NETWORK

VIEWER

USER GUIDE

Contents
1.0 Overview
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

Overview
Welcome Screen
Release Version
Supported Vendors and File Extensions

2.0 Basic Navigation

2.1
2.2
2.3

Navigation
Zooming
The Overview Tab

3.0 Loading Surveys

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

File Types & Loading Files

Mapping Fields
Colouring Fields
Managing Loaded Surveys

4.0 Survey Analysis

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11

Survey Tab
Replaying Surveys
Survey Links
Height Tab
Active Survey Summary
Survey Filter
Survey Cell List
Layer 3 Tab
Calls Tab
Grids, Graphs & Histograms
SC/ BCCH Colours

5.0 Add-Ins
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6

Configuring Add-Ins
ABCS Add-In
Cell Neighbours Add-In
Cell Interference Add-In
Cell Remover Add-In
Crossed Feeder Add-In

6.0 Displaying Networks

6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4

Default Networks
Tessellation
Display Filters
Search Tool

7.0 Report Generation

7.1
7.2

Optimisation Reporter Add-In

Printing

Appendix 1:

Abbreviations & Definitions

Appendix 2:

Quick Hints & Tips List

Appendix 3:

Cell Neighbours Add-In Fields and

Measurements

Appendix 4:

Cell Interference Add-In Fields and Settings

Appendix 5:

Crossed Feeder Add-In Fields and Default

Thresholds

1.0 Overview
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4

Contents Page

Overview
Welcome Screen
Release Version
Supported Vendors and File Types

1.1 Overview
Back to 1.0 (Overview)
Network Viewer is primarily a drive survey analysis tool.
It can be used to display, replay and analyse measurements taken with both handsets and
scanner kits, for both GSM and UMTS technologies.
The application can show:
Signal strength and quality
Layer 3 Messaging
Call events both Layer 3 and vendor specific events
There are various ways of viewing & displaying, arranging & analysing, reporting &
summarising data obtained from survey files: Network Viewer is predominately a GIS tool,
allowing survey data to be visualized on the map.
The main window in Network Viewer by default shows the map, the network and the overview
tab.

Figure 1.1.1

Network Viewer

1.2 Welcome Screen

Back to 1.0 (Overview)
The Welcome Screen appears the first time that Network Viewer is opened after installation.
It contains details of new features, updates, and bug fixes in the currently installed release of
Network Viewer
The Welcome screen includes a link to Network Viewer support
site (on Blarney), and a tick box that allows the user to see the
welcome screen on following start-ups of Network Viewer
The welcome screen can also be seen by selecting:
HelpWelcome Screen

Figure 1.2.1

Figure 1.2.2 Welcome Screen

1.3 Release Version

Back to 1.0 (Overview)
The HelpAbout menu contains the release details of the installed version of Network
Viewer.

The current release of Network Viewer is 5.10 (as of 19/01/2010)

Figure 1.3.1

HelpAbout

Figure 1.3.2

About Dialog

1.4 Supported Vendors and File Types

Back to 1.0 (Overview)
Network Viewer supports the file formats shown below, from the following vendors:

Vendor

File Types Supported

Rohde & Schwarz

.rscmd
.asc
.cmd
TEMS
,fmt
Nemo
.dt(x)
.fs(x)
Focus Infocom
.cvd
Ascom
.qvd
Figure 1.4.1 Supported File Table

2.0 Basic Navigation

2.1
2.2
2.3

Contents Page

Navigation
Zooming
The Overview Tab

2.1 Navigation
Back to 2.0 (Basic Navigation)
There are 3 main ways to navigate around the map in Network Viewer:
In Pan-mode, click on the map and drag the mouse around.
In Point-select mode, click on the map, press space-bar and drag the mouse around.
Navigate using the Overview Tab
Select Bar

Point-Select mode
The Select Bar is set to Point-Select mode by default.

This mode allows one to select & de-select BTS objects on the
map:
To navigate around the map, select Pan-mode and click and
drag the mouse to move around the map.

Pan-mode
One can also navigate around the map in Point -select mode by clicking on the map, pressing
space-bar and dragging the mouse around.

2.2 Zooming
Back to 2.0 (Basic Navigation)
Navigate Bar

The set of maps loaded by default in

Network Viewer are OS 1:50000 scale
maps.

The Select New Scale dropdown list

can be used to zoom in or out:

The scales in the Select New Scale drop-down list are

multiples or factors of the map scale.
It is best to stick to these scale factors where possible
because the resolution of the map drawn will be more
appropriate.

The Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons

will automatically zoom in and out to these scales.

The Free Zoom Mode button

can be used to zoom to a selected area. The magnification level will be set automatically to fit
the area of the map selected onto the screen. This may result in reduced map quality.
TheZoom 1:1 button

Zooms to the loaded maps default reslotion (1:50000) and centres on the current map centre

2.3 The Overview Tab

Back to 2.0 (Basic Navigation)
The Overview Tab can be
used to quickly navigate to
anywhere on the map.
The red box shows the
area of the map currently
shown in the main map
window.
This will increase or
decrease according to the
zoom level in the main
window
The red box can be
dragged to anywhere on
the country

1.0

Figure 1.3.1 Overview Tab

Setting Up Views
It is also possible to customise the Overview Tab with custom Overview windows, different
Views:

Click on the

Select Pre-Sets"Define"View 1

This will set the current display in the main window to View 1

button at the top-right of the overview tab window.

Figure 1.3.2

Setting Up Views

One can also edit and rename View 1 here, for example:
Once the view is set up it will appear in blue.
One can also click on the view in the Overview Tab, and the
map in the main window will automatically jump to that location
and zoom level detailed in the view.

Figure 1.3.3

Editing Views

It is also possible to select different Overviews. This will change the Overview display window
itself. One can select fixed overviews, or define ones own in the same way as shown above
for views (e.g. by selecting Overviews"Define"Overview 1 instead of Pre-Sets.

Figure 1.3.4 Fixed Overview of Ireland

3.0 Loading Surveys

3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4

Contents Page

File Types & Loading Files

Mapping Fields
Colouring Fields
Managing Loaded Surveys

3.1 File Types & Loading Files

Back to 3.0 (Loading Surveys)
To load a file in Network Viewer:
Click on the

icon and browse to the location of the survey.

Remember to select the type of survey you wish to load, or select All Files;
Select the survey and load it
If you have the survey file you can also drag it into Network Viewer and it will load.

3.2 Mapping Fields

Back to 3.0 (Loading Surveys)

Survey Tab and Grids

The survey tab can be used to map fields onto the map or onto a graph, and can also be used
to analyse the values of the selected fields as the survey is replayed.

Figure 3.2.1

Survey Tab

The survey tree contains all of the fields for

which there is data in the survey. These fields
will vary according to the type of equipment that
was used for the survey.
It is possible to load surveys with measurements
from various technologies (GSM or UMTS) - and
in some cases multiple handsets - into Network
Viewer.
Any fields with measurements taken in the active
survey will appear in the survey tree.
The survey tree will show Handset and scanner
data for 2G and/or 3G depending on what data
exists in the file.

Figure 3.2.2 Survey Tree

3.3 Colouring Fields

Back to 3.0 (Loading Surveys)
Certain fields are coloured by default in Network Viewer (such as EcIo, RSCP, RXLEV,
RXQUAL etc).
It is also possible however to modify colours, add new colour schemes, and save colour
settings as they change.
If a field is coloured then the field will appear in the Survey Tree in Green.
Otherwise (i.e. if there is data in the survey file but the field has no colours set up) then the
field will appear in Black.

Figure 3.3.1

Survey Tab with coloured fields in Green

To set up a fields colours simply double-click the field.

Colours can be set up by band (e.g. RSCP thresholds form bands of signal strength, from
strong to poor):

Figure 3.3.2

Measurement banded colour settings

Or by event (i.e. measurements that have specific values protocol events (layer 3
messages) or call events such as dropped calls are examples of these):

Figure 3.3.3

Call event colour settings

It is also possible to displace, or offset the drive survey

measurements on the map in this window.
This allows one to see measurements of different data on
the map for the same drive survey (e.g. displaying EcIo
and RSCP together):

Figure 3.3.4

Displaying RSCP and EcIo values together

3.4 Managing Loaded Surveys

Back to 3.0 (Loading Surveys)
Select FileMaintain Surveys or press F4, to open the Maintain Surveys dialog.
From here one can see all of the surveys that are loaded, and can select which of the loaded
surveys will be the Active survey.

Figure 3.4.1

Maintain Surveys

It is also possible to offset surveys, in the event that there are 2 surveys along the same
route.
See section 3.3 (Colouring Fields) for more about offsetting

Figure 3.4.2

Maintain Surveys Dialog

In the Maintain Surveys dialog:

The Active survey is shown. By default, the last survey loaded is the active survey.
Surveys can be made invisible without deleting them entirely. Surveys are visible by
default.
Surveys can be removed if required.
Survey samples can be offset from their original position/ location using the X
Correct and Y Correct columns. These are measured in metres north and east of
the original sample point.

4.0 Survey Analysis

4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11

Contents Page

Survey Tab
Replaying Surveys
Survey Links
Height Tab
Active Survey Summary
Survey Filter
Survey Cell List
Layer 3 Tab
Calls Tab
Grids, Graphs & Histograms
SC/ BCCH Colours

4.1 Survey Tab

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)

Figure 4.1.1

Survey Tab

4.2 Replaying Surveys

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)

Player Bar

Figure 4.2.1

Player Bar

With the Player Bar one can:

Step Forwards/ Backwards
Edit Record Number
Jump to Survey Time
Play Forwards/ Backwards
Adjust Playing Speed

As well as directly using the

player bar to navigate through
samples in a survey, you can
select any point of a survey on
the map and Network Viewer will
jump to that survey point

Figure 4.2.2
Survey Points

Jumping to

The Calls Tab and Layer 3 Tab also exhibit this behaviour; in that one can select a record or
entry in the tab and Network Viewer will jump to the associated point in the Active Survey:

Figure 4.2.3

Jumping to survey points with the Layer 3 Tab

4.3 Survey Links

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)
Survey links are lines drawn by Network Viewer from a sample record that is displayed on the
map to a cell in the loaded network file.
Links to serving and neighbour cells can be drawn for surveys with UE data.
Links to cells can be drawn for each recorded channel with Scanner data.
The way in which Network Viewer derives which cell to link to depends on the type of link
being drawn.
It is worth noting that the integrity of the assumptions used in generating the survey links
depends upon how recently the survey in question was carried out. If the survey is not recent,

then there are likely to have been changes to the network since the survey was carried out
(e.g. scramble code changes) and survey links may therefore point to wrong cells.
Links are setup in Configure" Surveys"Survey Cell Links

Figure 4.3.1
Configure Surveys

Figure 4.3.2 Configuring Survey Links

Link to Serving Cell

UMTS serving cell
links are derived from
the UARFCN and
Scramble Code
measured for the
selected drive survey
sample.
Of the corresponding
cells in the network
file (i.e. with the same
UARFCN & SC as that
measured), the
closest cell is chosen
as the cell to link to.
Figure 4.3.3

UMTS Survey Links

As stated above, the integrity of this assumption and hence the links will depend upon
how recently the survey was carried out.
GSM serving cell
links are derived
from the CGI (MCC,
MNC, LAC, CI) &
the BCCH
frequency
measured for the
selected drive
survey sample.
Again, the closest
matching cell is
chosen.
Figure 4.3.4
GSM Survey Links

Link to Neighbour Cells

With UMTS surveys it is possible to link to Monitored/ Detected Set cells, as well as the GSM
Neighbour cells (associated with Inter-System Adjacencies), provided there are
measurements for these fields in the drive survey.
With GSM surveys it is possible to link to all of the measured neighbours in the BA list again
providing that there is data in these fields in the file.

Link to Cells with Scanner Data

It is also possible to display links to the cells associated with the data for any of the recorded
channels in a scanner file.

4.4 Height Tab

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)
Terrain Profiles can be viewed and analysed using the Height Tab.
A clear picture of what the terrain surrounding a site looks like can be generated quickly and
easily, using the <SHIFT> key.

Figure 4.4.1

Terrain Profiling with the Height Tab

You can hold the <SHIFT> key down and move the mouse between two points on the map
to see a terrain profile.
You can also first select a BTS, and then hold the <SHIFT> key down and move the
mouse to your desired location, to see the terrain profile from that BTS.
The Height Tab can be used in two different ways:
2D Rendering, for viewing the terrain profile of a sites surrounding area, LOS (Line
Of Sight) analysis, and showing height above sea-level.
3D Rendering, for land usage/ clutter - distinct ranges of values are set for different
kinds of clutter.
It is possible to show Fresnel zones & Earth curvature in 2D mode:
This will aid in optimising sites and highlighting potential transmission difficulties that might
arise from these factors.

Figure 4.4.2
2D Terrain Profile with Fresnel zone

3D rendering shows the clutter of the area immediately surrounding a point chosen on the
Network Viewer map.

Figure 4.4.3.

3D Rendering with Clutter Legend

To modify the rendering and various other options, select:

ConfigureNetViewerHeight

Figure 4.4.4.

Height Tab Display Options

4.5 Active Survey Summary

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)

Figure 4.5.1

Active Survey Summary Button

The Active Survey Summary outlines essential details about the current Active Survey,
including:
Date
Measurement System (i.e. R&S, Focus Infocom, Nemo etc)
Geographical area covered by survey
Speech & Data call summary (for UE/MS)
Equipment used in survey (i.e. UE/MS, Scanner)

Figure 4.5.2

Active Survey Summary Screen

4.6 Survey Filter

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)
The Survey Filter allows you to select specific combinations of BCCH/ BSIC or UARFCN/ SC
and show where they have been measured on the map.
The following example shows how one might plot the samples for which the UARFCN/ SC
combination of 10588/ 320 was recorded in any one of the 4 strongest ECIO signals for a 3G
Scanner drive:

Figure 4.4.1

Survey Filter

When the Survey Filter is applied, the icon changes; From blue:
To red:

The Survey Tabs Maps Tab area also turns orange when the Survey
Filter is active:

Figure 4.4.2

Figure 4.4.3

UMTS Scanner drive without Survey Filter applied

UMTS Scanner drive with Survey Filter applied on 10588/ 320

The Survey Filter allows one to filter over any number of channels for which there is data in
the survey. The Select All button configures the filter to show all measurements of the
chosen UARFCN/ SC combinations found in the survey.
It is also possible to set up more than one combination of BCCH/ BSIC or UARFCN/ SC, and
also to set up the filter to accept a range of values:

If the Survey Filter is applied to the UMTS UE or GSM UE, the Serving Cell, Neighbours/
Active, Monitored & Detected Sets are able to be filtered (i.e. UE equivalents to scanner
channels).
GSM UE:

UMTS UE:

4.7 Survey Cell List

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)

Figure 4.7.1

Survey Cell List Button

The Survey Cell List outlines all the cells that have featured as serving cell in the survey, and
shows:
UARFCN/ SC pairs for all 3G cells in survey
BCCH/BSIC pairs for all 2G cells in survey
The list can be used with both UE and scanner data

Figure 4.7.2

The Survey Filter can also be used in conjunction with the Survey Cell List.

Survey Cell List

4.8 Layer 3 Tab

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)
The Layer 3 Tab allows one to see all of the Layer 3 messages recorded on a UE during the
active survey.

Figure 4.8.1

Layer 3 Tab

A brief summary of all L3 Messages for the drive survey are displayed in the lower section of
the Layer 3 Tab.
When a single L3 message is selected, the information it contains appears in the upper
section of the tab dialogue.

A summary of the key data in the message is highlighted in blue in this section, and the ras
Hexadecimal values for the reported messages appear in red.
All of the message details can be obtained by drilling down through this top section.
Any further manipulation of the L3 messages can be achieved using the drop down menu
button:

Figure 4.8.2

Layer 3 Tab Drop-down Menu Button

Colouring Messages
You can highlight individual Layer 3 messages to make them more visible, or choose to
colour the text of entire Layer 3 protocols:

Figure 4.8.3

Choosing Layer 3 Message Colouring Options

Figure 4.8.4

Layer 3 Messages highlighted, and Protocols text coloured

Filtering Messages
The Message Filter can be used to show certain messages recorded in the survey:

Figure 4.8.5

Layer 3 Filter Settings

Filter settings can be saved. Click MoreSave as and give the filter a name:

Figure 4.8.5

Saving Layer 3 Filters

4.9 Calls Tab

UE Only
Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)

The Calls Tab presents a summary of every call within a drive survey, providing a success
or fail status to each, and highlighting areas of poor radio conditions.
Calls are broken down into their constituent parts by the equipment manufacturers event
markers. Manufacturer events include:
Infocom events
TEMS events
Ascom events
Nemo events
The top section of the calls tab shows the calls and events associated with each call.
The bottom section of the calls tab lists the areas of poor radio conditions encountered during
the drive survey. Details of these conditions and their duration can be seen clearly on the map
when one clicks on an entry in this list.
Beginning of dropped call:

Failed/ problematic calls appear in red

RSCP > -97dB and ECIO < -9.5dB for

250m (leading to dropped call):

Figure 4.9.1

Calls Tab

4.10 Grids, Graphs & Histograms

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)
The Survey Tab enables one to display survey data in many different ways.

Values & Map Tabs

The Values Tab allows users to see and analyse sample data as the survey is replayed.
The Map Tab allows users to plot survey data on the map.

Figure 4.10.1

Survey Tab with UMTS Channels Histogram and Data in Values Tab

If any field is selected in the Values Tab, all of the data in the active survey for that field will
also appear in the UMTS Grid. This enables one to easily see all the data in a survey for any
given kind of information.
Data in the UMTS Grid can be saved into a text file, or copied - and pasted into an Excel
spreadsheet for example.

Figure 4.10.2

Data from Values Tab shown in UMTS Grid Tab

Graph Tab
The Graph Tab can also be used to display data and analyse surveys.
Fields with data in the survey can be dragged into the Graph Tab in the same way as values
or map data.
The graph ranges and values can be set up as the user wishes using the Graph Settings
button:

Histograms
The UMTS Channels and GSM Channels histograms show RSCP or ECIO measurements for
the Serving cell, Neighbours (GSM UE) or Active, Monitored and Detected sets (UMTS UE),
or for any scanner channels for which there are measurements.

Figure 4.10.4

GSM Channels Histogram

Figure 4.10.3

Graph showing GSM UE RXLEV vs Scanner RXLEV

Scanner Groups
Scanner Groups allow the user to set up how Network Viewer displays data from different
scanner channels.
Scanner groups can be accessed, set up and modified in:
ConfigureSurveysGeneral

Figure 4.10. 5

Configure Surveys General

Selecting the Default button will set up the scanner groups as follows.
UMTS Defaults:

Figure 4.10.6 UMTS Scanner Group Default Settings

Figure 4.10. 7

UMTS Scanner Group Default Setup

GSM Defaults:

Figure 4.10. 8

GSM Scanner Group Default Settings

The UMTS Channels Histogram will show the RSCP or ECIO for the channels in the groups
selected. This can be configured to show the scanner channels as the user wishes:

Figure 4.10. 9

UMTS Channels histogram showing All Scanner Groups

Figure 4.10. 10 UMTS Channels histogram showing measurements on All channels, grouped
together and ordered by signal strength

Figure 4.10.11 UMTS Channels histogram showing ONLY T-Mobile and 3 Scanner Groups

4.11 SC/ BCCH Colours

Back to 4.0 (Survey Analysis)
Both measurement values and the cells in the network can be coloured by SC/ BCCH.
The network cell colours can be easily configured to use the same colour scheme as that of
the scanner or UE measurement colours for SC/ BCCH.
Drive survey scrambling code colours are set up in the same way as any other field, with the
addition of the Options button in the Event Tab:

Figure 4.11.1

Figure 4.11. 2

UMTS Scanner Scramble Code Colours

UMTS Scanner sample colouring by SC Options

The option button allows you to choose between allocating unique colours for each SC, or
allocating repeated blocks of 16 colours.
It is still possible to set up colours for individual scramble codes, as you might with any
other field.

Figure 4.11. 3

UMTS Scanner sample colouring by SC

Colouring the cells in the network by SC can be achieved in

ConfigurenetViewerNetwork
By choosing the same colour scheme as that chosen for the drive survey SC colours, one
can more easily analyse drive surveys with reference to SC:

Figure 4.11.4

Configure netViewer Network

e
Figure 4.11.5 Colouring Cells by SC

Figure 4.11.6

Samples and Cells coloured by SC

This principle can also be applied for BCCH colouring in 2G:

Figure 4.11.7

Colouring by BCCH

5.0 Add-Ins
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6

Contents Page

Configuring Add-Ins
ABCS Add-In
Cell Neighbours Add-In
Cell Interference Add-In
Cell Remover Add-In
Crossed Feeder Add-In

5.1 Configuring Add-Ins

Back to 5.0 (Add-Ins)
Many Network Viewer features are supported via the Addin infrastructure
To load an Addin:
Configure Add-Ins
Click New
Select the AddIn you wish to Load (e.g. Cell Interference
Addin)
Click Open

Figure 5.1.1

Loading add-Ins

Addins can be removed & reloaded as required

It is important for some Addins to be removed when not in use, as they may make Network
Viewer unresponsive (e.g. The ABCS Add-in, which connects Network Viewer to the ABCS
Configuration Database, will slow Network Viewer down)
It may be necessary to reload an Addin e. g. If the Network Viewer settings change or a new
version of the application is rolled out.

5.2 ABCS Add-In

Back to 5.0 (Add-Ins)
The ABCS Add-In connects to the ABCS database to show full cell parameter settings for 2G
& 3G (depending on the cell selected on the map)
The connection to ABCS times out after short period of inactive use, and re-connects again
when a cell is re-selected.
The full parameter sets for 2G and 3G cells are supported, including:
FMC, ADJ & HOP parameters
3G neighbours now defined by ADJ type (i.e. ADJS, ADJI, ADJG) and are coloured in
different colours to 2G neighbours

Figure 5.2.1

2G Parameter Data in ABCS Add-In

The ABCS Addin should be removed once finished with (to prevent background connections
to ABCS whenever cells are selected)

The ABCS Add-In can be also be configured to highlight defined internal/external neighbour
relationships for selected cell in ABCS (using the Colour Neighbours check box).
2G Neighbours are coloured:

n
n

Light Green for Internal Neighbours

Dark Green for External Neighbours

3G Adjacencies are coloured:

n
n

Orange for 3G-3G Adjacencies

Pink for 3G-2G Adjacencies

Figure 5.2.2

ABCS Add-In showing UMTS cells

5.3 Cell Neighbours Add-In

Back to 5.0 (Add-Ins)
The Neighbours Add-In is a tool that enables the automated analysis of UMTS scanner files
to identify missing neighbour relationships, based upon:
Serving & neighbour ECIO levels.
Distance between server & potential neighbour.
The Add-In can show all the samples in a drive survey where the neighbour measurements
met the threshold requirements, and can also be used to determine where an existing
neighbour relationship may be unnecessary.
The Add-In:
Uses configurable thresholds to find suggested neighbours.
Gives a geographic display of suggestions.
Displays locations of samples in survey where neighbour was measured.
Allows exporting to file.
Checks ABCS configuration management database to filter already defined
neighbours and to suggest a list of missing neighbours.
Cells are identified by:
Scramble code at the date of the drive survey.
Distance between the suggested neighbours.
UMTS cells are estimated - based on Scramble codes. The system uses ABCS configuration
data to check scramble codes at the date of the survey (in case of SC changes)
GSM cells are estimated based on BCCH.
To load a drive survey file into the Add-In:
Click File->Load Survey.
Select the Scanner file to be analyzed
Go to the Neighbours tab and click on the ellipsis button () to select the same
Scanner file.
Click the process button.
Select the relationship in the list.
Click the centre cell button.
Click the Select Cell and the Sel. Neigh buttons
Click the All Samples button to show the samples where the neighbour was
measured.
Hide those neighbours already defined in ABCS by checking the Defined off box.
Sort the results by any column by clicking the column header

Figure 5.3.1 Cell Neighbours Add-In

5.4 Cell Interference Add-In

Back to 5.0 (Add-Ins)
The Cell Interference AddIn:
Can be loaded in conjunction with a survey containing UMTS Scanner data.
Is only to be used with EcIo measurements.
Gives information about:
o Serving Cell
o Soft Handover Cells
o Interfering Cell(s)
Can be used to analyse Network Performance in terms of interference from IntraNetwork UMTS cell-sites.
Can be used to simulate how changes to an antennas Electrical Tilt might benefit
Network Performance.
Can only show electrical tilt changes where drive survey data is present.
Is NOT a standalone Cell I/F modelling tool; it will ONLY show changes on the area
driven. Predictions should always be re-calculated using PegaPlan.
The Cell I/F Add-In allows the analysis of results of UMTS drive surveys with respect to
interfering cells.
It can process Drive Survey results and display:
The serving cell for any given measurement.
The two most likely soft handover cells.
All other interfering cells.
The Add-in can then simulate the effects of changes in Electrical Tilt upon interfering cells
within a drive survey.
The Cell I/F Add-In can be used with respect to Drive Tests carried out with Scanners ONLY,
The channel with the strongest EcIo value will be the channel corresponding to the SC
associated with the serving cell. i.e. The cell with the highest EcIo is the serving cell.
To Load the AddIn:
Click Configure"Add-Ins"New
Select CellInterference.nva from C:\Program Files\Network Viewer\AddIns
Click Open
To Use

the AddIn:
Load a survey file containing scanner data into Network Viewer
Load the same survey into the Cell Interference AddIn
Click the Process button.

The Cell I/F results are shown in two sections:

Blue columns show EcIo values for each bin area, including:
The serving cell & primary interfering cell and the distance between them.
The soft handover cells.
Specific samples in the bin are viewed by double-clicking on the entry.

The Black columns show tilt values and antenna part numbers, as well as showing the
number of samples for which any given cell is recorded as being the interfering cell.
The samples can be ordered by any column in ascending or descending order by clicking the
appropriate tab.
The triangle shows how the results are ordered.

The Electrical Tilt field can be modified between the integer values 0-8 for each cell.
These values represent the different levels of Electrical Tilt available.
The modified value will show up red in the Cell I/F results table.
The original value will be marked by an asterisk* in the drop down list.
Once the appropriate value is chosen, click Process Tilt to apply the simulated change.
Once processed, modified-Electrical-Tilt results appear offset from the actual Drive Survey
results.
The processed results show how changes in antennas electrical tilts can improve
interference.

If antenna tilts are changed & processed again, the new changes will be shown against the
original Drive Survey results
Specific cells tilt changes can be vi ewed using the SC Filter.

5.5 Cell Remover Add-In

Back to 5.0 (Add-Ins)
Cell Remover Add-In
The Cell Remover Addin is a Consolidation Tool, designed to provide an estimate of
the reduction in EcIo that a drive survey would have experienced, had certain cells
been removed
2.
The addin works in a similar way to the Cell Interference Addin, in that it generates a
new drive survey based on the recalculated values, offset from the original results
The addin will work for any survey with 3G scanner measurements

Figure 5.5.1

Cell Remover Add-In

Figure 5.5.2 Loading Cell Remover Add-In

Figure 5.5.3

Cell Remover Add-In Screenshot

5.6 Crossed Feeder Add-In

Back to 5.0 (Add-Ins)
The Crossed Feeder Add-In:
Is an analysis tool for detecting unexpected Rx power levels
Analyses scanner data in order to determine sites with potentially crossed downlink
feeders
Checks ABCS for SC config at time of survey
Enables the export of lists of potentially crossed feeders to file
Uses adjustable thresholds to include measurements according to power levels: Both
ECIO and RSCP levels.
The Crossed Feeder Add-In gives information about the antenna azimuth & the most common
bearing, and the difference between them
The Add-In requires representative surveys with many samples - throughout the radiating
area of the entire cell site in order to ensure a higher probability that crossed feeder sites
are accurately determined.
To use

the AddIn:
Load the drive survey file
Ensure all the thresholds are set to the correct levels:
Click the Process button

Suspected crossed feeder sites are shown in red

When Only suspected is checked, only suspects are listed by the add-in.
The SC Filter can be applied to view potential Crossed Feeder sites.

Figure 5.6.1 Crossed Feeder Add-In Map View

Figure 5.6.2

Crossed Feeder Add-In Dialog

6.0 Displaying Networks

6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4

Contents Page

Default Networks
Tesselation
Display Filters
Search Tool

6.1 Default Networks

Back to 6.0 (Displaying Networks)
Network data is displayed using Network Files (text files). Networks are displayed with cells
represented by wedges, oriented around the BTS location.
The default networks loaded in Network Viewer are:
Network 1:
T-MobileGSM
Network 2:
T-MobileUMTS
Network 3:
H3UK_UMTS

Figure 6.1.1
wedges

Default Network s represented as

The loaded networks configuration can be viewed and modified in ConfigureNetworks:

Figure 6.1.2

Configuring Networks

Network appearance (colour, labels, BTS radius) can also be modified, in Configure "
netViewerNetwork:

Figure 6.1.3

Modify Network Colours and Labels

6.2 Tessellation
Back to 6.0 (Displaying Networks)
By default networks are displayed with cells represented by wedges, oriented around the BTS
location.
It is also possible to display networks as a Voronoi diagram, with cells represented by
tesselated shapes based on the theoretical cell distance:

Figure 6.2.1

Tesselated GSM Network (also coloured by LAC)

Figure 6.2.2

Displaying a Tessellated Network

6.3 Display Filters

Back to 6.0 (Displaying Networks)
It is possible to create display filters to colour the cells in the loaded network(s) by any kind of
data.
It is easy to set up display filters based on any data in the network file:

Select the filed you wish to display by, and name the
Display Filter. Once created, you can SELECT the
query and load the Network data with the new display
filter into Network Viewer.

Figure 6.3.1

Setting up a simple Display Filter

Figure 6.3.2

GSM network coloured by BCCH

It is also possible to create ones own Display Filters by creating user-generated text files
from other data.

6.4 Search Tool

Back to 6.0 (Displaying Networks)
The Find Tool in Network Viewer
currently loaded network file

allows the user to search by any field in the

This is particularly useful, for example, with the new T-MobileGSM network where one can
now search by TCH_CHANNELS:

Figure 6.3.1

Searching by TCH_CHANNELS

The search results will show which cells use the TCH Channel searched for, and will also
show the distance from the BTS selected at the time of the search:

Figure 6.3.2

TCH_CHANNELS search results, by distance from selected BTS

If no BTS was selected the Distance will not be shown

The Find Dialog works in this way for any (or all) of the fields in the appropriate Network File

7.0 Report Generation

7.1
7.2

Contents Page

Optimisation Reporter Add-In

Printing

7.1 Optimisation Reporter Add-In

Back to 7.0 (Report Generation)
The Optimisation Reporter Add-In allows one to automatically generate an Excel based report
of one or multiple surveys.

Figure 7.1.1

Optimisation Reporter Tab Screen

It is possible to generate the following kinds of report:

UMTS 3G Report
GSM 2G Report
Combined 2G/3G Report
The appropriate Excel Template for the report style chosen will be loaded.
It is also possible to select scanner groups for 3G and 2G (if applicable, and if the user
wishes)
One can also add Before and After Drive Survey files to be processed by the reporter Add-in,
and do before and after analyses of surveys taken before and after some optimisation work
on a cell or cluster of cells.
The generated report will include a summary page of the data in the survey(s), such as length
of the survey and time spent on 2G/ 3G, as well as call successes and failures.

Figure 7.1.2

Example report Summary page

There are also Charts, Events, and Layer 3 message sections of the report.

Figure 7.1.3

Charts page of Optimisation Reporter report

7.2 Printing
Back to 7.0 (Report Generation)

Network Viewer has a printing

setup and options section.
Select FilePrint Preview to
setup and modify printing
options:

Figure 7.2.1

Print Dialog

Apply Comments & Legend

as required.
Set scale to WYSIWYG to
print what is shown on the
Network Viewer screen

Figure 7.2.2
Options

Figure 7.2.3

Print Scale

Print Preview using WYSIWYG scale Highest resolution

Select the lowest resolution when previewing print (faster) and highest when finally printing
(slowest)

Figure 7.2.4

Print Resolution Dialog

Appendix 1:

Abbreviations & Definitions

Contents Page

Abbreviations
RSCP = Received Signal Carrier Power
RSSI = Received Signal Strength Indicator
SC = Scrambling Code
UARFCN = UMTS Absolute Radio Frequency Number
UMTS = Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems

Definitions
EcIo = Effective Channel power/ Total Signal Power

Appendix 2:

List of Quick Hints & Tips

Contents Page

F4 = Maintain Surveys
Easy configuration & deletion of surveys; Including Active Survey selection, visibility
toggle-switch, East/North drive survey offsetting.

Appendix 3:

Cell Neighbours Add-In Fields and

Measurements
Contents Page

Fields
Cell Name/ Neighbour:
Defined:
Distance (km):
Count:
Nbr Count:
Index:

Displays cellname and scramble code for server and

neighbour.
Indicates if neighbour is already defined in ABCS.
Distance between server & neighbour.
No. of samples where neighbour is suggested.
No. of defined neighbours for cell.
Gives first record in survey where neighbour is suggested

Measurement Definitions:
EcIo:
Default 0 (-15)dBm
ECIO level required of serving cell for acceptable measurements.
RSCP:
Default = 0 (-111)dBm
Signal power level range for acceptable measurements.
Threshold (dB):
Default = 5dB
The ECIO addition window for neighbours.
(i.e. max power diff between suggested neighbours ECIO and serving cell ECIO)
Any out of range data is discarded.
For more information about the default settings for the Thresholds see CDOC 1468.

Appendix 4:

Cell Interference Add-In Fields and Settings

Contents Page

Fields
The EcIo field sets the first requirement for cells to be classified as interfering cells. At the CI
add-in default value then, any cell with an EcIo < -15dBm will not be considered as an
interferer.
The EcIo Threshold field sets the second requirement for interfering cells. The default value
of 6dBm means that only those cells with an EcIo value within 6dBm of the serving cells EcIo
value will be considered to be interfering cells.
The Addition Window field sets the requirements for soft handover cells. The default value
of 4dBm means that only those cells with an EcIo value within 4dBm of the serving cells EcIo
value will be considered as candidates for soft handover cell classification.
A maximum of two cells can be classified as soft handover cells. So for example:

If there is only one cell with EcIo values within 4dBm of the serving cells EcIo value,
then there will only be one soft handover cell.
If there are three or more cells with EcIo values within 4dBm of the serving cells EcIo
value, then the two with the highest EcIo values will be selected as the soft handover
cells and the others classified as interfering cells.

The Power/ RSSI per SC field sets an additional requirement for interfering cells. Each cell
has a SC associated with it, and the RSSI of these channels corresponding to the SCs must
be greater than the Power/ RSSI per SC for the cell to be considered as an interfering cell.
The Bin Size field refers to the size of the area in which samples are measured. The smaller
the bin size, the more accurate the results because there will be a serving cell and
(possibly) soft handover cells and interfering cells for each smaller bin, as opposed to these
same results being averaged out over a larger bin area.
The Ignore SC per Bin field is used mainly to exclude stationary samples (where the Drive
Test van is not moving). The additional criteria are:
Minimum Records per SC field; Dictates the amount of acceptable EcIo measurements
required. i.e. The amount of measurements pertaining to a SC for it to be included as an
interferer in the results for that bin.
The SC/Record value; Dictates the percentage of total bin sample measurements that must
be linked to an SC in order that the cell be included in the bin results.
These fields allow the Cell Interference add-in to exclude erroneous data that would otherwise
skew the bins results

Settings
EcIo:
Default:

0 (-10)dBm <= EcIo <= (-1)-(-33)dBm

0 <= EcIo <= (-15)dBm

EcIo Threshold:
Default
6dBm

1 10dBm

Addition Window:
Default:
4dBm

1 8dBm

Power/RSSI per SC : (-40) (-110)dBm

Default:
(-100)dBm
Bin Size:
Default:

None, 10, 50, 100, 200m

10m

Ignore SC per Bin:

Min Rec per SC:
Default:
1

1-20

SC/Rec:
Default:

2-99%
20%

Appendix 5:

Crossed Feeder Add-In Fields and Default

Thresholds
Contents Page

Fields
Cell Name [SC]:
Samples count:
Azimuth:
Mode Bear:
Mode Bear diff:
Mode Bear cnt:
Samples time:
Max Bearing diff:
Avg bearing diff:

cellid and scramble code of server

number of samples meeting criteria
azimuth of serving cell
most common bearing
delta of azimuth and most common bearing
count of the most common bearing
total duration that the criteria are met
maximum delta between bearing and azimuth
average delta between bearing and azimuth

Thresholds
EcIo:
Default = -7dB
RSCP:
Default = -110dB
Distance:
Default = 1000m
i.e. The minimum distance required between the place where the measurement was taken
and the cell site.
The Add-in takes into account Antenna back-lobes and severe multipath/ reflection close to
sites.
Time:
Default = 100ms
i.e. The minimum duration of a measurement for it to be used in the add-in.
Bearing:
Default = 105
i.e. The minimum difference between the azimuth and the mode bearing.