Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Table of Contents
1 2 3 Introduction......................................................................................................... 3 Installation ........................................................................................................... 4 Sequence of operations................................................................................... 8 3.1 New project .............................................................................................11 3.2 Setting a coordinate system................................................................... 13 3.3 Import of 3D maps................................................................................. 18
3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 Import of heights map .................................................................................... 19 Import of clutter map...................................................................................... 21 Import of vector map ...................................................................................... 24 Import of the Sites table ................................................................................. 30 Antenna parameters setting ............................................................................ 35 Network parameters setting............................................................................ 40 Transmitters parameters setting...................................................................... 50 Apply update of network parameter settings .................................................. 61 Import and export to Access database ............................................................ 62 Import and export XML files.......................................................................... 65 Add new sites ................................................................................................. 69 SPM propagation model ................................................................................. 75 CostHata model ............................................................................................ 97 Preliminary work...........................................................................................107 Propagation calculation, interference matrix, and prediction plot creation ...113 Traffic model .................................................................................................129 Create traffic map ..........................................................................................137 Running traffic analysis.................................................................................147 Allocate neighbour manually ........................................................................156 Allocate neighbour automatically..................................................................158 Calculate importance for existing neighbours ...............................................164 Manually input the frequency plan................................................................168 Automatic frequency allocation model settings ............................................169 Perform an automatic frequency planning.....................................................175 Interactive frequency planning ......................................................................185 Profile ............................................................................................................190 Reception.......................................................................................................192 Interference....................................................................................................192 Details............................................................................................................193 How to create a prediction.............................................................................194 General prediction setting..............................................................................198 Search Tool....................................................................................................201 Tx-Tx Interference Tool ................................................................................203 User configuration.........................................................................................208 Separate the path loss data.............................................................................210 Tips and tricks ...............................................................................................210
2/216
3.4
3.8
3.9
3.10
Forsk 2011
1 Introduction
This document explains the entire process from the import of network data in Atoll to the production of prediction studies. The purpose of this document is to give an overall understanding for radio engineers, who never use Atoll. This document does not explain the algorithm and dont give detailed explanation. The user may find in the Technical Reference Guide and User Manual the concrete algorithm and the detailed explanation of parameters. The user may find all projects and map data in the CD, which was provided with this document. This document describes how to get started using the Atoll version 3.1.0.
Forsk 2011
3/216
2 Installation
The installation of Atoll is simple and needs an administrator profile. 1 The naming structure of the Atoll installation file is generally: version number.language.build number.exe, as shown bellow.
3 In the appeared dialog box, click on the next button and choose the installation directory (the default path is C:\Program File\Forsk\Atoll). The minimum requirement for the installation of Atoll is a disk space of 111.9 MB.
Forsk 2011
4/216
4 In the 3rd window the user may choose Full installation, Compact installation or Custom installation and select the modules. The recommendation for a first installation of Atoll is Full installation. Later update of Atoll doesnt need to install again the dongle driver for fixed license. If the user wants to desinstall an old version before the installation of a new one, the dongle driver has to be installed again. In case of Full installation, the required disk space of 126.9MB.
5 In the 4th window, fill in the Domain, Username and Password fields. If the user dont choose previously Atoll calculation server, then he doesnt need to fill in any information.
Forsk 2011
5/216
6 Click on the Next button to start the installation of Atoll. After the installation, the computer needs to be restarted.
Atoll users need to pay attention for the following 3 points: 1 For parallel dongle, it is recommended to insert or remove it only when the computer is turned off. 2 For USB dongle, if it still can not find the USB dongle driver after install Atoll, please download and install Sentinel Driver as below: http://www.safenet-inc.com/support/tech/sentinel.asp#
Forsk 2011 6/216
3 Please dont change the computer date when using Atoll. 4 In case of using Atoll Floating License, please contact atollsupport@forsk.com.cn for more details of the license installation.
Forsk 2011
7/216
3 Sequence of operations
This following document presents how to establish an Atoll GSM/GPRS/EGPRS project and to carry out coverage predictions, traffic modelling and production of reports: 1 Start a new project. 2 Import of 3D maps. 3 Setting the coordinate system. 4 Import of network data. 5 Propagation model selection and calibration. 6 Path loss calculation. 7 Interference matrix calculation. 8 Traffic Modelling. 9 Telephone traffic analysis. 10 Neighbours allocation. 11 Frequency planning. 12 Calculation of prediction studies. 13 Production of reports. The operation flow chart is represented in the following figure (dashed line frames may be chosen or not).
Forsk 2011
8/216
Start
Forsk 2011
9/216
Traffic model adjustment Traffic modeling Environments User profile Terminals Mobility types Services Dimensioning model Telephone traffic Y Does the traffic model satisfy? N GSM/GPRS/EGPRS parameters setting Traffic map setting
Neighbours allocation
Frequency planning
Calculation
Forsk 2011
10/216
The project templates dialog box will appear. Choose GSM/GPRS/EGPRS template.
Atoll opens a blank GSM/GPRS/EGPRS project. The new project already includes the default antenna database.
Forsk 2011
11/216
The Atoll main window contains an Explorer Window and a Map Window, as seen in the figure above.
Forsk 2011
12/216
In the appeared Properties dialog box, the Projection and Display can be defined in the Coordinate systems frame.
Forsk 2011
13/216
First set the projection system (it can be known by reading the file projection.txt in the heights folder). For the demo project the projection system is WGS 84 UTM zone 31N. , open Coordinate systems dialog box Click on the right side of the Projection field on and choose WGS84 UTM zones in the Find in box.
Forsk 2011
14/216
Setting the Display System. The Display system function allows the user to choose the relative coordinates (X and Y, unit in meter) or the longitude and latitude for the Map Window. After having set the Projection system, Atoll automatically sets the Display system with the same system as the Projection system, as shown in the figure above. The windows map uses relative coordinate. The display has to be set for displaying the longitude and latitude. button and open the Coordinate Click on the right side of the Display field on the Systems dialog box. Select WGS84 UTM zones and choose the WGS 84 system (with an
Forsk 2011
15/216
ellipsoidal symbol).
After having set the Coordinate system, the Map Window displays the longitude and latitude (d is degree, m is minute and s is second), as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
16/216
The user can choose the Degree Format among the xxxx'xx.xxS", xxdxxmxx.xxsS format (minute and second), the xx.xxxxx format (decimal base) or the -xx.xxxxx format (decimal base and southern hemisphere expressed with the minus sign), as shown in the following figure.
Note: If the user wants to use another projection system and wants to display the longitude and latitude coordinates, then the display system has to be chosen according to the projection system name. Moreover there is an ellipsoid symbol in front of the display system.
Forsk 2011 17/216
In the appeared Open dialog box browse for the geographical map folder. These files can be found in \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Geo_Data
Forsk 2011
18/216
Generally the following data maps need to be imported in Atoll: heights (map of the altitude above sea level), clutter classes (type of land used) and vector (vector maps). The order of import is not important, but, for this document, the following order will be used: heights->clutter->vectors.
3.3.1
1 In the Open dialog box, select the \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Geo_Data\Brussels\Heights folder in the CD ROM. Select the index document and click on Open.
Forsk 2011
19/216
2 In the appeared Data Type dialog box, click on the Altitudes button and click ok.
3 After the map import, the following figure appears. The heights map is automatically put on the left side in the explorer window under the Geo tab named Digital Terrain Model.
Forsk 2011
20/216
3.3.2
1 Select again File->Import in the main toolbar. In the Open dialog box, select the \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Geo_Data\Brussels\Clutter folder. Select the index document and click on Open.
2 In the appeared Data type dialog box, click on the Clutter Classes button and click on Ok.
Forsk 2011
21/216
3 After the map is imported, the following figure appears. The clutter classes map is automatically put on the left side in the explorer window under the Geo tab named Clutter Classes.
4 Double clicking on the Clutter Classes folder, open the Clutter Classes properties dialog box for the setting of clutter parameters.
Forsk 2011
22/216
Select the Description tab and click on the bottom right Refresh button. Atoll will filter the clutter classes, which are not included into the clutter map. The following figure shows the filtered tab of clutter classes.
These values have to be set according to the customer network, otherwise Atoll will use default values 7dB for clutter standard deviation.
Forsk 2011
23/216
5 In the Display tab, adjust the display color of each clutter type. Pay attention to the Display type and the Field. The following figure is the suggested setting of Display tab. Click on the color frame to change the color for each clutter type.
Select Add to legend to display information in the legend window. Use the Transparency function to adjust the transparency of the map. The display of each clutter may be disabling by unchecking the check-box. 6 After settings the Clutter Classes properties, the clutter map will be displayed as below.
3.3.3
1 Select again File->Import in the main toolbar. In the Open dialog box, select the \Atoll310
Forsk 2011 24/216
GSM demo projects and materials\Geo_Data\Brussels\Vector folder. Select the index document and click on Open.
2 In the appeared Data type dialog box, click on the Vector button and click OK.
3 In the appeared Vector import dialog box, use the default settings and click on the Import button to import the map.
Forsk 2011
25/216
4 After the map import, the following figure appears. The vector map is automatically put on the left side in the explorer window under the Geo tab named Vectors.
5 Dragging the Vectors folder with the mouse to the top of the explorer window, the vector map will be placed as the uppermost layer, as seen in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
26/216
6 Double clicking on Airport in the Vectors folder, open the airport properties dialog box, and select the Display tab, as seen in the following figure.
7 Clicking on the vector line to open the Display dialog box to set the color and style of the
Forsk 2011 27/216
vector line.
8 As shown in the following figure, the color of the vector line is changed.
9 You may modify other vector files with the same operations as for the airport vector file. The following figure shows all the imported digital maps.
Forsk 2011
28/216
Forsk 2011
29/216
3.4.1
1 Open the GSM_Brussels_Network.xls document and select the GSM network-Sites sheet.
Forsk 2011
30/216
2 Copy the columns Name, Longitude and Latitude (except the title line). 3 In the Explorer/Network window, double click on the Sites folder (or right click on the Sites folder and select Open Table) will open the Sites table, as shown in the following figure.
4 In the Sites table, select the first cell and paste the data. Except for the columns Name, X and Y, the others are automatically filled in with default value. Atoll will transform automatically the longitude and latitude form decimal format to minutes and seconds system. The imported sites will be put in the Sites folder of the Explorer/Network window with an alphabetic order, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
31/216
5 If the user wants to delete one or several sites, he can delete them in the Sites table or directly in the Explorer/Network window. In the Sites table, click on the left grey cell of the line, which contains the site you want to delete, select the entire line, and push the keyboard delete button. In the Explorer/Network window, right click on the site you want to delete and select delete in the menu, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
32/216
6 After the input of Sites data, the Map Window is automatically updated with the new sites. In the following figure, a black circle represents a site.
7 Open the Sites properties dialog box (right click on the Sites folder and select properties) to change the display attributes, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
33/216
Choosing Unique allows only a unique color for the display of sites. Choosing Discrete values or Value intervals allows colors selection according to certain characteristics. By default, a site is represented by a black circle. If necessary, the symbol and color of sites can be changed, by selecting Properties in the Actions dialog box. The appeared Display window allows the selection of color and symbol.
Forsk 2011
34/216
3.4.2
Atoll needs the following antennas data: antenna name, antenna gain, antenna horizontal and vertical patterns. Beamwidth, Fmin and Fmax are reference parameters and they are not used for calculation. Atoll calculates and displays the electrical down tilt from the vertical pattern. The calculated electrical down tilt is only given for information. 1 Select the GSM network-Antennas sheet in the GSM_Brussels_Network.xls document. As seen in the following figure, the horizontal and vertical patterns are provided.
Forsk 2011
35/216
2 In Atoll, right click on the Parameters tab Antennas folder in the Explorer Window and select New in the context menu, as shown in the following figure.
3 In the Antennas New element properties dialog box, the following tabs are available: GeneralHorizontal patternVertical pattern and Other properties.
Forsk 2011
36/216
4 In the General tab, the antenna gain and the electrical tilt can be defined. Note: The electrical tilt value is only a reference information for the user and this parameter has no impact on the calculation. Antenna gain unit may be dBi or dBd. The unit can be selected in the DocumentsPropertiesUnits dialog box.
In Atoll 3.1.0, a new feature for antenna modeling has been added. The name of the physical antenna to which the antenna model belongs. A physical antenna may have one or more antenna models (patterns), corresponding to different electrical downtilts. If you want to flag a physical antenna as obsolete, add the word "obsolete" (not case sensitive) to the name of the physical antenna. Physical antennas flagged as obsolete are not listed among available antennas in the Antenna Selector dialogue 5 Copy the two columns corresponding to the horizontal pattern of the GSM_Brussels_Network.xls document, and paste it in the Co-Polar section of the Horizontal pattern tab in Atoll.
Forsk 2011
37/216
Forsk 2011
38/216
7 Other parameters can be set in the Other properties tab, but it is only reference information and it has no impact on the calculation.
Forsk 2011
39/216
3.4.3
In this tab the user can defined the units for the Radiated Power (EIRP or ERP), the Antenna Gain (dBi or dBd), the Transmission power (dBm, Watts or KWatts), the Reception power, the Distance and the Height. The temperature units also could be set to fit the climate definition.
Forsk 2011
40/216
In the Explorer/Parameters window, select Network Settings->Frequencies-> Domains, as seen in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
41/216
In the appeared dialogue the Frequency Domains can be defined. Double click on a Frequency Domain to set up its properties, as shown in the following figure. Define the Min, Max and Step of the Frequency Domain.
In the Explorer/Parameters window and select Network Settings->Frequencies-> Groups, as seen in the following figure. In the appeared dialogue define the Frequency Groups.
Forsk 2011
42/216
A sample for Frequency domain could be found from \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Reference_Data\Network_Data\GSM_Brussels_Network.xls.
Forsk 2011
43/216
Define the BSICs Format (Decimal or Octal), as seen in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
44/216
Double click on a BSIC Domain to set up its properties, as shown in the following figure. Define the Min, Max and Step of the BSIC Domain.
In the Explorer/Parameters window and select Network Settings-> BSICs ->Groups. Double click on Groups to set up its properties, In the appeared dialogue define the BSIC Groups.
demo
projects
and
Forsk 2011
45/216
Double click on a HSN Domain to set up its properties, as shown in the following figure. Define the Min, Max and Step of the HSN Domain.
Forsk 2011
46/216
In the Explorer/Parameters window and select Network Settings-> HSNs-> Groups, In the appeared dialogue define the HSN Groups.
In the appeared HCS Layers dialogue define the properties corresponding to each layer, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
47/216
A sample for HCS layer could be found from \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Reference_Data\Network_Data\GSM_Brussels_Network.xls.
Double click on a Subcell or click on the Properties button to set up the Timeslot properties.
Define the Number of Shared Timeslots, the Number of Circuit Timeslots and the Number of Packet Timeslots for each Subcell.
Forsk 2011
48/216
Double click on a Cell Type or click on the Properties button to set up the Cell Type properties.
Forsk 2011
49/216
Define the Cell Type properties in the appeared dialogue, as shown in the following figure.
A sample for Cell Type could be found from \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Reference_Data\Network_Data\GSM_Brussels_Network.xls.
3.4.4
1 Because there are some new transmitter equipments should be added in this case at first, please select Radio Network Equipments->Transmitter Equipments to open the Transmitter equipments table, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
50/216
document
and
select
the
GSM
Forsk 2011
51/216
3 Double click on the Transmitters folder in Explorer/Network (or right click on Transmitters and select Open Table) to open the Transmitters tab, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
52/216
4 After opening the Transmitters table in Atoll, you will discover that the number of fields is larger than in the Excel file. It is because some of the parameters in Atoll dont need the input from the user but Atoll will automatically fill in default values. The fields listed in the Excel document are those necessary parameters for the transmitters. Before copy/paste the Excel table in Atoll, the unnecessary columns have to be hidden. If the user try to paste the data and that dont match with the Transmitters tab, an error message will be displayed. The following figure shows that the Columns to be displayed tab can be accessed under Tools Bar -> Display Columns
Forsk 2011
53/216
In the Columns to be displayed tab, the unnecessary fields has to be unchecked for hiding the corresponding column, as shown in the following chart. Finally the Transmitters tab and the Excel tab have exactly the same columns.
5 Copy the transmitters data of the GSM network-Transmitters sheet of the Excel document (except the title line) and paste it in the Transmitters table in Atoll, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
54/216
6 After the import of data in the Transmitters table, the Map Window will be automatically updated, without refresh or saving the document.
Forsk 2011
55/216
may zoom in or zoom out the Map Window (left click will zoom in 7 The toolbars button and right click will zoom out). The toolbars button allows the user to choose one region to be zoomed in.
assigns automatically different colors for each transmitter in 8 Pushing the toolbars button order to differentiate them, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
56/216
9 Right click on Transmitter and select Properties. 1) Select Automatic in the Display tab, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
57/216
2)
Forsk 2011
58/216
3)
Select a fan, and click OK to confirm, press OK to exit the Properties dialog box. At this point all of the antennas in the network are using this fan. Angle Presented by the fan is the angle of beamwidth. As shown in the following figure.
4)
In Atoll 3.1.0 version Multi-Band networks is supported, according to the actual situation of the network user can set up a Transmitter with different band settings:
Forsk 2011
59/216
As shown above, user can set the Transmitter to TRX using 900 as the BCCH Subcell, TRX using 1800 as the TCH Subcell. And also set the properties for a variety of Subcells with different types of bands in detail, such as transmitters with several propagation settings, which depends on the frequency bandwidth of the transmitter launch: Each band is allowed to have different antenna. Each band is allowed to use different propagation models, each model has its own pathloss matrix.
This feature needs adding the following parameters in the document Atoll.ini and restart Atoll: [Studies] MultiBandManagement=1
Forsk 2011
60/216
3.4.5
After setting up the network parameters, the transmitter or Subcell table may need to be updated, example as Transmitters Advanced Settings are applied in Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Reference_Data\Network_Data\GSM_Brussels_Network.xls table . Parameter set in the Network Parameters Setting are applied to transmitter tables and subcell table, so users need to select the corresponding network parameters in these two forms. In addition, after completion of setting, because of other reasons, the network configuration parameters are modified, Atoll will notify the user whether the changes should be updated from the Cell Type and applied to the corresponding transmitter table. Users can also complete the update by selecting the Subcell->Update From Cell Type. As seen in the following figure.
Setting of Cell Type corresponds to all Subcell choosing the set of such Cell Type. If user only need to change the corresponding attributes of individual subcel, please update carefully after the modifying as above.
Forsk 2011
61/216
3.4.6
The stand-alone mode does not need to connect any external database, but it can be convenient to import/export network data from/to a database.
Forsk 2011
62/216
4 After clicking on Open, Atoll automatically import all network data from the database to the Atoll project. 5 Using Centre in the Map Window to lets the sites appear in the center of the window.
Note: The database does not include the map data, therefore the map data has to be imported separately.
Forsk 2011 63/216
Forsk 2011
64/216
3.4.7
XML files can be imported and exported in Atoll. This function is different from import and export Access database function, when using XML files, every table in Atoll will be imported or exported to a XML file separately. Using .mdb can only creat a new project. The existed project will be updated while using XML function. Please note that, if the existed project data does not match with the imported XML file, then Atoll will retain the existed data. That is, using XML function can only complement the not existed part of the original data but not modify. This function relatively more suitable for other users to creat some new sites, it need to updata this part of imformation in others project.
Forsk 2011
65/216
2 In the appeared dialog box select the storage path of XML file. XML file is available in \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Reference_Data\Exchange XML Files
3 Click OK, Atoll will automatically complete the XML file import process. If the import process successfully, Atoll will display the following tips:
Forsk 2011
66/216
If there is no duplicate record, Atoll will display the following tips. If not, Atoll will remind duplicate record automatically.
2 In the appeared dialog box select the storage path of XML file. Click OK,
Forsk 2011
67/216
Forsk 2011
68/216
3.4.8
The steps for importing the network data into Atoll have been introduced above. Atoll provides also another method to add new sites directly in the Map Window.
In the Map Window, a new site (including 3 transmitters) can be added directly with a click on the appropriate position. Simultaneously, Atoll adds the corresponding information into the data sheets. Press the Ctrl key to lay continuously sites in the Map Window. When the laying of sites is finished, press the Esc key to withdraw from the current status.
Forsk 2011 69/216
Then draw a polygon in the Map Window to add a new group of sites inside the selected region. Sites will be automatically layed inside the region according to a certain inter-site distance, as seen in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
70/216
Forsk 2011
71/216
Atoll will add the corresponding information to the new sites into the data sheets. If the user wants to delete a group of sites, it can be done in the Site table as explain above or more quickly through the following operations: Right click on a group of the Hexagonal Design folder and select Delete, then the entire group of sites will be deleted.
Forsk 2011
72/216
The user may also add a new template or delete an existing one. The user can edit the templates parameters by double clicking on a Station template. In the appeared dialog box, the templates properties (for example, the number of sectors, the antenna model, the azimuth, the tilt, the height and so on) can be edited.
Forsk 2011
74/216
3.5.1
SPM (Standard Propagation Model) is a model originating from Planet and using K parameters. The SPM model has also a relation with the Hata model. The SPM model may be calibrated with CW measurements.
2 In Atoll, right click on the CW measurements folder in the Explorer\Network window, and select New in the context menu, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
75/216
3 In New CW measurement path dialog box, fill in the file name, the corresponding transmitter, the receiver height. Then paste the Excel table data into the table, as shown in the following figure. Note: Set the coordinate system with WGS84 corresponding to the projection system as stated in the Excel tab.
Forsk 2011
76/216
After clicking on OK, the test data are immediately displayed on the Map Window. Each point represents a measurement sampling.
2 Import method 1 Atoll supports the formats .dat, .txt, .csv and .hd (PlaNET). 2 Please find 3 .txt documents inside the \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and
Forsk 2011 77/216
materials\Reference _Data\Measurement_Surveys folder of the CD ROM. 3 In Atoll, right click on CW measurements in the Explorer\Network window and select Import as shown in the following figure.
4 In the appeared Open dialog box, browse for the document to be imported. Atoll supports the multi selection of files. Several measurements corresponding to the same transmitter can be imported at the same time, but if the measurements belong to different transmitters, then each measurement has to be imported separately. Provided test data corresponding to different transmitters, the measurements have to be imported one by one.
Forsk 2011
78/216
5 The appeared dialog box contains two tabs, General and Setup. In the General tab, define the corresponding reference transmitter, the frequency and receiver height, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
79/216
6 In the Setup tab, fill in the 1st Measurement Row field with 2 (because the drive test document has a title line and the data start at the second line). Then click on the Setup button.
7 After clicking on the Setup button, the CW Measurement Setup dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure. Define X-Coordinates and Y-Coordinates fields with respectively the longitude and latitude.
Forsk 2011
80/216
8 Click on the Import button in the import main window and then the measurement data will be imported into the project. After the import, the measurement data will be automatically put in the CW measurements folder of the Explorer Window. Use Centre in the Map Window function to display the imported measurements in the center of the map.
Import also the Measures_Site4_2_Street.txt and the Measures_Site4_3_Street.txt documents into the project by the similar operations above. Please note that the 3 measurements files correspond to different transmitters. 9 Setting of the CW measurements display double click on the CW measurement folder and open the CW measurements properties dialog box. In the Display tab, define the Display type as Value Intervals and Field as M(dBm).
Forsk 2011
81/216
10 Right click on the CW measurement data file and select the Filtering Assistant, a new dialog window Filtering Assistant on CW Measurement points will be opened. Based
Forsk 2011 82/216
Forsk 2011
83/216
Forsk 2011
84/216
(2)
Right click on the new SPM model and select Automatic Calibration.
(3)
Forsk 2011
85/216
(4)
In the appeared dialog box, select the K parameters that will be used for the calibration. It is recommended not to select the K6 parameter.
Double click on a K parameter or select a K parameter and click on Define Range, will open the Define Domain dialog box, where the range of the K parameter can be defined, as shown in the following figure. But generally it is recommended to keep the default values defined above.
Forsk 2011
86/216
After choosing the range, click on OK. (5) According to the selected CW measurements and the tuning parameters, Atoll calibrates automatically the SPM propagation model.
(6)
After the computation, Atoll provides in the same dialog box the results and the statistics concerning the model, as the average error and the standard deviation. According to the results, the user may choose to commit the K parameters list by clicking on the Commit button.
87/216
Forsk 2011
(7)
If the results are not satisfactory and the K parameters have been already committed, the propagation model can be deleted by right clicking on it and selecting Delete (or by pressing the Delete key on the keyboard). If after the calibration, the model has to be used in other projects, copy it by with CTRL+C and paste it with CTRL+V in the Modules tab of another project.
(8)
Note: the automatic model calibration is only a mathematical computation method. The result depends on the quality of the CW measurements. Therefore a high quality of CW measurements is required.
Forsk 2011
88/216
In Parameter tab of properties dialogue window, choose you propagation model in Parameter tab like below:
Forsk 2011
89/216
2 Right click a measurement path in Explorer/Network tab, choose Refresh geo data command.
Forsk 2011
90/216
3 Right click a measurement path in Explorer/Network tab, choose Calculations-> Calculate Signal Level.
Forsk 2011
91/216
4 Atoll will calculate predicted values on all the points on the path by chosen model. If you need to look the statistic report, you can right click the measurement path in Explorer/Network tab and choose Display statistics. Atoll will prompt the report as in below picture, you can check the standard deviation of model on this path.
Forsk 2011
92/216
Forsk 2011
93/216
5 Right click a measurement path, choose Open the Analysis tool command, then a CW measurements window will pop up as below:
Forsk 2011
94/216
CW measurement window.
Forsk 2011
95/216
6 Click in the CW measurement window, you will simultaneously have a receiver in the map window and its measured value (M) and predicted value (P). You can choose other display option in the roll down menu, e.g. Error for the difference between M and P.
Note: It can be used for other model like Cost-Hata and Okumura-Hata.
Forsk 2011
96/216
If all transmitters use the same model, the most efficient way is to define in Transmitters properties window. In Propagation tab, choose a model you want to use, and give it a radius and resolution (generally the resolution is the same as digital map). Note: If you do not want to use one propagation model for all of the transmitters, do not use this feature.
3.5.2
CostHata model
Okuruma-Hata and Cost-Hata use both the standard Hata formula. The Okuruma-Hata is suitable for a frequency smaller than 1500MHz and Cost-Hata is suitable for a frequency bigger than 1500MHz. So Cost-Hata will be used for a GSM network.
Forsk 2011 97/216
Both Okuruma-Hata and Cost-Hata can be calibrated. The following paragraph introduces only the calibration of the Cost-Hata model, but the calibration of the Okuruma-Hata model is similar.
2 Double click on the folder Copy of Cost-Hata will open the properties dialogue. The
Forsk 2011 98/216
Cost-Hata propagation model can use an environment formula appropriate to each clutter class when calculating. Furthermore, Cost-Hata propagation model can add diffraction loss and take into account limitation to free space loss.
Add diffraction loss: The Cost-Hata propagation model can take into account losses due to diffraction, using a 1-knife-edge Deygout method, and using the ground altitude given in the DTM. The diffraction can be weighted for each Hata environment formula. Limitation to free space loss: When using a Hata-based propagation model, it is possible to calculate a theoretical path loss that ends up being lower than the free space loss. In Atoll, you can define any Hata-based propagation model to never calculate a path loss that is lower than the calculated free space loss per pixel. 3 Right click on the folder Copy of Cost-Hata and select Calibration will open the calibration wizard. Select one or several CW measurement(s) and click Next, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
99/216
4 In the appeared dialogue select the parameters that Atoll will calibrate and click Next, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
100/216
5 Atoll automatically calibrates the Cost-Hata model and displays the parameters before and after the calibration. Atoll provides also the root mean square, the average and the standard deviation before and after the calibration. According to the results the user can choose to commit the result by clicking on the Commit button.
6 If a propagation model is not useful, its easy to delete it by right clicking on the Cost-Hata model and select Delete or use the Delete key on the keyboard. 7 If the user wants to use the propagation model in another Atoll project, just copy the existing propagation model with CTRL+C and then paste it in the new project with CTRL+V.
Forsk 2011
101/216
2 In the Cost-Hata properties dialog box, the propagation formula has to be set for each kind of clutter. Click on the Formulas button on the bottom left for checking Cost-Hata formulas and default values. The propagation parameters have to be set according to the user experience.
Forsk 2011
102/216
Forsk 2011
103/216
3 Set the appropriate formula for each kind of clutter in the Cost-Hata properties dialog box. The following figure is an example of the Cost-Hata properties setting (the properties dialog box has to be set according to the users network environment).
Forsk 2011
104/216
4 The next step is to set up the Cost-Hata model for all transmitters. Right click on the Explorer ->Network -> Transmitter folder, select Properties, and open the Transmitters properties dialog box. In the appeared dialog box, select the Propagation tab and select Cost-Hata for the propagation model, as shown in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
105/216
Forsk 2011
106/216
Before launching the calculation of the pathloss matrices, the following preliminary work has to be done.
2 In the Predictions properties dialog box, set the Default resolution value to 20m (this will be the resolution for the following prediction studies). Clicking on Private Directory allows the user to select the path loss document, which will be used to store the pathloss matrices. The user can either select the Embedded option to store the pathloss matrices in the current Atoll project, or select the .\xxxxx.losses option to store the pathloss matrices in the external .losses folder which in the same directory
Forsk 2011 107/216
of the ATL file, or use the Browse option to select a folder to store the pathloss matrices externally.
3 In the Explorer/Parameters tab, right click on Network Setting folder and select Properties command, from the dialog box, set 1.5m for the receiver height (Height of handset).
Forsk 2011
108/216
2 Then draw a polygon with the mouse to delimitate the region, for which the propagation will be calculated.
Forsk 2011
109/216
2 Import of the Computation Zone 1 Right click on Computation Zone in the Geo tab of the Explorer Window and select Import in the context menu.
Forsk 2011
110/216
2 In the appeared dialog box, browse for the \Atoll310 GSM demo projects and materials\Reference_Data\Computation_Zone folder in the CD ROM and open the Brussels_Computation_Zone.mif document.
3 After opening the document, the Vector import dialog box will appear, as shown in the following figure. Press the Import button to import the computation zone.
Forsk 2011
111/216
4 After the import, the computation zone will appear in red, as seen in the following figure.
5 Right click on Computation Zone in the Geo tab and select Export. Then export the computation zone with .MIF, .agd (Atoll map format) or .shp format. This computation zone can be imported in other projects.
Forsk 2011
112/216
3.6.2
Propagation
calculation,
interference
matrix,
and
Forsk 2011
113/216
2 Interference matrix 1 Calculate interference matrix calculate probability of C/I for each transmitter pair. The principle is to set a frequency for all TRXs and calculate interference probabilities between each pair by considering their location, antennas, power and digital map etc.
Forsk 2011
114/216
2 In the pop-up window, define a service zone and handover margin. If you want to take into account shadowing marging, you need to check this option and define a cell edge coverage probability. You also need to choose a method to spread traffic. As shown below:
3 For the generated interference matrix, you can right click Interference Matrix folder to access properties window. As shown below:
Forsk 2011
115/216
4 The user can click Externalise button to export the interference matrices results. By doing so you can reduce the size of Atoll document. The exported results can be re-imported whenever needed.
Forsk 2011
116/216
Forsk 2011
117/216
5 If you get your interference matrix by other source and import it to Atoll, then you can define where it is from and other settings in Advanced tab of interference matrix properties. This definition will be used in interference matrices combination.
Forsk 2011
118/216
In the Study types dialogue window, 8 default prediction items are listed. The former 3 items only consider downlink power. You can calculate them before traffic capture and frequency allocation.
1 Best cell coverage plot generation 1 Choose Coverage by transmitters, click OK button to open the properties window of that prediction. Define the resolution of the plot in General tab.
Forsk 2011
119/216
2 In Condition tab, define a bottom threshold for received power, e.g. -120dBm, and a Server as Best signal level per HCS layer. Reception from TRXs is BCCH.
Forsk 2011
120/216
In 3.1.0 version, the Cell Edge Coverage Probability is 90% by default, thats to say, if you define in Clutter classes a model std. deviation for each clutter, then each plot you generate will have a shadowing margin. Atoll support a cell edge coverage probability lower than 50% as well. 3 Set display properties in Display tab, such as transparency of the plot.
4 Click OK button to close the window. You can now right click Coverage by Transmitter icon in tool bar under Prediction folder and choose Calculate command, or click (shortcut F7), Atoll will start running. An Event Viewer window will pop up. You can see the process of calculation.
Forsk 2011
121/216
After Propagation calculation (as mentioned above) finished, Atoll will create the coverage plot. The result is shown as below. Every prediction plot generated by user will be saved under Predictions folder.
The generated prediction plots will be locked automatically. They will not be changed even you change radio parameters. So if you want to recalculate a prediction plot, you need to unlock it first (to uncheck Study locked on the right click menu). 2 Signal level coverage plot 1 In Study type dialogue window, choose Coverage by signal level. 2 In Condition tab, set a bottom threshold for received power as -120dBm. The Server is All.
Forsk 2011
122/216
3 Set display properties in Display tab, such as intervals and colors of legends. In legend column, you can change Min and Max values and their colors, or click Actions->Shading, set start break, last break and interval.
Forsk 2011
123/216
Forsk 2011
124/216
Note: since you have completed propagation calculation when creating Coverage by transmitter plot and no parameter has been changed, so Atoll calculates prediction only. The generated signal level plot is shown as below.
3 Overlapping zone coverage 1 In Study type dialogue window, choose Overlapping zones. 2 In Condition tab, set a bottom threshold for received power as -120dBm, the Server is Best signal level per HCS layer, with a margin 4dB. Reception form TRX is BCCH.
Forsk 2011
125/216
Number of servers >=2 represents there are two cells with a difference of signal level in 4 dB in this area. Number of servers >=3 represents there are three cells with a difference of signal level in 4 dB. And so on.
Forsk 2011
126/216
Forsk 2011
127/216
Forsk 2011
128/216
The GSM/GPRS/EGPRS traffic model depends of the GSM/GPRS/EGPRS parameters which can be found from the Explorer/Paramters ->Traffic Paramters folder, there are Environments, User profiles, Terminals, Mobility Types and Services.
Forsk 2011
129/216
3.7.1.1 Services
1 By default, Atoll provides 4 kinds of service types. Double clicking on the Voice type will open the Voice properties dialog box. 2 Voice In the General tab, set the Service Type and Max Probability of Blockingor Delay.
3 Data service In the General tab, set the Service Type , Max Probability of Blockingor Delay, Max Packet Delay, Min Throughput (per user), Required availability for Min Throughput, Max Number of Timeslots, Scaling Factor and Offset.
Forsk 2011
130/216
4 New type of service, just like VoIP, which is using constant bit rate, the value for guaranteed bit rate must be enter during the service definition.
Forsk 2011
131/216
5 The user can specify a new type of Service Right click on the Services folder, select New and set up all the parameters in the appeared dialog box.
1 The user can specify a new type of Mobility Right click on the Mobility Types folder, select New and set up all the parameters in the appeared dialog box.
3.7.1.3 Terminals
1 Atoll provides 5 kinds of Terminals by default. Double click on GPRS 900 1800 and open the GPRS 900 1800 properties dialog box.
Forsk 2011
132/216
2 In the General tab, define the Main and Secondary Band, the Technology, the Max CS and the Noise Figure. 3 The user can specify a new type of Terminal Right click on the Terminals folder, select New and set up all the parameters in the appeared dialog box.
2 In the General tab, define for each service the associated Terminal, the Calls/Hours and the Duration. 3 The user can specify a new type of User Profiles Right click on the User Profiles folder, select New and set up all the parameters in the appeared dialog box.
3.7.1.5 Environments
1 Atoll provides by default 4 kinds of Environments (classify by clutter name). Double click on Dense Urban and open the Dense Urban properties dialog box.
Forsk 2011
133/216
2 In the General tab, define for each service the associated Terminal, the Calls/Hours and the Duration. 3 The user can specify a new type of User Profiles Right click on the User Profiles folder, select New and set up all the parameters in the appeared dialog box. 4 If different clutter class will be consider with different importance and percentage of indoor users, following parameters must be defined:
Forsk 2011
134/216
2 You can define the default model for dimensioning also for KPI calculation. In KPI calculation you can define min throughput, max blocking rate and max delay.
Forsk 2011 135/216
3 In Quality Graphs tab you can check function chart, delay chart and blocking chart.
Forsk 2011
136/216
3.7.2
Atoll provides you 3 ways to create traffic map: 1 2 3 User profile traffic map User profile environments User profile densities Sector traffic map Amount of traffic Traffic maps per user density (No. Users/km2)
Right click on Traffic in the Explorer/ Geo tab and select New map, as seen in the following figure.
Forsk 2011
137/216
In the appeared New traffic Map dialog box, the above 3 methods for traffic map creation can be selected, as shown in the following figure.
For each category, the user can choose between different options: