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Getting started Feb. 2005 HerTZ Mapper

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CONTENT 1 Introduction _________________________________________________________________ 3

1.1 Installing the software ____________________________________________________ 4

1.2 Starting the software______________________________________________________ 4

2 Project management __________________________________________________________ 5

2.1 Cartographic environment_________________________________________________ 5

2.2 Setting up a transmitter ___________________________________________________ 9

2.3 Setting up general simulation parameters ___________________________________ 12

3 Performs radio calculations____________________________________________________ 13

3.1 Plotting a site coverage ___________________________________________________ 13

3.2 Plotting a path profile____________________________________________________ 16

3.3 Plotting Line of Sight ____________________________________________________ 18

4 Analysis of Coverage _________________________________________________________ 20

4.1 Composite coverage _____________________________________________________ 21

4.2 Best server coverage _____________________________________________________ 22

4.3 Recoverage_____________________________________________________________ 23

4.4 Other Analysis__________________________________________________________ 24

4.5 Population analysis ______________________________________________________ 25

4.6 Comparison between Measurement data and the HerTZ Mapper simulation______ 30

5 Printing & Reporting _________________________________________________________ 32

5.1 Printing the entire map __________________________________________________ 32

5.2 Printing a specific area ___________________________________________________ 33

6 Review of Menus & Functions _________________________________________________ 34

6.1 File Menu ______________________________________________________________ 34

6.2 Parameters Menu _______________________________________________________ 34

6.3 Network Menu__________________________________________________________ 35

6.4 Utilities Menu __________________________________________________________ 35

6.5 View Menu_____________________________________________________________ 35

6.6 Popup menu (after a click on the map)______________________________________ 36

6.7 FLD Menus ____________________________________________________________ 36

6.8 Measurement menu _____________________________________________________ 37

6.9 Customer Care Menu ____________________________________________________ 37

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1 Introduction

This document acts as a started guide to HerTZ Mapper, the radiocommunication network planning tool for

V/U/SHF that is flexible enough to be used either in the office using desktop computers, or out in the field

using a portable PC. HerTZ Mapper uses specially adapted geographic information including a Digital Terrain

Model (DTM) and digitised map images, in order to facilitate the following tasks:

Network Installation

Equipment Dimensioning

Terrain profiles

Line of sight calculation

Site searching

Coverage calculations

GPS interface capabilities

Marketing applications

Customer care

Should additional information on specific areas be required please contact our Sales team at sales@atdi.com

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1.1 Installing the software

To load the software you must be using a Windows based personal Computer, i.e. Windows 95 or higher. The

software needs then be installed :

The free trial version, limited in its functionalities

The commercial release of HerTZ Mapper

In the next pages, the functions that are not available in the free version will be highlighted in grey.

1.2 Starting the software

From the Windows start menu navigate to the ATDI software selection within programs.

Click on HerTZ Mapper image/icon. :

In case the free trial is used, HerTZ Mapper will indicate the free mode option in the title bar :

Once the package has opened click on the middle of the screen.

Main screen of HerTZ Mapper Web (this screen might be different for the commercial release of HerTZ Mapper)

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2 Project management

2.1 Cartographic environment To load a project, use the Files menu in the top left and select Create new file server.

File server menu (left : commercial release, right : Web trial release)

The user has then to specify a name for the project he is about to create.

svr file creation (left : commercial release, right : Web trial release)

Once done, click on Save.

Each cartographic files are then defined by double-clicking on the corresponding layer :

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In order to go further, several files are mandatory :

Mode GEO file IMG file SOL file

Coverage & profile Mandatory Mandatory Not mandatory but improves the

accuracy of the simulation

Customer care

NOT availab e in Free Mode lNot used Mandatory Not used

Measurement

NOT availab e in Free Mode lNot used Mandatory Not used

Once the cartographic files have been defined, click on OK.

The rest of the document will focus on the Coverage and profile mode.

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This shows 2 map layers an Image on the left and the Digital Terrain Model on the right. These are essential

features of the tool:

The Digital Terrain Model (DTM) is crucial to the calculation process; this contains the terrain height

information for each point on the map area. The number of points is determined by the resolution e.g.

using a 50m resolution map will result in heights at every 50m so a 1km square would have 200 x 200

squares & thus 40,000 measurement points. The selection of the appropriate resolution map is

important in assuring the required confidence in the calculation result, for example if 1km resolution is

used many terrain features may be missed.

The image layer does not form a part of the calculation process, but is really essential to visualise the

area concerned.

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A Clutter layer can also be utilised with HerTZ Mapper, this is not available in the demo version but can be

used with the full version. This layer is useful in describing areas on the ground such as building, lakes, trees,

etc. such that they can be accounted for in the calculations. Below is a sample of the clutter layer:

Clutter Area with defined height. (Heights can be modified)

The map data layers described are not supplied as a part of HerTZ Mapper software, but ATDI can supply

various types for most parts of the world ready to use with HerTZ Mapper.

Free data can also be downloaded from the ATDI web site www.atdi.com (500m DTM with a 100m map for

the entire world, 100m DTM with 100m map for the USA).

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2.2 Setting up a transmitter Clicking anywhere on the image in the image window causes the following floating menu. Move the mouse

down to Add Site.

There are then two options either to place the site using the cursor on the map or by entering the co-

ordinates of the site via the keyboard.

Selecting the co-ordinates option causes the following prompt box to appear. To position the site the Eastings

x/long and Northings y/lat must be typed in.

HerTZ Mapper handles all major coordinates systems and projection types :

Mainly used ellipsoids (WGS84, GRS80, NAD83)

Main coordinate units (Decimal degrees, Degrees Minutes and Seconds, Arc seconds, MGRS (Military

aspect) Meters)

Main projections : UTM North and South, Geographic, Lambert

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Once the position of the site is defined the other site parameters may be defined, including the transmit

frequency, antenna height, transmitter ERP and antenna pattern. This is available in the Station Parameters

Box that pops up once the site location is selected.

Clicking the H Diag. tab bring ups the antenna pattern (in the diagram below a specific pattern has already

been selected).

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The antenna H and V patterns can be changed manually or it is possible to load antenna patterns in simple

text format.

Once loaded the antenna pattern can be visualised using the 3D tab.

When the station set up is complete click OK and the site is then marked on the image with an icon of a red

square and site designator letter. To move, delete or change the parameters of a site click on its icon. Once

you have clicked on the site you are presented with the following menu.

Clicking on the transmitter in this case A Site number 1 brings up the following menu :

Clicking on Move Tx permits new coordinates to be entered. [In the DTM window using this permits you to

move the Tx using a cursor, use the enter key to accept a new location]

Clicking on Profile allows you to show a path profile and link budget (Link budget not available in Free

mode) from the site to any selected point on the map.

Clicking on Line of Sight shows areas on the mapping that you will have line of sight with from that

transmitter.

Clicking on Coverage starts HerTZ Mapper simulating the coverage from the site (Coverage calculation

not availab e in Free Mode). l

Each of these will be described later, since before undertaking such calculations it is essential to set up the

parameters for the calculations

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2.3 Setting up general simulation parameters Click on Parameters Menu, then go the Engineering parameters.

Rx Tab This variable is a global variable and sets the receiver antenna height, frequency

and gain for coverage and line of sight simulations.

Tx tab This allows you to select the type of transmitter to be simulated with HerTZ

Mapper (the technical parameters of the Tx might change in that case, specially

for the tropo links).

Coverage tab Maximum Calculation Distance :This variable sets the distance limit that the

simulations extend from the transmitter.

Models : This variable sets the model to be used in simulations (not active in

Free Mode)

HerTZ Mapper comes complete with Bullington/Fresnel, Free Space propagation

models. There are also available additional external models e.g. ITU-R 370-7,

Deygout, Troposcatter, FCC98, Johnson Geirhart(ITU-R 528), ITU-R 526, Irregular

Terrain model 1.2.2, African Broadcast(Geneva 89), ITU-R 1546, ITU-R 452, user

model.. (Note that these are at extra cost)

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Other functions available in the Parameters menu :

Cross locator : This shows a cross on both the DTM and Image to show location.

Overlay intensity : This changes the loaded overlay appearance

Output Grid : This changes the grid system that is displayed

Legend : This variable changes the options for thresholds and colours associated with them.

This permits setting of Receiver threshold level and making changes to the colour palette, the titles, etc., once

set up the legend can be save for later reuse.

3 Performs radio calculations

3.1 Plotting a site coverage The Coverage calculation is not active in Free Mode. Only visibility coverage is availab e in Free

Mode.

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Having set up the correct model as previously described you should now be able to simulate a site.

Clicking on the site icon will bring up the following box :

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Clicking on the transmitter in this case A Site Number 1 brings up the following menu :

Clicking on the Coverage option will instruct the software to simulate the site you clicked on using the

parameters you have previously set up in the parameters options.

The computer will now perform a simulation. Once finished you are prompted to save the field strength file.

Click Save for this file box (it automatically suggests a name)

Minimise or close the field strength result window and click on the map image to reveal the following menu.

The field strength file can now be painted on top of the map image by selecting the Overlay FLD option (left

click on the cartographic layer on which the coverage needs to be pasted).

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Select the appropriate field file (the one saved previously for instance) :

The Field strength coverage will now be overlaid on the map image.

The colour of the field denotes a discrete band of values of field strength. To see the actual value of field,

move the mouse cursor over the appropriate area and read the value from the information bar at the bottom

of the screen. It appears in the dBuV/m bracket (dBm values are also displayed).

The colours used can be set up using the Legend box described above.

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3.2 Plotting a path profile Click on the transmitter icon and select Profile from the following menu.

Clicking the name of the site in this case A Site number 1 will bring up the following menu. Select

Profile.

You will be returned to your mapping and a line will exist between the selected site and the cursor. Clicking

with the left mouse button will tell the software that you want to display a profile between the selected site

and the position at which you clicked.

A profile screen will appear as below.

Field strength calculation not availab e in Free mode, only the profile is calculated. l

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To change the transmitter frequency and antenna height click on the TX icon in the top right hand corner. To

change the receiver height click on the RX icon.

To show the path budget, click on the A-B icon

Clicking the disk icon on this bar allows you to save the path profile to disk.

To add clutter and to have this taken into account in path loss calculations use the following buttons :

Forest Hydro Urban

By clicking on one of the buttons you are presented with a box similar to the following :

You now have to enter the height in metres of the type of clutter you have entered. In this example the

forest clutter category has been selected.

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Clicking ok returns you to the profile screen.

By clicking and dragging in the image strip portion at the top of the profile you are able to select an area you

wish to consider with this clutter category.

The profile tool may also be used between 2 Tx sites that appear on the map.

3.3 Plotting Line of Sight Click on the transmitter Icon

Next select Line of Sight

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The line of sight coverage is plotted and you must save the result as an .fld file.

The line of sight area can now be painted on top of the map image by selecting the Overlay FLD option.

Select the appropriate field file (the one saved previously)

The coloured areas are those that do not have line of sight to the transmitter.

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4 Analysis of Coverage

If a number of sites are to be made into a network then it is necessary to undertake some more detailed

analysis of the network, the options available in HerTZ Mapper are:

Composite Coverage shows the composite (highest) field strength from a number of transmitters

Best Server Coverage shows the areas best served by each transmitter (that providing the

highest field strength)

Recoverage shows areas covered by more than one transmitter.

Creation of each of these is using the Network / Coverage menu option:

Select the required transmitters by holding down the shift key and clicking.

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4.1 Composite coverage Then Select Composite to save an .fld file with the composite coverage, this can then be displayed as

described above:

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4.2 Best server coverage To obtain a display of the best server areas, each of the Transmitters must have a different colour code; this is

set in the Tx Parameter box:

Then select the transmitters and click Best Server, the .fld file is then saved and displayed as described

above:

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4.3 Recoverage For Recoverage select the transmitters and click Recoverage, the .fld file is then saved and displayed as

described above:

The areas covered by a single transmitter are in one colour (cyan), by 2 transmitters in Pink, by 3 transmitters in blue. The colours used can be selected from the legend.

The above features permit extensive analysis of networks, once created networks can be save using Network

/ Save Network; this enables the network to be reloaded at a later date.

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4.4 Other Analysis

Other analysis modes are incorporated in HerTZ Mapper including:

Intervisibility: provides a plot of points with visibility to one or more transmitters, with points which

see 1, 2, 3, etc transmitters given different colours.

CCIR if Line of sight: this combines station coverage with line of sight to only display a filed

strength value if there is line of sight. (not availab e in Free Mode) l

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Interference C/I: analyses the field strength difference between 2 plots and displays the C/I value if

the signal is interfered (has a difference < C/I ratio entered). (not availab e in Free Mode)

Simulcast: analyses the field strength differences and displays points that exceed a preset guard

value. (not availab e in Free Mode)

Compare with Survey data: permits comparison of a simulation with measure data collected over

the same geographic area, providing a correlation display of measure and simulated data with a

measure of the degree of correlation. Survey data (Auditem format) can also be imported as an .fld

file. (Not availab e in Free Mode)

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4.5 Population analysis (Not available in Free Mode)

4.5.1 Files setup HerTZ Mapper has to be launched in customer care mode. In order to do so, go to Files \ Customer Care.

The svr file created previously can be selected. Once loaded, only the image is displayed.

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The population file and the coverage map to analyze can be defined by selecting Parameters \ external

files :

The Coverage and Filter tab is used in order

to define which coverage needs to be

analyzed during the population analysis.

The coverage is defined by clicking on

Change, and then selecting the proper FLD

file.

If wanted, an additional filter an a specific

area can be taken into account, if previously

defined by left clicking on the map :

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The PopLoc tab is used in order to specify the

location of the population file to analyze. The

structure of the file is the following :

The population file also be manually modified

or populated by clicking on Edit.

4.5.2 Results The population analysis can be launched by left clicking on the map, Population Analysis. It can be

launched on the entire map or limited to a filter previously defined.

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Specify the location and the name of the comma separted value

(CSV) file, in which the statiscal analysis will be saved.

This file can be analyszed in other tools such as Excel.

Specify the location and the name of the comma separted value

(CSV) file, in which the list of polated area covered will be saved.

This file can be analyszed in other tools such as Excel

Once the analysis is performed, HerTZ Mapper displays a pointer at each populated place that has been

analyzed. An overall statistical analysis of the covered/non-covered places is also displayed.

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When the user selects a category of the population (Female < 15 for instance), clicking on the Chart tab will

automatically display the corresponding covered/Non covered graph :

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4.6 Comparison between Measurement data and the HerTZ Mapper simulation

(not available in Free Mode) HerTZ Mapper can also compare its field strength simulation with measurement data. This data is provided

using the following format :

In order to do, open HerTZ Mapper in coverage and profile mode.

Then go to Files \ Open FLD :

Select the coverage file with which the measurement has to be correlated :

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Once open, make a left click on the coverage, and select the Compare with Survey Data option :

The user specifies the parameters of the ASCII with which he wants to

compare the HerTZ Mapper simulation :

Coordinate code of the coordinates (decimal degrees, DMS,

UTM)

The column separator (, ; .)

An offset in order to convert the measured data into dBV/m

(from dBm to dBV/m for instance)

The user then defies the accuracy the coordinates specified by a GPS

for instance.

The HerTZ Mapper prediction is displayed in red,

The measured data is displayed in blue.

It also possible to display the difference between both (result in green)

in order to evaluate the correlation coefficient within 6dB.

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5 Printing & Reporting

Upon completion of an analysis it is possible to print out the results in various ways, some examples are

possible with the Demo version:

5.1 Printing the entire map Use Files Menu select Print / to BMP or to Device

This prints the image shown on the screen to a BMP image file; this contains only the image for use in your

own template.

Alternatively by printing to a device (printer) Titles, palette and scale are included on the printout:

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5.2 Printing a specific area If the whole map area is not required then by clicking on the map a drop down menu appears, select Area

Selection

Then you can select to print to bmp or a device, the area to be printed is selected by dragging a square with

the mouse.

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6 Review of Menus & Functions

6.1 File Menu Close project: closes the current project

Open FLD: allows selecting a calculated coverage and displays it

Open profile: allows selecting a calculated profile and displays it

Import survey data: displays measurements over the map and converts it into coverage

Print: prints current image as a BMP file or to a standard printer

Quit: closes HerTZ Mapper

6.2 Parameters Menu Engineering parameters: sets the receiver antenna height, frequency and gain for coverage (not

availab e in Free Mode) and line of sight simulations, as well as the propagation models (not

availab e in Free Mode) that will be used.

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Cross locator: shows a cross on both the DTM and Image to facilitate location

Overlay intensity: changes the loaded overlay appearance

Output Grid: changes the grid system that is displayed, a wide range of worldwide standard grids

are catered for, including 4NGR, 4DMS, 4DEC, 4UTN, etc.

DTM resampling: modifies the topographic information (by reasampling) for faster calculation

Legend: changes the options for threshold levels and colors, and allows writing a legend before

printing

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6.3 Network Menu Load network: opens a saved network (.Iin file)

Save Network: saves the current network as a .lin file

Import site: helps the import of existing site from a simple text file with the format Id, name, Grid

system, X coordinate, Y coordinate (not available in Free Mode)

Site parameters: rapid access to the parameters of each site (not availab e in Free Mode) l

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Import FCC FM station: imports stations from FCC standard database (not availab e in Free

Mode)

Import FCC Fm diags.: imports diagrams from FCC standard database (not availab e in Free

Mode)

Coverage: allows performing composite coverage and best server as described above. (not

availab e in Free Mode)

6.4 Utilities Menu (not available in Free Mode)

lntermodulation: permits calculation of intermodulation products generated by a number of

frequencies

Geoconverter: provides a tools to perform coordinates conversions

Generate profile: allows creating a terrain profile when the digital topographic data is not available

GPS: activates the connection to a GPS for real time positioning on the map

6.5 View Menu Zoom in/out: changes the display of the selected view

Palette: modifies the current color palette

Profile: opens a small window that will give a profile preview

Redisplay: refreshes the selected view

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6.6 Popup menu (after a click on the map) Overlay FLD: displays coverage from a .fld file in transparency over the map

Remove FLD: removes the current coverage overlay

Full resolution: displays the image in 1:1 resolution

Area selection: allows selecting an area, to cut the project, or print only a part of it

Set as origin: considers the clicked point as the origin for the distance (dist) display in the status bar

Add site: adds a new transmitter

Add subscriber: allows subscriber to be added and managed. Permitting some analysis such as

intervisibility.

Change map: proposes all the available maps at that location, permitting change to a different scale

image if this is available.

Find Highest Point (on DTM menu): locates highest point within set radial distance of cursor

point.

6.7 FLD Menus After opening an FLD (i.e. a coverage) you can perform different network analysis (click on the map):

Intervisibility - Composite coverage - CCIR Line of sight - lnterference - Simulcast: analyses

of existing transmitters FLD (coverage) and creates new composite FLD that can then be displayed

over the map (not available in Free Mode)

Compare with survey Data: asks you for a measurement file, displays the measurements over the

FLD and shows a table comparing measurements and simulation (not availab e in Free Mode) l

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Display type: changes the current display (not availab e in Free Mode)

Delete from disk: deletes the FLD from your computer (not availab e in Free Mode)

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6.8 Measurement menu (not available in Free Mode) This menu allows you to display the measurement campaign over a map. This menu is a standard cartographic

interface for Audemat MC3 field measurer.

When clicking on the map, you will have the following options:

Overlay measurement: displays a measurement campaign over the map

Remove measurement: removes the measurement

Overlay FLD: displays coverage in transparency over the map

Remove FLD: removes the current coverage

Full resolution: displays the image in 1:1 resolution

Change map: proposes all the available maps at that location

6.9 Customer Care Menu (not available in Free Mode) This menu allows access to the analysis of demographic data. HerTZ Mapper can integrate a demographic file

containing complete population data and then compare network coverage to the distribution of population or

other data.

Moreover, for better management of final client needs, HerTZ Mapper includes an automatic city search tool,

and the ability to modify the area to be considered using polygons. Reports can be created to co-ordinate

onsite operation and provide client feed back.

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IntroductionInstalling the softwareStarting the softwareProject managementCartographic environmentSetting up a transmitterSetting up general simulation parametersPerforms radio calculationsPlotting a site coveragePlotting a path profilePlotting Line of SightAnalysis of CoverageComposite coverageBest server coverageRecoverageOther AnalysisPopulation analysisComparison between Measurement data and the HerTZ Mapper simPrinting & ReportingPrinting the entire mapPrinting a specific areaReview of Menus & FunctionsFile MenuParameters MenuNetwork MenuUtilities MenuView MenuPopup menu (after a click on the map)FLD MenusMeasurement menuCustomer Care Menu