Richard Clark wrote:
On 11 May 2009 20:42:45 +0100, Gordon wrote:

I have seen a few antenna modeling programs mentioned here.
Is there any concensus within the group on which one is
better to use?

Hi Gordon,

Use NEC.

Any that are free?

What is your pain worth?

- Consider that I am pretty much a beginner when it
comes to antennas.

Then use the one most mentioned among a group of people who regularly
exchange their work and discuss their results. I won't be coy, it is
called EZNEC. However, that is not the last word in recommendations.

4nec2 also has it's adherents as a front end.

Both are basically good front/back ends to the core NEC engine.


- I am intrested in modeling receiving antennas in the
UHF and VHF bands.

Good.. so you're not looking for handling dielectrics, soil, etc.
Mostly free space models of purely conductors.


Remember that NEC works best with things described as collections of
wires (of various diameters, etc.).

It's not so hot with things like patches, dish reflectors, etc. (except
by modeling them as grids of wires).