RF and microwave circuit design
Accelerate RF and microwave design with AWR Microwave Office
Design, simulate, optimise and verify high-frequency circuits with an integrated environment for linear, nonlinear, electromagnetic and system-level analysis.
- Robust harmonic-balance simulation
- Integrated RF-aware layout and EM analysis
- Design automation for faster development cycles
Product overview
An integrated environment for high-frequency electronics
AWR Microwave Office is radio-frequency (RF) and microwave circuit design software used to accelerate the development of high-frequency electronics.
Its intuitive interface, design automation, RF-aware layout, high-frequency models, and harmonic-balance simulation support the complete design process — from initial concept through to verification.
Robust simulation
An advanced harmonic-balance engine provides fast and rigorous convergence for highly nonlinear networks, including circuits with large transistor counts and significant harmonic content.
Powerful design automation
An intuitive interface, automation features, scripting, and customisation options support efficient product development and reduce repetitive engineering work.
Integrated analysis
Co-simulation with system and electromagnetic simulators supports in-situ parasitic extraction, design verification, and standards-compliant communication test benches.
Key capabilities
Everything you need from concept to verified design
A summary of the core tools across the AWR Microwave Office and Visual System Simulator ranges. Availability depends on configuration — see the product editions below.
Comprehensive model libraries
Passive models, a discrete parts library, and vendor model libraries with footprints. High-frequency models support accurate simulation from the outset.
APLAC harmonic-balance simulation
Rigorous steady-state nonlinear simulation for networks with significant harmonic content. Suited to amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators.
RF-aware layout
Layout that stays connected to the schematic, with 2D and 3D views. Artwork cells and connectivity checking help keep layout and simulation aligned.
Integrated electromagnetic analysis
Electromagnetic (EM) set-up and extraction from within the design environment. Planar EM (AXIEM) and 3D finite-element (Analyst) options are available.
Load-pull analysis
Advanced load-pull measurements help characterise devices and define matching targets for power-amplifier design.
Linear and nonlinear stability analysis
Linear stability checks are standard, and nonlinear stability analysis is available as an add-on for more demanding designs.
Filter synthesis
Synthesise filter topologies as a starting point, then refine them with simulation and optimisation.
Impedance matching
Impedance-matching and matching-circuit synthesis tools help build networks that meet bandwidth and performance goals.
Design optimisation
Tuning and optimisation are available across the product range, letting you explore trade-offs quickly and repeatably.
System-level RF simulation
Link budgets, RF architecture planning, and behavioural block models, with co-simulation alongside Microwave Office.
Remote and parallel simulation
Linux server-farm support for remote EM analysis and parallel/remote APLAC simulation options for larger workloads.
Design management and version control
Design management and version-control features help teams track changes across complex projects.
Typical design workflow
One environment across the whole design cycle
How AWR supports a typical RF and microwave engineering process.
- 01Define the RF architecture
- 02Select models and components
- 03Create the circuit schematic
- 04Simulate linear and nonlinear behaviour
- 05Optimise performance
- 06Add RF-aware layout
- 07Perform EM analysis and parasitic extraction
- 08Verify system-level performance
- 09Export design data and documentation
Applications
Is AWR right for your application?
Microwave Office supports a wide range of high-frequency design tasks. These are the most common.
Amplifiers
Meet bandwidth, efficiency, and linearity targets with advanced design automation, robust harmonic-balance simulation, and accurate semiconductor models.
Discuss your amplifiers projectFilters and passive networks
Design and simulate lumped-element, distributed, multiplexed, high-power, and high-Q cavity filters, as well as couplers, combiners, dividers, and attenuators.
Discuss your filters and passive networks projectAntennas
Combine circuit and electromagnetic simulation to analyse gain, return loss, radiation efficiency, current distribution, and 2D or 3D far-field patterns.
Discuss your antennas projectMixers
Analyse mixers and frequency converters using multi-tone, frequency-domain harmonic-balance simulation for demanding receiver and transceiver applications.
Discuss your mixers project
Product editions
Compare editions and add-on options
Select a product family to see which features are included in each configuration.
| Feature | Starter LinearMWO101SC | LinearMWO126ESC |
|---|---|---|
| Linear solver | Included | Included |
| S-parameters (Y, Z, H, ABCD) | Included | Included |
| Smith chart | Included | Included |
| Gain | Included | Included |
| Noise figure (NF) | Included | Included |
| Linear stability check | Included | Included |
| Passive models (TRL, microstrip, stripline, RLC, etc.) | Included | Included |
| Discrete parts library | Included | Included |
| Tuning and optimisation | Included | Included |
| RF-aware layout | Not listed | Included |
| 2D/3D layout view | Not listed | Included |
| Vendor model libraries with footprints | Not listed | Included |
| Artwork cell / GDSII / DXF | Not listed | Included |
| GDSII / Gerber / DXF export | Not listed | Included |
| PCB Import Wizard | Not listed | Included |
| Allegro / APD+ | Not listed | Included |
| IPC-2581, ODB++, Gerber | Not listed | Included |
| EM Setup Wizard | Not listed | Included |
| Design rule checker (DRC) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Calibre and Assura interface | Not listed | Not listed |
| Access to all PDKs | Not listed | Not listed |
| Automatic Circuit Extraction (ACE) | Not listed | Included |
| Fast simulation of coupling between traces | Not listed | Included |
| 3D planar and 3D EM/thermal analysis interface | Not listed | Included |
| Design management / version control | Not listed | Included |
| Connectivity checker | Not listed | Included |
| Sub-circuit caching | Not listed | Included |
| Linux server-farm support for remote EM analysis | Not listed | Included |
| APLAC (harmonic balance) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Steady-state time domain | Not listed | Not listed |
| Device I–V curve | Not listed | Not listed |
| DC/RF power, power-added efficiency (PAE) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Large-signal gain, return loss | Not listed | Not listed |
| Steady-state time waveform, dynamic load line | Not listed | Not listed |
| IMD3, harmonics | Not listed | Not listed |
| Mixer / oscillator measurements | Not listed | Not listed |
| Advanced load-pull measurements | Not listed | Not listed |
Technical integration
Fits into your wider engineering workflow
Integration capabilities listed on the existing product information. Exact availability depends on the edition and add-ons selected.
Circuit simulation
Linear, APLAC harmonic-balance, steady-state time-domain, transient and circuit-envelope analysis (depending on configuration).
RF-aware PCB layout
PCB Import Wizard and Allegro/APD+ integration for bringing board designs into the RF workflow.
Electromagnetic analysis
EM Setup Wizard, Automatic Circuit Extraction (ACE), planar EM and 3D finite-element options.
System simulation
Visual System Simulator for link budgets, architecture planning, and BER, ACPR and EVM measurements.
Semiconductor and PDK workflows
Process design kit (PDK) access for MMIC design, with Calibre and Assura interfaces and Spectre interface/netlist support.
Design data exchange
IPC-2581, ODB++, Gerber, GDSII and DXF data exchange for manufacturing and collaboration.
Co-simulation and verification
Circuit, EM and system co-simulation, with remote EM analysis and Linux server-farm support.
Why Parallel Systems
Buy with specialist support behind you
Parallel Systems helps engineering teams evaluate, configure and adopt AWR software.
Talk to an AWR specialistSpecialist technical knowledge
Talk to people who understand RF and microwave design challenges.
Product guidance and qualification
Help to understand which tools fit your application.
Configuration selection
Support choosing the appropriate edition and add-ons.
Demonstrations and evaluation
Arrange a demonstration and discuss evaluation options.
Commercial and licensing enquiries
Assistance with quotations and licensing questions.
Ongoing customer support
Continued support after purchase.
Explore what AWR can do for your RF design workflow
Speak to Parallel Systems about your application, technical requirements, evaluation options, or licensing needs.
FAQ