RF Design programs (was) Re: [Boatanchors] A "Funky" Low Pass Filter, an analysis.

[Philip B Atchley]

Clive and other "Boatanchorites",
First, while this may not be DIRECTLY related to boatanchors, I feel it's
of benefit to all here as I've had several requests for the information
since my filter posting.

I run a number of various RF and Electronics design programs on my
computer.  While there are a LOT of good freeware programs available for
download (I can't afford expensive software) these are the ones I've
found MOST useful for RF.  I'll describe each in turn and where to
download it (QRZ downloads has a lot of programs available).

RF Toolbox:  Over the years this has been my FAVORITE RF program.  A
simple Black/White interactive DOS program, I've run it in everything
from Win98SE back AND in XP (you need all XP updates to run DOS).  I
don't know about ME etc.  Simply unzip the program into a folder and
create a shortcut from the file called RFT.BAT.  Download at 
 http://www.qrz.com/download/misc/rftools.zip

Coil: Another simple interactive DOS program for calculating coil design,
inductance of coils etc.  The QRZ download is called Coil02.zip.  I've
had the program so long that I "think" this is the same program I use. 
Download it and see.  Unzipped it should produce a file called
"coil.exe".  Put that in a folder and create a shortcut as in RF
toolbox.. This is the one I used to determine the inductance of the
unknown coil in the Low Pass Filter I was analyzing.

AADE Filter Design:  For WINDOWS 98 and UP.  This is the "cat's meow" for
doing filters.  I've never used anything quite like it before, and while
it "seems" complicated, it worked the first time!!  If you want to
determine the specifications of a filter that you find in a magazine or
whatever, you first draw the schematic as a series of "dipoles" using all
the provided schematic symbols.  Very easy, really.  After you draw it,
you can do all kinds of analysis on it like return loss, frequency
response (called "gain") etc.  It doesn't appear to have any limitations
as to types of filters (elliptic etc).  

It will ALSO  DESIGN a filter to your specifications, though I haven't
tried that part of the program out yet.  Many different designs,
including Xtal ladder filters are available.

The ONLY catch is, the first 10 times you run it, it will display an ad
for their LC meter before opening. I got around that by opening it 10
times after I installed it.  It IS NOT spyware etc. 

They are inviting people to put it on their website for distribution. 
Download it FREE (for non commercial use) at   
 http://www.aade.com/filter32/download.htm

 73 de Phil  KO6BB

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 12:55:04 +0100 (BST) =?iso-8859-1?q?CLIVE=20COLLINS?=
<dartaviation at btopenworld.com> writes:
Good day Phil,
What an awfully interesting device!
What is even more interesting are the two modelling programmes that you
mention that I would very much like to know more about please.
These sound like the sort of thing that any amateur (or professional
engineer for that matter) should have in his armoury of solutions to our
daily problems.
I wonder if you would be so kind as to let me have details please as to
where I might download copies of the ones you refer to.
Kindest regards and all good wishes,

Clive GW3WEQ
#########################################################################