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Method for importing, converting and using 3D antennas in ATDI tools

Author: Peter Paul Appointment: Operations Director Approved: Nick Kirkman Appointment: Modelling Engineer Lead Issue Date 2nd Feb 2011

Advanced Topographic Development & Images Limited Kingsland Court Three Bridges Road Crawley West Sussex RH10 1HL England Tel: 44 1293 522052 Fax: 44 1293 522521


3D antenna conversion and import Report Author: Peter Paul Date: 2nd Feb 2011

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Copyright © ATDI Ltd 2011 All Rights Reserved

AMENDMENT RECORD

Issue Amendment Details Author Date Approved

A First draft PP 2 Feb 11

Use letters [A etc.] for drafts. Use numbers [1 etc.] for issued reports. Issue 0 is signed off version.

LATEST VERSION CONTROL

Part Pages

Main Document

Appendix

Total Pages

DISTRIBUTION Copy No. 1 2 3



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CONTENTS

1 Introduction & Purpose ...................................................................................... 4

2 ADF & ADW formats .......................................................................................... 5

3 Converting ADF files .......................................................................................... 6

4 ADW files Update index ..................................................................................... 7

5 Building a 3D antenna from 2D files ................................................................ 10

ANNEX A ................................................................................................................. 12



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1 INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

On the 1st February 2011 ATDI presented a webinar to provide a better understanding of how antennas where modelled, used and imported into its planning tools.

One of the questions raised by the attendees was how to import and set various antenna polar pattern formats within ATDI tools.

This document intends to give an overview as to how to import and set to work 3D polar patterns, available in the ADF and ADW formats.



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2 ADF & ADW FORMATS

Both formats are text based and therefore can be modified/created by the user. When the tool is installed a sample file of both types set up to the sub directories \antenna (ADF) and \Base\RPE (ADW).

Examples of the file formats are embedded in Annex A of this document.

As the reader will note from examining these files the bearing step value is not fixed, ATDI tools will interpolate between these step values.



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3 CONVERTING ADF FILES

In order to use ADF files within ATDI tools they first need to be converted into ADW format.

In the \base\RPE directory, there is a utility RPE-FC that will do this either in single file or batch mode.

Run the application.

Select the adf file(s) and click Convert.

This will create a ADW file using the same filename as the source file.

If you check ‘Batch mode’ this will convert all of the ADF files in the selected directory.



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Once these files have been converted they will need copying to the folder \base\rpe sub directory. It is recommended that the ‘other’ directory is used unless the equipment manuafactor is already listed

4 ADW FILES UPDATE INDEX

Once the converted or new ADW files have been placed in the relevant sub-directory, the antenna index needs to be updated. To do this, open the RPE antenna selection menu in the radio station antenna tab.

For symmetrical dish antennas such as fixed link microwave antennas, where the horizontal pattern is the same as the vertical pattern, use RPE antennas. For radio sites where high resolution antenna data is required and the horizontal pattern is different from the vertical pattern, such as yagi or panel antennas, use the NSMA antennas. If general coverage calculations are required it is worth remembering that the antenna pointing is never accurate and that there are reflections from clutter around the user. In this case the standard ATDI horizontal and vertical patterns (2D antenna H+V (1 polarization) should be used.



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Care should be taken to ensure the correct ADW file is selected for the type of antenna being modelled. Using the wrong type can result in errors.

Further information or technical specification NSMA1 antenna data format

Either method will bring you to a screen similar to that shown below.

1 http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/software/nsma/nsma-intrp.html



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In the lower left corner the tab ‘Rebuild index file’ will update the index with the new antenna pattern files.



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5 BUILDING A 3D ANTENNA FROM 2D FILES

ATDI tools offer the user the ability to create a 3D polar pattern files from 2D pattern information. The user will need both the horizontal pattern in ATDI format (*.SPH) and the vertical response patterns for each of the major points (*.SPV) 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees.

The process:

Open the radio element and select the pattern tab.

Select the 3D creation button.

This will offer the setup menu:



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For each of the major points select the relevant pattern.

Once complete click on calculation and enter a suitable file name. The conversion process is now complete.

To use this pattern, change the mode of Antenna select to 3D antenna (1 polarization + XPD) and then select the desired A3D pattern.



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Please note this file format is not text based and cannot be edited directly.

ANNEX A

File Formats

HP6_71W.adf HP6_71W.adw

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