AN-SOF Antenna Simulation Software

If you’re looking for a high-performing omnidirectional antenna, consider this design. It boasts 5 collinear radiant elements that are connected by phasing coils. The feed point is conveniently located at the base of the antenna on a J dipole. By adjusting the position of the feed point along the J, you can minimize the SWR. At the top end of the antenna, you’ll find a small loop that serves as a tie point, measuring just 1/2″ in diameter. The total length of the antenna is 295″. Each coil features 32 turns and has a diameter of 5/8″.

To accurately model this design, we should use simulation software that is capable of modeling curved wire segments and small, closely-spaced wires. With AN-SOF, you can use the “Helix” object to perfectly model each coil. By using only one segment per turn, this model demonstrates the efficiency of AN-SOF in simulating complex designs.

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Explore AN-SOF’s interactive User Guide > for comprehensive guidance on using the Antenna Simulation Software.

✅ New Plots tab where we can quickly see the input impedance, VSWR, gain, Front-to-Rear, and Front-to-Back ratios as a function of frequency, with various visualization controls (grids, points, markers, etc.).

✅ The different parts of tapered wires are identified with alternating colors to better distinguish the wires of which they are composed.

✅ Click on a column header in the Results tab to display a plot immediately.

✅ New 3D Rotation button on the toolbar to easily rotate the view by moving the mouse.

✅ Combo-boxes now have “memory”. Select the frequency or angles to display polar diagrams and the next time you do so the same values will be pre-loaded.

✅ Users who use the comma as the decimal symbol can now import NEC files that use the period as the decimal separator. Go to Tools > Preferences > Options and check the option “The comma is set as the decimal symbol”.

✅ New Preferences window in AN-Smith to change the display of graphics in the Smith chart (line width, fonts, background, points).

💡 TIP 1: Double-click on the AN-SOF or AN-3D Pattern workspace to center the view in the window.

💡 TIP 2: Check “Show Points” in the Preferences window of AN-Polar to see the points on the radiation pattern lobes.

💡 TIP 3: Check “Equal Scales in 2 Plots” in the Preferences window of AN-XY Chart to display the left and right axes with the same scale.

Enjoy it!

Simulation of a multiband dipole for 3.7, 7.05, 14.2, 18.1, 21.2, and 28.5 MHz.

There are 6 dipoles of almost half a wavelength each. They are all connected to the same feed point.

This is an example where we need simulation software capable of modeling very close wires.

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The so-called “Loop on Ground (LoG)” is a small loop antenna with a cardioid-shaped radiation pattern in the horizontal plane, used for reception.
The loop has a 110 Ohm resistor connected to its top, while the antenna terminals are located at the bottom. One of the terminals is connected to ground by a vertical wire, forming a monopole. This is the secret to getting this antenna, despite being small, to be directional.
The image below shows the radiation patterns obtained with and without grounding.

Frequency: 4.5 MHz
Loop diameter: 1 m
Height above ground: 2 m (average real ground)

The segmentation used in the Conformal Method of Moments is observed over the antenna. Very few segments are needed because it is a small antenna in terms of the wavelength.

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