[TowerTalk] EZNEC antenna modeling forum has been created onYahoo

[Paul Christensen]

Same here.  I first read Cebik's 4-part series in QST.  But no matter how 
much "pre reading" I did, it didn't come together until I started with the 
simple "back yard dipole" example, already loaded with EZNEC and 4Nec2.  I 
would not start learning NEC with any other example.

Others way learn differently, but that one example uses the most simple 
antenna in existence and brings together many important concepts.  Also, I 
think it's a good idea to learn one of the transmission line utilities like 
TLW or TLD.  I think the NEC experience will be rather empty without it.

The Cartesian coordinate method of establishing an antenna environment is 
not needed to understand antenna concepts, but at the moment, it's needed to 
understand NEC modeling.  It's only an input method used to compute 
distances.  There's no reason why those coordinates could not be generated 
quickly in an algorithm within a wizard application.  I would not feel any 
lesser of a NEC user without knowing how to use Cartesian coordinates.   It 
would be different if I was a map maker and not an antenna experimenter. 
Many of us routinely compute logarithms and square roots but when was the 
last time we computed this by hand without a calculator or <gulp> a slide 
rule?   If pressed, I couldn't even do it today.  The final attempt was back 
in high school.

Paul, W9AC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Loen" <lwloen at gmail.com>
To: <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Cc: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] EZNEC antenna modeling forum has been created 
onYahoo


>I found this exchange very useful, actually.
>
> Besides, somebody had a question, their google-fu failed them and they got
> fixed up.  Don't see the problem here.
>
> Furthermore, speaking as someone who has tried his hand at "NEC"
> documentation, I find it one of the least informative interfaces on the
> planet whether "EZ" or the others.  This is one case where RTFM was _not_
> helpful.
>
> Me, I'm off to the various fora where maybe I can learn, among other
> things, _how_ to read that manual.  Maybe if you already have a Ph D in
> antenna theory, the manual is a snap.
>
> But, I don't, so it isn't.
>
>
> Larry Wo0Z
> On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 10:53 PM, Jim Brown 
> <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>wrote:
>
>> On 2/24/2013 9:37 AM, SPWoo wrote:
>>
>>> I'm new to antenna modeling and I have lots of questions.  I looked for 
>>> a
>>> user group for EZNEC but couldn't find one.
>>>
>>
>> Pardon me for asking, but why not study the EZNEC Manual, the ARRL
>> Handbook chapters on antennas, and the ARRL Antenna Book? Also, ARRL 
>> sells
>> a beginner's book on antenna modeling, written by Ward Silver, N0AX. I
>> haven't seen it, but everything else of his I've ever seen has been first
>> rate.
>>
>> Most of us don't mind answering a question that is the result of study 
>> and
>> working through a problem, or correct the misinformation and myths that
>> seem to abound and be perpetuated by folks who know nothing. But an email
>> reflector is not a substitute for putting nose to grindstone and STUDYING
>> the fundamentals.
>>
>> Ham radio is a TECHNICAL hobby. We have our frequencies because we
>> supposed to be a pool of trained communicators, a breeding ground for
>> future technical people, and experimenters who might actually advance the
>> state of the art.
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC
>>
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