---
name: "somnec"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "nec"
version: "2-16"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/somnec"
---

# somnec(1)

Compute Sommerfield-Norton Ground Grids

## NAME

somnec - Compute Sommerfield-Norton Ground Grids

## SYNOPSIS

**somnec**

## DESCRIPTION

**somnec** is a program  to generates grids used by the NEC2 program for the Sommerfeld-Norton approximation to realistic grounds. It allows interactive user input of relative dielectric constant, ground conductivity, and frequency in MHz.   The output for use by **nec2** is written out as binary unformatted file.  The program .B nec2 reads this in, if the Sommerfield Norton Ground is specified in the **nec2** input cards by the presence of a suitable suitable  Ground Parameters Card i.e. a **GN** card with *IPERF* set to 2 (coluns 3-5).  Hence the user is also prompted for a file name, and the grid arrays are written to the file.

## OPTIONS

Due to the age of the program, it expects its input to be in the form of punched cards fed into a hopper.  It doesn't currently take any options, instead the name of the input and output files must be entered once the program has been run.

## SEE ALSO

nec(1)

It is fully documented as part of the report  *Numerical Electromagnetics Code (NEC)* -- Method of Moments", available as a printed publication in three parts covering the theory of operation, the program code and the users' manual.

## BUGS

This program was keyed in by hand from a printed listing.  Thus it is possible that some extra bugs have been introduced. Unformatted binary files are often a fortran minefield, particuarly if transported between systems.

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by  \<alanb@chiark.greenend.org.uk\>. The original program was developed by G. J. Burke and A. J. Poggio of Laurence Livermore Laboratory.