Antenna Modeling and EZNEC

Steve Stearns - K6OIK

EZNEC and EZNEC+ are powerful but very easy-to-use programs for modeling and analyzing nearly any kind of antenna in its actual operating environment. EZNEC plots azimuth and elevation patterns; tells you gain, feedpoint impedance, SWR, and current distribution; finds and reports beamwidth, 3-dB pattern points, f/b ratio, takeoff angle, sidelobe characteristics; and more.

Steve will review the “method of moments” (along with what that means!) leading to computational electromagnetics and the development of the NEC family (NEC-1, NEC-2, NEC-3, and NEC-4).  Steve will describe and show how to run EZNEC and the free program 4nec2.  He will also touch on some advanced modeling capabilities and indicate where the future of antenna modeling is headed. Download and install the free version onto a laptop and bring it with you to follow along! Slide rulers and pocket protectors are optional.

Steve is currently Senior Staff Engineer at Northrop Grumman’s Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory in San Jose, California, where he is leading the development of advanced signal processing algorithms for communication signal processing systems.