A Guide to Compiling Updated NanoVNA Firmware
Thank you to Ohan Smit (ZS1SCI) for submitting his guide that shows us how to compile the latest NanoVNA firmware from the source code. The NanoVNA is an open source VNA project by @edy555 and ttrftech that has recently become extremely affordable at less than US$50 for a fully assembled unit thanks to Chinese manufacturing (or a little more if you order it via Amazon).
As the NanoVNA project is open source the code is ever evolving and the units that ship from China now come with older firmware installed. If you want to test the very latest experimental code, you need to compile it on a PC, and then flash the firmware into the NanoVNA. Ohan's guide covers this all. For example, one recent update now enables time-domain reflectometry for measuring coax cable length, which we explored in a previous post.
Alternatively according to the GitHub readme, it is also possible to use a docker image which will remove the need to install the arm tool chain. Ready to flash images are also released every few days over on the GitHub release page, although these won't include the very latest or experimental changes.
On my nanovna when you are in menu mode, whatever you touch, it activates the choice below it…not the one you touched. makes it impossible to select the choice on the top of the menu bar
I have a nanovna-H with 0.4.5-1 firmware.
It seemed to work ok for a while, but after a little use, the softkeys on the touchscreen have become scrambled. If I am lucky enough to get it set up for a measurement, it seems to get good relults.
I tried to follow the “firmware upgrade for idiots” and got very confused. I plead guilty to being an idiot. Would really like to get the nanovna working as I could really use it.
I finally got it working. I don’t trust the SWR. All my other gear says different from the nano. The nano readings are nice but I don’t think they reflect reality. I check SWR at several points with my rigs and reflection bridge; they agree with one another but the nano says otherwise. I will try recalibration. Incidentally, the nano did some spontaneous reboots and shutdowns yesterday but seems okay today.
The SWR on either of my NanoVNAs do not reflect reality either. I’m testing an antenna with a datasheet that agrees with my FPC1500’s measurement. I’m not sure what the NanoVNA is plotting, but it isn’t SWR.
Bob, just curious, what doesn’t work as expected?? Doesn’t boot up …? wrong results?
make sure you cal’ed correctly ??
I have a nanovna but it’s not working correctly. I would like to replace the firmware or whatever software it has. How do I do that, and where do I get it?