Schematic-Capture Software Recommendation

[ashart]

I'm looking for recommendations on inexpensive Win 7 software for drawing schematics.  No PCB capability needed - just schematic drawing.

I'm very old, so I need software with a library of radio components that includes vacuum tubes!

I've used Designworks Express, but it's no longer supported and I've used Smartdraw, but I find it awkward for radio schematics and with few tubes in the library.

Any ideas?

Thanks es 73.

-al hart
al@w8vr.org
www.w8vr.org

[MikeKE0ZUinkcmo]

I've found the free software offered by Express PCB to be an excellent program.   Intuitive and easy to use.   Making new, and/or modifying existing parts is VERY SIMPLE.   The entire "manual" is only a few pages.   

[ashart]

Thank you, Mike.  I'm looking into it.

73.

-al hart
al@w8vr.org
www.w8vr.org

[DMOD]

For a free, downloadable package, LTSPICE has a good schematic maker:

http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/  and it comes with a pretty good component library.

You have to make your own tube symbols, but that's easy.

Phil - AC0OB

[KM1H]

If its so easy tell us illiterate peasants how to do it

Carl

[Rob K2CU]

Like many other spice simulation programs, LTspice has its own cryptic peculiarities. It comes with a nice collection of sample circuits. You can readily use it for just schematic capture, but running simulations can be interesting. 

Symbols to be placed on schematics as well as their accompanying .lib or .sub files may be in encrypted files or in the clear and editable. Some symbols are linked to one and only one sub file. The .sub file is a text file that describes the part. .lib files are usually a collection of part definitions in one file. Some symbols link to the .lib file and when placed on a schematic, provide a drop down menu of parts from the library .lib file. They have the same number of connection pins or nodes and they are in the same order for each part definition...i.e. E B C, or G S D, or C G1 G2 P.  I regularly use LTspice in my professional work and have learned many of the intricacies of its use. I have also collected most of the available tube spice models and have created schematic symbols for not only the basic types, but also several of the beam deflection modulator types as well as the 6BE6. One thing with spice is that it is only as good as the models. I have several different models of, say, an 807, and they behave differently. Not all models have the second order effects right, often just being an FET model used for simulation, ignoring the screen elements effect. I try to stay away from these quick and dirty types. Norman Koran came up with a method that models tube characteristics using complex polynomials with a set of coefficients. You extract data points from tube graphs in data books and use Matlab to determine the coefficients. It is a complex process, but yields good results.  You can Google search his articles on same.

For anyone interested, I would be happy to share my tube spice work for LTspice, even if you only want the symbols.

I have also used Orcad which has allowed me to create schematic symbols of complex parts like rotary, multi stack switches.

[pa0ast]

Hi Al, i am using Splan also for drawings that are published . Realy good for a little money. Takes 30 min to learn how to use it at my age. With professional results .  See: http://www.abacom-online.de/uk/html/splan.html  They have also a frontplate designer program , very nice as well for front designs and meter scales.
RGDS Anton pa0ast