[Antennas] Antenna Modeling

Fri Aug 22 11:59:15 EDT 2008

It's good to see some activity here on the QTH.net Antenna reflector.
>From time to time I do some analysis with a NEC engine based antenna
modeling program. I'll not mention specifically which one. The results I
get with it are satisfactory. I do have some problems with input. I find
the input system to be awkward. That may be because I am used to CAD.
One of the input systems works by graphically creating lines with a mouse in
a window. Invariably they then need a lot of tweaking through adjusting
geometric coordinates in data input mode. The other method is more strictly
geometric coordinate input. I have not yet advanced to using tables of
data. 
I am looking for other, free or low cost programs with a different
input/data creation system. I do not know what all may be available. It
might be good to be able to import models from CAD... .dwg, .dxf, etc.
A graphical interface suits me better than data input. I'm more visually
oriented than mathematically. I can handle the data input, but it is a bit
tedious for me.
My use is typically for wire antennas. One thought is that I could more
easily input via CAD and import into a modeling program. Are there other
thoughts to be shared on various modeling programs? 
Regards,
Dick - KA5KKT