://www.hp.woodshot.com/

https://www.broadcom.com/appcad

https://www.ad5gg.com/2017/04/06/free-rf-simulation-software/

https://www.electroschematics.com/rfsim99-download/

http://tools.rfdude.com/RFdude_Smith_Chart_Program/RFdude_smith_chart_program.html

https://quicksmith.online/

https://www.fritz.dellsperger.net/smith.html

https://www.will-kelsey.com/smith_chart/

https://smithchart.net/

http://cgi.www.telestrian.co.uk/cgi-bin/www.telestrian.co.uk/smiths.pl

http://www.tonnesoftware.com/jjsmith.html

http://qucs.sourceforge.net/

https://www.rfmentor.com/jSmith

https://www.wave-dimension.com/product/product_RFO.php

https://www.qsl.net/va3diw/powersmith.html

http://jcoppens.com/soft/linsmith/index.en.php

 

[David Hunt]

The latest firmware displays battery level, but requires a diode (PN# SD103AWS) to be added in position D2. This diode was called D1 in the original schematics by edy555, and is D2 in the schematics provided by hugen79 (attached). After a little digging, it turns out that the NanoVNA designs being marketed today (edy555, hugen79, and clones) are based on the hugen79 schematics.

Technically then, if one wanted to buy a NanoVNA from the designer, instead of a cloned design, that would be here: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Hugen-NanoVNA-H-New-item-Original_62342877955.html

I don’t have experience purchasing from this location. Does anyone else? It certainly looks like a nicely packaged product.

Note that NanoVNA-H is the designation worked out between edy555 and hugen79 to differentiate the new design from the original design. It appears that both designers are now supporting the NanoVNA-H design.

Regards,

 

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[David Hunt]

Fred’s recommendation looks like a good one. My only issue with some of the standard “cases with fans” is that sometimes they tend to be a little too noisy. I modified a case recently to add a Sunon MagLev fan, and an adjustable switch mode power supply so that I could run the fan slower and quieter. Depending on your environment, this may not be a problem for you. But, just in case, you can find information on it at the bottom of this page. http://www.davesmotleyprojects.com/ham/rpi-gqrx-fm/index.html

This page is a little outdated, but you may still want to take a look at it for installing Rasbian, and doing things like disabling screen blanking. Hopefully it’s helpful.  http://www.davesmotleyprojects.com/raspi/proj_ready/raspbian_jessie/raspbian-jessie.html

Good luck on your project!

Dave (AC1GN)

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