Everyone uses the NanoVNA to tune antennas and check SWR… but today we’re doing something way cooler. I’m using the NanoVNA-F V2 to X-ray an RF attenuator and find out whether it’s actually doing what the label claims — or whether I’ve been feeding fake values into my TinySA and destroying my test results.
🛠️ GEAR FEATURED:
👉 NanoVNA-F V2 (50kHz–3GHz): https://geni.us/hAZP
Take an additional 5% off from 11-5 to 11-30-25 with code RU9DM3TY
👉 20dB attenuators: https://geni.us/E7K7p3o
👉 40dB attenuators: https://geni.us/Pz4Bdf
📎 GET THE CHEAT SHEET:
The exact step-by-step bench workflow shown in this video is available as a printable PDF here: https://temporarilyoffline.com/blogs/tos-blog/stop-guessing-start-measuring
In this video you’ll learn:
✅ How to calibrate the NanoVNA for S21 attenuation measurements
✅ How to test fixed attenuators AND step attenuators
✅ How to tell good RF hardware from “Amazon special garbage”
✅ How many dB your attenuator really provides (not just what it says)
✅ How to protect your spectrum analyzer or SDR before you blow it up
If you ever test radios, amplifiers, filters, or harmonic suppression, this method will save you both money and gear.
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