TETRA

OUTDOOR
Nov2010 Version 3.1

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Content

Introduction Installation Register ocx-files manually License Using the Application Settings Measuring Play File Basestation file Logfile

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Copyright www.coveragetools.com 2010

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Introduction TETRA OUTDOOR is designed for surveying real coverage of a TETRA-system with the use of a TETRA Radio. With this Application the RSSI and Location ID of the serving cell and its neighbours can be monitored and logged to a comma-separated file. GPS is used to reference the data to a position. The user interface is very easy to work with and has a graphical field to see what happens during the survey. A base station file can be added to make it simpler to recognize the location IDs.

System Requirements: Computer Operating System Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 Motorola MTH800, MTM800, MTP850 Radio Software version > MR5.8 PEI-interface must be enabled, baud rate=9600bps and Parity Bit= parity_none GPS-Unit Needs to have a serial interface protocol based on the National Marine Electronics Associations NMEA 0183 ASCII interface specification. Default receiver protocol: 4800bps 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and none parity.

TETRA Radio

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Installation The application is written for Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7. If you want install this program on a computer with restrictions, please run the installer as administrator.
Setup needs to register activeX components, especially with windows vista and 7 you need to run setup with administrator-rights.

To start the installer, double click the TETRA OUTDOOR V3x Setup icon.
(or right click and choose run as administrator)

The Setup screen appears, click next to continue.

You may change the folder where the software will be installed, and click next.

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You may change the shortcut folder in your start menu, and click next.
(If you dont want a shortcut in your start menu, tick the box at the lower left.)

If you want a shortcut made on your desktop tick the box, and click next.

Check the settings and click Install to start the installation

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Setup will install the program on your computer and register the appropriate files.

After installing the next screen should appear, your installation was successful. Click finish to exit the installer.

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Registering ocx-files manually If registering the ocx-files (activX components) during setup failed, please register them manually as written below: Open the explorer and browse to c:\windows\system32. Look for cmd.exe, rightclick it and choose Run as administrator, see below.

A command (Dos) box opens, type the following commands: regsvr32 mscomm32.ocx regsvr32 mscomctl.ocx

After each command a popup box should appear confirming the registration of the ocx-file.

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License The first time the TETRA OUTDOOR application is started the following screen will be displayed:

A license key is needed for full functionality of the application. If no or an invalid key is used, it will start up in trail mode with limited functionality. To get a license key, please contact your vendor or www.coveragetools.com (activation@coveragetools.com) Click the button Send Email to open your Email application. All necessary information will be copied to the Email. Please add your company information for verification.
If the Send Email button doesnt work, you can use the Copy Userkey button to copy the user key to your clipboard. Send your Email to activation@coveragetools.com. Paste the user key and add your company information.

A license file outdoor.lic will be sent to you and should be copied to the directory where the software is installed. (default: C:\Program Files\Coveragetools\TETRA OUTDOOR) When the application is started with a proper license key the screen mentioned above will NOT be displayed, the application is started immediately with full functionality.

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Using the Application When the software is started the initializing screen will be displayed:

During initializing: - Communication ports are detected - Search for GPS and Tetra Radio at available comports - Basestation file is checked and imported if available - License key is checked (If no GPS-unit was found, the GPS is set to Radio and will use the GPS-position from the Radio if available.) After initializing the application is started.

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Settings It is advisable to check the settings before you start to measure, especially after a new installation of the application. To change the settings, click Options in the menu en choose Settings or click the settings-button in the main screen, see example:

Settings Window

Radio A Motorola TETRA Radio with software version MR5.8 or higher should be connected to a serial communication port. The Comport used is automatically detected at startup. If the wrong port was detected, the port can be chosen from a pull down box. (If the port is already in use or not valid a pop up message will be displayed
when the measurement is started!)

GPS If a GPS-unit is used, it should be one that is connected to a serial communication- or a USB port that behaves as a Comport (see system requirements). The Port is automatically detected at startup. If the wrong port was detected, the port can be chosen from the pull down box. If a GPS was detected the Enable GPS checkbox will also be ticked. To enable/disable the GPS manually, the checkbox Enable GPS should be ticked. (If the port is already in use or not valid a pop up
message will be displayed when the measurement is started!)

If no GPS-unit was found during startup, the GPS is set to Radio and will use the GPS-position from the Radio if available. NOTE: Using the GPS of the Radio will result in less (approx. 60%) updates of RSSI, position, etc. www.coveragetools.com 9

Call Generator The call generator will put the radio in group transmit mode at the talkgroup that is selected at the radio. The talkgroup is read from the radio when the measurement is started. Do NOT change the talkgroup during the session, this will result in a transmit failure! To activate the call generator the checkbox Call Generator must be ticked. The duration of the call can be adjusted with the slide bar Duration. The time between the calls can be adjusted with the slide bar Interval. Both values are adjustable between 1 and 60 seconds. Gain The Gain (attenuation) of the antenna-circuit can be compensated. By setting the gain in this pull down box, the measured RSSI values are corrected. A setting of (for example) 10dB will result that an actual measured RSSI of 95dBm will show as 85dBm on the screen and in the log file. When this function is set, a warning message is shown in the main screen. Limit A Limit can be set to alert the user when the measured RSSI is below the set value. When this value is set, a limit line will be shown in the graph. If the RSSI is below the limit, the RSSI and the limit-indicator will turn Red. The limit can be switched off by choosing off in the pull down box. When the Sound Alarm box is ticked, the chosen alarm sound will be played when the limit is reached. Be aware that if the gain is set, the limit alarm will be set when the compensated value passes the limit. Default Logging Directory The directory, which the application will use as default, can be chosen here. Logfile To log the data to a file the checkbox Logfile must be ticked. A name for the logfile can be typed in the textbox (example: Outdoor.log). The filename must be of a valid format. If the file format is not valid a pop up message will be displayed when the measurement is started! If the file already exists, you can append to the original file or choose to change the filename. The file will be saved in the default directory; this is where the application is installed. If you want to change the directory, click the Settings button.

If you start a measurement and the logfile checkbox is NOT ticked a popup box will warn you that logging is switched off.

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Measuring Starting and stopping the measurement

To start the session the button in the upper right should be pushed. If one of the CommPorts (Radio or GPS) is in use or not valid or the logfile name is invalid or already exists, a popup box will appear. The session will NOT be started and the fault must be corrected. To stop a session the button in the upper right should be pushed.

To quit the application, push the button. If the quit button is grayed out, the measurement must first be stopped! Explanation of the Screen When the measurement is started the main screen should look similar to the picture below:

Serving Cell In the upper part are four fields that shows the information about the serving cell.

RSSI = Received Signal Strength in dBm

minimum= -114dBm maximum= -52dBm N/A = not available -999= unknown or not detectable

Base ID = Location Area of Cell Channel = Base radio frequency in use Basestation name = Reference name from Base ID in basestation file (if available)
(see chapter basestation file)

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Control At the lower right of the main screen some information about the measurements is displayed.

Comms will turn green (blinking) when data is received from the TETRA Radio. It will turn red when communication fails. PTT
(Push To Talk)

turns red when the Call Generator is active

(Radio Transmitting).

LIMIT will turn red when the limit value set in settings is reached. If the gain (Attenuation) in the settings window is set to any other value then 0, a warning message will be shown. GPS The GPS information is displayed at the lower left. The background color indicates the status of the GPS-unit, it can change between Red, Yellow and Green. Green: Data received and position is valid Yellow: Data received, but position is not valid Red: No data from GPS-unit received The GPS-time, longitude and latitude are displayed. The longitude and latitude are in Decimal degrees (DDD.dddddd).

Valid Position

Invalid position No Data

Version The Application has a version number, it is displayed above the Logo at the lower left.

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Neighbours The neighbour cells information is displayed at its own field Neighbours. It is automatically started when the application is started. If you closed it, it can be displayed again by choosing Options Neighbours at the main screen.

Base ID
(=Location Area of Cell)

RSSI
minimum= -114dBm maximum= -52dBm -999= unknown or not detectable

Basestation name

Reference name from basestation file if available

Graph The graph displays the value of the Serving Cell and its Neighbours. When the radio is transmitting a red line at the bottom of the graph will be shown. The current minute and the last 2 minutes will be displayed.

If you closed it, it can be displayed again by choosing Options Graph at the main screen.

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Radar A radar-like screen that shows distance and bearing of the basestations relative to your position (GPS-position data) can be displayed. Choose options Radar at the main screen. It shows all basestations in range that are listed in the basestation file. The serving cell is displayed in blue, neighbours in brown and all others in black.

The red arrow in the middle shows you your heading (Course). The slider at the lower right of the radar will change the scale. Monitoring Communication Ports The Radio and GPS Communication ports can be monitored. Choose Options Radio Communication or Options GPS Communication at the main screen.

Data send and received at the comport will be displayed.

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Play File It is possible to play back logged files. Choose File Play File at the main screen. A file that you want to play back can now be chosen:

When the file is opened the following screen will be displayed. The measurement buttons in the main screen are blocked as long as the play file screen is open.

The play back speed may be changed with the slider. The play back will be shown in the same screens as a normal measurement. If play back is paused or stopped the graph can be saved as a picture (*.jpg). The Limit Line in the Graph is set to the value in chosen in settings.

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Basestation file To make it easier for the user to recognize the Serving Cell and its Neighbours, a basestation file can be added to the directory where the application is installed. The application compares the Base ID with the list in the file and displays the reference name in the field Basestation name. The latitude and longitude are used for calculating distance and bearing of the base stations. Latitude and longitude must be entered in Decimal degrees (DDD.dddddd). The basestation file is loaded when the application is started. The Basestation file should always be called Basestation.csv and is a semicolon separated file. The file must start with 0;- and the last line should always be End The list must always begin with the lowest Base ID en end with the highest Base ID. Below is an example of what the content of the file should look like: 0;101;Site 1 ;lat ;lon 102;Site 2 ;lat ;lon 701;Site 3 ;lat ;lon 702;Site 4 ;lat ;lon 1401;Site 5 ;lat ;lon 1402;Site 6 ;lat ;lon 1403;Site 7 ;lat ;lon 1404;Site 8 ;lat ;lon 1405;Site 9 ;lat ;lon End

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Logfile The logfile is a comma separated file. The first line is a header line. The header looks like: PCTime,GPSTime,Lat,RefLat,Lon,RefLon,Gain,BaseID1,Chan1,RSSI1,Cx1,CallGene rator,BaseID2,Chan2,RSSI2,Cx2,BaseID3,Chan3,RSSI3,Cx3,BaseID4,Chan4,RSSI 4,Cx4

Explanation: PC-Time the time of the computer at the moment of logging this line GPS-Time time of the GPS-unit Lat Latitude in DD.dddddd RefLat Latitude N or S Lon longitude in DDD.dddddd RefLon Longitude E or W Gain Set gain (attenuation) value BaseID1 Location area of Serving Cell RSSI1 Received Signal Strength of Serving Cell in dBm Cx1 Cx value of Serving Cell CallGenerator 0 if idle, 1 if transmitting BaseID2 Location area of 1st Neighbour Cell RSSI2 Received Signal Strength of 1st Neighbour Cell Cx2 Cx Value of 1st Neighbour Cell BaseID3 Location area of 2nd Neighbour Cell RSSI3 Received Signal Strength of 2nd Neighbour Cell Cx3 Cx Value of 2nd Neighbour Cell BaseID4 Location area of 3rd Neighbour Cell RSSI4 Received Signal Strength of 3rd Neighbour Cell Cx4 Cx Value of 3rd Neighbour Cell

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