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yagiuda

Analyse and optimise Yagi-Uda arrays without writing a NEC model

What it does

A set of command-line programs specialised to Yagi-Uda antennas: give it element lengths and spacings and it returns gain, front-to-back ratio, input impedance and radiation pattern, and it will optimise a design against a chosen goal. The method-of-moments code underneath is specific to parallel dipole arrays rather than general.

Why you would want it

Because the general modellers make you describe a Yagi as arbitrary wires and then get out of the way, and this one knows what a Yagi is. Optimising a six-element beam for gain against front-to-back is a couple of commands here and a scripted NEC sweep otherwise.

Before it will work

Element dimensions to start from, in the units the programs expect -- reading the manual pages first will save an hour of numbers that are off by a factor.

How it installs

  • apt: yagiuda

Known problems

Specialisation is the trade: it models parallel-element Yagis and nothing else, so a design with a folded dipole driven element, a gamma match, or a boom that is electrically significant is outside what it represents. Optimiser output should be checked in a general modeller before anyone cuts aluminium.

Keeping it current

  • probe: apt policy
  • strategy: apt_upgrade

Where to get help with the software itself

Dr David Kirkby, G8WRB. The project page is the documentation route.

Source: catalog/packages/yagiuda.yaml