Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
How to preserve existing settings ?
How can I run more than 1500 segments ?
How can I print the complete 4nec2 help ?
Where can I find the Nec2 user manual ?
Can I run a frequency sweep with graphical
output ?
How about this when using the optimizer ?
How to run 4nec2 under Linux ?
How about on-line user support ?
Which package should I use, 4nec2 or 4nec2X ?
Mostly you can download and install both the 4nec2 default
package and the 4nec2X extension. The 4nec2.exe file should run on all windows
systems. After this you can try running the 4nec2X.exe file and use the [F9]
key to check if your system is capable of running Direct3D graphics.
How to preserve existing settings when upgrading ?
Compare your old- and new-version 4nec2.ini text-files.
Occasionally with a new version some entrys are added at the end of the new
4nec2.ini file. Manually add these new entry's to your old file and replace the
new 4nec2.ini with the old updated 4nec2.ini file.
How can I run more than the default number of 1500 segments ?
Download the free 'Nec2D executable files' or 'Nec2dXS
executable files' by clicking the 'Nec2 support files' link and place the *.exe
files in your ..\4nec2\exe folder. After this select between the Nec2D or
Nec2dXS engine under 'settings->Nec engine' in the 4nec2 'Main (F2)' window.
Note that only the Nec2dXS*.exe files will run on windows-XP systems.
How can I print the complete 4nec2 help ?
Print the 4nec2.rtf file included in your ..\4nec2\exe
folder using the windows Wordpad text-editor.
Where can I find the Nec-2 user manual ?
The Nec-2 user manual can be found at
"www.nec2.org". Select the word document and place this file as
'nec2.doc' in your '..\4nec2' folder for viewing with 'Help -> Nec-2
manual'.
Can I run a frequency sweep with graphical output ?
Yes your can. Impedance, SWR and/or far-field pattern data
(with or without surface wave component) is displayed in polar-plot or
line-chart format. Display of 3D near-field E/H data when running a frequency
sweep is not (yet) possible. As a work-around for this you could manually run
near-field requests for number of frequencies and use the 'capture, print or
save' option to compare the saved near-field patterns.
How about this when using the Optimzer ?
When using the gradient or GA based optimizer you can also
specify a frequency range for which the average, minimum or maximum of SWR,
forward gain, front-to-back, front-to-rear ratio and/or reactance is used as
input to calculate a value for the overall 'figure of merit' for the antenna
under test.
Where to get a Nec-4 engine ?
Unlike the Nec-2 engine, the Nec-4 engine is not (yet)
public-domain software and a license is needed to use it. A Nec-4 lincence is
available from the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory. However note that this will cost you a fair
amount of dollars...
How to run 4nec2 under Linux ?
You can run 4nec2 under Unix and Wine. The below is an
explanation I got from a user running 4nec2 on Linux.
The following is a description of how to get 4nec2 to run under Linux and Wine.
It is by no means perfect but it is the best I've come up with so far. If you
discover any enhancements let me know and I'll add them to the these intsructions
so everyone can benefit:
1. Install Wine.
2. Edit the Wine configuration
file ".wine/config" as follows:
* In the section [DllOverrides] set the DLL's ole32.dll and oleaut32.dll to
native:
"oleaut32" = "native, builtin"
"ole32" = "native, builtin"
* In the section [x11drv] prevent the window manager from managing created
windows:
"Managed" = "N"
3. Copy the following DLLs to the the Wine
"windows/system" directory (I use DLLs copy from a legal copy of
Windows 98):
oleaut32.dll
ole32.dll
msvbvm60.dll
asycfilt.dll
msflxgrd.ocx
4. Unzip the 4nec2 ZIP files as follows:
unzip 4nec2v550.zip
unzip 4nec2X550.zip
5. Install the base 4nec2 application (eg.
to Program Files/4nec2):
wine Setup_4nec2.exe
6. Install the 4nec2 application with
DirectX extensions:
wine Setup_4nec2X.exe
7. Run 4nec2:
wine 4nec2.exe
-OR-
wine 4nec2X.exe
Where can I find more answers ?
See the _ReadMeFirst.txt file included in your ..\4nec2
folder.
How about on-line user support ?
On-line user support has been available now for over 5
years. Depending on the amount of E-mail I get, most questions are answered
within one or two days. If you have a difficult question or think you found a
problem or bug, please attach the *.nec input- and if possible the *.out
output-file which causes the problem. You can contact me here, please include
'4nec2 modeler' in the subject, so I will not accidentally delete your Email as
spam.
Last revised: april 27, 2005