Is the TinySA Ultra really this magical?

[KPMDWhistler]

I've recently came across the TinySA Ultra in YouTube, and I don't know how I was living without this thing. Based upon the videos I've seen it looks like an extremely useful piece of equipment. If I did ever get my hands on it then I would use it with my desktop discone, and I would scan for new secret frequencies out of KPMD and KEDW, as well as tanker track frequencies over the mountains. Anyways, is the TinySA Ultra really as useful and magical as it's put out to be?

 

[RaleighGuy]

I've recently came across the TinySA Ultra in YouTube, and I don't know how I was living without this thing. Based upon the videos I've seen it looks like an extremely useful piece of equipment. If I did ever get my hands on it then I would use it with my desktop discone, and I would scan for new secret frequencies out of KPMD and KEDW, as well as tanker track frequencies over the mountains. Anyways, is the TinySA Ultra really as useful and magical as it's put out to be?

Great review, but it would have been useful if you had told us what it was or included links to the YouTube video or website for this mystery product.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I'll help the OP out & solve the "mystery"...

tinySA | Main / HomePage

 

[KPMDWhistler]

Great review, but it would have been useful if you had told us what it was or included links to the YouTube video or website for this mystery product.

I saw this video along with others (Link 1). I also watched a bunch of YouTube shorts about it on this channel (Link 2).

1.)

2.) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2RV8cOR63yKqULv6BoE0Q

 

[K4EET]

I have the TinySA Ultra and it is very nice. It’s not like a $5000 spectrum analyzer/RF signal generator, but for what you pay for it, it does a lot. If you are an ARRL member, there are two good articles about this device. One is in the April 2023 QST and the other in this month’s QST. There are also good YouTube videos about this device. Look at those and judge for yourself. At just over $100 when on sale, I personally think it’s well worth it to have one on your bench.

73, Dave K4EET

 

[KPMDWhistler]

I have the TinySA Ultra and it is very nice. It’s not like a $5000 spectrum analyzer/RF signal generator, but for what you pay for it, it does a lot. If you are an ARRL member, there are two good articles about this device. One is in the April 2023 QST and the other in this month’s QST. There are also good YouTube videos about this device. Look at those and judge for yourself. At just over $100 when on sale, I personally think it’s well worth it to have one on your bench.

73, Dave K4EET

Thanks!

 

[merlin]

That is a neat little SA, Think I will go for the ultra.
Ideal for finding active frequencies.
I have a Nano VNA that can do the same thing but limited to 1.5 GHz.
I have an Agilent spectrum analyzer for the bench good to 1.5 GHz, but I would like to get to 22 GHz.
Thinking maybe a downconverter.

 

[dave3825]

If I did ever get my hands on it then I would use it with my desktop discone, and I would scan for new secret frequencies out of KPMD and KEDW, as well as tanker track frequencies over the mountains.

As long as the modulation is one of these and not digital it could work.

 

[KPMDWhistler]

As long as the modulation is one of these and not digital it could work.

View attachment 159131

Yes it's not digital.

 

[dave3825]

Personally, as much I do love gadgets, I tend to use a small laptop with a dongle and DSDPlus fastlane so if I run across anything digital, I am covered. I am still planning on getting a TinySa just to have. Think it will look good next to my NanoVna

 

[pb3400]

Instead of a NanoVNA, look at the LiteVNA64. Good to 6Ghz plus.
Re the TinySA Ultra, only place in the US to get them and not get a clone is from R&L Electronics, around $130. They're fantastic for the price. Not sure what the modulation type has to do with it, it's a spectrum analyzer. You can also display a waterfall if that's your thing.

 

[K4EET]

Instead of a NanoVNA, look at the LiteVNA64. Good to 6Ghz plus.
Re the TinySA Ultra, only place in the US to get them and not get a clone is from R&L Electronics, around $130. They're fantastic for the price. Not sure what the modulation type has to do with it, it's a spectrum analyzer. You can also display a waterfall if that's your thing.

Two comments:

1. The places to buy the TinySA Ultra from are listed on the TinySA website tinySA

tinySA | Main / Buying the tinySA

2. The reason the TinySA Ultra has a modulation type parameter is because there is a headphone output where you can listen to the demodulated signal. For example, you can listen to FM music stations in the FM broadcast band.

73, Dave K4EET

 

[prcguy]

A friend of mine recently gave me a tiny ultra that didn’t work out for one of his projects and it seems to work ok for sniffing around for signals with an antenna and its also working well for generating modulated signals into receivers for testing. I was just playing with it today testing a VHF lo band exciter for output level and 2nd harmonic. The tiny ultra allowed me to enter my external 20dB attenuator value so it read correct levels on screen.

 

[merlin]

Mine is on order from Amazon, looking at all the firmware upgrades like the Nano VNA.

 

[merlin]

Two comments:

1. The places to buy the TinySA Ultra from are listed on the TinySA website tinySA

tinySA | Main / Buying the tinySA

2. The reason the TinySA Ultra has a modulation type parameter is because there is a headphone output where you can listen to the demodulated signal. For example, you can listen to FM music stations in the FM broadcast band.

73, Dave K4EET

I think just AM and FM, possibly double sideband.

 

[Omega-TI]

The prices at scAmazon vary widely on this item. << CLICK HERE >> $58.00 -$310.00 for the same item? Which is counterfeit?

 

[dave3825]

Which is counterfeit?

the 58.00 one for sure.

And many of the ones under 100 do not seem to come with a micro sd card.

 

[Blackswan73]

The ones under $100 are not the Ultra. They are the original Tiny SA

B.S.

 

[merlin]

The prices at scAmazon vary widely on this item. << CLICK HERE >> $58.00 -$310.00 for the same item? Which is counterfeit?

Not all of them and Aursinc and SeeSii store on Amazon are noted for the genuine.
I wouldnt trust any others.
The ultra I ordered ran about $260 (US) any cheaper, count on clone junk.

 

[merlin]

the 58.00 one for sure.

And many of the ones under 100 do not seem to come with a micro sd card.

View attachment 159790

Only the ultra has the SD card and upgraded firmware.