RF Software Please suggest any software that you feel is a great deal - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: EternalStudent
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2017, 11:31:49 am
content: I am getting into RF as a hobby and am doing a little research into software to help model RF.So far I have foundQUCSOPENSOURCECost $0which as far as I have found in my very limited search is like spice but for RF and has some additional functions.Matlab HOMECOMMERCIALCost $149 + $75 per yearAdd on modules for Matlab cost $49 and $23 per year to stay current (which may not be necessary? but is a good idea)My personal list of add ons I am considering in MatLab is ~$1500 so even at $49 a module it adds up.There are free imitators but it seems the job market still only speaks MatLab.Mathematica HomeCOMMERCIALCost ~$200I live and breath Mathematica. The main advantage is that its symbolic so you can do calculations at whatever resolution you need.Mathematica has so many ways to solve a problem and it can follow your strategy instead of you translating into its strategy like other software.Many problems can be solved in say 5 different ways and having the software work using way number 1 when that is how you want to think is much more beneficial than it sounds.LabviewCOMMERCIALCost ~$150 if you buy from diligent and get their Maker Labview. Its 100% authorized but its not something Labview makes very public.Labview allows integration of GPIB instruments into a very easy factor integration or lab integration setup which is valuable if you run any form of hardware using GPIB or other interfaces.Please give me your suggestions for modeling software that you think is worth the money or worth the time.I am primarily interested in moving towards the full professional level even at single digit thousand dollar expense or below but list more expensive software if you feel it is required.I am also interested in lower speed software as my day job is in switching power supplies =)

author: ahbushnell
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2017, 12:09:05 pm
content: LTspice or Tina from TI. They will work at RF frequencies.

author: hcglitte
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2017, 12:15:06 pm
content: RFSim99

author: dkozel
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2017, 04:14:29 pm
content: Open EMSOpen SourceElectromagnetic field field solving software, powerful for doing antenna or circuit analysis.http://openems.de/start/index.php

author: Wirehead
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2017, 08:50:24 pm
content: 4nec2 - If antenna design is your thing

author: dcarr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2017, 12:23:47 am
content: Sonnet Lite

author: hagster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2017, 10:16:13 pm
content: 4nec2 - amazing tool for many antennas and really easy to use.Octave - is nearly as good as Matlab for most thingsAvago AppCAD - useful tool.GNUradio Companion - can be used with or without hardware in the loop. A bit like Matlab simulink(but better)Universal Radio Hacker - decode many digital modulations schemes.AnTune - antenna matching circuit design(needs a VNA)There must be a good Smith Chart program, but I havent found one.OpenEMS - looks fairly powerful, but seems a bit tough to learn.

author: ECEdesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2017, 03:35:31 am
content: It really depends on what your use case is. Looking for emag simulators? Antenna? RFIC?If I didn't have free licenses to Matlab through the university I would be using Python. I need to learn it anyway since it is super powerful and it is used in the research/industrial sphere.