Introduction to SimSmith - A Smith Chart Program Enhancing RF Analysis
SimSmith is a versatile RF analysis tool developed by Ward Harriman, AE6TY, offering a range of features from impedance analysis to circuit simulations. It supports drag-and-drop functionality, real-time operation, and can handle complex networks with ease. Learn how to utilize antenna impedance files, optimize circuits, and more with SimSmith.
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Presentation Transcript
Introduction to SimSmith PRESENTED AT THE GREATER NORWALK AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (GNARC.ORG) March 10, 2010 Steve Dick, K1RF 1
What Is SimSmith? A Smith Chart program on steroids. SimSmith has been around since about 2011 and is written by Ward Harriman, AE6TY and runs on Windows 64 & 32, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux machines. It is totally free with absolutely no viruses, nag screens, pop ups, or crippled features. It is downloadable from AE6TY's website by clicking http://www.ae6ty.com/Smith_Charts.html. SimSmith started as a rudimentary Smith Chart program but it has grown into a full-featured analysis program that can solve a large number of common RF problems from simple to complex. 2
Some SimSmith major features Drag and Drop paradigm Operates in real time to allow dragging component values and easily see the underlying circuit concepts Impedances can be specified as complex impedance files which vary as a function of frequency Read data from most low cost VNA's (vector network analyzers) as S1P (complex impedance) files and import into SimSmith. Or simulate an antenna in EZNEC, run SWR plot which generates a lastZ file which is an S1P file useable in SimSmith. Ability to analyze circuits from simple to complex Numerical display of voltages, currents, and power for all components Easy to use real, built-in transmission lines such as RG-213 Sophisticated auto optimization. Built-in programming language (ANVIL) Supports complex networks not just ladder networks using RUSE Blocks (Real Ugly Schematic Editor). 3
SimSmith Resources View introductory videos on these two pages as well as downloadable Simsmith files used in their tutorials. W0QE has SimSmith files at the bottom of his page that go along with his YouTube videos. 4
Using antenna impedance files with SimSmith Capture an S1P (Complex impedance) file with antenna analyzer or VNA Nano VNA Rig Expert AA54 with AntScope software Or generate an Antenna impedance file from a modeled antenna in EZNEC Make an antenna model, plot VSWR. This always generates a LastZ text file in the same directory as the antenna model which is basically an S1P file. Measured or simulated antenna impedance files can be directly imported into SimSmith with a mouse click. 5
An example Match a 150 0hm resistor with an L-Network - Demo 6
An example: End Fed Half-Wave Simplified UNUN model - Demo Vary C1, L1, L2 with mouse scroll wheel and see what happens 7
A complex UNUN model- Measured vs. Simulated - Demo FT240-52 3T/21T Measured Simulated D1 programming text courtesy https://www.kn5l.net/kn5lEfhwUnun/ 8
Low cost, High Efficiency, $3.48 Toroid for 100 Watt Class Rig! Laird 28B1540-000 Mouser 875-28B1540-000 OD=1.54 , ID=0.66 , Ht=0.875 2T/14T #16 AWG Wire Kemet 47pF cap C330C470JHG5TA 9
EZNEC-Modeled Doublet for Import into SimSmith w/o feedline WA1YYQ Dan Shaffer s doublet antenna Generate an SWR plot from 1.8 to 29.7 MHz. Creates a Lastz.txt file 10
Doublet from EZNEC imported into SimSmith - Demo LastZ file from ENZEC 11
This program has been used by others to model things like: Viking Matchbox coverage for all possible settings Tandem Match VSWR bridge CMC Choke Performance for different materials and no. of turns Automatic T-Match computer Antenna matching with coax segments of different impedances Optimized matching network for wide-banding an 80 meter dipole EFHW UNUN performance modeling Crystal Filter Analysis Have Fun! 12
