TAPR / Ten-Tec VNA Software Updates

 

You can check whether your current version is the most recent by looking at the build number in the about menu and comparing it to this list.

 

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Date:           September 30, 2008

 

Package

Date

Status

Version

.NET runtime

Windows Setup

Win98, ME, 2000, XP

Instruction Manual

Vector Network Analyzer

September 27, 2008

BETA

2.1.6

2.0

2.1.3192.40899

Instruction Manual Issue 6 (Preliminary)

February 4, 2007

Release

2.0

2.0

2.0.2591.24355

Instruction Manual Issue 5

August 13, 2006

Release

1.6

1.1

1.6.2416.21766

Instruction Manual Issue 4

Signal Generator

August 8, 2008

Release

2.0

2.0

2.0

None

January 4, 2006

Release

1.1

1.1

1.1

None

Frequently Asked Questions

September 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

VNA FAQ

 

 

Notes

 

Vector Network Analyzer                 Release 2.0.2591.24355          Executable name: VNAR3

 

Latest stable release.

 

Vector Network Analyzer                 Beta  2.1.3192.40899              Executable name: VNAR3

 

2.1.6 (build 3192.40899) adds detection of an apparent unshielded S21 receive measurement. Because the VNA uses a broadband detector, if the device under test is not well shielded an external interference source can contaminate S21 measurements at all frequencies rather than just near the frequency of the interfering source. A caution note is placed on the screen when showing S21 measurements if the receive detector appears to be detecting excess noise ingress.

 

2.1.5 (build 3181.21991) adds a menu item to change the background color. This may be useful if you want to capture screenshots directly from the CRT for use as a graphic in some other document or application and the color your system [Inactive::Captiontext] has chosen doesn’t show up well.

 

Additionally, a power-saving mode has been added to the target code. This powers down the I- and Q- DAC multipliers in the VNA hardware when it is not sweeping, and re-enables them for each sweep. This results in a significant power reduction of the DDS chip when idle. If the instrument is continually sweeping it won’t make as much difference. The VNA still puts out full-strength signal after it’s done with a sweep at the last swept frequency (handy as a quick signal generator).

 

2.1.4 (build 3150.38355) adds another Export CSV Rectangular menu item to allow two options:

Export CSV Rectangular (North American format), and

Export CSV Rectangular (European format).

 

The North American/UK, and European versions of Excel use different CSV file separator characters. The two menu items allows generating files compatible with either version.

 

2.1.3 (build 3141.37297) improves exception handling, provides anti-aliasing of traces on the display, and slightly improved graphics updating (fewer screen redraws). This assembly includes a ‘strong name’ as a security enhancement. The program assembly is digitally signed using a private key. The public key used to check the signature validity is included within the assembly. The Microsoft loader will automatically validate the signature, if it’s OK the application will launch normally, if the signature check fails, the application will abort immediately with an ‘this application has encountered an error’ box. This check helps protect against bit-level changes or alterations of the executable file.

 

2.1.3 (build 3069.24376) very slightly improves the detector calibration convergence. Not worth updating unless you have problems with 2.1.2 or earlier converging.

 

2.1.2 (build 3053.25751) adds 0.5 dB/division display setting, and reorganizes the vertical menu into several sub menus to save screen height. It creates a new file version (1.0.5) for the saved measurement file, but can read (1.0.4) as well.

 

2.1.1 Added R+jX display modes.

 

2.1.x is a BETA Version of software. It requires that a new Detector Calibration be run. Detector Calibration is compatible with the different 2.1 beta versions, so you will only need to run it again if you get an error message. The possibility exists that the detector calibration may not converge for every unit, but I’ve not received any errors lately. If your 1meter cal cable is less than ~ 0.9 meters long, it might not converge.

 

Vector Network Analyzer                 Release 1.6.2416.21766          Executable name: VNAR3

 

Older release.

 

Signal Generator Software              Release 2.0                             Executable name: SGENR2

 

August 8 update provides a ‘strong name’ of the assembly as a security enhancement. No functional changes from the January 31 update.

 

January 31 update changes the Installer to fix incorrect prerequisite (executable is unchanged). Ported to NET 2.0.  Fixes a bug where the phase meter had a 180 degree error (sign flip). Also adds the ability to compensate for the VNA internal crystal oscillator error. The oscillator still drifts with temperature, but this cal reduces the fixed error a lot. The existing SGEN data file is not compatible, and the application will warn to reset the external / internal and oscillator compensation options. The new version is called SGENR2, the old one was called SGENR1.

 

Signal Generator Software              Release 1.1                             Executable name: SGENR1

 

Older Release. Lower frequency limit decreased down to 2,000 Hz. There is a high-pass pole at 50 KHz, so the output level starts decreasing (by 3 dB) at 50 KHz. The output waveform becomes very distorted below 25 KHz.