QRDude version notes

Ver 3.00 - April 2010

Added 'Lobes' screen to show diffusion lobes for multiple panels
Added 'Usable ranges explorer' screen to see effect of signal angle on HF cutoff frequency
Now distinguishes the difference between diffusion and scattering ranges at bottom of usable range
Seating distance now based on lowest diffusion frequency rather than LF cutoff - changes with signal angle for multiple panels
Seating distance displayed in metres rather than mm for metric units
Wording changed for scorecard when design wavelength is less than period width
Added lobes page to user guide. Updated other guide pages and overview page with lobe and signal angle information

For some reason, QRDude reminds me of the TRON ship. There is even a Sketchup 3d model

Ver 2.10

2D QRD report - added weight estimate
2D screen - added option to hide numbers allowing pattern to be seen more clearly
2D screen - moved some buttons to new menu bar

Ver 2.09

Expanded functionality for Maxdata screen - well highlighting, better color cues

Ver 2.08

Added depth-optimising for 2D inverse panels. Legacy panels still supported
Added scaled viscous limit for panels deeper than 400mm
Added more links to the About form

Ver 2.07

Fixed minor rounding discrepancy between 1D and 2D panels for block heights when using imperial units

Ver 2.06

2D report - fix minor bug when calcuating block heights using imperial units
2D report - added design frequency to report

Ver 2.05

Added support for program association
Reversed display order of LF and HF frequencies

Ver 2.04

Added list of effective diffusion frequencies to scorecard

Ver 2.03

Bug fix - 2D report incorrectly stated physical well depth for normal panels

Ver 2.02

Added tooltips to full-screen view of 2D data, allowing display of well dimensions for panels right up to N101
Options on 2D form now included in reset to default routine

Ver 2.01

Added option for full-screen view of drawings and data in 2D mode

Ver 2.00 - November 2009

Major changes for V2

In earlier versions, the recommended well width was based on the recommendations of Schroeder, the originator of the equations for QRD diffusers
This gave a built-in safety factor against excess absorption.

Meanwhile, it has been found that the main cause of absorption losses is not related to well width.
Accordingly, the recommended well width is now based on period width and well depth. A minimum limit of 25mm guards against viscous losses
This gives panels of greater bandwidth, and as a bonus, makes QRDude more streamlined and easier to understand

The other major change is the new support for 2D QRD panels

If you haven't reviewed the supporting documentation for a while, it would be worth a re-visit. Lots of changes for version two.

2D calculator added
Major change to auto well width rules - now based on period width rather than maximum well depth
Auto-calculate well width option renamed as Auto-minimise well width
Scorecard and support notes re-written to reflect this change
Prevent switch to inverse panel if auto-optimise is on unless pairing is also on
Menu option Clipboard renamed to Export
Menu option Copy results to clipboard replaced by Generate Report which produces text file and then opens it in Notepad

Ver 1.05

Build depth optimiser added to advanced mode with choice of manual or auto operation
Extra left-shift button seeks to next zero-depth well
Caption added to shift cancel button, indicating current left-shift value
Added hover mouse over panel picture for well information presentated as tooltip

Ver 1.04

Labels for well numbers changed to start with zero rather than one, to be consistent with classic equation described in support notes

Ver 1.03

Panel width replaced by Period width to emphasise that the user has to manually add the extra fin for stand-alone panels

Ver 1.02

Enhanced results toggle to include display of block heights

Ver 1.01

Minor bug fix: when save / load was cancelled, the cancelled filename was used in the main form caption instead of the current one

Ver 1.0 - Initial release October 2009

Supports panels based on prime numbers 3 through to 101
Calculates inverse panel
Auto-calculates well widths based on several crieria. May be over-ridden to fine-tune panel width or HF cutoff frequency
Work in mm, decimal inches or fractional inches to 1/16th inch
Option to lock build depth and allow design frequency to change as different panels are explored
Displays finished panel width and build depth (deepest well)
Displays LF cutoff frequency one octave below design frequency, and displays HF cutoff frequency, where well width equates to half-wavelength
Advises minimum seating distance based on three times the wavelength of LF cutoff frequency
Can display wells as Ratios, Depths, or Phase shifts
Phase wheel shows the phase shifts introduced by the wells at the design frequency
Visualisation of scattering based on relative well depth either side of fin
Scorecard screen checks for common problems
Supports shifting panel one half well left for symmetrical build when first well is zero-depth
Advanced mode to find new panels by rotation of phase wheel. Full horizontal shift facility
Copy to clipboard: results and scorecard as text, panel picture, phase wheel or scatter drawing
Choice of ways to display picture, to assist when pasting pictures of different panels into a paint program
Save / Load project. Most recent values and settings restored on restart