NickStick Design Releases the RF PowerSnitch USB-C Version
Recently Majodi from NickStick Design wrote in and wanted to share with us some updates to the 'NickStick RF PowerSnitch' which we previously posted about in 2021. The PowerSnitch is a device that can be used to gain a quick insight into RF power levels. This is useful to help prevent exposing your expensive and sensitive RF equipment, like an SDR or VNA, to excessive power levels that could destroy it.
The device uses three LEDs to tell you the power level. Green means you have a safe power level, caution is yellow and danger is red. Yellow is set to around 0 dBm.
The RF PowerSnitch is available on Tindie or lectronz for US$29.50.
In a recent re-release, they replaced the micro USB port with a USB-C power port. They write:
Today, NickStick Design, an electronics design company for Makers, is excited to announce the launch of the RF Power Snitch USB-C, the newest version of its popular RF Power Snitch device. This updated model replaces the micro-USB port of the
original with a USB-C port, making it more versatile and future-proof for today’s connectivity needs.“Our original RF Power Snitch saved many VNA devices from destructive power levels” Majodi of NickStick Design said. “With the RF Power Snitch USB-C, we’re excited to provide users with an upgrade which aligns with modern connectivity standards.
Over the years many more products in the RF domain became accessible to radio enthusiasts. RF Power Snitch is a valuable companion tool for checking the potentially destructive power of the signals one would want to feed to their equipment. Because, although tools like the TinySA, NanoVNA or SDR devices are extremely affordable today, for a maker it is still an investment worth protecting.
That’s why our goal was to develop a low-cost companion device that can help makers and experimenters (especially beginners) in the RF domain to gain insight in the power levels of a signal before hooking things up to their valuable test equipment. As an extra to this we also made it possible to attach an MCU for doing power readings and plotting.
Website: https://powersnitch.nickstick.nl
In the previous article, someone commented this “is useless”; I disagree, but do think having a peak-hold function and (especially) a higher max power rating (at least a watt / +30dBm) would be a huge improvement. As it is, the -10 to zero dBm inputs of the SDRs, VNA, & SAs scare me enough that I stick attenuators in front just to keep from accidentally nuking them from even a proximity cell phone, much less S-band Wi-Fi or high power radio like an amateur HT @ 5W. In particular, I bought a Kraken and that kept me from hooking it up (and up at night) until I got some protection for its inputs!