Graphs for equivalent circuits

[klaus]

Hi all,
I am planning to use the VNA 2180 in our production for tuning HF devices. For our purposes it makes sense to see the values of the parallel and serial equivalent circuits as graph. Since these information are still present and displayed for the current marker position I want to ask whether it is possible to show Cs, Ls, Cp, Lp als graph also?

Thanks
Klaus

[Bob]

Hi Klaus,

This is an interesting idea. The raw data is already there but the user interface for new graphs has to be worked out. Let's take a poll. Those who are interested in the new graphs can vote here or send me an email.

If you're tuning components at a single frequency, the Point Data -> Tune mode may be helpful. People have used this a lot to adjust antenna tuners.

-- 73/Bob

[k6mhe]

It's already in Zplots. Ls, Cs, Lp, and Cp are all available for plotting in the dropdown list of choices for either the left or right axes.

Danny, K6MHE

[dl4raj]

Hi all,

I would find it a good idea to implement additional graphs
(to choose) for the parallel equivalent circuit.
Unfortunately Zplots is no longer supportetd by its author
and I'm not sure /haven't tried if it works with
the vna 2180.

Clemens
DL4RAJ

[klaus]

Thanks for the feedback. My old HP4195 which we want to substitute in our production has an option for displaying equivalent circuits. I did not check Zplots until now but I will do as soon as my VNA2180 has arrived.

Klaus

[killy]

Don't get your hopes too high too quickly yet.
Have the 2180 and Zplot; have saved .csv files and tried
to run it on Zplot and it says it is not a recognized format.

Is there supposed to be a difference between the .csv from
4170 and the 2180?

[killy]

....AND since it does not seem to work on Zplot with the 2180, i would be interested to get the
equivalent to Zplot from my 2180.

[Bob]

The .csv files for port A are in the same format for the AIM4170 and VNA2180 except for line 2.
The text on line 2 of the VNA file can be changed (using any text editor) to :
AIM version 685
This will make Zplots think the data is from an AIM.
The list of parameters for the VNA uses the word "phase" instead of "theta" but that shouldn't matter to Zplots. Numerically they are the same.

73/ Bob

[ac6la]

The Zplots Excel utility has now been modified to recognize the Port A format .csv files that can be saved from the VNA2180 software. It is not necessary to make any manual edits to the header of the file as mentioned in Bob's previous posting.

Note that Zplots will recognize *only* Port A type files. Port B format files are not supported.

More details on Zplots may be found at:
www.ac6la.com/zplots.html
A link for the zip file software download (free) is near the bottom of the page.

Many thanks to Danny, K6MHE, for alerting me to this thread. Thanks also to Bob for supplying some sample files.

Dan
AC6LA

[killy]

DAN,
While Bob's solution was instant fix, your quick update makes this Zplot of yours candy for the 2180.
Am designing phasing networks for an 80m array of wire loops and the RS/XS graphs (with the displayed values
while "mousing over"), suddenly makes Bob's 2180 a "color tv"!!!.
Am still finding ways to effect short cuts with your program and believe me it's performing flawlessly.

Tribute to you Dan,
va2gu