This software is out of date, see RadioPlanner 3.0
RadioPlanner 2.1
Mobile and Broadcast Network Planning Software
User Manual
Download in PDF format
Mobile networks
Frequency planning for a mobile network is a complex iterative process that is influenced by many factors. In practice, it is carried out by drawing up a frequency plan for the initial approximation network taking into account the requirements for coverage, number, and distribution of subscribers, communication quality, available frequency bands, features of the standard used, and other conditions. Then, the radio coverage of the network is calculated taking into account the co-channel, and adjacent channels’ interference for the selected frequency plan and the optimization of the parameters of the base stations. The frequency plan is performed in order to reduce the influence of the interference on the network coverage.
The purpose of this user manual is not to educate users on the principles and features of frequency planning of mobile networks. A sufficient number of books have been published on this topic.
A general blog diagram of the mobile network planning algorithm is shown in the figure below.
Figure 16. Mobile network planning algorithm
Mobile Units
The mobile units’ characteristics in the Mobile Units menu.
Figure 17. Mobile Units
Type
Name (model) of Mobile Unit, text field
Tx Power
Transmitter power, W
Rx Threshold
Receiver threshold sensitivity, dBmThis parameter is taken into account when performing the calculation of the radio coverage “Areas with signal levels above both the base and mobile thresholds,” as well as Point Calculations.
Cable and Connectors Loss
Loss in cable and connectors, dB
Antenna Height
Antenna height relative to ground level, m
Antenna Gain
Antenna gain, dBi
The application allows calculating radio coverage for two types of mobile units, since, for example, in professional wireless networks portables and mobiles subscriber stations are often used, which differ in both energy characteristics and antenna height relative to ground level.
Base Stations
The characteristics of the radio equipment of the base stations in the Base Station Network menu. After creating a new project, the list of base stations is empty.
Figure 18. Base stations
Frequency
Study radius
Center of frequency band, MHz
Maximum radius of calculation from base stations, km. The larger the radius, the longer the calculation time
Toolbar:
- Create a new base station
- Import sites from *.csv file
- Sort base stations in alphabetical order
- Delete all active base stations
- Import base station parameters from Microsoft Excel document
- Export active base station settings to Microsoft Excel
Creating a Base Station
To create a new base station, click on Base Station Network in the Tree View interface, then click the button in the panel that opens, then select the template from which the new base station will be created. You can then create the template yourself.
Figure 19. Template selection for a new BS
Import sites from *.CSV file
You can also import sites from CSV files (text format, where the separator is a semicolon).
This is a universal format in which you can save a spreadsheet from any spreadsheet editor (Excel, LibreOffice Calc, and others), as well as databases.
The required fields for each point object are BS name, Latitude, and Longitude. Format coordinates - HEMISPHERE degrees minutes seconds (N35 23.8 36) or HEMISPHERE decimal degrees (N12.34567).
To import sites, click on the button (import sites from * .CSV) and select a CSV file, then select a template from which new base stations will be created with coordinates of imported sites.
Figure 12. Example of a CSV file with the imported sites
Import/Export BS Parameters to Excel Spreadsheet
The program can export the parameters of the base stations to the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, as well as import data from this spreadsheet. This function can accelerate the loading of source data for a network with a large number of base stations, as well as simplify the exchange of source data between the user and the customer. The format of the table can be found by exporting the parameters of base stations for one of the test examples.
Figure 21. Excel spreadsheet example
When importing/exporting a spreadsheet, the following should be considered:
1. Export to a spreadsheet is performed only for active base stations
2. When importing from a spreadsheet, the imported base stations will be added to the existing BS of the current project. That is, if you need to completely replace the information on base stations, then before performing the import, you should remove the existing base stations from the project.
3. When importing from a spreadsheet, the antenna pattern file must be in the folder with the Excel file.
4. If in the base station sector, the antenna-feeder transmission and reception path are the same, then when preparing the table, you can fill in the antenna-feeder path parameters for the transmit path only, and do not fill in the receive path parameters - just leave the corresponding cells of the spreadsheet empty.
When clicking in the Tree View interface panel on the created base station, the Base Station Details panel will open, where you can edit the name, coordinates, specify additional text information about the base station, and find out the elevation of the base station relative to sea level.
Figure 22. Base station parameters
Using the tools on the Base Station Details panel, you can do the following:
- Create a new base station as a copy of this base station
- Move this base station up or down
- Delete base station
- Load the base station parameters from the template
- Save the parameters of the base station (including the parameters of all its sectors) as a template
- Position the map with the base station at the center of the screen
Name Base station name, text field.
Latitude The geographical latitude of the base station in the format specified by the user in Settings
Longitude Geographical longitude of the base station in the format specified by the user in Settings
Site Elevation Site elevation relative to sea level, m
Other Information Text box for any additional base station information
When creating a base station, at least one sector of this base station is automatically created.
There is an activity icon in the Tree View interface panel next to each base station and sector. For the sector to be calculated, this sector must be marked as active (a dot in the center of the icon).
Clicking on the base station sector will open a panel with the parameters of this sector.
Figure 23. BS Sector parameters
- Create a new sector as a copy of this sector
- Move this sector up or down
- Delete sector
- Group change of active sector parameters based on current sector parameters
- Position the map with the base station at the center of the screen
Name
The name of the sector, the text field. If this field is left blank, the name "Sector azimuth" with the azimuth value specified below in the sector parameters panel will be automatically displayed on the left in the tree view panel. If you specify the name in this field, it will be displayed in the tree view.
Channel Group
Frequency group to which this sector belongs, f01-f12
Radio Equipment
Name (model) of Radio equipment, text field
Tx Power
Transmitter power, W
Rx Threshold
Receiver threshold sensitivity, dBm
Diversity Gain
Gain due to the use of diversity reception, dB
Set Rx Antenna and Transmission System to be the Same as Tx
Copying parameters' antenna-feeder transmitter path to the receive path
Cable Type
Type of the main cable for transmission or reception path. If the required cable is not in the list, then the user can add it himself - see Appendix 1.1
Cable Length
Main cable length, m
Cable Loss
Loss in cable, dB. Calculated value
Additional Loss
Additional losses, dB - combining losses, losses in jumpers, and connectors. Any additional losses.
Total Loss
Total loss, dB. The calculated value.
Antenna Height
The height of the center of radiation of the antenna relative to ground level, m
Antenna Gain
Antenna gain relative to isotropic radiator, dB
Azimuth
The azimuth of the antenna in degrees
Beam Tilt
Tilt the antenna in degrees. Down is negative; up is positive.
Antenna Model
Antenna name, text field. Automatically filled with the antenna pattern file name when selecting a pattern.
Measurement File
The file with the results of the measured signal downlink level in this BS sector and the toolbar for processing it. See more details in the "Import measurement results and adjustment of the propagation model" section.
An antenna pattern file is a standard MSI file that can be downloaded from the antenna manufacturer’s website. Antenna patterns are integrated into the project file.
Group change of active sector parameters based on the parameters of the current sector is a useful feature that allows you to instantly change the parameters of any sectors in accordance with the parameters of the current sector.
The procedure for performing group parameter changes:
1. Mark sectors as active whose parameters need to be changed
2. Set the required parameter values in the current sector
3. Click the button , select in the list the parameters that need to be changed in the previously marked active sectors, and click the OK button.
Context menu on the base map
When you right-click on the base map, the context menu appears in which you can:
1. Create a new base station at this point
2. Change the location of the current (selected) base station
3. Open the parameters of the nearest base station (focus on ...)
Figure 21. Context menu
Propagation models
RadioPlanner 2.1 uses the following propagation models:
- ITU-R P.1812-4 model
- Longley-Rice (ITM) model v 1.2.2
- ITU-R P.1546-6 model (for broadcasting only)
- Combined ITU-R P.528-3 + P.526-14 model (for aeronautical radio only)
ITU-R P.1812-4 model
This model is described in detail in the recommendation ITU-R P.1812-4 (07/2015) A path-specific propagation prediction method for point-to-area terrestrial services in the VHF and UHF bands.
The following main factors which affect propagation are taken into account:
-
Diffraction loss on the path profile obtained from the SRTM data
-
The impact of local surrounding obstacles that exist in the landcover model
-
Temporal and spatial instability of the received radio signal (slow and fast fading)
Figure 24. ITU-R P.1812-4 propagation model
Percentage of time (usually 90-95%). By choosing a particular time percentage, the calculated received power values are the power levels that will be exceeded at least that percentage of the time.
Percentage of location (usually 90-95%). The location percentage indicates that a given power level will be exceeded in at least that percentage of locations for similar propagation paths. The percentage of location can vary from 1% to 99%. The model is not valid for a percentage of locations less than 1% or more than 99%.
Margin Prediction confidence margin. Since the received power level calculations are estimates, the prediction margin lets you specify a safety margin in dB so that you can be more confident your signal level estimate is indeed above the specified signal level.
Specify the location of the Mobile units:
- Mobile units with antennas below clutter height in urban or suburban environments
- Mobile units with rooftop antennas near the clutter height
- Mobile units in rural areas
Clutter loss
RadioPlanner calculates the signal power loss on local obstacles surrounding the mobile unit using the clutter model with the different types of clutter.
The clutter model used in RadioPlanner since release 2.1_201202 has the following types of clutters:
- Open/rural
- Water
- Trees/forest
- Suburban
- Urban
- Dense urban
- Open areas in the forest (forest roads)
- Open areas in the suburban (highways, wide roads)
- Open areas in urban (highways, avenues, wide roads)
The clutter model was created based on OpenStreetMap (www.openstreetmap.org) and Global Forest Change (www.earthenginepartners.appspot.com) projects.
Losses are calculated following Recommendation ITU-R P.1812-4; they depend on the following parameters:
- Antenna height of the Mobile unit
- Width of the streets
- Average (typical) height of clutter
- Type of clutter
The frequency range is set in the Base station Network menu, the antenna height for each of the two types of Mobile units (usually portable and mobile) in the Mobile Units menu, the typical width of streets is 27m (in accordance with ITU-R P.1812-4), and the landcover model determines the type of obstacles at each point.
To determine the loss according to ITU-R P.1812-4, the user should select Calculate the loss in rec. ITU-R P.1812-4 and specify in the table the average height of the obstacles of each type based on local conditions. Default data in Rec. ITU-R P.1812-4:
Clutter type
Water/sea
Open/rural
Tree/forest
Suburban
Urban
Dense urban
Clutter height (m)
0
10
15
10
15
20
The user can also set clutter loss manually for each type of obstacle based on their own data - to do this, simply enter the losses into the table.
Clutter data
Use default clutter data or Use custom clutter data - The choice of the clutter data that will be used for calculations - the default clutter or the custom clutter. Custom clutter is created in the Clutter Editor (see the section Clutter Editor).
Longley-Rice (ITM) Model v 1.2.2
The Longley-Rice propagation model is also known as the Irregular Terrain Model (ITM). RadioPlanner 2.1 uses version 1.2.2 of the Irregular Terrain Model in PTP-mode. This propagation model is considered the industry standard for calculating radio coverage in North America.
Figure 25. Longley-Rice propagation model parameters
Conductivity, S/m Conductivity of the ground over which the signal propagates (Siemens per meter).
Dielectric Constant The dielectric constant (relative ground permittivity).
Refractivity Atmospheric refractivity, measured in N-Units
Climate Zone The following Radio Climates can be selected:
- Equatorial (Congo)
- Continental Subtropical (Sudan)
- Maritime Subtropical (West Coast of Africa)
- Desert (Sahara)
- Continental Temperate, common to large landmasses in the Temperate Zone,
- Maritime Temperate, over land (United Kingdom and Continental West Coasts)
- Maritime Temperate, over sea
Antenna Polarization Antenna Polarization
Horizontal / Vertical
Time Variability, % Time variability, %
Situation Variability, % Situation variability, %
If necessary, the clutter losses calculation is performed in the same way as for model ITU-R P.1812-4 (see the previous section).
Area Study Details
In this panel, the user selects the type of calculation and sets its parameters.
For projects of the “Mobile Radio” type, you can select the following types of calculations:
- Received power Downlink
- Received power Uplink
- Areas with signal levels above both the base and mobile thresholds
- Strongest (most likely) Server Downlink
- C/I Downlink ratio using channel plan
- Number of servers above Uplink
Received power Downlink/Uplink
Received power maps show those areas where a given signal power level is present at the receiver.
Figure 26. Area study type Received Power Uplink menu
Area Study Resolution
- Low
- Medium
- High
It’s the resolution of the result of the calculation. The resolution corresponds to one pixel of the screen for zoom = 11 (low detail), zoom = 12 (medium), and zoom = 13 (high). For a geographic latitude of 55 degrees, this is approximately 40, 20, and 10 meters, respectively.
The higher the resolution, the longer the calculation time.
Number of Levels
The number of levels (1-8)
Color
Color level
Values
Received power level, dBm
Description
Text field to describe signal level
Consider RX threshold level
Exclude from coverage the areas with a level that is less than the threshold of mobile stations receivers for the downlink or threshold of base stations receivers for the uplink
Figure 27. Received Power Uplink for P25 800 MHz network
For Mobile Unit No. 1 (portable), you can set from one to eight different levels of the received signal and thus simulate different reception conditions (for example, on the street, inside the car, indoors, etc.) or different data transfer rates.
For Mobile Unit No. 2, which is supposed to be a mobile subscriber station with an antenna on the roof of the car, only one signal level can be set.
In the calculations, you can also take into account interference on the co-channel and adjacent channels. For this, there are corresponding check-boxes in the bottom of the panel. In this case, the zones where the interference on the co-channel and/or adjacent channels exceeds the amount allowable, one will be excluded from the coverage area. A useful signal is a signal with the maximum level at a given point.
To take into account interference, it is necessary to specify the maximum permissible levels of interference on the co-channel (C/I) and adjacent (C/A) channels.
To calculate interference on adjacent channels, you must specify the channel bandwidth and the exact channel frequencies (these parameters are entered into the Channel Plan menu).
To calculate co-channel interference, it is sufficient to specify the frequency group in the sector parameters.
The calculation of interference is performed only for one type of subscriber station – Mobile Unit No. 1.
Areas with Signal Levels Above Both the Base and Mobile Thresholds
This area study type displays a map showing those grid locations where both the signal received by the mobile unit is above the remote receiver threshold and from where the signal received by the base station from the mobile is above the base threshold.
The calculations use the parameters of antennas, losses, transmitter power, and receiver sensitivity for the base and subscriber stations specified in the relevant menus.
This type of calculation can be performed for different conditions of use of Mobile Unit No. 1 (portable). For example, indoors, outdoors, and inside the car. Each condition of use has its own color and its own value of loss (margin) for signal penetration, which is indicated in this form.
For Mobile Unit No. 2, only outdoor calculations are performed.
Figure 28. Areas with Signal Levels Above Both the Base and Mobile Thresholds Menu
Number of Levels
The number of levels
Color
Color level
Penetration Loss
Penetration loss, dB
Description
Text field to describe condition of use
Consider RX threshold level
Exclude from coverage the areas with a level that is less than the threshold of mobile stations receivers for the downlink or threshold of base stations receivers for the uplink
Figure 29. Areas with Signal Levels Above Both the Base and Mobile Thresholds for P25 800 MHz network
Strongest (most likely) Server Downlink
The strongest server map is a map showing the identity of the sector supplying the strongest received signal at each grid location.
Sector colors can be assigned automatically or in accordance with the table of frequency groups.
Figure 30. Strongest Server menu
Required Service Threshold
The minimum threshold level of the received signal to calculate Strongest (Most likely) Server, dBm
Apply Automatic Color Assignment
Assigning colors to BS sectors is performed automatically in random order.
Use Colors from the Table
Assigning colors to BS sectors is done from the table according to color frequency groups.
Consider RX threshold level
Exclude from coverage the areas with a level that is less than the threshold of mobile stations receiver
Figure 31. Strongest Server for GSM network
C/I Downlink ratio using a channel plan
The carrier-to-interference ratio, C/I, is one of the essential quantities used in assessing system performance and affecting frequency planning.
RadioPlanner allows you to calculate and display areas with different C/I values for interference on co-channel and adjacent channels at the input of a mobile unit receiver.
Carrier-to-interference ratio is calculated by first finding the strongest received signal power from any BS sector at each location. Then it calculates the sum of the received signal powers from all other co-channel sectors and adjacent sectors (taking into account adjacent channel attenuation), which also have relevant signal levels at a location. After the sum of the interference is found, the carrier-to-interference ratio is calculated.
The calculation of adjacent channel interference can be turned off, in which case only co-channel interference will be taken into account.
Figure 32. C/I Downlink ratio using channel plan menu
Required Service Threshold
The minimum threshold level of the received signal to calculate carrier-to-interference ratio, dBm
Number of Levels
The number of levels
Color
Color level
Value
Carrier-to-interference ratio C/I, dB
Description
Text field to describe carrier-to-interference ratio
Consider RX threshold level
Exclude from coverage the areas with a level that is less than the threshold of mobile stations receiver
To calculate co-channel interference, in the BS sector parameters, set the frequency group of the sector and set the C/I value. To calculate interference on adjacent channels, it is necessary to fill in the table of frequency groups with exact frequencies and set the channel bandwidth and C/A value (see section Channel Plan).
Figure 33. C/I Downlink ratio using channel plan for GSM-1800 network
Number of Servers Above Uplink
When performing this study, the base map displays the areas of possible location of subscriber stations with the number of BS sectors with a received power level above the threshold.
This study type is often required when planning networks based on wireless technologies IoT LPWAN – LoRa, and others.
Figure 34. Number of servers above uplink
Area Study Resolution
- Low
- Medium
- High
It’s the resolution of the result of the calculation. The resolution corresponds to one pixel of the screen for zoom = 11 (low detail), zoom = 12 (medium), and zoom = 13 (high). For a geographic latitude of 55 degrees, this is approximately 40, 20, and 10 meters, respectively.
The higher the resolution, the longer the calculation time.
Required Service Threshold
The minimum threshold level of the received signal, dBm
Maximum Number of Sectors
Maximum number of displayed servers above uplink
Color
Color indicating the appropriate number of sectors
Description
Text field
Consider RX threshold level
Exclude from coverage the areas with a level that is less than the threshold of BS Rx
Figure 35. Number of servers above uplink for LoRa network
Channel Plan
In the Channel Plan menu, you can set frequencies for frequency groups. In addition, there are several other parameters that affect the interference.
Figure 33. Channel Plan (GSM-900)
Duplex Mode/ Simplex mode
Channel Bandwidth
Minimum required co-channel
carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I)
Minimum required
carrier-to-adjacent channel ratio (C/A)
Radio channel type
Channel bandwidth, MHz The bandwidth of the radio channel is used to calculate which channels are adjacent. The channels will be adjacent if the modulus of the frequency difference is less than or equal to the bandwidth of the radio channel.
Minimum required co-channel carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I), dB
Minimum required carrier-to-adjacent channel ratio (C/A), dB
Typical C/I and C/A values for some wireless standards:
- GSM C/I=9 dB, C/A=-9dB
- TETRA (π/4-DQPSK modulation) C/I=19 dB, C/A=-40dB
Point Calculations
In this panel, the user can see detailed results of the calculation of the received signal power in the “down” and “up” directions at any point, as well as the levels of interference on the co-channel and adjacent channels.
You can change the current point on the map by clicking the mouse on the place you want. The path profile is a vertical section of the terrain between the base station and the mobile unit with information about land elevations, forests, and buildings. The colors that mark the various obstacles on the profile correspond to the colors of the landcover model.
The path profile shows the height of the antenna radiation center of the selected BS sector and the subscriber station, as well as the Fresnel zone for the radio beam, the loss in free space, the diffraction loss due to the terrain, and the obstacles surrounding the mobile unit.
The BS sector is selected on the left side of the panel in the general network Mobile Network. Find the BS sector you need and click on it with the mouse (don’t be confused with the activity tag), after which information on this sector will appear above the path profile.
Figure 37. Point calculations
You can also select a mobile unit (No. 1 or No. 2), the parameters of which will be taken into account in the calculations.
Under the path profile, a table appears with the results of calculating the power levels “down” and “up” for the selected sector (it is highlighted in the table in color) and for sectors of other BS. Only sectors that are marked as active are accepted for calculation. In addition, in order for a sector to appear in the table, it is necessary for it to fulfill one of the following conditions: the threshold sensitivity level of the receiver of the selected type of mobile unit must be bigger than the “down” level or the threshold sensitivity level of the BS sector receiver must be higher than the “up” level. Rows in the table can be sorted by frequency groups and received power levels “down” or “up.” Also, using the drop-down list located below the table, you can display the results for only one frequency group.
The selected BS sector is considered to be a sector with a useful signal; signals from sectors with the same frequency group are considered to be co-channel interference and signals from sectors where there are frequencies adjacent to a selected sector are adjacent channel interference. Based on this, below are the calculated values of interference levels along the co-channel and adjacent channels for the “down” and “up” directions.
Group Point Analysis
RadioPlanner 2.1 allows you to calculate the RX uplink/downlink power for a group of points with a set of parameters. It is a useful tool for estimating the uplink/downlink when placing LoRa, SigFox, and other IoT end-devices in different conditions.
The end-devices parameters can be loaded into RadioPlanner as a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel format or as a CSV text file. The calculation result can also be obtained in two versions - either in the form of a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (to use this function, the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet editor must be installed on the computer) or in the form of a CSV file. It is more convenient to work with Excel tables, in addition, the results report in the form of a Microsoft Excel table is more visual (see the figure below). However, the work with the CSV file is much faster, and the format of the output CSV file is more convenient for further analysis of the result in various GIS.
Figure 38. Group Point Analysis
Input file
File with data on points (end-devices) in Microsoft Excel or CSV format. Sample data set files SensorInputData.xlsx and SensorInputData.csv are located in the Sample Data folder
Rx threshold, dBm
The minimum threshold level that will be taken into account when filling out the table with the calculation results, dBm
Add map layer
Add end-devices from the source table as a custom point layer to the map
to Excel
Perform the calculation and open Microsoft Excel with the calculation result
to CSV
Calculate and save the result as a CSV file
Figure 39. Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with source data
Name
End-device name or ID
Lat
The geographic latitude of the terminal in any of the formats that RadioPlanner allows (see the Setup menu).
Lon
Geographic longitude of the terminal in any of the formats that RadioPlanner allows (see the Setup menu).
Type
Type (model) of end-device
Tx power,W
End-device transmitter power, W
Ant. height, m
End-device antenna height relative to ground level, m
Ant gain, dBi
End-device antenna gain, dBi
Cablr loss, dB
End-device cable loss, dB
Penetration loss, dB
Penetration loss into the building where the end-device is installed, dB
Figure 40. Output Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
Figure 41. Output CSV file
Import Measurement Results and Propagation Model Tuning
RadioPlanner allows you to determine the clutter loss for a propagation model by comparing measurements with the calculated values.
Loading, preprocessing and analysis of the measurement file for each BS sector is performed in the Sector parameters panel of the corresponding sector.
The toolbar is at the bottom :
- Active means that measurement data for this sector will be taken into account in the general analysis of measurements for a group of sectors
- File with measurement results
- Import of measurement data from a CSV file
- Export of measurement data to a CSV file
- Delete measurement data
- View and edit the measurement data
- Measurements analysis along the route
The user can import the results of measurements of the received signal power levels and compare with the calculated values and then adjust the parameters of the propagation model.
Operating procedure:
1. Prepare separate files of received power levels for each of the necessary sectors of base stations.
The measurement file is a CSV format file, each of the lines of which contains three parameters: the level of the measured signal from one BS sector in dBm; geographical latitude; geographic longitude. The separator of parameter values is a semicolon.
Formats for the representation of geographic coordinates are Hemisphere Degrees SECOND MINUTES (N35 36 23.8) or HEM DECIMAL DEGREES (N12.34567).
Figure 42. Sample measurement file
2. Upload measurement files to the appropriate BS sectors in “Mobile Network” - “Sector Settings.”
Here, using the button, you can view the downloaded measurement data for the BS sector and, if necessary, perform the preliminary processing:
Figure 43. Pre-processing of measurement results in the BS sector
Signal level
Minimum/Maximum Level
Limit the points that will be included in the comparison by received power level from the base station
Distance to Base Station
Minimum/Maximum Distance
Sector from Base Station
Minimum/Maximum Angle
Limit the points that will be included in the comparison by azimuth from the base station
Gap
Minimum Gap
Perform averaging of the power level within a given segment
Reverse table
Change the order of points in the route (the last point becomes the first, the penultimate point becomes the second, and so on)
Add New Layer with Measurement Points
Minimum Gap
Add a custom measurement layer to the map with averaging within the specified minimum distance. The data in the table does not change. The resulting layer will appear among the user layers; the layer name will correspond to the BS name and sector direction.
3. Press the button “Analyze measurements along the route”, the results of the measured and calculated receiving levels along the route will appear. Measurement levels are indicated in black, calculated levels - in a color that corresponds to the clutter type at a given point (yellow - open space). The abscissa shows the route point numbers. Hovering over the graph displays the calculated and measured levels, the difference in levels, the distance to the base station in kilometers, and the clutter type.
The table below the graph will indicate the number of points, the average error, the standard deviation of the error, as well as the recommended loss values for different clutter types, at which the average error will be zero. When you click on the button "Apply Tuned Clutter Losses to Propagation Model", the values for the points of the graph will be recalculated taking into account the tuned values, as well as the loss values in the "Propagation Model" menu will be changed. To assess how the new obstacle loss values will affect the coverage calculation result, you need to re-calculate the coverage.
Figure 44. Analysis measurements along the route
When you click on the graph, a context menu appears, in which you can delete a point with the measurement result or add it as a point object to the map:
4. General analysis of measurements for a group of sectors is performed in the "Measurement Analysis" panel of the main menu.
The results of the measured and calculated levels comparison for all sectors for which the measurement results have been loaded will appear here. Note that here the abscissa indicates the distance from the base station, not the route point number.
Figure 45. Measurement Analysis
5. Now, based on the analysis of the results obtained for different clutter types and for different sectors, a decision is made regarding the need to tune the values of the previously used clutter losses in the propagation model.
Calculator of the Noise-Adjusted Faded Performance Threshold
The influence of man-made noise cannot be ignored in the frequency bands where most of the professional mobile radio communication systems operate (136-174 MHz and 403-470 MHz).
The calculator built into the software determines the Noise-Adjusted Faded Performance Threshold for various environmental conditions and frequencies.
The calculations take into account Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) according to the methodology described in the TIA TSB-88.1 recommendation. The typical parameters of the receiver-demodulator of all land mobile radio systems are built into the calculator - data is taken from Table A1 “Projected VCPC Parameters for Different DAQs" TIA TSB-88.1-D.
Next, a Noise-Adjusted Faded Performance Threshold is calculated, taking into account one of the three research reports for different categories of land cover:
1. Recommendation ITU-R P.372-13 “Radio noise” (50-250 MHz)
2. OFCOM MMN measurement (AY4119) 2003 (50-1000 MHz)
3. Data from TIA TSB-88.2-D Part 2: Propagation and Noise (162 MHz)
Figure 46. Noise-Adjusted Faded Performance Threshold Calculator
To calculate the Noise-Adjusted Faded Performance Threshold, the user must specify:
1. Reference receiver sensitivity in dBm or µV - This is usually given in the technical specification as receiver sensitivity with 12 dB SINAD for analog systems or with BER = 5% for digital systems.
2. Type of land mobile radio system
3. DAQ required, usually DAQ = 3.0 or 3.4
4. Select the research report on which the calculation will be based and the category of land cover.
5. Specify the carrier frequency.
After changing any field of source data, the calculation is performed automatically. If an empty field appears as a result of the calculation, this means that incorrect data has been entered on receiving equipment (not physically feasible) or man-made noise graphs are beyond the frequencies at which the studies were performed.
Clutter Editor
RadioPlanner allows you to create custom clutters using the built-in Clutter Editor. The custom clutter model is formed by replacing the user-corrected areas in the default clutter model. A base map with actual satellite images is used as a data source for the custom clutter.
To start Clutter Editor, click the button on the main program panel.
Figure 47. Clutter Editor
Menu commands are designed as a toolbar. When you hover over each of the icons, a hint appears.
- Standard tools for working with files of clutter polygons *.plg Create, Open, Save
- Basemap zoom
- Basemap
- Exit from polygon drawing mode
- Draw Open/Rural polygon;
- Draw Water polygon
- Draw Trees/Forest polygon
- Draw Suburban polygon
- Draw Urban polygon
- Draw Dense Urban polygon
- Delete polygon. To delete a polygon, select this tool and then click with the mouse on the polygon (polygons) to be deleted.
- Delete all polygons; removes all user-drawn polygons. This action can be undone using the Undo button.
- Undo
- Redo
- Convert Polygons to a Custom Clutter;
- Show Basemap
- Show Default Clutter
- Show Custom Clutter Polygons
- Show Custom Clutter
- Download Default Clutter within the screen area
- Delete Custom Clutter within the screen area
The current map zoom can be changed by scrolling the mouse wheel. The display of the default and custom clutter on the map
starts with a Zoom of at least 11. Navigation on the map is performed using the left mouse button while pressing button. In polygon drawing mode, the map can be moved by clicking on the mouse wheel.
The procedure for preparing a custom clutter consists of two stages:
1. Drawing polygons for various clutter categories on the basemap
In order to draw a clutter polygon of the desired category, click on the corresponding toolbar icon; the mouse pointer will change at the crosshairs. Click all vertices of the polygon with the mouse; to finish drawing the polygon, click on the right mouse button. Then you can proceed to draw the next polygon of the selected category. To change the clutter category - click on the desired icon on the toolbar. Using the toolbar, you can delete individual polygons or all polygons at once, as well as cancel or return up to ten actions in the editor.
When drawing polygons, their hierarchy should be taken into account, which is enhanced by looking at the category icons in the toolbar from left to right. For example, inside the Open/Rural polygon, you can draw any of the polygons and inside the Trees/Forest polygon, you can draw Urban polygons, etc. It is convenient to start the adjustment of the default clutter by drawing Open/Rural polygons, inside which others polygons are then drawn.
Polygons can be saved in a file with *.plg extension.
2. Conversion of polygons to the Custom Clutter
To convert drawn polygons into a Custom Clutter, click button on the toolbar, after which the program converts polygons into a Custom Clutter matrix. Elements of the Custom Clutter matrix are stored in the cache along with the Default Clutter matrix.
You can choose a clutter model the Default or Custom one, which will be taken into account in the calculations and displayed as a layer on the map is carried out in the “Propagation model” menu in RadioPlanner.
You can choose a clutter model, Default or Custom, which will be taken into account in the calculations and displayed as a layer on the map, which is carried out in the “Propagation model” menu in RadioPlanner.
Using the corresponding buttons of the Clutter Editor toolbar, you can turn on/off the showing of the base map, drawn polygons, as well as the Default and Custom clutters.
When adjusting the clutter model, it should be noted that the ITU-R P.1812-4 propagation model used in the program assumes that the clutter model is detailed with a resolution of tens of meters. Accordingly, it makes no sense to outline individual buildings and trees; it is enough to draw building blocks and forests.
