MECAP-an analysis program for microwave engineering courses

There exists a need, in undergraduate microwave engineering courses, for a simple analysis program similar to ECAP, but which is applicable to distributed circuits. Such a program has been developed at the University of Maine, Orono to analyze a network of cascaded two-ports with the possibility of one feedback path. This configuration, while not the most general, will encompass nearly all networks encountered in an undergraduate course. It is also fast and very easy to use. Some examples of its use are given. Student response was very favorable and it is concluded that some sort of analysis program should be used in an undergraduate microwave engineering course.