Whats New in Atoll 311 Build 4286

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Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1
What's New in Atoll 3.1.1

Several new features and changes have been introduced in the version of Atoll 3.1.1 made available on February 17, 2012. These new features are described below. The new features introduced in the previous releases of Atoll 3.1.1 and 3.1.0 are described later in this document. For more information on any of these features, see the online help, the User Manual, the Administrator Manual, and the Technical Reference Guide.
New Features Introduced in Atoll 3.1.1 (Build 4286)

General Features
Working Environment
Some fields listed under "Legend" in the Table tab of the Properties dialogues are followed by: "(NOT USED)" to indicate that the field is not used in the current release of Atoll. The corresponding column is hidden by default when Open Table is used. "(OBSOLETE)" to indicate that the field is not available and will be removed in future releases of Atoll. The corresponding column is not available when Open Table is used.
Antennas
The linear interpolation in antenna patterns is now calculated in Watts by default.
3GPP Multi-RAT Networks

Working Environment
User Interface In Multi-RAT documents, remote antennas are now identified as "SiteX_T_Y_RemZ" and "SiteX_T_Y_RepZ" where "X" is the donor site number, "Y" the donor transmitter number, "Z" a number assigned to the remote antenna or to the repeater when it is created, and where "T" describes the technology (GSM, UMTS, or LTE) in the corresponding tip text.
Automatic Cell Planning

The ACP now includes a multi-storey extension where evaluation points are distributed on all floors of buildings over a minimum height that are defined in a clutter heights map. The creation of evaluation points on all floors enables the ACP to take all floors of the building into account during optimisation. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the ACP can display advanced cost options which enable the user to define the maximum number of changes to be made (either as a value or a ratio) and to change the ranking of the order of cost in the final implementation plan: changes with the lowest cost are performed first and changes with the highest cost are performed last. Additionally, if the maximum number of changes is defined as a ratio, the user can define an option enabling him to use the number of transmitters in the focus zone instead of the computation zone. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, new predictions, showing the initial and final coverage of each antenna, are available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, a new prediction, showing the weight used for the traffic and for each zone, is available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, new predictions, showing the initial and final coverage by transmitter, are available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the weight between quality and the implementation cost can be defined. Decimal values can now be used for electrical tilt, mechanical tilt, azimuth. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the ACP can optimise electrical tilt using a defined range from the current electrical tilt. The ACP now enables the user to compare the results of one optimisation with the results of another optimisation from the same setup or from a different setup. The results, along with the variations between the two optimisations, are displayed in the Properties dialogue of the comparison. It is now possible to share path loss or incidence matrix information by defining a shared directory. The ACP first searches the shared directory for the information and then, if not found, in the private directory of the user. The information in the shared directory is updated by a single user with administrator rights. It is now possible to sort table contents when the Show advanced table option is selected.
GSM GPRS EDGE Networks

Working Environment
User Interface A new key performance indicator, Final Blocking Probability (%), has been added in the Traffic Data view of the Subcells table. This KPI is calculated using a traffic capture and the AFP module, and is also part of a simplified traffic model used by the AFP module. In the corresponding tip text, remote antennas are now identified as "SiteX_Y_RemZ" and repeaters as "SiteX_Y_RepZ" where "X" is the donor site number, "Y" the donor transmitter number, and "Z" a number assigned to the remote antenna or to the repeater when it is created. In Multi-RAT documents, they are identified as "SiteX_T_Y_RemZ" and "SiteX_T_Y_RepZ" where "T" describes the technology (GSM, UMTS, or LTE).

The ACP now includes a multi-storey extension where evaluation points are distributed on all floors of buildings over a minimum height that are defined in a clutter heights map. The creation of evaluation points on all floors enables the ACP to take all floors of the building into account during optimisation.
Forsk 2012
By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the ACP can display advanced cost options which enable the user to define the maximum number of changes to be made (either as a value or a ratio) and to change the ranking of the order of cost in the final implementation plan: changes with the lowest cost are performed first and changes with the highest cost are performed last. Additionally, if the maximum number of changes is defined as a ratio, the user can define an option enabling him to use the number of transmitters in the focus zone instead of the computation zone. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, new predictions, showing the initial and final coverage of each antenna, are available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, a new prediction, showing the weight used for the traffic and for each zone, is available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, new predictions, showing the initial and final coverage by transmitter, are available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the weight between quality and the implementation cost can be defined. Decimal values can now be used for electrical tilt, mechanical tilt, azimuth. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the ACP can optimise electrical tilt using a defined range from the current electrical tilt. The ACP now enables the user to compare the results of one optimisation with the results of another optimisation from the same setup or from a different setup. The results, along with the variations between the two optimisations, are displayed in the Properties dialogue of the comparison. It is now possible to share path loss or incidence matrix information by defining a shared directory. The ACP first searches the shared directory for the information and then, if not found, in the private directory of the user. The information in the shared directory is updated by a single user with administrator rights. It is now possible to sort table contents when the Show advanced table option is selected.
UMTS HSPA Networks

Working Environment
User Interface In the corresponding tip text, remote antennas are now identified as "SiteX_Y_RemZ" and repeaters as "SiteX_Y_RepZ" where "X" is the donor site number, "Y" the donor transmitter number, and "Z" a number assigned to the remote antenna or to the repeater when it is created. In Multi-RAT documents, they are identified as "SiteX_T_Y_RemZ" and "SiteX_T_Y_RepZ" where "T" describes the technology (GSM, UMTS, or LTE).

LTE Networks
Working Environment
User Interface In the corresponding tip text, remote antennas are now identified as "SiteX_Y_RemZ" and repeaters as "SiteX_Y_RepZ" where "X" is the donor site number, "Y" the donor transmitter number, and "Z" a number assigned to the remote antenna or to the repeater when it is created. In Multi-RAT documents, they are identified as "SiteX_T_Y_RemZ" and "SiteX_T_Y_RepZ" where "T" describes the technology (GSM, UMTS, or LTE).
Network Planning
The ICIC collision probability is now also applied on the interference received from the PDCCH.
Network Configuration Using the AFP

The physical cell ID audit now lists the actual distance between cells and the larger of the reuse distances defined for the two cells. The frequency planning and physical cell ID planning weights are now stored in the user configuration (CFG) files. It is now possible to run the AFP per transmitter and per group of transmitters.
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CDMA2000 Networks
WiMAX Networks
The preamble index audit now lists the actual distance between cells and the larger of the reuse distances defined for the two cells. The frequency planning and preamble index planning weights are now stored in the user configuration (CFG) files. It is now possible to run the AFP per transmitter and per group of transmitters.

The ACP now includes a multi-storey extension where evaluation points are distributed on all floors of buildings over a minimum height that are defined in a clutter heights map. The creation of evaluation points on all floors enables the ACP to take all floors of the building into account during optimisation. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the ACP can display advanced cost options which enable the user to define the maximum number of changes to be made (either as a value or a ratio) and to change the ranking of the order of cost in the final implementation plan: changes with the lowest cost are performed first and changes with the highest cost are performed last. Additionally, if the maximum number of changes is defined as a ratio, the user can define an option enabling him to use the number of transmitters in the focus zone instead of the computation zone. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, new predictions, showing the initial and final coverage of each antenna, are available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, a new prediction, showing the weight used for the traffic and for each zone, is available. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, new predictions, showing the initial and final coverage by transmitter, are available.
Forsk 2012
By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the weight between quality and the implementation cost can be defined. Decimal values can now be used for electrical tilt, mechanical tilt, azimuth. By defining an option in the acp.ini file, the ACP can optimise electrical tilt using a defined range from the current electrical tilt. The ACP now enables the user to compare the results of one optimisation with the results of another optimisation from the same setup or from a different setup. The results, along with the variations between the two optimisations, are displayed in the Properties dialogue of the comparison. It is now possible to share path loss or incidence matrix information by defining a shared directory. The ACP first searches the shared directory for the information and then, if not found, in the private directory of the user. The information in the shared directory is updated by a single user with administrator rights. It is now possible to sort table contents when the Show advanced table option is selected.
Microwave Link Networks

Terrain Profiles
By default, the terrain profiles are now displayed on the map in such a way as to indicate possible obstruction of the Fresnel zone: A terrain section is displayed on the map in green if it is completely unobstructed (i.e., if the visibility is over 100 m). If the terrain section is partially obstructed (i.e., if the visibility is between 0 m and 100 m), it is displayed in orange on the map. If the terrain section is completely obstructed, it is displayed in red.
These default settings can be modified.
Equipment
When defining the transmission power of a radio series, the separator used in the list entries is a space (" ").
Reports
Atoll now enables the user to reset the Selected fields list in the Field Selection dialogue to its default content. The Reset command for link budgets has been renamed to Reinitialise.
Network Planning
The analysis of interference levels on the band has been improved. The MW Analysis tool now graphically displays the bandwidth of the studied and interferer links as well as additional information now available as tip text.
MW Analysis
There is now an option in the Atoll.ini file that enables the user to correct alignment issues in generated reports.
New Features Introduced in Atoll 3.1.1 (Build 4191)

General Features
Working Environment
User Interface Window tabs of different documents are now displayed using a separate colour. You can therefore recognize window tabs belonging to the same document by their colour. In order to avoid very long window tabs, window tab titles longer than approximately 40 characters are truncated. The complete title is visible in a tool tip displayed when the mouse is placed over the window tab. The tool tip also displays the path to the ATL file to which the window belongs. You can now display the map scale in the map window. In table views, frozen columns are now separated from other columns with a vertical red line. You can increase the width of the clutter description pane in the Status bar (bottom right), to display the descriptions of clutter classes with long names, using an option in the Atoll.ini file. In the Print Setup, page margins are now editable in inches or millimeters depending on your computers regional settings. Find on Map has been moved from the Edit menu to the Tools menu. The map can be moved in the map window by clicking the mouse wheel and dragging it in the desired direction. With the Site Configuration window, Atoll now displays all transmitters, sorted by technology, on a selected site. The properties of each transmitter can be viewed by double-clicking the transmitter in the Site Configuration window. When displaying a histogram, Atoll now enables the user to zoom in on a part of the histogram by selecting the range of values of interest in the accompanying list. You can now save and load the map centre and zoom level to and from user configuration files. You can now export data tables, or selected columns, to XML Spreadsheet 2003 files (XML). You can open XML Spreadsheet 2003 files in MS Excel 2003 and later. Unlike XLS files, XML Spreadsheet files are not limited to 65,536 rows and 256 columns. During XML file export, antenna patterns are now exported in text format instead of the binary format.
User Configurations Tables
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Find and Replace functionalities have been added to standard Atoll tables.
By setting an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can instruct Atoll to always use a defined database type (MS Access, SQL Server, or Oracle), and not display the database selection dialogue that appears when creating a new document from an existing database or when exporting a document to create a new database. Using options in the Atoll.ini file, you can automatically run the GSM subcell audit when opening a document from a database or refreshing data from the database. Atoll now supports the use of JPG files when exporting or importing graphic files. Reception can now be measured in V/M (volts per metre). The user can now create zones (computation, focus, hot spot, printing, and geographic export) as either polygons or rectangles. Atoll now enables you to set the display scale of antenna pattern diagrams. Atoll now supports smart beam antennas (i.e., dual beam antennas, variable electrical azimuth antennas, etc.). The Antenna Selector tool and the display mode of transmitters have been enhanced in order to be able to model transmitters equipped with such antennas. Coverage prediction reports can now be exported as text files or as Excel spreadsheets. When calculated by value intervals, the results per pixel of most coverage predictions can now be exported to a text file. The display of coverage predictions has been improved. Atoll can now centre one or all predictions in the map window or automatically adjust the zoom level to display the entire area covered by one or all predictions. Atoll permits the user to create sub-folders in the Predictions folder, thereby allowing the user to organise the coverage predictions according to any criteria. When displaying neighbour relations on the map, the transmitter whose neighbours are to be displayed can now be selected in the Network explorer, on the map, or in the Neighbours table. When the transmitter is selected in one of the three (i.e., the Network explorer, the map, or the Neighbours table), Atoll then centres the display of the transmitter in the other two.
Antennas
Coverage Predictions

Network Planning

Network Planning
Coverage Predictions A multi-RAT prediction has been introduced. Using this prediction, you can display the areas where a specific service can be obtained for a given terminal and mobility: in DL for GSM in DL and in UL for UMTS and LTE.
Resource Allocation The GSM AFP is now able to allocate BSICs by considering inter-technology neighbours. As an example, the GSM AFP will try not to allocate the same BSIC for two GSM transmitters which are neighbours of a common UMTS (or LTE) cell. The Scrambling Code allocation is now able to consider inter-technology neighbours as new constraints. As an example, the algorithm will try not to allocate the same scrambling code for two UMTS cells which are neighbours of a common GSM transmitter (or LTE cell). The Physical Cell ID allocation is now able to consider inter-technology neighbours as new constraints. As an example, the LTE AFP will try not to allocate the same Physical Cell ID for two LTE cells which are neighbours of a common GSM transmitter (or UMTS cell).

Network Capacity
CW Measurements Atoll now permits you to save the settings as a configuration when using the Filtering Assistant to filter points on a CW measurement. The same configuration can then be selected and reapplied.
Atoll AFP
The number of graph lines representing the cost value in the AFP progress interface has been increased. In addition to the total modifiable cost, the modifiable BCCH cost is displayed, when the BCCH is being allocated. If the number of allocated TRXs is being optimised, the additional cost displayed is the blocking cost (which is the main parameter that the AFP tries to optimise when allocating TRXs). In addition, the way the modifiable cost is displayed has been modified in order to avoid displaying misleading intermediate values and to provide a clearer understanding of the value variations. A reuse distance can now be defined when allocating channels and BSIC in the GSM AFP.

The cost of each change can now be set as a financial cost instead of as a ratio. Repeater amplifier gain can now be imported directly into an ACP optimisation by creating custom fields in the Repeaters table in Atoll and then defining the custom fields in the acp.ini. The ACP now permits the definition of a custom resolution on zones used in an optimisation. The ACP now permits the use of custom fields of secondary antennas as initial input for the optimisation of secondary antennas.
Forsk 2012
UMTS HSPA Networks

Network Planning
Service Modelling Atoll now supports HSPA variable bit rate services. In order to display a pilot signal level predictions for a given terminal (and considering its gains and losses), service, mobility and carrier, a new display field has been added in the Pilot Quality Analysis predictions. In addition to the standard Ec/Io and Ec/Io margins, you can now display the received pilot signal strength Ec (in dB) on each pixel. Coverage Predictions
Network Capacity
CW Measurements Atoll now permits you to save the settings as a configuration when using the Filtering Assistant to filter points on a CW measurement. The same configuration can then be selected and reapplied. The method for calculating average cell throughput during simulations has been improved. Now, only cells with actual HSUPA users are taken into consideration when the average HSUPA throughput per cell is calculated. Cells without HSUPA users are not taken into consideration.
Radio Resource Management and Simulations

LTE Networks
Network Planning
Network The cell layer priorities have been reversed to homogenize the priorities with the service definition and with the GSM HCS layer priorities. Now, 0 signifies lowest priority as opposed to the highest in previous versions. If you are working with multi-cell transmitters, you may have to assign layer numbers to cells again in order to be consistent with the previous versions. If you wish to continue working as before, you can keep the previous layer priority setting by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file. You can set the minimum number of frequency blocks for the calculation of the uplink allocated bandwidth to a value higher than 1 (default) through an option in the Atoll.ini file. The downlink interference calculations have been improved. Instead of an average interference level calculation for the following three channels: RS, PDCCH, and PDSCH, Atoll now calculates the exact collision between the resource elements belonging to different signals and channels. The frequency-domain positions of the resource elements used for reference signal transmission depend on the cells physical cell IDs. This is called RS hopping or v-shifting. This aspect is now fully taken into account for calculating downlink interference between different signals and channels. Atoll now calculates and stores separate values of interference levels for RS, SS/ PBCH, PDCCH, and PDSCH. You can calculate the EIRP from Reference Signal EPRE instead of reference signal power when calculating signal level-based coverage predictions through an option in the Atoll.ini file. With this option, a Coverage by Transmitter will display the RSRP values. Interference matrices can now be exported to and imported from text files with IM2 extension. This is the same format as the one available for GSM interference matrices. You can model the effect of interference from external networks working under another technology (CDMA, TDMA or OFDM) or external sources. In addition to the possibility of setting the inter-technology DL noise rise level for each cell to model the effect of interference from external mobiles on your network in the downlink, you can set inter-technology interference reduction factors to model the effect of interference from external transmitters (of a linked project in co-planning) on your network in the downlink. Inter-technology interference affects all interference-based calculations.
Interference Matrices
Inter-technology Interference

For automatic physical cell ID planning, Atoll now facilitates the management of physical cell IDs by letting you create domains, each containing groups of physical cell IDs. The uniform distribution strategy is now available in the AFP dialogue, instead of the option in the Atoll.ini file. The Atoll.ini file option still works for the "basic" physical cell ID allocation.
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Network Capacity
CW Measurements Atoll now permits you to save the settings as a configuration when using the Filtering Assistant to filter points on a CW measurement. The same configuration can then be selected and reapplied. Calculations in the Monte Carlo simulations are now performed for inactive users as well. Inactive users can be connected in downlink, uplink, or downlink and uplink, or rejected similar to active users.
Monte Carlo Simulations

CDMA2000 Networks
Network Capacity

TD-SCDMA Networks
Network Capacity
WiMAX Networks
Network Planning
Network The cell layer priorities have been reversed to homogenize the priorities with the service definition and with the GSM HCS layer priorities. Now, 0 signifies lowest priority as opposed to the highest in previous versions. If you are working with multi-cell transmitters, you may have to assign layer numbers to cells again in order to be consistent with the previous versions. If you wish to continue working as before, you can keep the previous layer priority setting by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file. You can set the minimum number of subchannels for the calculation of the uplink allocated bandwidth to a value higher than 1 (default) through an option in the Atoll.ini file. Depending on the best server selection method defined in the network settings, the automatic neighbour allocation can be based on coverage areas calculated for best servers based on the preamble C or the preamble C/(I+N). Interference matrices can now be exported to and imported from text files with IM2 extension. This is the same format as the one available for GSM interference matrices.
Neighbour Planning

For automatic preamble index planning, Atoll now facilitates the management of preamble indexes by letting you create domains, each containing groups of preamble indexes. The uniform distribution strategy is now available in the AFP dialogue, instead of the option in the Atoll.ini file. The Atoll.ini file option still works for the "basic" preamble index allocation.
Network Capacity
CW Measurements
Forsk 2012
Atoll now permits you to save the settings as a configuration when using the Filtering Assistant to filter points on a CW measurement. The same configuration can then be selected and reapplied. Calculations in the Monte Carlo simulations are now performed for inactive users as well. Inactive users can be connected in downlink, uplink, or downlink and uplink, or rejected similar to active users.
Monte Carlo Simulations

Network Settings
You can select whether to calculate best servers based on the preamble C or the preamble C/(I+N).
Microwave Link Networks

Recommendation ITU-R P.530-13 is now supported.
Semi-automatic Channel Allocation

Different options are now available for defining the interfered bandwidth in the interferer filter for semi-automatic channel allocation: Co-channel only, User-defined percentage, Fixed guard band, or No filter. The Vigants climate zone for the Great Lakes region of the US is now supported. The Vigants model now uses a composite margin instead of a flat fade margin.
Climatic Data

Equipment
In the interests of forward compatibility, the limitation of 10 channels per connection has been removed in order to accommodate the complexity of both current and future microwave installations. A new type of wave guide, the "Flex twist," has been added. Atoll now supports equipment files in the Pathloss 5 format.
Reports
Under the "Global Estimation for an Entire Year" section, the Analysis Report on a link can now give the cut off duration including equipment failures and the percentage of non-cut off including equipment failures. The Analysis Report has been reorganized to better present the information contained within and to adhere more closely to terminology used elsewhere in the industry. In addition, a new report Design Summary is now available; it contains the main quality and availability results of the microwave link.
Network Planning
The link frequency can now be recalculated directly from the Links table, thereby enabling the user to recalculate frequency for a selected group of links at the same time.
New Features Introduced in Atoll 3.1.0 (All Released Builds)

General Features
A new project template dedicated to 3GPP radio access technologies (GSM, UMTS, and LTE) is now available. This new project template enables you to design, plan, and optimise GSM, UMTS, and LTE radio access technologies in a single Atoll document and back-end database. Advanced radio resource management and handover functionalities are available for multi-RAT networks. For more information, see "3GPP Multi-RAT Networks" on page 10. The radio access technologies modelled are now also stored in the Atoll document properties in addition to the Atoll version and build number in which a document was last saved, ATL file properties are accessible in Windows Explorer. Atoll document files can exceed 2 GB in size. Starting with version 3.1.0, Atoll no longer supports Microsoft Windows 2000.
Installation
When you install Atoll, you can now install the following components in addition to the driver for fixed licence keys and the distributed calculation server: Atoll Management Console The Best Signal Export and Export to Google Earth add-in
User Management in Atoll Management Console

You can now assign Unlimited Tablespace system privilege to users.
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You can now prevent users from modifying the microwave links calculation settings in the user interface.
Working Environment
User Interface Atoll 3.1.0 presents an entirely re-designed user interface. The user interface respects the radio planning process while at the same time following the best of current ergonomic design. The flexibility of Atoll's new user interface puts the user's needs first. The user can rearrange Atoll's windows and tools to best suit the task at hand and can choose which toolbars to display. Atoll 3.1.0 also offers a full-screen mode, enabling the user to hide everything except the map window and the current tool. Atoll 3.1.0 offers the user: A new, modern design Tabbed windows to facilitate work on multiple projects or multiple tables within one project A customisable workspace A full-screen mode, enabling the user to maximise the working area when working with the map window. A re-designed Explorer window with a Data tab dedicated to project data, a Geo tab for all geographic data, and a Parameters tab to configure equipment and modules.
The map window display can be adjusted on the area of any group of sites, transmitters or any map as well as by using "Centre in Map Window" to centre the selected object in the window "Centre in Map Window" has been improved and is now available from the context menu of any record in the Sites and Transmitters tables. Atoll now enables the user to reset the workplace display to its default settings. The symbols for inactive transmitter, repeater, and remote antenna can be shown as empty or filled in the map window. This option can be set in the atoll.ini file. The filtering, printing, and geographic export zones are also saved to and loaded from user configuration files in addition to the computation and focus zones. The vector editing tools have been improved. It is now possible to create a new polygon from existing polygons using the union, intersection and difference tools. Along with other methods of navigating through data tables, Atoll now permits the user to navigate through tables embedded in forms using the mouse wheel (for example, the Cells tab of the transmitter properties dialogue). When defining a choice list in the properties of a table field, you can now choose whether the field should only accept values in the choice list or whether it should allow users to enter values other than those in the choice list.
Maps
User Configurations
Tables
Units
The user can now choose to display temperatures in Fahrenheit.
Geographic Data
Atoll now supports the https protocol for web map server URLs.
Radio Antennas
Atoll now enables the user to group the antenna models belonging to the same physical antenna. A new field called "Physical Antenna" is available in the antenna properties. It is the name of the physical antenna to which an antenna model belongs. A physical antenna can have one or more antenna models (patterns), corresponding to different electrical downtilts. An antenna selection assistant is now available. Based on physical antennas and electrical downtilts, the antenna selection assistant proposes a list of antenna models available for use. Physical antennas that are no longer used can now be flagged as obsolete by adding the word "obsolete" (not case sensitive) to the name of the physical antennas. Physical antennas flagged as obsolete are not listed among available antennas in the antenna selection assistant. The additional electrical downtilt can be made accessible in the GUI by setting an option in the atoll.ini file.
Propagation Calculations and Path Loss Matrices

A new optional propagation model called Crosswave and developed by Orange Labs is now available for Atoll. Using the experience of Orange in terms of propagation and measurements from various environments and frequency bands, this model which is fully compatible with Atoll can provide very accurate results with its default calibration. Like any propagation model, this model can be retuned when additional data is added to the project (detailed maps, real measurements, etc.). The size of existing path loss matrices can now be optimised in order to keep only significant values. Matrices can now be limited by setting thresholds in order to store only signal levels that meet these user-defined thresholds.
Coverage Prediction Reports

The user can set the number of decimal places to be displayed following the decimal in coverage prediction reports by setting an option in the atoll.ini file. You can change the reference hot spot surface area in coverage prediction reports by setting an atoll.ini option.
Forsk 2012
Coverage Prediction Export

It is now possible to export only the visible layers (levels) of some coverage predictions by setting an option in the Atoll.ini file.
API and Atoll Development Kit

You can now disable the macro timeout, i.e., no timeout, by setting it to 0 when adding a macro to Atoll. The default macro timeout has been increased from 16 hours to 24 days. This default value is used when the timeout parameter is left empty. For LTE and WiMAX Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL), Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL), Service Area Analysis (DL), and Service Area Analysis (UL) predictions, it is now possible to export the actual calculation results for each pixel to a text file.

Atoll 3.1.0 allows designing, planning, and optimising GSM, UMTS, and LTE networks in combined 3GPP Multi-RAT projects. 3GPP MultiRAT networks are stored in a single Atoll document and database. It is possible to select the radio access technologies to include in a 3GPP Multi-RAT project when creating a new document based on this template. It is possible to allow or deny access to the radio access technologies available for inclusion in a 3GPP Multi-RAT document through options in the Atoll.ini file.
Network Planning
Network A single Sites folder is available on the Network tab. These sites can be used for transmitters of any radio access technology modelled in the multi-RAT project. There is a Transmitters folder for each technology modelled in the multi-RAT project. The commands available in their context menu depend on the technology and are the same as the ones available in each individual single-RAT template. Atoll permits the user to designate an antenna as "shared" between technologies in a multi-RAT or co-planning project. When the antenna is designated as shared, any changes made to its height, azimuth, etc., in one technology are synchronised in the other technology. Just like in single-RAT project, predictions can be created from the context menu of the Predictions folder. The default coverage predictions present in the Prediction Types dialogue are identical to the ones available in each single-RAT project template. You can also create new predictions from the context menu of the Transmitters folder for each radio access technology modelled. Neighbour tools are available from the context menu of the Transmitters folder for each radio access technology modelled. From any technology, you can assign, either manually or automatically, neighbours of the same technology or from any other one. Depending on the selected technologies, the resource allocation tools available in the multi-RAT project are identical to the ones available in each mono-RAT project template: frequencies, BSICs and HSNs for GSM, scrambling codes from UMTS and physical cell Ids and frequencies for LTE. Using Find on Map, the reuse of any technology-specific resource can be analysed in detail on the map.
Neighbour Planning
Frequency and Parameter Planning
Network Capacity
Traffic Model In a multi-RAT project, multi-service parameters are managed in a single Traffic Parameters folder on the Parameters tab. Any service, mobility type, or terminal can be used and set up for any technology modelled in the multi-RAT project. Services can be defined for any technology modelled in the multi-RAT project. The parameters available depend on the technology modelled. For each service, technologiesintermodulation are ranked from the highest priority to the lowest. The network will then try to attach a service on the technologies with the highest priority. The technologies modelled can be supported by terminals. The parameters available depend on the technology modelled. In order to model the necessary traffic for simulations, all traffic maps are available in the Traffic Maps folder on the Geo tab. In a multi-RAT document, Atoll permits setting values specific to each technology in the properties of the clutter classes. Multi-RAT simulations are supported. These simulations model how a network subject to multi-technology traffic would manage its resources in order to absorb a maximum of traffic without exceeding defined permitted loads.
Traffic Maps Geographic Data Radio Resource Management and Simulations
Network Optimisation Using the ACP

The definition of optimisation objectives has been redesigned in the ACP, enabling the user to weight individual objectives and to use different sources of traffic data for each objective. Additionally, the ACP enables the user to define complex optimisation objectives, combining several quality measurements.
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The ACP now enables the user to define a wide variety of optimisation-independent settings from within Atoll, eliminating in most cases the need to manually edit the acp.ini file.
Drive Test Data

Drive tests of any technology can be imported and managed in multi-RAT projects in order to verify the quality of the real networks and to analyse it in Atoll.
Network Settings
Technology-specific network settings can be defined in the appropriate folders on the Parameters tab. They are differently managed depending on each technology but are identical to the ones which are available in each single-RAT project.

It is now possible to design, plan, and optimise 3GPP Multi-RAT networks in a single Atoll document and database. 3GPP Multi-RAT networks can include GSM, UMTS, and LTE radio access technologies. For more information, see "3GPP Multi-RAT Networks" on page 10. The project template dedicated to 2G networks has been renamed from GSM GPRS EGPRS to GSM GPRS EDGE.
Network Planning
Network Antenna Hopping is now supported at the subcell level. In antenna hopping, the signal is successively transmitted on several antennas. As a consequence, a gain (defined per clutter class) is experienced on C/I values when antenna hopping is active. It is now possible to extend the allowed value ranges for subcell C/I and reception thresholds by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file. Following the introduction of the multi-RAT template, some predictions have been renamed in order to be consistent between technologies. Previous releases Coverage by C/I Level Interfered Zones GPRS/EDGE Coding Schemes Packet Throughput and Quality Circuit Quality Indicators Neighbour Planning In order to remain consistent with other radio access technologies, neighbour planning is now accessible from the context menu of the GSM Transmitters folder. Inter-transmitter distances can be taken into account in the neighbour importance calculation by setting a distance factor. The subcell audit has been enhanced in order to fix values to respect their appropriate ranges. You can now choose to activate or deactivate the calculation of third-order intermodulation interference by setting an atoll.ini option. Using the same atoll.ini option used to activate or deactivate the calculation of third-order intermodulation interference, you can also choose whether to limit the calculation of intermodulation interference to co-site transmitters only or to extend it to all interfering transmitters. Atoll 3.1.0 Coverage by C/I Level Interfered Zones Coverage by GPRS/EDGE Coding Schemes Packet Quality and Throughput Analysis Circuit Quality Indicators Analysis
Frequency and Parameter Planning Intermodulation Interference Calculation (optional)
Atoll AFP
The AFP progress interface has changed with the aim of giving more priority to the essential parameters dealing with AFP convergence. A graph showing the cost evolution in real time is now displayed and detailed information about cost evaluation have been moved to other tabs. The IFP interface has been improved to provide more details about the evaluation of the cost. Additionally, tip text is now available on any selected value.
Network Capacity
Traffic Capture and Dimensioning In the Dimensioning/KPI dialogue, the distribution of services has been split in two parts: one for circuit-switched services, one for packet switched services.

The definition of optimisation objectives has been redesigned in the ACP, enabling the user to weight individual objectives and to use different sources of traffic data for each objective. Additionally, the ACP enables the user to define complex optimisation objectives, combining several quality measurements.
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The ACP now enables the user to define a wide variety of optimisation-independent settings from within Atoll, eliminating in most cases the need to manually edit the acp.ini file. If the user defines custom columns with ACP-specific parameters in the Transmitters, Repeaters, Sites, and Cells tables and defines them in the acp.ini file, ACP will use the set values as default values in a new optimisation setup. The process of defining the objectives used to evaluate the success of the optimisation has been improved. Antenna-masking in the ACP has been improved and simplified, with the ACP automatically detecting supported propagation models and offering several options for propagation models that are not natively supported. The ACP now enables the creation of user-defined objectives.
UMTS HSPA Networks

It is now possible to design, plan, and optimise 3GPP Multi-RAT networks in a single Atoll document and database. 3GPP Multi-RAT networks can include GSM, UMTS, and LTE radio access technologies. For more information, see "3GPP Multi-RAT Networks" on page 10.
Network Planning
Network Modelling of dual-cell HSDPA is available. Transmitters can be defined to support dual-cell HSDPA. HSDPA scheduling is then carried out per transmitter. The capacities and resources of two HSDPA cells are combined in order to serve HSDPA users. Dual-cell HSDPA users can connect to two cells simultaneously on the HS-DSCH. Coverage predictions and Monte Carlo simulations provide results for dual-cell HSDPA. You can now define uplink and downlink activity factors for packet services that use HSDPA and HSUPA channels. These parameters are used to determine the probability of activity of users when working with sector traffic maps and user density traffic maps. Coverage Predictions You can calculate the EIRP from Max Power instead of pilot power when calculating signal level-based coverage predictions through an option in the Atoll.ini file. Because of the introduction of the multi-RAT template, some predictions have been renamed in order to keep consistency with all technologies. Previous releases Downlink Total Noise Inter-technology Downlink Interference Pilot Reception Analysis (Ec/Io) Service Area (Eb/Nt) Downlink Service Area (Eb/Nt) Uplink Effective Service Area Handoff Status Pilot Pollution HSDPA Coverage HSUPA Coverage Scrambling Code Interference Zone Neighbour Planning Inter-transmitter distances can be taken into account in when calculating neighbour importance by setting a distance factor. Atoll 3.1.0 Total Noise Level Analysis (DL) Inter-technology Interference Level Analysis (DL) Pilot Quality Analysis (Ec/Io) Service Area Analysis (Eb/Nt) (DL) Service Area Analysis (Eb/Nt) (UL) Effective Service Area (Eb/Nt) (DL+UL) Handoff Zones Pilot Pollution Analysis HSDPA Quality and Throughput Analysis HSUPA Quality and Throughput Analysis Scrambling Code Collision Zones

The definition of optimisation objectives has been redesigned in the ACP, enabling the user to weight individual objectives and to use different sources of traffic data for each objective. Additionally, the ACP enables the user to define complex optimisation objectives, combining several quality measurements. The ACP now enables the user to define a wide variety of optimisation-independent settings from within Atoll, eliminating in most cases the need to manually edit the acp.ini file. If the user defines custom columns with ACP-specific parameters in the Transmitters, Repeaters, Sites, and Cells tables and defines them in the acp.ini file, ACP will use the set values as default values in a new optimisation setup. The process of defining the objectives used to evaluate the success of the optimisation has been improved. Antenna-masking in the ACP has been improved and simplified, with the ACP automatically detecting supported propagation models and offering several options for propagation models that are not natively supported. The ACP now enables the creation of user-defined objectives.
LTE Networks
It is now possible to design, plan, and optimise 3GPP Multi-RAT networks in a single Atoll document and database. 3GPP Multi-RAT networks can include GSM, UMTS, and LTE radio access technologies. For more information, see "3GPP Multi-RAT Networks" on page 10.
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Network Planning
Network Modelling repeaters and remote antennas is now possible in LTE. The PDCCH interference is now weighted by the downlink traffic loads of the interfering cells, similar to the PDSCH interference. However, you can set PDCCH interference to 100% like in the previous releases by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file. You can calculate the EIRP from Max Power instead of reference signal power when calculating signal level-based coverage predictions through an option in the Atoll.ini file. Because of the introduction of the multi-RAT template, some predictions have been renamed in order to keep consistency with all technologies. Previous releases Effective Signal Analysis (DL) Effective Signal Analysis (UL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL) Coverage by Best Bearer(DL) Coverage by Best Bearer (UL) Coverage by Throughput (DL) Coverage by Throughput (UL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (DL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (UL) Atoll 3.1.0 Effective Signal Analysis (DL) Effective Signal Analysis (UL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL) Service Area Analysis (DL) Service Area Analysis (UL) Effective Service Area Analysis (DL+UL) Coverage by Throughput (DL) Coverage by Throughput (UL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (DL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (UL)
By setting an option in the atoll.ini file, you can create a "Coverage by Aerial" signal level coverage prediction which lets you define the display settings for repeaters and remote antennas independently of their associated transmitters. An effective service area analysis (DL+UL) coverage prediction is now available. This prediction shows the areas where a service is available in downlink and uplink depending on the downlink and uplink bearers of the service and their selection thresholds. Signal level coverage predictions, C/N coverage predictions, and control channel (RS, SS, PBCH, and PDCCH) signal quality coverage predictions are only limited by the cell minimum RSRP. PDSCH signal quality, service area, throughput, and quality indicator coverage predictions are limited by the cell minimum RSRP and the bearer selection thresholds of the lowest available bearer. For Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL), Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL), Service Area Analysis (DL), and Service Area Analysis (UL), it is now possible to export the actual calculation results for each pixel to a text file. Atoll now identifies intra-carrier and inter-carrier neighbours at the end of the automatic neighbour allocation. When the importance of neighbours is calculated, Atoll now takes a definable maximum distance between sites into consideration. Atoll now enables the allocation of neighbours to individual cells. An Interference Matrices folder is now available on the Network tab of the Explorer window. The Interference Matrices folder can contain more than one interference matrix. Interference matrices can be calculated in Atoll or imported from external sources (text files). Interference matrices can be exported to text files. Interference matrices in the Interference Matrices folder can be used in the AFP for frequency and physical cell ID planning. Interference matrices in Atoll are fully editable: Interference matrix entries can be modified, deleted, and added as required. Interference matrices contain co-channel and adjacent channel interference probabilities which can be edited in Atoll. New interference matrix entries can also be added to an existing interference matrix.
Neighbour Planning

Automatic physical cell ID planning is now integrated in the LTE AFP module. The basic physical cell ID planning in the LTE module (without an AFP licence) is no longer supported. It can however still be made available by setting an atoll.ini option. The AFP uses wide-ranging inputs and a faster, more sophisticated algorithm for physical cell ID planning than the basic allocation feature. Physical Cell ID Planning The physical cell ID allocation using the AFP can now take second order neighbour relations into account by setting an option in the atoll.ini file. You can instruct the LTE AFP to distribute the available physical cell IDs equally in the network by setting an option in the atoll.ini file.
The AFP cost component weights can now be set in Atoll and saved in the Atoll document.
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It is now possible to lock PSS ID and SSS ID separately for allocation by the AFP. This optional feature can be activated by adding a new field in the Cells table. A document containing information about this feature is available on demand.
Network Capacity
Traffic Model It is now possible to set uplink and downlink lowest bearers for each service, hence defining a minimum required PDSCH and PUSCH C/(I+N) in order for the service to be accessible.
Monte Carlo Simulations Inactive mobiles are now listed in the simulation results. In previous releases, inactive mobiles were not listed because they do not have any impact on the network load. Uplink noise rise control (interference-based uplink power control) is now modelled. The difference between the maximum uplink noise rise and the actual noise rise for a cell dictates whether the interfering mobiles in the neighbour cells must transmit less power (and therefore create less interference) or they can transmit at higher powers. The maximum PUSCH C/(I+N) is calculated during Monte Carlo simulations and can be updated in the Cells table. This can also lead to an increase or decrease in the number of users served by the neighbouring cells in the uplink.

Network Settings
UE categories are now available. UE categories define the maximum downlink and uplink throughput capabilities of LTE user equipment. They also define the highest uplink modulation and the maximum number of antennas supported by user equipment. You can assign a UE category to each terminal type. Atoll now fully supports the special subframe in TDD frame configurations. The DwPTS part of the special subframe is used for data and control channel transmission. Atoll now supports beamforming smart antennas in Monte Carlo simulations as well as coverage prediction calculations. Modelling TDD LTE networks in Atoll requires a few more parameters than FDD LTE networks. TDD-specific parameters are hidden unless there is at least one TDD frequency band defined in the Frequency Bands table. This allows users designing and planning FDD LTE networks to have a clear GUI, without TDD-specific parameters. It is now possible to define the numbers of frequency blocks belonging to each ICIC part of the frame through ICIC configurations. ICIC configurations are used for static downlink and uplink ICIC based on fractional frequency reuse and PSS IDs. New reference signal EPRE calculation methods are now available: Calculated (equal distribution of unused EPRE), Calculated (with boost) which corresponds to a 3 dB boost in the RS EPRE with 2 transmission antenna ports and 6 dB boost with 4 ports, and Calculated (without boost). It is now possible to enter the reference signal EPRE and the maximum power for each cell independently. With this option, Atoll neither calculates one from the other nor verifies the validity of the entered values.
CDMA2000 1xRTT 1xEV-DO Networks

Network Planning
Network The VoIP modelling is now available by default in CDMA2000 projects. It is no longer required to add new fields to the database structure to activate the feature. Atoll enables you to model 1xEV-DO Rev B in CDMA2000 projects. Multi-carrier operation as well as the 64QAM modulation are supported. You can calculate the EIRP from Max Power instead of pilot power when calculating signal level-based coverage predictions through an option in the Atoll.ini file. Because of the introduction of the multi-RAT template, some predictions have been renamed in order to keep consistency with all technologies. Previous releases Atoll 3.1.0 Downlink Total Noise Inter-technology Downlink Interference Total Noise Level Analysis Inter-technology Interference Level Analysis (DL)
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Previous releases Pilot Reception Analysis (Ec/Io) Service Area (Eb/Nt) Downlink Service Area (Eb/Nt) Uplink Effective Service Area Handoff Status Pilot Pollution PN Offset Interference Zone Neighbour Planning
Atoll 3.1.0 Pilot Quality Analysis (Ec/Io) Service Area Analysis (Eb/Nt) (DL) Service Area Analysis (Eb/Nt) (UL) Effective Service Area (Eb/Nt) (DL+UL) Handoff Zones Pilot Pollution Analysis PN Offset Code Collision Zones
Inter-transmitter distances can be taken into account in the neighbour importance calculation by using a distance factor.

If the user defines custom columns with ACP-specific parameters in the Transmitters, Repeaters, Sites, and Cells tables and defines them in the acp.ini file, ACP will use the set values as default values in a new optimisation setup. The process of defining the objectives used to evaluate the success of the optimisation has been improved. Antenna-masking in the ACP has been improved and simplified, with the ACP automatically detecting supported propagation models and offering several options for propagation models that are not natively supported. The ACP now enables the creation of user-defined objectives.
WiMAX Networks
The WiMAX 802.16d document template is no longer supported. It is recommended to use the WiMAX 802.16e document template, which can model WiMAX 802.16d networks as well.
Network Planning
Network Modelling repeaters and remote antennas is now possible in WiMAX. Atoll now supports segmentation in uplink on the uplink PUSC permutation zone. Because of the introduction of the multi-RAT template, some predictions have been renamed in order to keep consistency with all technologies. Previous releases Effective Signal Analysis (DL) Effective Signal Analysis (UL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL) Coverage by Best Bearer(DL) Coverage by Best Bearer (UL) Coverage by Throughput (DL) Coverage by Throughput (UL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (DL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (UL) Atoll 3.1.0 Effective Signal Analysis (DL) Effective Signal Analysis (UL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL) Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL) Service Area Analysis (DL) Service Area Analysis (UL) Effective Service Area Analysis (DL+UL) Coverage by Throughput (DL) Coverage by Throughput (UL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (DL) Coverage by Quality Indicator (UL)
Through an option in the atoll.ini file, you can create a "Coverage by Aerial" signal level coverage prediction which lets you define the display settings for repeaters and remote antennas independently of their associated transmitters. An effective service area analysis (DL+UL) coverage prediction is now available. This prediction shows the areas where a service is available in downlink and uplink depending on the downlink and uplink bearers of the service and their selection thresholds. Signal level coverage predictions, C/N coverage predictions, and preamble and pilot signal quality coverage predictions are only limited by the cell preamble C/N threshold. Traffic signal quality, service area, throughput, and quality indicator coverage predictions are limited by the cell preamble C/N threshold and the bearer selection thresholds of the lowest available bearer. For Coverage by C/(I+N) (DL), Coverage by C/(I+N) (UL), Service Area Analysis (DL), and Service Area Analysis (UL), it is now possible to export the actual calculation results for each pixel to a text file. Atoll now identifies intra-carrier and inter-carrier neighbours at the end of the automatic neighbour allocation. When the importance of neighbours is calculated, Atoll now takes a definable maximum distance between sites into consideration.
Neighbour Planning
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Atoll now enables the allocation of neighbours to individual cells. An Interference Matrices folder is now available on the Network tab of the Explorer window. The Interference Matrices folder can contain more than one interference matrix. Interference matrices can be calculated in Atoll or imported from external sources (text files). Interference matrices can be exported to text files. Interference matrices in the Interference Matrices folder can be used in the AFP for frequency and physical cell ID planning. Interference matrices in Atoll are fully editable: Interference matrix entries can be modified, deleted, and added as required. Interference matrices contain co-channel and adjacent channel interference probabilities which can be edited in Atoll. New interference matrix entries can also be added to an existing interference matrix.

Automatic preamble index planning is now integrated in the WiMAX AFP module. The basic preamble index planning in the WiMAX module (without an AFP licence) is no longer supported. It can however still be made available by setting an atoll.ini option. The AFP uses wide-ranging inputs and a faster, more sophisticated algorithm for preamble index planning than the basic allocation feature. The AFP cost component weights can now be set in Atoll and saved in the Atoll document. Preamble Index Planning The preamble index allocation using the AFP can now take second order neighbour relations into account by setting an option in the atoll.ini file. The preamble index audit lets you find preamble indexes allocated outside of a given domain. It is now possible to lock segment numbers for cells independently from the preamble index status. For a cell whose segment number is locked, the AFP can only modify the preamble index such that it corresponds to the segment number of the cell. You can instruct the WiMAX AFP to equally distribute the available preamble indexes in the network by setting an option in the atoll.ini file. Downlink and Uplink Permutation Zone PermBase Planning It is now possible to automatically allocate downlink and uplink permutation zone permbases using the AFP. Downlink and uplink permutation zone permbases are stored in the Cells table. Their allocation status (Not allocated, allocated, locked) for the AFP can be set as well. The automatic allocation of downlink and uplink permutation zone permbases using the AFP can be based on interference matrices, first and second order neighbour relations, and reuse distance. The domain (0-31 for downlink, 0-69 for uplink, or custom) can also be defined in the AFP before allocation. You can instruct the WiMAX AFP to distribute the available permutation zone permbases equally in the network by setting an option in the atoll.ini file.
Network Capacity
Traffic Model It is now possible to set uplink and downlink lowest bearers for each service, hence defining a minimum required traffic C/(I+N) in order for the service to be accessible.
Monte Carlo Simulations Inactive mobiles are now listed in the simulation results. In previous releases, inactive mobiles were not listed as they do not have any impact on the network load.

Network Settings
Schedulers The Proportional Fair scheduler can use a multi-user diversity gain graph in order to model the effect of fast fading on resource scheduling. A round robin scheduling method is now available in the Schedulers table.
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TD-SCDMA Networks
Network Planning
Coverage Predictions An HSUPA Quality and Throughput Analysis coverage prediction is now available. Because of the introduction of the multi-RAT template, some predictions have been renamed in order to keep consistency with all technologies. Previous releases P-CCPCH Pollution P-CCPCH Reception Analysis (Eb/Nt) P-CCPCH Reception Analysis (C/I) DwPCH Reception Analysis (C/I) Coverage by Downlink TCH RSCP Coverage by Uplink TCH RSCP Service Area (Eb/Nt) Downlink Service Area (C/I) Downlink Service Area (Eb/Nt) Uplink Service Area (C/I) Uplink Effective Service Area (Eb/Nt) Effective Service Area (C/I) Downlink Total Noise Cell to Cell Interference Zones UpPCH Interference Zones Baton Handover Zones Scrambling Code Interference Zones HSDPA Coverage Neighbour Planning Inter-transmitter distances can be taken into account in the neighbour importance calculation by using a distance factor. Atoll now enables the allocation of neighbours to individual cells. Atoll 3.1.0 P-CCPCH Pollution Analysis P-CCPCH Quality Analysis (Ec/Io) P-CCPCH Quality Analysis (C/I) DwPCH Quality Analysis (C/I) Coverage by TCH RSCP (DL) Coverage by TCH RSCP (UL) Service Area Analysis (Eb/Nt) (DL) Service Area Analysis (C/I) (DL) Service Area Analysis (Eb/Nt) (UL) Service Area Analysis (C/I) (UL) Effective Service Area (Eb/Nt) (DL+UL) Effective Service Area (C/I) (DL+UL) Total Noise Level Analysis Cell to Cell Interference Zones UpPCH Interference Zones Baton Handover Zones Scrambling Code Collision Zones HSDPA Quality and Throughput Analysis
Microwave Radio Links Networks

Atoll now permits the user to define parameters for the project that describe it and that can be used in reports exported in RTF. Project-related information (such as the project author, the timestamp, and comments) can now be entered and saved with the ATL file.
Network Planning
You can change the position of the site and microwave link labels on the map. In microwave link properties, you can define if the antennas installed on the sites are protected by radomes. The losses caused by the radome can be defined in the antenna Properties dialogue. Link properties have changed. Space diversity and the XPIC mechanism are characteristics defined in the configurations; they are no longer defined in the link Properties dialogue. Selecting a radio on each site of the link has been enhanced. According to the defined frequency band and the operation mode, an assistant enables you to select an inter-channel spacing, the modulation configuration supported by the radio series and then, the corresponding radio. You can select the standard or the maximum power that the radio can transmit. This parameter is taken from the radio series properties of the selected radio. There are now more options available for formatting a report to be exported in RTF format, including the ability to include project keywords from the document description in the header and footer. Atoll enables you to model multi-channel frequency diversity. One or more standby channels are used to protect "n" diversity channels. In order to model this, a new status, "Diversity - Standby," is available when configuring the ports of a microwave link. The median k factor value (i.e., value observed 50% of time) and the effective k factor value (i.e., value observed 99% of time) can be defined globally in the properties of the Microwave Radio Links folder or for each link in the link Properties dialogue. These values are used to initialise the k factor values taken into consideration in the various analysis tools (i.e., profile analysis, antenna height optimisation, etc.).
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Quality and Availability Calculation Methods

How quality and availability objectives are selected has changed. By default, they are selected according to the microwave link rate and its length. Afterwards, they can be selected according to the type of the objective. Atmospheric gaseous attenuation can be now calculated following ITU-R P.676-6 and ITU-R P.676-7 recommendations.
Path Profile Analysis

In the Profile view of the Microwave Analysis window, Atoll can display a Fresnel ellipsoid for the diversity antenna installed at the receiver.
Reliability Analysis
Performance objectives defined by G.828 recommendations can be taken into consideration in new Microwave Radio Links projects.
Reflection and Diversity Analysis

The separation between the main and the diversity antennas is taken into account in the calculation of waveguide and cable losses.
Analysis Report
In the microwave link analysis report, the nominal received signal level and the propagation results are detailed for the diversity antenna.
Link Budget Report

Atoll provides a new result in the summary section of the microwave link report. In addition to the average annual availability, the average annual availability taking into account both rain and equipment failures is indicated in percentage of time.
Interference Analysis
You can now define a global threshold degradation. This threshold is used to indicate when a link is interfered. A link is considered to be interfered when the threshold degradation caused by all interferers exceeds the global minimum threshold. A calculation resolution can be taken into account when calculating interference. How Atoll takes the shielding factor into consideration has changed. The shielding factor is taken into consideration when calculating the interference received by the sites of the link. Only signal levels received from interferers are attenuated by the shielding factor. Atoll now enables the user to either define a minimum resolution to be used when calculating interference or to use the minimum resolution defined in the geographic data.
Frequency Planning
The Channel Arrangement tool has been improved. A new option enables you to display each half of the link in a colour assigned to the half-band used on its site. The degradation threshold experienced by each site of the studied link as well as the received quality level are indicated as results of the semi-automatic channel allocation. In addition, sorting features are now available in the Results dialogue. They can be sued to rank the list of channels according to any parameter (cost, threshold degradation, etc.).
Network Settings
Transmission parameters are now available on the Parameters tab of the Explorer window. You can define the supported modulations, digital trunks, throughputs, and connection types. For each modulation, you can define the quality target (Eb/No)to be reached in order for the modulation to be used. You can either define the Eb/No values for BER of 10-3 and 10-6 or take into account values calculated by Atoll. IP technology is now supported when defining a digital trunk. Atoll enables you to define all configurations supported by radios (the number of main channels, the number of standby channels, whether hot standby, space diversity, frequency diversity, or XPIC is supported). Atoll enables you to manage radio series. A radio series lists all configurations of radios belonging to it (i.e., the frequency bands in which radios of the series can operate, the supported modulations, capacities and protection types). For each supported combination, you can define global parameters such as transmission-related parameters and transmissions and reception losses. Each time you create a new radio, you have to define which radio series it belongs to. The radio description has changed. Some parameters now depend on the radio series of the radio and others can be defined as a function of BER. Adaptive modulation can now be modelled. Atoll enables you to define whether radios of the radio series support this operation mode. If the link can switch from one modulation to another one, you can select the supported modulations. Atoll displays availability and quality results for each supported modulation in the microwave link analysis report. In order to define the range of channels to be excluded from the upper or the lower half-band, you can enter the first and last channel of the range separated by a hyphen. Through the Atoll.ini file, it is possible to define prefixes or suffixes to be used for naming channels. For information, see the Administrator Manual.
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AT311_WN_E1

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

What's New in Atoll 3.1.1

New Features Introduced in Atoll 3.1.1 (Build 4286)

3GPP Multi-RAT Networks

Automatic Cell Planning

GSM GPRS EDGE Networks

Automatic Cell Planning

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

UMTS HSPA Networks

Automatic Cell Planning

Network Configuration Using the AFP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Automatic Cell Planning

Automatic Cell Planning

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Microwave Link Networks

These default settings can be modified.

New Features Introduced in Atoll 3.1.1 (Build 4191)

User Configurations Tables

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

3GPP Multi-RAT Networks

GSM GPRS EDGE Networks

Automatic Cell Planning

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

UMTS HSPA Networks

Radio Resource Management and Simulations

Automatic Cell Planning

Network Configuration Using the AFP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Monte Carlo Simulations

Automatic Cell Planning

Automatic Cell Planning

Network Configuration Using the AFP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Monte Carlo Simulations

Automatic Cell Planning

Microwave Link Networks

Semi-automatic Channel Allocation

New Features Introduced in Atoll 3.1.0 (All Released Builds)

User Management in Atoll Management Console

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Propagation Calculations and Path Loss Matrices

Coverage Prediction Reports

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Coverage Prediction Export

API and Atoll Development Kit

3GPP Multi-RAT Networks

Frequency and Parameter Planning

Traffic Maps Geographic Data Radio Resource Management and Simulations

Network Optimisation Using the ACP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Drive Test Data

GSM GPRS EDGE Networks

Frequency and Parameter Planning Intermodulation Interference Calculation (optional)

Network Optimisation Using the ACP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

UMTS HSPA Networks

Network Optimisation Using the ACP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Network Configuration Using the AFP

Whats New in Atoll 3.1.1

Network Optimisation Using the ACP

CDMA2000 1xRTT 1xEV-DO Networks