Free RF Simulation Software

Question

What free tools are there to simulate RF circuits?

score 7 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 22 '16 at 12:45

7

For normal lumped circuits, your favorite version of spice will work fine.

For analyzing matching networks, I've used gsmc.

For analyzing a layout and extracting parasitics and computing fields, I dunno. It's usually easier to just build the circuit and see what happens.

edited Jul 22 '16 at 12:45

Sergei Gorbikov

1,723
3
25
29

answered Jan 06 '11 at 19:08

markrages

19,905
7
59
96

I wonder @markrages why only Google thinks that software is malware? – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 16:46
http://sss-mag.com/pdf/rfosc.pdf ltspice and GHz notes – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 16:55
other useful RF notes http://www.sss-mag.com/pdf.html – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 16:56
design tools http://www.sss-mag.com/tools.html – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 16:58
software index http://www.sss-mag.com/swindex.html – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 16:58
free RF tools http://www.sss-mag.com/swindexa.html#cad – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 17:00
Design topics http://www.sss-mag.com/destopics.html – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 17:01
better software with demos but best is $ https://www.comsol.com/rf-module it is best due to physics mesh design analysis because RF must analyze conductor & dielectric geometry – Tony Stewart EE75 Jun 28 '17 at 17:02

user5108_Dan · Answer 2 · 2015-10-25T19:17:28.517

6

Be sure to check out QucsStudio. I've just started with it, and it seems too good to be true. These guys put more work into their documentation than most freeware has in the code. Very nice!!

http://dd6um.darc.de/QucsStudio/qucsstudio.html

Also, this site has a free Smith Chart, RF Filter, and Opamp filter design programs that may be useful to you.

http://www.iowahills.com

edited Oct 25 '15 at 19:17

answered Oct 25 '15 at 18:47

user5108_Dan

605
1
7
10

qucs is great and for this. it is designed and written by some ppl doing research into microwave and found nothing of use out there. – Oct 25 '15 at 19:55

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 08 '11 at 09:14

4

HP AppCAD, available from: http://www.avagotech.com, may be helpful

answered Jan 08 '11 at 09:14

fitzbog

41
1

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 06 '11 at 18:21

2

There's some possibility that 5Spice will do what you're looking for, although I can't guarantee it; you'll just have to give it a try and see.

answered Jan 06 '11 at 18:21

Nathan Wheeler

196
6

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 03 '19 at 23:11

So far Qucs Studio os very good. Translating the documentation (almost directly out of several microwave engineering books) into simulations can be challenging. SO.... do three of the tutorials FIRST to cut your teeth. I started with the L band amplifier tutorial - good stuff, but advanced, get out your text books. I'm two days in and I got a Bluetooth wave prop simulation to match measured (Nordic tools) - beat that.

score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 17 '21 at 16:49

1

You can sign up for CENOS 3D Antenna Design Simulation software Beta version for free here: https://www.cenos-platform.com/antenna-design

Disclosure: I am Head of Marketing at CENOS.

edited Feb 17 '21 at 16:49

SamGibson

17,231
5
37
58

answered Feb 17 '21 at 14:40

William Martin

11
1

score -4 · Answer 7 · edited Jun 28 '17 at 17:08

-4

One approach is to break up the antenna elements into discrete elements that can be modeled with LtSpice that is free.

edited Jun 28 '17 at 17:08

Voltage Spike

75,799
36
80
208

answered Jun 28 '17 at 16:42

Stephen Elliott

1
1

Free RF Simulation Software

7 Answers7

Linked