ASCII File Format for 3D Patterns
Describe a 3D antenna pattern using an ASCII file format.
The ASCII files can be read with any ASCII text editor and with AMan. Therefore, these files are ideally suited to exchange information about antenna patterns with any other software package.
The following file is supported:
Extension | Meaning | Further Information |
---|---|---|
.apa | Antenna pattern ASCII | See 3D Antenna Patterns. |
The first character in a line defines comments. If a line starts either with “# ”or “*”, AMan assumes a comment line.
The triples must be in one line and always consist of two angles (horizontal and vertical) and one gain information. No information about phases is stored. A new triple must always be in a new line (one line can only contain one triple).
The triple must neither be ordered nor must they have a constant angle increment. All undefined angles are interpolated (if required during computation).

Figure 1. Example for ASCII antenna patterns (3D).
* Comments
* Comments
*
* Theta Phi Attenuation
* Vertical Horizontal relative to iso
0.00 0.00 -17.9900
0.00 40.00 -17.9900
0.00 80.00 -17.9900
0.00 120.00 -17.9900
0.00 160.00 -17.9900
0.00 200.00 -17.9900
0.00 240.00 -17.9900
0.00 280.00 -17.9900
0.00 320.00 -17.9900
40.00 0.00 -19.3000
40.00 40.00 -20.4500
40.00 80.00 -20.3400
40.00 120.00 -20.0000
40.00 160.00 -19.5600
40.00 200.00 -19.7600
40.00 240.00 -19.9600
40.00 280.00 -19.7100
40.00 320.00 -19.0300
70.00 0.00 ` -23.8800
70.00 40.00 -24.5100
……