The validation and application of NEC and MININEC

The computation of the radiation and scattering characteristics of antennas by means of the method of moments has now reached a stage of maturity after a decade or so of intensive use of various moment method codes. Arguably the most versatile of these, and certainly the best known is the Numerical Electromagnetics Code (NEC). Possibly equally well-known, though more limited in application, is MININEC. These moment method codes are discussed briefly with emphasis placed on their validation and application, particularly with vehicle mounted antennas. A novel procedure for synthesizing a required radiation pattern using a combined moment method-characteristic mode procedure is introduced