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Guides
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- Beyond Analytical Formulas: Accurate Coil Inductance Calculation with AN-SOF
- Complete Workflow: Modeling, Feeding, and Tuning a 20m Band Dipole Antenna
- DIY Helix High Gain Directional Antenna: From Simulation to 3D Printing
- Evaluating EMF Compliance - Part 1: A Guide to Far-Field RF Exposure Assessments
- Design Guidelines for Skeleton Slot Antennas: A Simulation-Driven Approach
- Simplified Modeling for Microstrip Antennas on Ungrounded Dielectric Substrates: Accuracy Meets Simplicity
- Fast Modeling of a Monopole Supported by a Broadcast Tower
- Linking Log-Periodic Antenna Elements Using Transmission Lines
- Wave Matching Coefficient: Defining the Practical Near-Far Field Boundary
- AN-SOF Mastery: Adding Elevated Radials Quickly
- Enhancing Antenna Design: Project Merging in AN-SOF
- On the Modeling of Radio Masts
- The Equivalent Circuit of a Balun
- AN-SOF Antenna Simulation Best Practices: Checking and Correcting Model Errors
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- AN-SOF 9.50 Release: Streamlining Polarization, Geometry, and EMF Calculations
- AN-SOF 9: Taking Antenna Design Further with New Feeder and Tuner Calculators
- AN-SOF Antenna Simulation Software - Version 8.90 Release Notes
- AN-SOF 8.70: Enhancing Your Antenna Design Journey
- Introducing AN-SOF 8.50: Enhanced Antenna Design & Simulation Software
- Get Ready for the Next Level of Antenna Design: AN-SOF 8.50 is Coming Soon!
- Explore the Cutting-Edge World of AN-SOF Antenna Simulation Software!
- Upgrade to AN-SOF 8.20 - Unleash Your Potential
- AN-SOF 8: Elevating Antenna Simulation to the Next Level
- New Release: AN-SOF 7.90
- AN-SOF 7.80 is ready!
- New AN-SOF User Guide
- New Release: AN-SOF 7.50
- AN-SOF 7.20 is ready!
- New Release :: AN-SOF 7.10 ::
- AN-SOF 7.0 is Here!
- New Release :: AN-SOF 6.40 ::
- New Release :: AN-SOF 6.20 ::
- Show All Articles (3) Collapse Articles
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Models
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- Download Examples
- Modeling a Center-Fed Cylindrical Antenna with AN-SOF
- Yagi-Uda Array
- Monopole Over Real Ground
- Helix Antenna in Axial Mode
- Modeling a Circular Loop Antenna in AN-SOF: A Step-by-Step Guide
- A Transmission Line
- An RLC Circuit
- Explore 5 Antenna Models with Less Than 50 Segments in AN-SOF Trial Version
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- Modeling a Super J-Pole: A Look Inside a 5-Element Collinear Antenna
- Simulating the Ingenious Multiband Omnidirectional Dipole Antenna Design
- The Loop on Ground (LoG): A Compact Receiving Antenna with Directional Capabilities
- Precision Simulations with AN-SOF for Magnetic Loop Antennas
- Advantages of AN-SOF for Simulating 433 MHz Spring Helical Antennas for ISM & LoRa Applications
- Radio Mast Above Wire Screen
- Square Loop Antenna
- Receiving Loop Antenna
- Monopole Above Earth Ground
- Top-Loaded Short Monopole
- Half-Wave Dipole
- Folded Dipole
- Dipole Antenna
- The 5-in-1 J-Pole Antenna Solution for Multiband Communications
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- The Lazy-H Antenna: A 10-Meter Band Design Guide
- Extended Double Zepp (EDZ): A Phased Array Solution for Directional Antenna Applications
- Transmission Line Feeding for Antennas: The Four-Square Array
- Log-Periodic Christmas Tree
- Enhancing VHF Performance: The Dual Reflector Moxon Antenna for 145 MHz
- Building a Compact High-Performance UHF Array with AN-SOF: A 4-Element Biquad Design
- Building a Beam: Modeling a 5-Element 2m Band Quad Array
- Broadside Dipole Array
- Log-Periodic Dipole Array
- Broadband Directional Antenna
- A Closer Look at the HF Skeleton Slot Antenna
- The 17m Band 2-Element Delta Loop Beam: A Compact, High-Gain Antenna for DX Enthusiasts
- Enhancing Satellite Links: The Moxon-Yagi Dual Band VHF/UHF Antenna
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Validation
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- Simple Dual Band Vertical Dipole for the 2m and 70cm Bands
- Linear Antenna Theory: Historical Approximations and Numerical Validation
- Validating Panel RBS Antenna with Dipole Radiators against IEC 62232
- Directivity of V Antennas
- Enhanced Methodology for Monopoles Above Radial Wire Ground Screens
- Dipole Gain and Radiation Resistance
- Convergence of the Dipole Input Impedance
- Impedance of Cylindrical Antennas
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Plotting 2D Far Field Patterns
The radiation pattern can be visualized as a 2D rectangular plot by selecting Results > Plot Far-Field Pattern > 2D Rectangular Plot from the main menu. This action will open the Radiation Pattern Cut dialog box (Fig. 1), where two plot types are available:
- Conical Plots: Generated with a fixed Theta and variable Phi.
- Vertical Plots: Created with a fixed Phi and variable Theta.
Select a radiation pattern cut and click OK to launch the AN-XY Chart application (Fig. 2), where the radiation pattern is plotted against Phi for conical plots (fixed Theta) or against Theta for vertical plots (fixed Phi).
Within the AN-XY Chart app, access the Plot menu to graph various parameters, including Power Density, Directivity, Gain, E-field, and Axial Ratio. This menu also allows you to represent these metrics in decibels (dBi for directivity and gain) and decompose them into linearly polarized components: Theta (VP: Vertically Polarized) and Phi (HP: Horizontally Polarized), as well as circularly polarized components: Right (RHCP: Right-Handed Circularly Polarized) and Left (LHCP: Left-Handed Circularly Polarized). The app’s toolbar features buttons: Tot, VP, HP, RH, and LH for quick switching between the total field metric and its corresponding polarization components. For instance, you can plot the total gain in dBi or decompose it into its Theta (VP), Phi (HP), Right (RHCP), or Left (LHCP) components to analyze antenna polarization characteristics. In the case of plane wave excitation, where the antenna is receiving or the metallic structure is scattering electromagnetic waves, the Radar Cross Section (RCS) will be plotted instead of directivity and gain.
The Axial Ratio is defined as the ratio of the minor axis to the major axis of the polarization ellipse. It ranges from 0 to 1 in absolute value and can also be plotted in decibels. A circularly polarized field exhibits an axial ratio of ±1 (or 0 dB), while a linearly polarized field has an axial ratio of zero. A positive (negative) axial ratio indicates a right-handed (left-handed) polarized field.
The far-field pattern can also be visualized in a 2D polar chart by selecting Results > Plot Far-Field Pattern > Polar Plot 1 Slice from the AN-SOF main menu (refer to Fig. 3). This action will launch the AN-Polar app, which displays information such as maximum radiation, beamwidth, and front-to-rear/back ratios.
The AN-Polar app also features a toolbar with buttons: Tot, VP, HP, RH, and LH that enable the decomposition of the plotted metric into its polarization components.
To plot two slices of a 3D far-field pattern on the same polar chart, navigate to Results > Plot Far-Field Pattern > Polar Plot 2 Slices in the AN-SOF main menu. A dialog box will appear, allowing you to select the two slices. You can choose from two vertical slices, two conical slices, or vertical-conical combinations (see Fig. 4).
Clicking on a point in the polar curve will display the corresponding value of the represented metric and the polar angle.