Smith Chart support for Spike

Hi,

I tried to use Signal hound 2.18B for its smith Chart function but I cant get a stable x mark point on the chart, it keeps on jumping from one point to another even after calibration(doing open cal). Its even worse in 5Ghz band. I’m using mini-Circuits directional coupler model ZHDC-10-63-S+, SA124B option 2, TG124A. Will a VNA cal kit can improve the measurements or do I need better directional coupler if so what can you recommend.

I really love how stable the scalar network analyzer in spike V3.0.7. I was wondering if the Smith Chart utility can be available in Spike maybe as a paid feature in the next release.

Thank a lot.

Regards,
Mervin

Hi Mervin,
I have had similar problems, it means that the 10MHz out from the TG isn’t coupled to the 10MHz in to the SA.
I don’t have it in front of me but I had problems last time I tried to get this to work (on Win 7). The tick boxes which are supposed to show the status of the 10MHz I/O don’t. 🙂
So you can probably fix it by making sure you have the 10MHz connected, and fiddling around with the 10Mhz reference settings.

Hi Hendorog,

Thank you for the suggestion. I will try it.

Ones again, thank you.

hello there, i have had a nice improvement on my smith´s chart measure, when i added the attenuator at the tg44B output(x mark stopped from jumping left and right)… does it worth to buy a rubidium 10MHz reference(FE-5680A), or at least an OCXO? would i notice any improvement?

It’s a big flaw that there is no Smith-Chart in the Spike program. I bought the SA44B and TG44A for on-line antenna tuning and matching. But it turns out to use a less stable old version of the software.

My previous antenna analyzer RigExpert-1400 allows you to draw VSWR, Smith-Chart, Return Loss by switching between windows, but in off-line mode.

Request to develop, correct this problem.

Hello Raash,

Thank you for the feedback. At the moment, we will continue to ensure the old software version is available for access to the smith chart. The older software can be installed side by side with Spike. We do not have immediate plans to include this in Spike. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Regards,
Andrew

It’s a pity. It is necessary to switch between programs, which is inconvenient.
Tell me, for Smith-Chart SA44B and TG44A should be connected with 2 BNC cables? Sync and REF 10MHZ?

Raash,
For the Smith chart utility, the time bases must be locked, but the sync signal is not used. Only one BNC is required.
Connect the TG 10 MHz out to the SA external reference in, then enable external reference in the software. Note that on the SA series, with external reference enabled, do not remove the reference signal until after you close the software.

Worked on video instructions. It would be a mapping functional as in RigExpert, it would be very good, as much as possible would block the functional of the antenna analyzer. Values with it are slightly different. I will find out which of them are more truthful.

Tell me why in the SPIKE program to get the SWR – calibration is done without connection, and for the Smith chart, the calibration should be performed over an open, short, load?

Raash,
Using just the open (or short) is suboptimal, and the directionality of your coupler limits the accuracy of your VSWR measurement. But it’s my understanding that correcting with open / short / load would require phase information, which we cannot acquire with a scalar system.

Great request, add a Smith chart to Spike.

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