KM5KG RF Network Designer Contents
This computer program provides a number of functions
for the professional radio operator and the ham radio community, written by
Grant Bingeman who has 35 years of experience in the high-power broadcast
industry. The standard version contains 42 functions. The Pro version
includes additional advanced functions. Extensive user help is built into
all functions. Runs on Windows 98SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP.
The program is supplied on a USB drive for portability
to use on multiple PCs.
Many of the functions can be called from other
functions, such as multi-axis data plotting. Impedance bandwidth can be
determined and plotted in L, Tee, Pi and other networks. Individual
component values can be adjusted manually to determine interaction of
various network parameters, such as impedance match, voltage and current
stress, attenuation, gain, etc. Component losses are included in all
calculations.
Transmission Line functions
Open-wire: balanced above ground
Closed-wire: unbalanced above ground
Co-axial: unbalanced concentric
Microstrip: etched on copper-clad surface
Transformer: impedance and phase change vs SWR
Stub: capacitor and coil substitutes using open or
short circuit terminations
Simple Network functions
L: how to transform an impedance with a series and a
shunt component, at a fixed phase shift
Tee: how to transform impedance and phase shift with
two series and one shunt component
Pi: sister of the Tee network, but two shunt and one
series component; two voltage nodes instead of three
Shunt: how a single shunt impedance affects impedance
and phase
Adjuster: how to vary a leg reactance with a tapped
coil and fixed capacitor
Tanks: series and parallel resonant circuit analysis
and design
Special Network functions
Diplexer: two transmitters operating at different
frequencies share the same load
Combiner: two in-phase transmitters operating at the
same frequency share the same load; several types – hybrid pi, Egyptian tee,
and L.
Power Divider: how to split power between different
antenna elements; several types – series, shunt and Ohm’s Law.
Balun: balanced tee network
PA: Transmitter output network Tee-L or L-Pi
Math Utilities
Tee / Pi: transformation between tee and pi
configurations
Cartesian / Polar: conversion of rectangular to polar
coordinates
Series / Parallel: equivalent impedance parallel and
series combinations
S Parameters: conversion of impedance matrix to
scattering matrix
Skin Depth: effective resistance of conductor at RF
Great Circles: latitude and longitude plots of tunnel
and surface paths around Earth
Smith Chart: plots impedances on user-defined Zo,
calculates SWR, reflection, resonates at center frequency, translates
impedances around rim of chart
Phased Array Tools
Array Phase Shifts: integrates transmission lines,
networks, and power divider phase shifts, also taking into account negative
towers
Array Geometry: displays lay-out of array and converts
between polar and rectangular coordinates
Pattern Plots: displays fields vs azimuth in polar and
rectangular plots
Complicated functions
Impedance Broadbanding: insertion of high-Q networks
to counteract narrow-band loads.
Matrix: general complex impedance matrix form of
network analysis
Mutuals: mutual impedance between vertical elements
Components
Capacitor: pipe and plate forms
Solenoidal Coil: single layer spiral inductor
Toroidal Coil: low-loss, internal field inductor
Attenuator: balanced and unbalanced resistive padders
Model: tee and pi network models, including losses
