Group's favourite SPICE software

F

Francis Elers

Guest
Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
 
"Chuck Harris" <cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote in message
news:SKednfTIw6rI22fanZ2dnUVZ_rjinZ2d@rcn.net...
It is free, and is probably the fastest, most likely to converge, and all
around
best spice package available.
Click to expand...
It seems to be one of the few free SPICE packages out there that's "actively"
maintained and improved upon these days... Linear Tech made one smart choice
in having Mike Engelhardt write them LTspice from scratch -- his skills
definitely seem to be on the level of the folks who once worked on PSpice, and
if it were a team of people rather than just Mike himself, I have no doubt
that LTspice would rapidly start having the much fancier graphing and
scripting abilities that, e.g., PSpice does.

For commercial packages John Warner's SI-Metrix is pretty nice. Last I heard
he was maintaining SI-Metrix with just a couple of other people, and was
looking to hire more if he could find appropriately talented individuals.

---Joel
 
"Chuck Harris" <cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote in message
news:SKednfTIw6rI22fanZ2dnUVZ_rjinZ2d@rcn.net...
It is free, and is probably the fastest, most likely to converge, and all
around
best spice package available.
Click to expand...
It seems to be one of the few free SPICE packages out there that's "actively"
maintained and improved upon these days... Linear Tech made one smart choice
in having Mike Engelhardt write them LTspice from scratch -- his skills
definitely seem to be on the level of the folks who once worked on PSpice, and
if it were a team of people rather than just Mike himself, I have no doubt
that LTspice would rapidly start having the much fancier graphing and
scripting abilities that, e.g., PSpice does.

For commercial packages John Warner's SI-Metrix is pretty nice. Last I heard
he was maintaining SI-Metrix with just a couple of other people, and was
looking to hire more if he could find appropriately talented individuals.

---Joel
 
"Francis Elers" <franciselers@earthlink.net> a écrit dans le message de
news: buGdnb3jA-KComfanZ2dnUVZ_v6rnZ2d@earthlink.com...
Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
Click to expand...
It is not free, but I'll definively vote for Labcenter's VSM
(http://www.labcenter.co.uk/index.cfm), as we are using it nearly daily with
pleasure : very good spice frontend with full graphics capabilities (if you
buy the advanced simulation option), real time simulation (turn a
potentiometer and see the effects), usable also as mixed signal simulator
(your prefered microcontroller simulated with the analog parts...) and PCB
design too.

Friendly,
Robert
www.alciom.com
 
"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:%L9Lj.535$7Z2.428@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
An office laptop is essential.
Click to expand...
I'm just about to switch at home to using a 17" LCD (1920x1200) laptop as the
"main" computer (with a second monitor, though :) ) -- I'd rather haul a
large laptop around every now and again than always having to be vigilant
about taking every last file I worked on at home back to the office or out of
town.
 
"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message
news:%L9Lj.535$7Z2.428@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
An office laptop is essential.
Click to expand...
I'm just about to switch at home to using a 17" LCD (1920x1200) laptop as the
"main" computer (with a second monitor, though :) ) -- I'd rather haul a
large laptop around every now and again than always having to be vigilant
about taking every last file I worked on at home back to the office or out of
town.
 
Francis Elers wrote:
Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
Click to expand...
Well...you could have a go at my SuperSpice. Its a tad cheaper than Simetix.

I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.

--
Kevin Aylward
ka@anasoft.co.uk
www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice
 
Francis Elers wrote:
Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
Click to expand...
Well...you could have a go at my SuperSpice. Its a tad cheaper than Simetix.

I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.

--
Kevin Aylward
ka@anasoft.co.uk
www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice
 
"Kevin Aylward" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:x60Mj.57533$kN5.47544@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.
Click to expand...
SuperSpice also seems to have been one of the first (and still one of the few)
SPICE front ends where you could drop graphs onto the schematic itself rather
than always having them in a separate window.
 
Fred Bartoli" <" wrote:
Joel Koltner a écrit :
"Kevin Aylward" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:x60Mj.57533$kN5.47544@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
I use it because, as I wrote it, it costs me nothing, and er..
additionally...has all the features I need that ain't in LTSpice.

SuperSpice also seems to have been one of the first (and still one
of the few) SPICE front ends where you could drop graphs onto the
schematic itself rather than always having them in a separate window.



And Kevin is smart enough to not buy it from himself for $20 on ebay
:)
Click to expand...
I don't know.. you might be surprised how daft I can be sometime.

I once was cutting a bread roll, knife towards roll, towards fingers.
dah...slipped.. tip of finger got a neat cut...tried again..dah.. slipped
again.. tip of the next finger sliced as well...was a bit of a bastard to
play my guitar for while.

--
Kevin Aylward
kaEXTRACTthis@kevinaylward.co.uk
www.kevinaylward.co.uk
 
Francis Elers wrote:
Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
Click to expand...
That's easy: LTSpice, also known as LTSwitcherCAD, from Linear Technologies.

It is free, and is probably the fastest, most likely to converge, and all around
best spice package available.

-Chuck
 
On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
<franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
Click to expand...
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.

---
Mark
 
On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
<franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
Click to expand...
http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/switchercad.jsp
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LTspice/

Damir
 
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:20 GMT, qrk <SpamTrap@spam.net> wrote:

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.
Click to expand...
The only thing keeping me from switching.

---
Mark
Click to expand...
...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave
 
On 7 Apr, 16:34, "Francis Elers" <francisel...@earthlink.net> wrote:
Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase.  Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.
Click to expand...
SIMetrix SPICE is very good:

http://www.catena.uk.com/

Leon
 
Jim Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:20 GMT, qrk <SpamTrap@spam.net> wrote:

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.

The only thing keeping me from switching.
Click to expand...
What don't you like about LTSpice's graphing?

You should see the graphing of my DSO when you use its math functions.
Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
there you can customize everything.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
 
On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:51:50 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:20 GMT, qrk <SpamTrap@spam.net> wrote:

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.

The only thing keeping me from switching.


What don't you like about LTSpice's graphing?

You should see the graphing of my DSO when you use its math functions.
Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
there you can customize everything.
Click to expand...
LTspice graphing dislikes:
1. Can't lock the scaling. This is my number one gripe about LTspice
graphing. The workaround is a few button clicks to recall saved graph
setup parameters.

2. Can't separate the graphing window from the main app window (nice
for dual monitor setup, schematic on one monitor, graph on second
monitor).

3. Doesn't have the equivalent of PSpice's Performance Analysis which
is handy for parametric runs.

4. A few years ago, didn't support cartesian coordinate display in AC
analysis. However, Mike added that feature which sidelined PSpice.

---
Mark
 
qrk wrote:
On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:51:50 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:20 GMT, qrk <SpamTrap@spam.net> wrote:

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.
The only thing keeping me from switching.

What don't you like about LTSpice's graphing?

You should see the graphing of my DSO when you use its math functions.
Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
there you can customize everything.

LTspice graphing dislikes:
1. Can't lock the scaling. This is my number one gripe about LTspice
graphing. The workaround is a few button clicks to recall saved graph
setup parameters.

2. Can't separate the graphing window from the main app window (nice
for dual monitor setup, schematic on one monitor, graph on second
monitor).

3. Doesn't have the equivalent of PSpice's Performance Analysis which
is handy for parametric runs.

4. A few years ago, didn't support cartesian coordinate display in AC
analysis. However, Mike added that feature which sidelined PSpice.
Click to expand...
Ok, I can see that. Mostly I use SPICE just for "what-if" quick checks
where most of this didn't matter and I don't have a dual monitor setup
at the big PC (yet).

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
 
On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:40:05 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

qrk wrote:
On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:51:50 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:20 GMT, qrk <SpamTrap@spam.net> wrote:

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.
The only thing keeping me from switching.

What don't you like about LTSpice's graphing?

You should see the graphing of my DSO when you use its math functions.
Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
there you can customize everything.

LTspice graphing dislikes:
1. Can't lock the scaling. This is my number one gripe about LTspice
graphing. The workaround is a few button clicks to recall saved graph
setup parameters.

2. Can't separate the graphing window from the main app window (nice
for dual monitor setup, schematic on one monitor, graph on second
monitor).

3. Doesn't have the equivalent of PSpice's Performance Analysis which
is handy for parametric runs.

4. A few years ago, didn't support cartesian coordinate display in AC
analysis. However, Mike added that feature which sidelined PSpice.


Ok, I can see that. Mostly I use SPICE just for "what-if" quick checks
where most of this didn't matter and I don't have a dual monitor setup
at the big PC (yet).
Click to expand...
Here's my set-up...

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.schematics.electronic
Subject: From S.E.Cad: Group's favourite SPICE software -
DualMonitors.jpg
Message-ID: <ra8qv39mkuca6tei3c68o4r1jofaqv1j2b@4ax.com>

I couldn't live now without dual monitors... makes probing _so_ nice!!

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

America: Land of the Free, Because of the Brave
 
Jim Thompson wrote:
On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:40:05 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

qrk wrote:
On Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:51:50 GMT, Joerg
notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
On Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:56:20 GMT, qrk <SpamTrap@spam.net> wrote:

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 11:34:59 -0400, "Francis Elers"
franciselers@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hello group,

I'm looking for SPICE software recommendations, both freeware and for
purchase. Whose programs do you use, and why?

Thanks,

Francis.

I'll put my vote in for LTspice. Free, works well, PSpice compatible
syntax, and if there's a bug, Mike E. fixes it pronto. I've seen him
fix bugs in a matter of hours! Mike will also add user recommended
features when he sees fit. I find myself using LTspice over PSpice for
most small tasks since it is easy to use.

I like PSpice for the graphing capabilities, the one thing where
LTspice doesn't shine.
The only thing keeping me from switching.

What don't you like about LTSpice's graphing?

You should see the graphing of my DSO when you use its math functions.
Nice Taiwanese bonbon colors. But luckily it has an Excel interface and
there you can customize everything.
LTspice graphing dislikes:
1. Can't lock the scaling. This is my number one gripe about LTspice
graphing. The workaround is a few button clicks to recall saved graph
setup parameters.

2. Can't separate the graphing window from the main app window (nice
for dual monitor setup, schematic on one monitor, graph on second
monitor).

3. Doesn't have the equivalent of PSpice's Performance Analysis which
is handy for parametric runs.

4. A few years ago, didn't support cartesian coordinate display in AC
analysis. However, Mike added that feature which sidelined PSpice.

Ok, I can see that. Mostly I use SPICE just for "what-if" quick checks
where most of this didn't matter and I don't have a dual monitor setup
at the big PC (yet).

Here's my set-up...

Newsgroups: alt.binaries.schematics.electronic
Subject: From S.E.Cad: Group's favourite SPICE software -
DualMonitors.jpg
Message-ID: <ra8qv39mkuca6tei3c68o4r1jofaqv1j2b@4ax.com
Click to expand...
Those links don't work for me, no idea why.


I couldn't live now without dual monitors... makes probing _so_ nice!!
Click to expand...
I'd do that as well but it would become quite cramped in here. The
office desk is huge but the corner location is occupied by a laptop and
the other desk space is needed for paper.

An office laptop is essential. Like this morning when the electricity
was gone. The utility was amazing, 1/2h later jack hammers were heard
and another hour later power was back on.

BTW, did your nfilter catch any gmail junk in the last couple of hours?
I just wedged a blanket-filter for gmail into Thunderbird and it's
awfully quiet now.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/
 
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