Antenna Design ToolsVE3KL

Antenna simulation tools based on NEC Fortran ProgramEznec4NEC2 (free) including optimizer and tuner design

Transmission Line Utility (TLDetails, Dan Maguire, AC6LA)

Antenna Tuner Utility (included in 4NEC2)

Specialized C#, C++, VB programs to drive EZNEC/4NEC2

Measurement Tools and Software : AIM4170 vector meter + Zplots(AC6LA)

*David Conn VE3KL*

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*OutlineMy Antenna Design Process

4nec2 Overview..Analysis, Optimization, Utilities

Design Example ..40/17 metre fan dipole

Future Trends

Demo of 4NEC2 or AIM4170 Analyzer

David Conn VE3KL

David Conn VE3KL*Antenna SystemTransmission Line Zo, velocity, lengthlossesAntennaTuner Discrete or StubsTransmitter Power and FrequencyOptional : use if SWR >1.5Use TLDetails to selectSimulate/build/test

David Conn VE3KLDavid

David Conn VE3KL*My Design ProcessBuildMeasure Vector Z meter Aim 4170 ..4nec2 Simulator Optimizer Idea ?Transmission Line Analysis(TLDetails)Tuner Design4NEC2 Matching UtilityCapture Data for plotting Zplots SoftwareDesign ReviewOK ? Start Over? File Transfer .csv

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*4nec2 ArieVoorsA free full featured antenna simulatorUses the nec FORTRAN kernelSeveral input editorsBuilt-in 3D graphicsExcellent help fileMany standard antennas.helix etc.First free simulator to contain an optimizer

David Conn VE3KL

*David Conn VE3KL*Spherical Coordinate System

Rx AntennaTx Antenna is the horizontal azimuth angle is the angle measured from verticalElevation angle = 90 - XYZXY Horizontal PlaneZ Vertical axis

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*Method of MomentsA discrete numerical methodDivide wires into many segments25 segments per wavelength

David Conn VE3KL

David Conn VE3KL*4nec2 SimulationAnalyze Gain,SWRUse built-in editor to the Define AntennaGeometryOptimize (Tune)Use Matching Utility to Design Tuner if NeededUse TL Details to select Transmission line

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*The Big Gun (Optimization)Optimize (Tune) a 2 metre dipoleto 6 metres

Adjust reactance to zeroResultsL= 2.8 metresXin = -0.13 OhmsVary Length

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*4NEC2 Far Field Traditional Plot

Several Views

Vertical, Horizontal, Total

Circular Polarization RHC, LHC, Total

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL* 3D VE3XK 50 MHz Stack

50 MHz OMNISource Side Along X AxisRight Hand Circular PolarizationShownAll Graphs are dynamic

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*4NEC2 3D Near Field

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*4NEC2 Advanced Far Field Map

High Gain

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*Spherical Coordinate System

Rx AntennaTx Antenna is the horizontal azimuth angle is the angle measured from verticalElevation angle = 90 - XYZXY Horizontal PlaneZ Vertical axis

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*Examples Simple 2m Dipole Free Space X AxisL/2-L/2Total GainTheta = 75 degreesPHI = 311 degrees

David Conn VE3KL

*David Conn VE3KL* Simple 2m Dipole .. Horizontal Plane X AxisL/2-L/2 Horizontal Plane

BLUE :Vertical E FieldRED: Horizontal E FieldGreen: Total Field

Theta = 45 degrees (Is it OK to say that a dipole is Horizontally Polarized? No!)

Receives Power Line Noise off the end (Vertically Polarized)

David Conn VE3KL

David Conn VE3KL*4NEC2 Several Views of Frequency Response

David Conn VE3KLDavid

David Conn VE3KL*4NEC2Smith Chart

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*David Conn VE3KL*A Design ExampleTwo Element Fan Dipole40/17 metres

Wire Lengths?Tuner needed?Frequency Response?Gain and direction of radiation?Mounted between two towers (North South)Simulate/Build/Test

David Conn VE3KL

*David Conn VE3KL* Two Element Fan DipoleFour Wires Connected to a Transmission Line

40 metre top section17 metre bottom section(Inverted V)RG8-X Cable (Length, Losses, Zin)Lossy GroundL1 (1/4 Lambda)L2 (1/4 Lambda)Height30 degreesTunerTransmitter

David Conn VE3KL

*David Conn VE3KL*

Two Element Fan Dipole40 Metre Gain Patternbroadside radiation

David Conn VE3KL

*David Conn VE3KL*

Two Element Fan Dipole17 Metre Gain Pattern45 degree lobes

David Conn VE3KL

David Conn VE3KL*

Two Element Fan DipoleFrequency Response ..SWR around 1.5Tuner might be useful

Good Candidate for an auto-tunerVery High SWR ???

David Conn VE3KL

*David Conn VE3KL*

Two Element Fan DipoleFrequency Response ImpedanceZ= 28.5+j2 Ohms @ 18 MHz

David Conn VE3KL

David Conn VE3KL*TLDetails to select the Transmission LineLength needed = 15 Metres

Zin = 40 + j 20

David Conn VE3KLDavid

David Conn VE3KL*Matching (4nec2 Utility)18 MHz

No need for Xs

David Conn VE3KLDavid

*Measurements

Aim 4170 Vector Z MeterComplete Data Set Generated Import Data to Zplotsor Excel or Data Base (SQLITE)Plotting or Further ComputingE.g.. Calculate Cable LossesAntenna or other DUT .csvAIM 4170 Vector Impedance MeterConnected to Computer via Serial Port

David Conn VE3KLDavid

David Conn VE3KL*Fan DipoleMeasurements AIM4170 & Zplots

MeasuredSimulated

David Conn VE3KLDavid

The Future

Much more software integration needed

link measurement tools to all softwareinclude data base output for all softwareuse Excel and SQLite data basesstandard data base file format

Models, especially ground types need improvement

Much more work on optimization

Electrical design to mechanical drawing needed for Microwave Antennas

2010 Antenna design tools similar to Silicon IC design in its infancy

David Conn VE3KLDavid

Summary

Antenna/Simulation Tools are well developed

See VE3KLs articles in TCA for more details

Presentation posted on ve3kl.com Web Site

VY 73 Dave VE3KL

David Conn VE3KLDavid

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A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

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A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits

*

A method that you can use easily to evaluate your own noise environmentA method that you can use to evaluate the quality of the ionosphere at any give time.Some methods to control received noiseThe Shannon Hartley limits