[TowerTalk] Transition from AO to EZNEC

[Jim Lux]

At 07:08 AM 3/31/2006, Bob Kellow, W5LT wrote:
>Hi:
>I am trying to migrate from AO to EZNEC to simplify my life.
>It is awkward at best to keep switching from Windows to DOS and back to do
>antenna analysis.
>I am very used to the features of AO, and some of them seem to be lacking in
>EZNEC.
>For example, I use a lot of variables in AO, and I cannot find a similar
>feature in EZNEC.
>Also, I like the "optimize" feature of AO that will tune a variable until it
>finds a solution that matches your criteria.
>I cannot find a similar feature in EZNEC.
>Are these really missing, or have I just not looked hard enough?

I can't speak to EZNEC (perhaps an email to Roy would get rapid answers?)

However, 4nec2 (free for the downloading) does have variables, several 
forms of optimization, 3D visualization, a geometry editor, etc., and uses 
the standard NEC2 engine underneath it all (or the NEC4 engine, if you have 
a copy)

I've been using it for about 5 years now, and it's fairly easy to use, with 
the significant advantage that it uses standard NEC decks.

http://home.ict.nl/~arivoors/Home.htm


However, I have friends who use EZNEC, and they like it as much as I like 
4nec2.  It is probably easier to get started modeling with EZNEC as it 
provides some built in capabilities as far as model entry.  4nec2 might 
provide comparable things, but since I'm already facile with NEC decks, and 
I tend to generate the geometry with other software anyway, I haven't 
investigated it very much.


Jim, W6RMK