NanoVNA: All the Little Stuff Nobody Explains

This video is geared toward the new ham who wants a better understanding of the NanoVNA. Maybe you are kind of familiar with the NanoVNA but some stuff doesn’t make sense to you yet. Maybe you would like to know what else you can use a NanoVNA for other than use it as an antenna analyzer. I will cover the stuff that is not explained in other videos you find on the NanoVNA and hopefully in a more understandable way. In this video I will discuss the following:

What are NanoVNAs and Vector Network Analyzers?
Should you buy a NanoVNA or an Antenna Analyzer?
Comparing an Antenna Analyzer to a NanoVNA.
What is SWR?
Dummy loads.
How does an Antenna Analyzer work?
How is a NanoVNA different from an Antenna Analyzer?
S11 and S21 Measurements.
Types of S11 measurements you can make.
Types of S21 measurements you can make.
Why do you have to calibrate a NanoVNA?
What actually is calibration?
When to do a 1 port or 2 port calibration.
Test fixtures and calibration.
Accepting some level of error.
What you get with some of the higher model NanoVNAs.
What is dynamic range?

Here is a link to authorized distributors of the NanoVNA: https://nanovna.com/?page_id=121

00:00 Intro
02:10 What is a Vector Network Analyzer?
03:41 Should you buy a NanoVNA or an Antenna Analyzer?
05:56 What does an Antenna Analyzer do and what is SWR?
07:34 How does an Antenna Analyzer work?
08:45 How is a NanoVNA different and what are S11 and S21 measurements?
10:48 What are some kinds of S11 and S21 measurements you can make?
13:05 Why do you have to calibrate a NanoVNA?
16:14 What actually is calibration and when to do a partial or full calibration?
18:24 Test fixtures, adapters and accepting some level of error.
19:31 What do some of the more expensive models of the NanoVNA give you?
19:52 What is dynamic range?