A decent free transmission line calculator I use a lot is TXLine. Can even do somewhat more exotic structures like slotline and coplanar waveguide with ground. It also calculates loss (both dielectric loss and skin effect), which is something not normally found on such free tools.
In my experience results for impedance are pretty accurate, definitely sufficient for the typical manufacturing tolerances (5-10%) of real PCBs. Loss numbers can vary more because there are many more parameters (like surface roughness) that influence them, but TXLine normally gives at least a useful ballpark number.
Scopehandler, exactly. There is always some motivation or hidden agenda behind such free offerings. Some times after certain period of using, they may convert it to as a paid version or limited access versions. In some other cases, it's like an advertisements for the products and companies.
So nothing is free in this world and nobody is going to offer us anything free of cost.
It's a way of advertising for marketing the product. They will offer the free version for some limited time and thereafter we have to purchase it. In some other case, they will offer a life time free version with limited functionality. In between they may remind us for a full version purchases.
They are making money through google adsence and other adds in the website
scopehandler 4/9/2012 9:23:04 PM User Rank Apprentice
Re: How do these freeware guys make money
You can see in real world, people have given away quite significantly but then it offers ample of opportunity on personal level. Free does not mean free it has something to take in return.
Thanks for the question and answer. That is a real innovative way to break through. The one on limited version is ingenous. My problem is that when you give one free, you have to guve two free. It becomes a cycle that cannot be broken
Most of these CADs are really nice stuffs. How do they survive or make money. I am confused why someone wil invest all the time and energy just to make the thing free. Can someone educate me on the rationale.
Can our software engineers for SJ make the links ACTIVE. One cannot click it and visit other sites which is not convenient. Let them make the links active. I will appreciate if that is possible.
To save this item to your list of favorite Scope Junction content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
