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What's New in Atoll 2.6.0

Several improvements and changes have been introduced in the version of Atoll 2.6.0 made available on
13 March 2007. These improvements are described below. The improvements introduced in the previous version
of Atoll 2.6.0 are described later in this document. For more information on any of these features, see the online
help, the User Manual and the Technical Reference Guide.

Improvements Introduced for 13 March 2007

UMTS HSPA Project Features
HSDPA Modelling
y The HSDPA simulation has been improved to better calculate the number of delayed users.
Test Mobile Data Paths
y You can now set the number of transmitters to be imported for each point in a test mobile data. The
default remains 7, however, you can change this value by editing the value of
NumberOfTestMobileTransmitters in the atoll.ini file as described in the Administrator Manual.
CDMA2000 Project Features
PN Offset Allocation
y PN offset allocation has been improved to better reflect the CDMA active set criteria.
Automatic Neighbour Allocation
y Automatic neighbour allocation has been improved to better reflect the CDMA active set criteria.
Power Pooling
y Power pooling has been improved. The option is available when defining the site equipment properties
and has an impact on the power control simulation results.
Test Mobile Data Paths
y You can now set the number of transmitters to be imported for each point in a test mobile data. The
default remains 7 cells, however, you can change this value by editing the value of
NumberOfTestMobileTransmitters in the atoll.ini file as described in the Administrator Manual.
Microwave Link Features
Antenna

When you import a microwave antenna, you can now select ASCII-format files other than DAT, CSV, or
TXT files.

Antenna/Equipment Compatibilities
y The assistant available for the definition of antenna/equipment compatibilities has been improved. You
can now filter antennas and equipment fabricated by given manufacturers and that operate in the same
frequency band.

WiMAX Project Features

Network Parameters
y If a smart antenna equipment is available at a transmitter, Atoll calculates the interference using the
smart antenna model.
WiMAX Monte Carlo Simulations
y Simulation results now include (for uplink and downlink) Smart antenna results
TD-SCDMA Project Features
Cells

You can now set cells as master, slave, or stand-alone.

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N-Frequency Mode Modelling
y You can now set transmitters as N-Frequency Mode compatible, and use the Automatic Frequency
Allocation to set master and slave carriers.
y Automatic Neighbour and scrambling code allocation now takes into account the N-Frequency Mode
capability. Neighbours and scrambling codes are allocated to master carriers.
y An N-Frequency Mode audit is also available which checks for and lists any inconsistencies in the
current master/slave allocation.
Scrambling Code Allocation
y The automatic scrambling code allocation now allocates the DL synchronisation (SYNC_DL) codes as
well.
Coverage Predictions
Several new coverage predictions for TD-SCDMA projects have been added:
y P-CCPCH Eb/Nt and C/I reception analysis coverage predictions.
y DwPCH C/I reception analysis coverage predictions.
y Downlink, uplink, and effective service area analyses based on Eb/Nt or C/I.
y Baton handover coverage prediction.

Improvements Introduced in Atoll 2.6.0

General Features
Database Management
y Atoll now allows the creation of sets of custom database fields.
o When custom fields are added to tables, you can now define the group that will have access to
them.
o When a user opens a document from a database, he can select which set of custom fields he
accesses. This allows users to have access to the database fields they need while reducing the
use of computer resources.
y You can now define a name and a legend entry for each field. The name will appear in the database and
the legend entry in the ATL file.
Support for Native Oracle Driver
y When connecting to an Oracle database, Atoll now automatically selects the native Oracle database
driver
Units

It is now possible to express the antenna gain in dBd in addition to dBi.

Geo Data Formats

y Atoll can both import and export vector objects in TAB file format.
y Ellipses and arcs in MapInfo files (MIF and TAB files) can be interpreted and used by Atoll.
Zones

You can now import MapInfo files with several polygons as a computation, focus, or filtering zone. In
previous versions, only a single multi-contour polygon was supported.

Coverage Export Zone

y You can now create a coverage export zone to export a defined part of a coverage as an image file. You
can create the coverage export zone by drawing it or by importing it from a vector file. As well, the
coverage export zone can be exported to a file to be used in other projects and other applications. The
coverage export zone is managed in Zones folder (Geo tab) in the same way as the other zones
(Computation, Focus, Filtering zones).
Printing Zone
y You can now create a printing zone which defines the portion of the map to be printed. You can create
the printing zone by drawing it or by importing it from a vector file. As well, the printing zone can be
exported to a file to be used in other projects. The printing zone is managed in Zones folder (Geo tab) in
the same way than the existing zones in previous versions (Computation, Focus, Filtering zones).
Repeaters and Remote Antennas
y Repeaters and Remote antennas are now accessible separately from the Transmitter folder context
menu.
y You can now create either a repeater or a remote antenna using the New Repeater or Remote Antenna

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) by first selecting what you want to create.

button (
It is now possible to globally calculate the donor-side propagation losses of all off-air repeaters from the
Transmitters folder context menu.

Propagation Models
y The Erceg-Greenstein propagation model is available for any technology in Atoll
Calculation Progress
y You can stop any calculations in progress by clicking the Stop Calculations button (

) in the toolbar.

GSM GPRS EGPRS Project Features

Radiated Power Definition
y It is now possible to express the radiated power of transmitters in term of ERP in addition to EIRP.
Subcells

Subcell property dialogues have been created and can be accessed from the Subcell table or from the
Subcell grid in a transmitter property dialogue.

Multi-band Networks
The support of multi-band networks has been enhanced. It is now possible to assign several propagation settings
in each transmitter according to the frequency bands on which it transmits:
y Each frequency band can have a different antenna
y Each frequency band can use a different propagation model with its own corresponding path loss
matrices.
You can activate this feature using the atoll.ini file as described in the Administrator Manual.
HCS Layers
y It is now possible to have several layers with the same priority. Layer ranking will then be done according
to the delta from the layer admission level.

UMTS HSPA Project Features

Project Template
y In order to integrate HSUPA, the default project template has been renamed UMTS HSPA.mdb.
Transmitter GUI
y The Total Noise Figure has been renamed BTS noise figure since it is only calculated from the BTS
equipment definition.
Primary Scrambling Code Allocation
y The reuse distance is now taken into account when using the "One Cluster per Site" and "Distributed per
Site" allocation strategies.
Cells

You can now set an activity flag at the cell level.

Inter-Carrier Interference
y Atoll now models inter-carrier interference on the uplink and the downlink. In order to take it into account,
you must previously define an interference reduction factor for each carrier pair
HSUPA Modelling
Atoll can now model HSUPA traffic in Atolls UMTS HSPA documents. The following features have been added:
y You can specify if a cell can support HSUPA traffic and set HSUPA cell parameters.
y You can specify if services and terminals can use HSUPA channels.
y HSUPA UE categories and HSUPA radio bearers are modelled in dedicated tables. These tables can be
accessed from the context menu of the Terminals and Services folders.
y HSUPA traffic is managed in the Monte-Carlo simulation. An additional portion has been implemented in
the power control algorithm. It models an admission control on the HSUPA users followed by a noise rise
scheduling. The happy bit mechanism is modelled as well and radio resource control is performed at the
end.
y A new HSUPA coverage prediction has been added allowing the study of RLC, MAC and application
throughputs per pixel, and E-DPDCH Ec/Nt. You can calculate the coverage prediction for a scenario

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where a single user has the entire HSUPA capacity, or where the HSUPA capacity is shared equally
between all HSUPA users.
HSDPA Modelling
y The HSDPA coverage prediction now allows you to study HSDPA throughput per user.
y You can now model inter-carrier power sharing on a transmitter, with a set maximum shared power,
when HSDPA power is allocated dynamically. Inter-Carrier Power Sharing enables the network to
dynamically allocate available power from R99-only and HSDPA carriers among HSDPA carriers.

CDMA2000 Project Features

Transmitter GUI
y The Total Noise Figure has been renamed BTS noise figure since it is only calculated from the BTS
equipment definition.
Cells

y
y

You can now set an activity flag at the cell level.

It is possible to define the maximum number of EV-DO users that a cell can support. This is a new
constraint in the power and rate control simulation.

Inter-Carrier Interference
y Atoll now models inter-carrier interference on the uplink and the downlink. In order to take it into account,
you must previously define an interference reduction factor for each carrier pair.
Power Pooling
y The power of all the transmitters on a site using the same carrier can be pooled. The option is available
when defining the site equipment properties and has an impact on the power control simulation results.

Microwave Link Features

Analysis of Microwave Sites
y When you calculate the line-of-sight area for a group of sites, you can now study the intersection
between them and display the areas covered by at least two sites, at least three sites, and all the sites.
Equipment
y New fields are available in the MWEquipments table. They enable you to define transmission and
reception losses for each port associated with the equipment. These losses are taken into account in the
microwave link reliability analysis.
y You can import microwave equipment files with Pathloss format (version 4.0). They are ASCII files with
the RAF extension.
y The FKTB calculated at 17C and the bandwidth that the equipment can use are displayed in the
equipment properties.
y You can define the transmission spectrum, receiver selectivity and T/I graphs in the equipment
properties. Atoll can use these graphs in order to create IRF graphs when no IRF is defined in the IRF
table.
y Atoll allows you to define theoretical graphs that you can use when the equipment description is not
complete (if information about the transmission spectrum, the receiver selectivity, T/I graph is missing).
These theoretical graphs can describe either the transmission spectrum, or receiver selectivity graph, or
T/I graph for a given manufacturer, frequency band, bandwidth, rate, and modulation. They can then be
used to initialise equipment properties (transmission spectrum, receiver selectivity, and T/I graphs) and
create IRF graphs when no IRF is defined in the IRF table.
Antenna

Microwave antennas with the standard NSMA format defined by recommendation WG16.99.050 can be
now imported.

Antenna/Equipment Compatibilities
y The assistant available for the definition of antenna/equipment compatibilities has been improved. You
can now filter antennas and equipment fabricated by given manufacturers and that operate in the same
frequency band.

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Microwave Link
y The GUI of the Connection tab in the Properties dialogue of a microwave link has been enhanced. This
improvement enables the user to define on a site the same waveguides and same loss values for
transmission and reception.
IRF Definition
y The assistant available for the definition of IRFs has been improved. You can now filter transmission and
reception equipment fabricated by given manufacturers and that operate in the same frequency band.
y Atoll can create IRF graphs between transmission and reception equipment by using the transmission
spectrum and receiver selectivity graphs. It takes either the graphs defined for equipment if available, or
the theoretical graphs if not.
Site Parity
y The parity of sites can be checked and then displayed in a report.
y When you use the Channel Arrangement tool to display site parities on the map, it is now possible to set
the position of icons relative to the sites.
Repeater
y The modelling of back-to-back antenna passive repeaters has been enhanced. You can now define a
second antenna and specify the waveguide between the antennas.
Microwave Link Analysis Window
y You can now zoom in on the displayed profile.
Computation and Focus Zones
y In previous Atoll versions, the computation zone was only used to filter the potential interferers in
interference calculations. Now, it also defines the sites and microwave links calculated in line of sight,
link budget and interference studies.
Microwave Propagation Model
y The troposheric scattering mechanism is now modelled by the microwave propagation model. The
attenuation computed by the model takes into account free space path losses, atmospheric losses,
attenuation due to diffraction and tropospheric losses for long paths.
Multi-hops
y Atoll now calculates in the multi-hop analysis report, the quality indicators (SESR, ESR, BBER) of the
multi-hop and compares them to the required performance objectives.
Interference Calculation
y The IRF graphs defined in the IRF table are used during interference calculation. When studying
interference between transmission equipment and reception equipment, Atoll first checks if an IRF graph
is defined for the transmission equipment - reception equipment pair in the IRF table. If defined, Atoll
uses it. Otherwise, Atoll creates the IRF graph during the interference calculation by using the
transmission spectrum and receiver selectivity graphs. Atoll uses the graphs (T/I, transmission spectrum,
and receiver selectivity graphs) defined for equipment if they are available, or it uses the theoretical
graphs if not.
y Results in the interference reports are detailed for two BER values and a global estimation of the link is
provided.
Calculation Progress
y You can stop any calculations in progress (link budget, interference analysis) by clicking the Stop
Calculations button ( ) in the toolbar.

WiMAX Project Features

Atoll now models WiMAX networks. Atoll WiMAX is a state-of-the-art WiMAX and Broadband Wireless Access
(BWA) network planning tool developed in cooperation with WiMAX equipment suppliers. Atoll WiMAX supports
the IEEE 802.16d and IEEE 802.16e standards.
The new Atoll WiMAX BWA module has been available since Atoll 2.5.1. The initial version has been enhanced
with newly added features in Atoll 2.5.2 and 2.6.0. Following is the list of all the features now available in the Atoll
2.6.0 WiMAX BWA module.

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General Features
y Atoll WiMAX BWA is based on the Atoll core platform and includes all the GUI features of Atoll.
y Atoll WiMAX BWA supports the planning and design of IEEE 802.16d and 802.16e, PMP networks.
y You can design WiMAX networks with fixed subscribers, as well as mobile users.
y The modelling of the network database is similar to other technology modules in Atoll.
y The network database comprises sites, sectors, and cells. A rich traffic database is available. You can
work with different types of geographic data.
Network Parameters
y You can define as many different frequency bands as required. Frequency bands can have different
frequency ranges, different channel bandwidths, and over-sampling factors for different channel
bandwidths. You can define whether a frequency band is TDD or FDD compliant.
y You can set network-level parameters, such as the frame duration, the cyclic prefix ratio, the fixed and
variable overheads (used to model the signalling overheads such as the preamble, the DL-MAP, the ULMAP, FCH, etc.).
y For TDD networks, you can also define the downlink subframe ratio, which is the part of the frame
corresponding to the downlink subframe. You can also set the TTG and RTG values.
y For WiMAX 802.16d networks, you can set the number of subchannels per channel, which controls
whether subchannelization in the uplink is possible or not. You can also define the total number of
subcarriers, the pilot subcarriers, and the data subcarriers. The frequency-domain overheads, i.e., the
guard and the DC subcarriers, are also modelled through this definition.
y For WiMAX 802.16e networks, you can set different permutation zones for different frame configurations
assigned to cells. Frame configurations include the definition of channel parameters, such as the
numbers of total, used, and data subcarriers, as well as different permutation zones in the downlink and
the uplink subframes.
y For WiMAX 802.16e networks, you can define whether the first PUSC permutation zone in the downlink
is segmented or not.
y In WiMAX 802.16e documents, you can assign different subchannel allocation modes to different
permutation zones. You can select from PUSC, FUSC, OPUSC, OFUSC, AMC, TUSC1, and TUSC2
subchannel allocation modes. Subchannel allocation modes with higher pilot subcarrier densities, such
as the PUSC, can be assigned to users at high speeds. In a future version these modes will also be able
to support users in handovers. The RRM algorithm of the Atoll WiMAX module also considers the user
equipment capabilities when assigning them to allocation modes such as the AMC zone. Only user
equipment capable of working with AAS (Adaptive Antenna Systems) can be assigned to the AMC zone.
y You can set up as many WiMAX radio bearers (i.e., modulation and coding schemes) as required. You
can select from the four available modulation types, i.e., BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, and 64QAM. You can
set different coding rates and assign relevant bearer efficiencies (bits/symbol).
y Modelling of Adaptive Antenna Systems (AAS), or smart antennas, is available. You can assign adaptive
antennas to transmitters. The smart antenna model available by default is an MMSE model.
y It is possible to model reception equipment parameters for cells as well as for user equipment. Reception
equipment parameters include the radio bearer selection thresholds, and various quality indicator
graphs.
y You can also manually assign neighbours in WiMAX 802.16e documents.
Coverage Predictions
y It is possible to perform coverage predictions using different user equipment.
y Coverage predictions take into consideration the impact of directional antennas at the receiver.
y You can create, display, and study the following different coverage predictions:
o Coverage by transmitter (Best Server Plot)
o Coverage by signal level
o Coverage of overlapping zones
o Coverage by C/(I+N) level (DL and UL)
o Coverage by radio bearers (DL and UL)
o Coverage by channel throughputs (DL and UL), which can display different throughputs such as
the peak RLC throughput, the effective RLC throughput (including the effect of retransmissions),
and the application level throughputs.
y You can create these coverage predictions for a given cell, for a group of cells, or for your entire network.
Traffic Database
You can create, import, export, and work with multi-service traffic demand maps.
y Traffic maps can be generated from different sources: vector, raster, and live traffic data.
y You can run Monte Carlo simulations based on the traffic demand maps.
y You can model different types of services available in the network. It is possible to create voice and data
type services with different QoS classes (UGS, rtPS, ErtPS, nrtPS, and BE). For each service, you can
define the minimum and maximum throughput demands. For voice services, you can also define the
activity factors.

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y
y
y

You can model customer premises equipment with minimum and maximum transmission power range,
antenna gains and losses, as well as a directional antenna.
You can set up user equipment with antenna diversity (AAS) capability.
You can set up user profiles describing the usage of different services with different user equipment by
different types of users.

Subscriber Database
y A subscriber database is available in the WiMAX documents which is used to model fixed subscribers.
Each subscriber can be assigned a traffic demand (user profile), and you can carry out calculations on
the subscriber database.
y You can create subscriber databases or import them from spreadsheets
y You can display subscribers on the map according to different parameters.
y You can assign serving cells to subscribers manually, or have Atoll assign the servers automatically.
y You can carry out other calculations on subscriber database, such as the uplink and downlink analyses
of:
o Received signal level
o Interference
o Radio bearer (MCS)
o Channel throughputs
Calculations performed on subscriber consider the effect of directional receiver antennas. These
computations also consider uplink power control, and subchannelization.
WiMAX Monte Carlo Simulations
You can carry out Monte Carlo simulations based on traffic demand data from traffic maps as well as from the
subscriber database.
The Monte Carlo simulations carry out a user distribution based on the user connection probabilities determined
from the traffic data.
The simulation algorithm includes an intelligent scheduler that performs the RRM for all the cells included in the
simulations, based on the QoS classes and traffic demands.

Simulation results include (for uplink and downlink):

o Received signal level
o Interference
o Radio bearer (MCS)
o Channel throughputs
o User throughputs
Simulations consider the effect of directional receiver antennas. They also consider uplink power control,
and subchannelization, and downlink segmentation (in WiMAX 802.16e networks).

Backhaul Planning
y Site database can be shared with Atoll Microwave for backhaul planning
TD-SCDMA Project Features
Atoll now models TD-SCDMA networks. The following features have been added:
Transmitter GUI
y The Total Noise Figure has been renamed BTS noise figure since it is only calculated from the BTS
equipment definition.
Cells

You can set an activity flag at the cell level.

HSDPA Modelling
Atoll models HSDPA traffic in TD-SCDMA projects. The following features have been added:
y Physical downlink channels are modelled (HS-PDSCH and HS-SCCH).
y UE categories, and CQI and radio bearer tables are modelled.
y AMC modelling (fast link adaptation)
y HS-SCCH power control is modelled.
y The scheduling algorithm works at the cell level.
y An HSDPA coverage prediction allows the study of HS-PDSCH Ec/Nt, CQI, RLC Peak Rate.

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Coverage Predictions
Atoll provides a selection of coverage predictions for TD-SCDMA projects, including:
y P-CCPCH coverage predictions, including a best server P-CCPCH coverage prediction, RSCP PCCPCH coverage prediction, and a P-CCPCH pollution coverage prediction.
y RSCP DwPCH and UpPCH coverage predictions
y A cell-to-cell interference coverage prediction.
y Scrambling code interference coverage prediction.
API Development Kit

y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y

Support for VC++ 6.0 (Microsoft Visual Studio 98) has been discontinued. Development environments
supported are VC++ 7.1 and VC++ 8.0.
Where applicable, VBScript arrays are now supported as input parameters.
There have been improvements in error detection and messages.
New HCS layers rules have been integrated into the GetSortedSignals function.
IM calculation is now started from the API.
The API now enables you to create add-ins that are aware of licence token utilisation.
The API now allows access to general properties such as antenna height and offset, radiated power,
antenna gain units, and the private pathloss folder.
The API now allows you to view the differences between the current state of the document and the state
of the data on the data base.
You can now filter and sort radio data using the API.
You can now enable co-planning features using the API, creating linked items in the Explorer window.
It is now possible to create a UMTS simulation using the API.
There is a new CalulatePoints document service, allowing you to compute the best signals on an
arbitrary set on points, with no need for pathloss matrices.