To Our Valued AN-SOF Customers and Users: Reflections, Milestones, and Future Plans

Dear AN-SOF Community,

As we approach the end of 2024, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve shared this year and to look ahead to the exciting future of AN-SOF Antenna Simulator. It has been 12 years since we launched the very first version of AN-SOF, and I am filled with gratitude and pride as I look back at all we have accomplished together.

A Look Back: Celebrating 12 Years of Innovation

Back in 2002, I dedicated countless hours (and years) to develop a tool that would empower antenna designers and enthusiasts alike. In 2012, we officially launched version 1.0 of AN-SOF. Since then, we have continuously evolved, adding numerous features and enhancements that have shaped AN-SOF into the powerful tool it is today.

Key Milestones and Features:

1. Bulk Simulations (Version 7.00): Streamlined workflows with unassisted simulations from input files to automatic output files in CSV format. This feature, particularly powerful when combined with scripting, has been highly praised by users who utilize tools like Octave.
2. Enhanced NEC Commands: We have added or improved several NEC commands (GN, RP, LD, GM, GS, GH, GA, IS, LD4, EX5, EX6) for better compatibility, enabling users to reuse their project files seamlessly.
3. Dynamic Observations: The ability to dynamically observe radiation patterns, near field heatmaps, and current distributions as frequency changes has been a game-changer.
4. New Tabs: Introducing Tuner, Feeder, Results, and Plots tabs for enhanced functionality and user experience.
5. Improved Visualizations: Enhanced wire segments, ARRL-style polar plots, and F/R and F/B ratios for better data interpretation.
6. Intuitive Access (Version 8): Version 8 brought an intuitive way to access data, making it easier than ever to interact with graphs and results.
7. Calculation Engine Improvements: We improved the calculation engine, ensuring greater accuracy and reliability, and embedded math libraries in the software, eliminating the need for external packages.
8. Effortless Modeling: With over 160 Transmission Line Models, AN-SOF enables easy modeling of phased arrays and feeding systems.
9. EMF Compliance Tools: Added calculations for Average and Peak Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and power density in the near field region to comply with electromagnetic field regulations.
10. New Calculators (Version 9): The Tuner and Feeder calculators allow seamless integration of impedance transformers (baluns or ununs), coaxial cables, bifilar transmission lines, and impedance matching networks with automatically synthesized components. Enhanced polarization analysis with far-field components such as Vertical (VP), Horizontal (HP), Right-Handed (RHCP), and Left-Handed (LHCP).

Expanding Resources:

• We launched our online Knowledge Base with a smart search feature, offering more than 240 articles and growing every week.
• Our AN-SOF User Guide is now available in three formats: online, Interactive, and PDF.
• Our blog, Antennas and Beyond!, features sections tailored to your interests: The Antenna Lab, The Ham’s Corner, and Advanced RF Edge.

Looking to the Future:

As software evolves rapidly, versions 7.x and prior have been discontinued. We encourage users to update to the latest version to continue enjoying our latest features and improvements.

Premier Membership:

Premier Membership is an exclusive designation for customers who hold a Platinum Plan or renew their Gold Plan annually without interruption. Premier Members enjoy exclusive access to our Early Access Portal, where they can download the latest AN-SOF versions before general availability, including beta features, among other benefits.

Exciting Features Coming in 2025:

1. New Source Model: For the first time in the wire antenna simulation market history, we will release a new source model based on the induced EMF method. This will allow modeling the antenna feedpoint with parameters representing real-world setups and a better fit to measured data.
2. Release of the AN-SOF Engine: We are working on a new double-precision 64-bit engine that can be called from external programs via command line. In an era where AI tools dominate the software landscape, we aim to provide the AI market with a powerful engine specialized in wire antennas.
3. AN-SOF as a Learning Tool: Recognizing that 80% of our queries are about antenna fundamentals rather than software features, we are developing a Learning Platform aimed at students and beginners. This platform will simplify and explain radiation and propagation concepts.

As we close this year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your support and engagement. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025!

Best regards,

Tony Golden
CEO & Founder
Golden Engineering LLC