Announcing SmartSmith version 1.5.3
 

SmartSmith version 1.5.3 - now available at
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

This release incorporates the following major changes:

Main Window -
The main window has been shrunk to fit comfortably in an 800 x 600
display environment. The earlier releases were all designed for a 1024
x 768 (XGA) display environment, and users with older systems had
great difficulty in using the system on an 800 x 600 (SVGA) display.
In order to accomplish the re-sizing of the main window, the Smith
Chart display was reduced in size to 85% of its former size. The 9
different matching section controls were also removed from the main
window and given their own modal dialogue boxes that are exclusively
selected and shown floating above the main window only when in use.

Range of Control over Elements -
All matching section controls other than those involving lengths of
transmission line were extensively revised to provide the user with a
greater range of values. In this release, each control has a range of
5 decades and 50 discrete values within each decade. For example, the
Series Resistance matching section now starts at the value 0.1 ohm and
extends to a maximum value of 10000 ohms in 250 steps. Likewise, the
series capacitive reactance matching section starts at a value of 0.1
ohms and goes to a maximum value of 10000 ohms of capacitive
reactance, regardless of frequency. Each matching section control
displays its current setting both in ohms or milli-Siemens, as
appropriate, and in component values, such as microHenrys or
picoFarads. The exception is Series Resistance, which displays only in
ohms. Each control also displays its "dial" or "counter" setting
between 0 and 250.

The matching sections that employ transmission lines (Stub Open, Stub
Shorted, and Series Transmission Line) still display their value in
electrical degrees and in meters, as in previous releases. However,
note that only "Stub Open" and Serial Transmission Line display their
electrical length in degrees directly in the spin control display,
whereas the "Stub Shorted" displays its electrical degrees below the
spin control display along with the length in meters. This peculiarity
in "Stub Shorted" is in order to make "Stub Shorted" behave the same
as all other controls. Each of the other controls starts with a value
that has the least effect on the existing impedance situation spins
upwards to a value that has the greatest effect. In order to
accomplish that with a shorted stub, it is necessary to start the
shorted stub at its maximum (90 degrees) length and spin it up to its
shortest length (0 degrees).

Help File Improvements -
The Help File now includes topics on "Designing Pi Sections" and
"Quick Start". The "Quick Start" topic goes through a simple design of
an L-Section to match a high impedance, complex load to a 50 ohm
source. It also goes through a more difficult design using a series
transmission line section to create a match with a high impedance,
complex load and a 300 ohm line. The latter exercise is take directly
from Chapter 28 of the ARRL Antenna Book, 17th Edition.

Tnx and 73,

Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

"Robert Lay W9DMK" wrote in message
...
SmartSmith version 1.5.3 - now available at
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

Thanks for fine antenna sw.
The names of the download files still refer to the older version 1.4, a bit
confusing.
73 oh5rm

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 11:14:58 +0200, "oh5rm" wrote:

Thanks for fine antenna sw.
The names of the download files still refer to the older version 1.4, a bit
confusing.

I am sorry about that. I have just fixed that in the last few minutes,
but I see that www.qsl.net is completely down for some reason. When it
next comes up, you should see that the file and the link to it have
been corrected. Actually, the filename was all that was wrong, because
I was too lazy to bring everything in sync.

Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

A note for anyone downloading this program (and thanks, by the way)-
At least on my computer, this program auto launchs when you (re-)boot
the machine- the shortcut was installed in the windows start menu.
To prevent this, simply delete the shortcut, or pull to desktop - then
can launch when you want it- without haveing it run every time you
reboot your computer-- Jim NN7K



Robert Lay W9DMK wrote:

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 11:14:58 +0200, "oh5rm" wrote:


Thanks for fine antenna sw.
The names of the download files still refer to the older version 1.4, a bit
confusing.


I am sorry about that. I have just fixed that in the last few minutes,
but I see that www.qsl.net is completely down for some reason. When it
next comes up, you should see that the file and the link to it have
been corrected. Actually, the filename was all that was wrong, because
I was too lazy to bring everything in sync.

Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk


--
To reply, remove the NOSPAM

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 00:45:25 GMT, "NN7KexNOSPAMk7zfg"
wrote:

A note for anyone downloading this program (and thanks, by the way)-
At least on my computer, this program auto launchs when you (re-)boot
the machine- the shortcut was installed in the windows start menu.
To prevent this, simply delete the shortcut, or pull to desktop - then
can launch when you want it- without haveing it run every time you
reboot your computer-- Jim NN7K

Dear Jim,

That's the first I've heard of anything like that! It certainly
doesn't do that on any of my systems here. What is your operating
system, please!

Also, if anyone else experiences that, please let me know.

Tnx,

Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

Robert Lay W9DMK wrote:
What is your operating system, please!

DOS 1.4 :-)

Bob- this on 1200 MHz celeron- with windows "XP", service pack 2, and all upgrades.
Made by E-systems, and has some quirkies- notably, when running some DOS based
software (like ARRL's "Microsmith", it generates graphic trash in the results
column), but this was not something I have seen before.


Internet browser is Mozilla 1.7.3, and this was NOT downloaded from QSL.Net-
got the copy from the gentleman that placed on his webpage, as was like mollassas
downloading off of qsl.net . Also, it is 1.4.0, NOT version 1.5.3 (dont know if that
had provision to place the shortcut into the start menu). But, after downloading,
and then rebooting, was surprised to see it running. Turned out this was solution.
Jim -NN7K



Robert Lay W9DMK wrote:
On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 00:45:25 GMT, "NN7KexNOSPAMk7zfg"
wrote:


A note for anyone downloading this program (and thanks, by the way)-
At least on my computer, this program auto launchs when you (re-)boot
the machine- the shortcut was installed in the windows start menu.
To prevent this, simply delete the shortcut, or pull to desktop - then
can launch when you want it- without haveing it run every time you
reboot your computer-- Jim NN7K


Dear Jim,

That's the first I've heard of anything like that! It certainly
doesn't do that on any of my systems here. What is your operating
system, please!

Also, if anyone else experiences that, please let me know.

Tnx,

Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk


--
To reply, remove the NOSPAM

NN7KexNOSPAMk7zfg wrote:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation

More precisely, this is op system on this-- Jim NN7K



Robert Lay W9DMK wrote:


Dear Jim,

That's the first I've heard of anything like that! It certainly
doesn't do that on any of my systems here. What is your operating
system, please!

Also, if anyone else experiences that, please let me know.

Tnx,

Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk





--
To reply, remove the NOSPAM

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 15:43:36 -0600, Cecil Moore
wrote:

Robert Lay W9DMK wrote:
What is your operating system, please!

DOS 1.4 :-)

Honestly, Cecil, I don't remember DOS 1.4 - don't even know if such an
animal ever got out in the wild, but I DO REMEMBER DOS 2.0 - quite
well. As I remember it, the big improvement in DOS 3.0 was that you
could have directories OTHER than the root.


Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk

On Sat, 13 Nov 2004 00:13:23 GMT, "NN7KexNOSPAMk7zfg"
wrote:

NN7KexNOSPAMk7zfg wrote:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation

More precisely, this is op system on this-- Jim NN7K

OK, Jim, I am going to try to check all that out on an XP system,
although I have only XP Pro, so I can't check out XP Home. Will get
back to you if I can find anything to explain it. Tnx for the info.


Bob, W9DMK, Dahlgren, VA
http://www.qsl.net/w9dmk