Microsoft Visio 2007 can do beautiful RF circuit/system diagrams after an additional $15

04 November 2008



Firstly, I like to say that I'm not one for advocating a particular operating system or software vendor. If Windows is the most efficient to me for a particular job considering my current experience, the software tools available, or available knowledge I can glean from others, then I use Windows. Particularly when I'm pressed for time.

At the moment I am writing up my MSc, and needed a tool to make nice diagrams quickly. I've always admired Monica Wu's reports and particularly her beautiful system diagrams. When asking her secret, she told me that she uses Microsoft Visio. I then remembered that I can get Visio 2007 free as a Graduate student member of the IEEE. I then downloaded the 250MB ISO from Microsoft, got the serial number through IEEE, and installed Visio. (After 2 hours..) I looked around on the web for RF shapes for Visio, and came across this page at RFCafe. For $15 I get a zip file containing "RF Components and Rack & Test Equipment and Tube Base Stencils and ARRL Symbols". I thought this is a good deal. RRSG sponsored the $15, and now I can make diagrams like in the picture below.