Need software suggestion

crutschow

Joined Mar 14, 2008
34,469
Be aware that for RF simulation accuracy you need an accurate estimation of all the parasitic capacitances and inductances due to the circuit layout to put in the simulation model. Depending upon the RF frequency involved, even a short piece of wire or trace can have significant series inductance and capacitance to ground that will affect circuit operation. For PCBs you may need to use microstrip type construction for the high frequency signal paths and use transmission line analysis in your simulation, again depending upon the signal frequency.
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
Along the same lines as crutschow's caution; even things like parasitics in multilayer ceramic capacitors can foul you up. A number of years ago, did some testing of MLCC's on a former employers' HP material analyzer (cost around $30k USD) and found a 47pF series 0805 cap measured right there at low frequencies (<30MHz), but up around 500MHz it measured about 150pF (!). This is one of those things that will "bite" you if you are not aware of it. A kink in a wire or a PCB trace can affect a circuit drastically at high frequencies.
 
Top