File Formats

All formats RFlect reads natively, with the parser entry point in plot_antenna/file_utils.py.

WTL chamber .txt

The primary format. Plain-text, header + tabular data. RFlect supports both V5.02 and V5.03 layouts.

Passive (HPOL or VPOL)

Header contains: - Frequency (MHz) — one or more - Start Phi, Stop Phi, Inc Phi (degrees) - Start Theta, Stop Theta, Inc Theta - Polarization — Horizontal or Vertical

Data block: gain (dBi) per ($\theta$, $\phi$) cell. RFlect's parser: read_passive_file().

Active TRP

Header contains: - Frequency (MHz) - Axis ranges as above - H_Power_dBm and V_Power_dBm data blocks

RFlect's parser: read_active_file(). Downstream: calculate_active_variables() produces total-power 2D arrays plus TRP_dBm / h_TRP_dBm / v_TRP_dBm.

TRP Calibration

TRP Cal <antenna> <band> <Amp> <power> <range> <date>.txt. Parsed by plot_antenna/cal_drift.py:parse_trp_cal_file.

Paired with a TRP Cal Summary <…>.txt when present (records the input files, gain standard, methodology).

Touchstone .s2p

Industry-standard 2-port S-parameter format. Supports REAL/IMAG, MAGANGLE, and DB columns. Parsed by plot_antenna/uwb_analysis.py:parse_touchstone.

Used for: - Group delay analysis - UWB SFF / transfer function / impulse response - Impedance bandwidth

S2VNA .csv

Copper Mountain S2VNA software exports CSV with a fixed column convention RFlect understands: - ! Stimulus(Hz) — frequency - S11(dB), S21(dB) — magnitudes - S21(s) — group delay (seconds)

Parsed by parse_2port_data(). Auto-detected from .csv extension + columns.

Generic VNA .csv

Two-port S-parameter exports from arbitrary VNAs work as long as the column names match the S2VNA convention. Otherwise, convert to Touchstone .s2p.

CST simulation .txt

Far-field exports from CST Studio Suite. Read by plot_antenna/plot_group_delay_cst.py for ECC and fidelity factor analysis.

CST .ffs (output only)

RFlect can export to CST Farfield Source format via the convert_to_cst MCP tool — useful for moving measured patterns into a simulation toolchain.

Auto-detection in process_folder

Filename pattern	Intent
TRP Cal *.txt (not TRP Cal Summary *.txt)	cal_drift
*_HPol.txt paired with *_VPol.txt	passive
*.txt containing TRP (not TRP Cal)	active
*.s2p OR *.csv with S21 / GroupDelay / *deg* token	uwb

Priority on tie: cal_drift > passive > active > uwb. See Recipes.