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Computers in Amateur Radio
EZNEC is de-facto the amateur standard antenna modelling
package, and is relatively easy to use. EZNEC stands for Easy NEC! It
is available as a download or CD and runs on Windows version 98. ME,
2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7.
The standard EZNEC V5.0 has a 500 segment capacity; the larger
EZNEC+ V5.0 has 1500 segment capacity, allowing more complex or
accurate models. These versions have to be purchased.
A free download demonstration version with a maximum of 20
segments is available from the EZNEC website. This is also supplied with
the ARRL Antenna Handbook on its accompanying CD. The free demo
version can be used for the example about to be described, but the
number of segments will be restricted to 19 rather than the 51 used. This
results in inaccurate feed impedance and SWR values above 10 MHz.
However, if this limitation is accepted, the radiation plots are similar.
The capability to model with more segments allows more complex
models to be analysed but be aware that processing time increases
with the number of segments used.
It is impossible in this short chapter to show all the bells and
whistles available or all the caveats inherent in NEC2, but the hope is it
will wet the appetite of the reader. A full 185-page manual is available
from the EZNEC website.
Fig 4.1 shows the Desktop Icon for EZNEC. (Ver-
sion EZNEC+ V5.0) Double clicking on this produces the
main EZNEC Control Centre screen – Fig 4.2.
This has a top menu, a left hand toolbar with but-
tons and to the right of this another toolbar with buttons.
EZNEC does not allow you to start with a blank canvas, rather one
of the pre-loaded example models needs to be opened and modified
to suit the antenna to be modelled. After that, EZNEC always starts up
with last antenna modelled. This is automatically saved under filename
‘LAST.EZ’ when the program is closed. The pre-loaded models enable
the first time user
to find what each
menu item does.
Simple models of
the basic antenna
types, dipoles,
yagis, and full
wave loops are
included in the
preloaded library.
Click ‘File’
and then ‘Open’
and look for
‘BYDipole’ in the
list of supplied
Fig 4.1: EZNEC
Desktop Logo.
Fig 4.2: The
EZNEC Control
Centre Window
with the sample
model BYDipole
opened.
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