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Installation:

Stop!  If you intend to use MultiNEC with EZNEC please check the version number 
of your copy of EZNEC using menu selections Help, About EZNEC.  If lower than v. 
3.0.38 you must download and install the latest maintenance update file from 
www.eznec.com before continuing.

Unzip the MultiNEC.zip file to a folder named C:\MultiNEC or other name of your 
choice.  Be sure to include sub-folders when unzipping by selecting the "Use 
folder names" option of WinZip Extract.  The MultiNEC package contains the 
following files and folders:


Readme.txt
  This file.


MultiNEC.xls
  An Excel workbook containing various sheets along with Visual Basic code.  The 
presence of the Visual Basic macros will cause Excel to show a 'Virus Warning' 
alert when this workbook is opened unless you have disabled that Excel option.  
You may scan the workbook file using any virus checking program (e.g. Norton) to 
assure yourself that it contains no viruses.  Important:  If you are running 
Excel 2000 at the High security level you will not be given the option to 
enable macros and MultiNEC will not function at all.  Under Tools, Macro, 
Security, set the security level to Medium.  Then at least you will have the 
option to enable Visual Basic macros each time you open a workbook.


GoNec.bat
Infile.dat
$Multi$.nec
Nec2d.exe
Nec2d960.exe
Somnec2d.exe
F77L3.eer
  These files are all associated with using the public domain version of NEC-2 
as the calculating engine.  They must all reside in the same folder, C:\MultiNEC 
by default, with the exception of $Multi$.nec which is recreated as needed.  The 
folder name may be changed using the 'Setup,Options' button on the Calculate 
sheet of the MultiNEC workbook.
  The $Multi$.nec file is the input file to the NEC program.  The same file name 
is used, but with different contents, each time NEC is invoked.  You may rename 
this file and/or move it to another folder if at any time you want a permanent 
copy.  You may also use the 'Export' button on the Wires sheet for this purpose.
  The maximum number of segments in an antenna model that can be handled with 
the above files is 960.  See the GoNec.bat file for instructions on changing 
this limit, accomplished by downloading additional Nec2d files provided through 
the courtesy of Jos Bergervoet.


\Grounds
  Must be a sub-folder under the above.  Contains Sommerfeld ground files.  
These files are reused if possible to save execution time when using the public 
domain version of NEC-2 as the calculating engine.  New files will be created in 
this folder as you run different frequencies or different ground characteristics 
with Sommerfeld ground.


\Samples
  Contains several MultiNEC example files of type *.weq.  Need not be a sub-
folder, may be moved or renamed at your discretion.  Described in more detail 
below.


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Setup and Testing: 

  1) If you intend to use MultiNEC with EZNEC please read this item, otherwise 
you may skip to item #2.
  Start EZNEC in the usual manner.  Note these important points:
     a) EZNEC must be at revision level 3.0.38 or higher.  Click on 'Help' then 
'About EZNEC' to check.  Free updates are available at www.eznec.com.
     b) In order to be used by MultiNEC, the main EZNEC window must be left open 
in a stand-by state and NOT minimized.  You may close the various sub-windows of 
EZNEC such as the View window but do not close and do not minimize the main 
Control Center window.  (If you -do- minimize the main EZNEC window and then 
attempt to invoke EZNEC via MultiNEC you will get a warning message, but only 
after a pause of several seconds.) 

  2) If you intend to use MultiNEC with any of the supported Nittany Scientific 
modules please read this item, otherwise you may skip to item #3.
  MultiNEC can interface with the StepRad Leeson correction module that is part 
of NEC-Win Plus+, with the enhanced NEC-2 engine that is part of both NEC-Win 
Plus+ and NEC-Win Pro, with the enhanced NEC-4 engine that is part of GNEC, and 
with the NecVu viewer and geometry checker module that is included with all of 
these Nittany Scientific products.  Depending on the module to be used and the 
product that is installed you may need to request a revision level upgrade via 
email to tech-support@nittany-scientific.com.  MultiNEC will show a warning 
message if the level of any module is earlier than that required for the 
interface. 
  There is no specific interface to the NEC-Win Synth product.  You may build 
structures using Synth, save the model in NEC Input File (.nec) format, and 
import the nec file into MultiNEC in the usual manner.  Note that it will be 
necessary to define a source for the model before it can be calculated.  You may 
do this using the Src-Ld-TL sheet of MultiNEC.

  3) If you intend to use the public domain version of NEC-2 that is distributed 
with MultiNEC please read this item, otherwise you may skip to item #4.
  Using Windows Explorer, locate and expand the C:\MultiNEC (or as-named) 
folder.  Test the interface to NEC-2 by double-clicking on the GoNec.bat file.  
If a window with the words "Requires MS-DOS mode" appears click No.  (It is not 
an error if this window appears.)  After a few seconds two additional files 
should appear in the folder, Nec2d.log and $Multi$.out.  If the "out" file does 
not appear check the "log" file for possible problems.  Both files may be viewed 
using Notepad. 
  Pentium 4 users:  This version of NEC-2 will not function on Pentium 4 
machines.  A replacement version is being developed but is not yet available.

  4) It may be possible to modify the GoNec.bat file to invoke a DOS version of 
NEC-4 if one is available.  Please contact me directly for more details.  Note 
that NEC-4 is subject to licensing and export restrictions.

  5) Start Excel with a new (blank) workbook.  If you are running Excel 2000 
click on Tools, Macro, Security.  Choose either Medium or Low security level.  
If you have the High option chosen the MultiNEC workbook will not function at 
all.  Under Excel 97 there is no equivalent to the High level so this is not a 
problem.
  Now open the MultiNEC workbook.  If your screen size is at 800x600 resolution 
you will probably want to maximize the Excel window in order to avoid having to 
do a lot of up-down scrolling to see the various charts.  On the other hand, if 
you are using a higher resolution you might want to reduce the Excel window so 
you can see other parts of your desktop.  Try resizing the window such that the 
three charts on the Rect Plots sheet are all visible.
  In either case you may wish to turn off the various Excel toolbars to maximize 
the amount of usable window space available.  (I always run Excel with all 
toolbars turned off and only enable those I need as necessary.)  Click on View, 
Toolbars, then uncheck everything.

  6) Switch to the Calculate sheet of MultiNEC, click on the 'Setup,Options' 
button, then change the various settings for available programs and folder names 
to match your environment.

  7) The MultiNEC workbook comes preloaded with the Square Quad Array example 
that is described on the web site.  Try the various functions and interfaces to 
available modules to make sure everything is working as it should.  Don't 
hesitate to experiment.  You can always use the Excel menu bar selection File-
Close (without Save) to close the MultiNEC workbook and then File-Open to start 
fresh. 
  CAUTION:  On occasion you may want to delete an entire row of data.  This 
would typically be entries on either the Wires sheet or the Calculate sheet.  
You may delete such entries by selecting all cells to be deleted, right-click, 
select Delete from the shortcut menu, then choose Shift cells up.  You may also 
just select all lower cells (below those to be deleted) and then drag the 
selection up on the sheet.  However, do NOT delete an entire worksheet-wide row 
of cells by clicking on the row header number(s) on the extreme left side of a 
sheet.  Doing so will delete ALL cells in the selected row(s), including cells 
on the right side of the sheet which may be in use but not visible.

  8) Although MultiNEC has the "look and feel" of a normal application, keep in 
mind that you are actually running a specialized Excel workbook.  As such, the 
menu selections that appear along the top of the application window are used to 
perform "Excel type" functions and not "MultiNEC type" functions.  For example, 
to load a new antenna model into the workbook you click either the 'Import' 
button on the Wires sheet or the 'Open' button on the Equations sheet.  You do 
not use the File-Open menu selection unless you actually want to open a new 
Excel workbook, such as one you may have created to track the family budget.  
Similarly, to save an antenna model you click either the 'Export' button or the 
'Save' button.  You do not use the menu selections File-Save or File-Save As, 
both of which result in saving the actual workbook.  When you close Excel in the 
normal manner the MultiNEC workbook will be saved in its current state, 
including any changes you may have made such as loading a new model and 
performing calculations for that model.

  9) Some users have reported erratic behavior such as extremely slow response 
times or the failure of certain windows to close automatically.  This is related 
to having the Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect feature enabled.  If MultiNEC does 
not seem to be working properly try right-clicking on the Norton icon in the 
Windows taskbar and selecting 'Disable Auto-Protect' mode.

 10) International users:  MultiNEC does not support the use of a comma as a 
decimal separator.  Use the Windows Control Panel, Regional Settings, Number tab 
to temporarily change the decimal symbol to a period and the digit grouping 
symbol to a comma.

 11) Finally, please take some time to read the extensive documentation that is 
found under the MultiNEC link at www.qsl.net/ac6la, including the detailed 'Tips 
and Tricks' and 'Examples' sections.


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MultiNEC Sample Files:  These files are all in MultiNEC format (.weq) so you 
access them using the 'Open' button on the Equations sheet.  In contrast, the 
'Import' button on the Wires sheet is used to read non-MultiNEC format files 
that are in EZNEC, NEC, or MMANA format.  


Example1.weq et. al.  (6 models)
20M5ELYA.weq
  These models may be used with the MultiNEC examples in lieu of entering all 
the necessary information manually on the various MultiNEC sheets.   


SquareQuadArray.weq
  Two square loops.  This is the model used for illustration purposes on the web 
pages.


DiamondQuadArray.weq
  Three elements in a diamond configuration.


RightAngleDelta.weq
  A single delta loop.  The geometry of this model is straightforward.  I 
included it to show a few other things you can do with formulas.  The Z height 
offset is for the base leg, but you might be limited on the height of the apex 
because of the available support.  Cell E16 on the Equations sheet shows the 
apex height in feet; you might want to adjust control variable "B" to achieve a 
specific apex height.

This model also shows formulas for the segmentation using the variable "I", 
created via the AutoSeg button.  Because the wires are not all equal length you 
can't just pick a number for the segment count and have the segment lengths be 
uniform.  Using a formula for segmentation results in roughly equal segment 
lengths.  Since you might want to put the source on the bottom leg an "ODD" 
variation is used for the formula for that leg; for the other legs it doesn't 
matter if the segment count comes up as odd or even.  Use of a variable to 
control the formula lets you easily increase the segmentation level for 
convergence testing.

Row 12 on the Wires sheet shows that you can also use formulas in comment lines.  
When side-fed, the loop should be fed 1/4 wl down from the apex.  The formula in 
the comment reminds you where the ideal feed point would be, which changes 
slightly as the size of the loop is adjusted for resonance.  Of course the 
number only changes by a small amount as the loop size is changed, and you 
probably won't be able to hit that exact point unless you use a very large 
number of segments, but the idea is that you can use formulas in places other 
than wire coordinates.


OctagonLoop.weq
  A simple "almost-round" loop.  Included only to show the formulas that are 
used in the construction of an octagon.  You might use this as the basis for a 
more complicated model such as a multi-element array.


OctagonHelix.weq
  The octagon loop from above, duplicated 10 times with the X coordinates 
incremented by an amount that is determined by the desired pitch of the coil.  
You might use just the helix as the basis for an antenna.  (See the LB Cebik 
example using a hexagon helix, found on his "Antenna Modeling" pages.)  I 
decided to add 3 more wires so I could attempt to model an actual closed coil.  
The result for the reactance of the source is fairly close (within 10% or so) to 
what you get using the equations for a lumped coil, as long as the lead length 
is included.  I can't say why you'd ever want to use NEC to simulate a real 
coil, but I had a good time playing with this one. 


PentaBandDiamond.weq
  This is a design taken directly from the ARRL Antenna Book, 19th edition, page 
12-8, "A Two-Element, 8-Foot Boom PentaBand Quad."  I included it as a sample 
for a couple of reasons:  1) To show that you don't have to create fancy 
formulas for your variables.  For this multi-band antenna all variables are 
entered and used directly in feet and there are no formulas at all on the 
Equations sheet.  2) To show how you can really use Excel's 'Copy/Paste' and 
'Edit/Replace' functions to your advantage.  The only formula I typed completely 
was "=A/4 / SQRT(2)" for one of the Y coordinates of the first loop.  Putting a 
negative sign in front of this covered another Y coordinate.  Adding "+ O" 
[letter oh, not zero] after it covered the Z coordinates.  Once I got all the 
End 1's done for the first loop I copied these formulas to the appropriate End 2 
cells, as described in the web page example.  Then I viewed just that one loop 
so I could make sure I had everything correct.  From then on it was just a 
matter of copying groups of cells to other locations and doing various 'Replace' 
operations to change the name of a variable.  The whole antenna was defined in 
less than ten minutes.  Since I did not use any intermediate formulas, the 
expression "SQRT(2)" gets evaluated 320 times (40 wires X 2 ends per wire X 4 
places for each end).  But this is just the kind of thing that modern computers 
do very fast, so the computer time wasted is inconsequential.  Note that column 
"J" of the Wires sheet may be used for annotation if desired, such as to show 
reminders of which wire gets the source for various bands.


Yagi20Heavy.weq  et. al. (6 variations)
  Recent editions of the ARRL Antenna Book contain some 68 optimized Yagi 
designs covering the bands from 40 to 10 meters.  These MultiNEC sample files 
are templates for the tubing taper schedules of the ARRL Yagis that cover 20 
meters, 15 meters, and 10 meters, with the Medium duty and Heavy duty versions 
of each.  These templates make it easy to create any of the 40 optimized designs 
that cover these bands.  There are files for each of the six variations, so you 
can change to a different design just by opening the appropriate file and then 
changing the spacing and tip length variables to the values as shown in Chapter 
11 of the Antenna Book.  All dimensions are in inches.  These models must be run 
using either EZNEC or with the StepRad module and NEC-2.  Running with just 
plain NEC-2 will result in inaccurate calculations. 


73,
Dan Maguire  AC6LA
2150 Louis Holstrom Dr
Morgan Hill, CA  95037
ac6la@arrl.net

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