We are thrilled to present AN-SOF Version 8.70 🚀. Packed with enhanced functionalities, this release is designed to empower you in the realm of antenna design. We have focused on both Input and Output Data Improvements to refine your experience and offer greater flexibility.

Input Data Improvements:

✅ Solid Surfaces with Thickness: We introduce the capability to model solid surfaces, not just wire grids. These solid surfaces are composed of conductive strips that can have a defined thickness. This enhancement opens the door for more realistic simulations, enabling you to model surfaces that are not infinitesimally thin. While, at present, these solid surfaces may appear as “skeletons” in the AN-SOF workspace, rest assured that we are diligently working on developing an interface to visualize them more realistically.

✅ Material Selection: We’ve added a feature that allows you to select the material of wires, grids, and surfaces from a list of metals. This selection automatically sets the resistivity. We’ve also included a ‘Custom’ option to set the resistivity manually.

✅ Substrate Dielectric Materials: We have integrated a list of dielectric materials into the Substrate ground plane option. Materials like FR4, RT/Duroid, and Rogers RO slabs are now readily available. This means that the permittivity is automatically set for the chosen material, simplifying the design process.

Output Data Improvements:

✅ EIRP Compliance: Compliance with electromagnetic field regulations is paramount. To assist you in this regard, we have added the Average and Peak Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) to the Power Budget table. These values are presented in both Watts and dBW, and can be plotted against frequency. This feature enables you to evaluate whether an antenna model adheres to the maximum EIRP limits stipulated by regulations.

✅ AN-3D Pattern Enhancements: Visualizing the 3D radiation pattern lobes just got easier. The AN-3D Pattern app now includes up/down buttons, allowing you to effortlessly resize the antenna relative to the radiation pattern. This feature enhances your ability to grasp the antenna’s directional properties.

✅ Axial Ratio: Recognizing the importance of polarization analysis, we’ve introduced the Axial Ratio in both dB and dimensionless formats. This addition is available in 2D rectangular and polar diagrams, 3D radiation patterns, as well as in graphs depicting the far-field spectrum. The Axial Ratio helps you determine the polarization of the field by providing the minor-to-major axis ratio of the polarization ellipse. Perfect circular polarization is indicated by an Axial Ratio of ±1 (with +1 representing right-handed and -1 representing left-handed polarization), while linear polarization is characterized by an Axial Ratio of 0. Additionally, AN-SOF offers both right and left circular components of the field.

✅ S₁₁ in Decibels: In response to the specific needs of users in microwave frequencies, we’ve added S₁₁ in decibels (representing return loss) to plots and tables. This addition, along with the already available VSWR, offers valuable insights for RF analysis of antenna bandwidth.

We are committed to continuously enhancing your experience and equipping you with the tools necessary for your success 🛠️. Please explore these features, and feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback.

We’re thrilled to introduce AN-SOF version 8.50, a comprehensive update that takes your antenna design and simulation experience to new heights. Let’s explore the remarkable new features:

✅ Transmission Line Models: With over 160 models accurately fitted to real cable datasheets, AN-SOF empowers you to effortlessly model phased arrays and feeding systems with multiple transmission lines. Experience enhanced accuracy while accounting for RF interference caused by coaxial cable shields using our hybrid model.

✅ Enhanced Zoom Functionality: Editing intricate details has never been easier. AN-SOF 8.50 introduces a convenient zoom-in option with the click of a button. Simply access the expansion box through the toolbar’s magnifying glass icon and fine-tune small wires within large structures effortlessly.

✅ Extended Power Budget: Gain valuable insights with the integration of Front-to-Rear (F/R) and Front-To-Back (F/B) ratios into the Power Budget table. Explore F/R and F/B plots as a function of frequency with a simple click on the table headers in the Results tab. You’ll also find this essential data included in the CSV output file during bulk simulations.

✅ Expanded Compatibility: AN-SOF now supports current sources defined via the EX 6 command of NEC-4.2 when importing NEC files. Seamlessly import your preferred NEC files and take full advantage of AN-SOF’s capabilities.

✅ Insulation Integration: Importing NEC files becomes even more versatile with support for wire insulation defined via the IS command. Add insulation to individual wires or the entire setup effortlessly, providing you with greater customization options.

✅ Improved Far-Field Calculation: AN-SOF 8.50 offers enhanced far-field computation, ensuring accurate Directivity and Efficiency calculations for all scenarios. Whether you’ve set a real ground plane or an infinite substrate slab combined with the Vertical, Horizontal, or Custom options in the Far-Field panel setup, rest assured of precise results.

Accelerate your antenna design and simulation prowess with AN-SOF 8.50. Upgrade today and unlock boundless potential for your projects. Don’t miss out – download now!

Introducing AN-SOF 8.50: an exciting update that takes antenna design and simulation to new heights.

Key features of AN-SOF 8.50 include:

✅ Effortless Modeling: With over 160 Transmission Line Models, AN-SOF enables easy modeling of phased arrays and feeding systems while accounting for RF interference generated by coaxial cable shields.

✅ Enhanced Zoom Functionality: Experience seamless editing of small wires with improved zoom functionality, allowing for precise adjustments.

✅ Valuable Insights: Gain valuable insights into your designs with integrated Front-to-Rear and Front-To-Back ratios as a function of frequency in the Power Budget table. This comprehensive analysis empowers you to optimize your antenna’s performance.

✅ Expanded Compatibility: AN-SOF now supports current sources and insulation integration when importing NEC files, providing enhanced compatibility for your projects.

✅ Improved Far-Field Computation: Enjoy precise results with AN-SOF’s advanced far-field computation, ensuring accurate Directivity and Efficiency calculations across various scenarios. Even with real ground planes or infinite substrate slabs, AN-SOF delivers reliable and accurate results.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert in antenna design and simulation, AN-SOF is the ideal software for you.

If you’re new to antenna simulation, AN-SOF offers a user-friendly interface combined with unparalleled accuracy, allowing you to quickly enter the world of antenna simulation. We recommend starting with our Quick Start Guide, which provides a step-by-step overview of antenna simulation using the Method of Moments.

For experienced users, our comprehensive Knowledge Base provides in-depth descriptions of AN-SOF’s features and functions. Explore numerous examples and articles that validate AN-SOF’s results through comparisons with theoretical and experimental data. Additionally, our blog Antennas and Beyond! offers advanced articles for readers with a more in-depth background.

If you’re interested in antenna theory and numerical methods applied to Computational Electromagnetics, our blog categories Antenna Theory and Numerical Methods will provide valuable insights.

Furthermore, AN-SOF allows you to program scripts in the language of your choice to generate a sequence of files containing descriptions of an antenna model with variable geometric parameters. You can then run a massive calculation of all these files using the Run Bulk Simulation command. Explore examples of scripts in the language of Scilab, the open-source counterpart of the renowned Matlab, at this link.

Join our vibrant community of antenna modellers and immerse yourself in the exciting world of antenna design and simulation. Count on us to provide comprehensive support for all your projects.

Elevate your antenna design with AN-SOF 8.50.

Stay tuned for the release!

🔍 Discover the Quick Overview Document Now!

This resource provides a concise introduction to the capabilities of AN-SOF, designed to revolutionize the way you approach antenna design.

What can you expect from the Quick Overview?

✅ An Introduction to AN-SOF: Gain insights into the background, purpose, and features of AN-SOF.

✅ Key Features and Benefits: Delve into the array of tools, functionalities, and simulations that AN-SOF offers.

✅ Unlock New Possibilities: Uncover how AN-SOF breaks away from the limitations of traditional software packages.

Access the quick overview of AN-SOF here >

AN-SOF has released its latest version, 8.20, which brings significant enhancements to improve the software’s accessibility and performance.

The new release builds on the improvements made in version 8, with a focus on two key areas. Firstly, it provides an intuitive way to access data, making it easier than ever before to interact with graphs and results. Secondly, the calculation engine has been improved, ensuring greater accuracy and reliability. In addition, math libraries are now embedded in the software, eliminating the need to install external packages.

With AN-SOF version 8.20, users can expect a faster, more powerful, and more accessible experience.

Download FREE Trial >

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!

This version of AN-SOF has new functions and options:

• ARRL-style scale in polar plots. Radiation pattern slices in decibels can be displayed on the classic ARRL log scale. This facilitates the comparison between the results obtained from AN-SOF and data published in magazines and in the antenna literature.
• Front-to-Rear (worst-case) and Front-to-Back (180-degree) ratios are indicated on polar plots.
• Export radiation patterns in MSI Planet format. See how here >.
• Improved Preferences window in the AN-XY Chart app, where we can set scales, units, line thickness, points, marks, and grids on rectangular charts.
• Visualization of the wire segments in the workspace. Check the “Show Segments” option in the Preferences window to see the segments.

Tip: double click on table items to instantly display plots.

REQUEST AN-SOF 7.90 TRIAL VERSION >

Enjoy AN-SOF!

• Quickly view input impedance, VSWR, directivity, gain and efficiency in the new Results tab.
• Click the Export Results button on the toolbar to export this data to a spreadsheet.
• The wavelength is now displayed in the Frequency panel while entering the operating frequency.
• Automatically close all charts when exiting AN-SOF or keep them open to analyze the plots. Go to Tools > Preferences > Options and check “Close charts when exiting AN-SOF”.
• A great strength of AN-SOF is the documentation. Explore the new User Guide here >.
• Coming soon: our online Knowledge Base!

Explore the new AN-SOF User Guide >, where you will find detailed information about its many features, as well as step-by-step examples and tips to help you quickly move forward with your antenna modeling projects.

• More compatibility for those who use the NEC format: RP, LD, GM, GS, GH, GA, and EX5 commands can now be imported into AN-SOF. 
• The Note panel now displays an error report when importing NEC files.
• New Zin button on the toolbar for quick access to input impedances and VSWR.

Enjoy!

• See how the radiation pattern changes with frequency in AN-3D Pattern. The near field heatmap and current distribution can also be viewed dynamically by changing the operating frequency.

• You can chat directly with technical support by going to the Help menu in AN-SOF (only available for the licensed version).

Enjoy this new version!

AN-SOF 7.10 is now available for download!

• Access the input impedance and VSWR easily by going to the Main menu > Results. This avoids selecting the segment where the source is located to access the input impedance.

• NEC designs of antennas over real ground can now be imported directly into AN-SOF by means of the GN command. The complete real ground description can also be exported to a NEC file.

• The GN command can also be exported to a Scilab .sce file to develop scripts and run bulk simulations.

• Run bulk simulations and process multiple input files with just one click. We have chosen the NEC format for the input files as it is a standard adopted by many users. Forget about running the simulations one by one, run them all at once.

• Import a single input file as a bulk simulation and get all the output data in one step. All computed parameters are saved as CSV files (power budget, gain, input impedance, VSWR, far and near fields, etc.).

• Export AN-SOF designs to Scilab format (*.sce files) and easily develop scripts that generate multiple descriptions with variable geometric parameters.

And last but not least, in this link > you will find the model of a Yagi-Uda antenna with variable element spacing. Follow the instructions therein and run the scripts to get the gain of a 3-element Yagi antenna as a function of the element spacing.

Enjoy!

We can highlight the following improvements:

• Tabular input of linear wires as well as sources and loads. AN-SOF has many tools to make drawing wires an easier task. However, for those who prefer to enter wires in spreadsheet format we have added a tabular entry.

• List of recently open projects in the File menu. Access the last projects you have been working on much faster going to main menu > File > List of recently open projects.

• Zoom in and out by rotating the mouse wheel (or using the touchpad in a laptop with two fingers). You can continue to zoom by first clicking on the magnifying glass icon and then moving the mouse, but using the mouse wheel is more direct.

• Radiation patterns plotted in AN-Polar can now be exported as *.ant files. The *.ant format can then be imported into the Radio Mobile propagation software. See the format description here: http://www.g3tvu.co.uk/Antenna_Plots.htm. Versions 1 and 3 are implemented in AN-SOF 6.20.

• See how to export radiation patterns from AN-SOF to Radio Mobile here: https://antennasimulator.com/downloadpro/Export_from_AN-SOF_to_Radio_Mobile.pdf. For 1 slice polar plot, an azimuth pattern must be chosen (theta = const). For 2 slices polar plot, slice 1 must be azimuthal (theta = const) and slice 2 must be zenithal (phi = const). The Full 3D option must be selected in AN-SOF Configure tab > Far-Field panel.

• Exportation of linear wires in DXF format has been added. DXF files can then be read by Autodesk viewer at https://www.autodesk.com/viewers/all-viewers/compare