AT321_RNR_E2 Atoll 3.2.

1 Release Notes
1
Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes
New features and other changes introduced in Atoll 3.2.1 are described below. For more information, refer to the Online Help, the User Manual,
the Administrator Manual, and the Technical Reference Guide.
Release Note for Build 6442 (03 June 2014)
Working Environment
By default, Atoll restarts automatically after a crash. If you want, you can switch to manual restarts by setting the RestartOnImproperExit
option in the [System] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Database
A message is displayed in the event viewer when database interface access rights are restricted. You can disable this message by using
the DisplayInfo option in the [InterfaceUserRights] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Working with Objects
A new context menu command, Delete All, allows you to delete all the objects contained in either of the following Geo explorer
folders at once: Geoclimatic Parameters, Population, Clutter Heights, Clutter Classes, Digital Terrain Model.
By default, the "Group by" feature is case-sensitive, which means that items labelled "a" and items labelled "A" are grouped into two
different categories. You can make the feature case-insensitive by using the CaseInsensitiveGroup option in the [Display] section of
the Atoll.ini file.
Geographic Data
You can now define Microsoft Bing as the adress search server for online searches by setting the BingKey option in the [OnlineSearch]
section of the Atoll.ini file. This option requires a Bing Maps key which you must request from Microsoft.
You can now define Microsoft Bing as the tile server for online maps by setting the BingKey option in the [OnlineMaps] section of the
Atoll.ini file. This option requires a Bing Maps key which you must request from Microsoft.
You can now load online maps that were saved in a geographic data set (GEO) or in a user configuration file (CFG).
Setting the ResetAltitude option in the [Site] section of the the Atoll.ini file (to clear the altitude in a new/duplicate/moved sites Real
field or populate the latter with the new DTM value) now has the same effect when you modify a sites coordinates manually from
the sites context menu or from the Sites table.
Atoll automatically detects undefined clutter class data as "No Data" when importing data from Planet EV. "No Data" clutter is
considered transparent on the map and in calculations. You can instruct Atoll to use a specific value as the "No Data" value by using
the ClutterNoData option in the [PlanetImport] section of the Atoll.ini file.
File Export
When a file is exported in TAB format, you can optimise the quality level of the resulting file by setting the OptimizedTABExport option
in the [MITAB] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Hot Spot Zones
Hot spot zones are now saved in user configuration files.
Coverage Prediction Export
When exporting coverage predictions from the Predictions folder, two new columns appear in the Coverage Export dialog box
indicating the resolution and the raster/vector type for each prediction. Also, the specified directory and export format are now
stored in the registry making the same directory and export format available in future exports.
Automatic Cell Planning
You can display an additional variation constraint on the Reconfiguration > Transmitters vertical tab that will be applied to mechanical
tilt changes by setting the tx.tilt.deltaLimitConstraint.show option in the [ACPReconfPage] section of the ACP.ini file. You can change
the default variation value through the tilt.deltaLimitConstraint option in the [ACPTplReconfPage] section.
You can display an additional variation constraint on the Reconfiguration > Transmitters vertical tab that will be applied to global
(electrical and mechanical) tilt changes by setting the etilt.tilt.sum.deltaLimitConstraint.show option in the [ACPReconfPage] section
of the ACP.ini file. You can change the default variation value through the etilt.tilt.sum.deltaLimitConstraint option in the
[ACPTplReconfPage] section.
Beside candidate sites, you can now also create groups of removable sites for existing sites.
You can now reconfigure inter-sector electrical tilts as asymetrics, i.e. obtain different electrical tilts for sectors belonging to the same
site by setting the etilt.asymetric option in the [ACPTplReconfPage] section of the ACP.ini file.
In Atoll 64b, the maximum number of transmitters per layer is no longer limited to 65,000.
The Excel file generated after an export from the Statistics tab now includes new columns showing the not-weighted results for each
objective (coverage statistics results for initial/final improvement). Equivalent columns are generated for each hotspot and not-
weighted results are available when at least one objective is weighted with a weighting map or when a zone weighting parameter is
different from 1.
2
Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes Forsk 2014
The site selection algorithm has been improved so as to consider the sites that are selected and activated. These sites are now directly
pre-optimized when they are activated, which makes their insertion in an existing network more efficient. Note that once they are
activated, a second-stage reconfiguration can still occur during the following iterations.
You can use a new slider on the Preferences tab of the ACP Properties to keep or discard low quality improvements.
You can define the indoor distance from a building facade in order for a pixel to be considered as "indoor" by setting the
flagPixelFacadeDist option in the [ACPEMFCore] section of the ACP.ini file.
In the Setup Properties dialog box, the Comments tab has been replaced by a Comments area on the General tab.
The Graphs tab (in running optimisations) and the Graph and Change Details tabs (in optimisation properties) have been improved
to clearly distinguish multiple ordinates when several curves are displayed.
A new Constraints parameter has been added on the Optimisation tab of the Setup Properties dialog box allowing you to limit the
maximum number of active sites after optimisation.
When optimising the pilot power in UMTS, an additional Total Power (dBm) or DL Load (%) column appears on the Sectors tab when
the showDlLoad option is set in the [ACPResultSectorPage] section of the ACP.ini file. Now that additional column also appears on the
Commit tab .
Antennas and Equipment
An advanced data filtering option has been added to the Antenna Selection Assistant to improve filtering capabilities with very large
antenna databases.
Shared antennas can now optionally also share antenna patterns. This is especially useful when the same antenna is used by multiple
technologies in a Multi-RAT or co-planning environment. For more information on this optional feature, see the technical note TN021
Shared Antenna Patterns.
GSM GPRS EDGE Networks
Tx-Tx Interference Tool
A new option allows you to use the color and transparency settings of any existing prediction as the color legend for displaying Tx-Tx
interference on the map. Additionally, the default color legend of the Tx-Tx interference tool is now a gradation from red (low C/I) to
green (high C/I).
Network Configuration Using the AFP
You can now hide the hopping parameters in the Atoll AFP Properties dialog box by setting the HideHopping option in the [AFP]
section of the Atoll.ini file. This will hide the HSN and MAL tabs as well as the MAIO frame on the Reuse tab.
CDMA2000 Networks
The radio bearer allocation algorithm for multi-carrier EVDO Rev. B users has been improved in the reverse link. The available terminal
power is no longer equally shared between the carriers as previously. Instead, Atoll starts allocating the maximum terminal power to
the best carrier of the active set and selects the highest 1xEV-DO radio bearer. If it remains terminal power after serving the first
carrier,Atoll continues allocating the available terminal power to the second carrier, and so on for the other carriers of the active set
as long as the remaining terminal power is sufficient to obtain the lowest bearer. You can switch back to the previous algorithm by
setting the SharingEquallyPower and UsingPreviousIterationPowerWeight options in the [CDMA] section of the Atoll.ini file.
LTE Networks
Atoll now includes a grid-of-beams (GoB) smart antenna model in addition to existing beamforming smart antenna models.
Coverage Predictions and Point Analysis
A new option in the cell identifier collision zones coverage prediction is now available for analysing PRACH root sequence index
collisions between cells.
In the Details view, arrows are now displayed on the map to identify the best server and various interferers.
Network Configuration Using the AFP
The audit has been improved to include a new tab providing overall statistics of the resource plan being audited.
The Atoll LTE AFP now supports all the values of the required numbers of PRACH root sequence indexes from 1 to 64.
WiMAX Networks
Network Configuration Using the AFP
The audit has been improved to include a new tab providing overall statistics of the resource plan being audited.
Wi-Fi Networks
Network Configuration Using the AFP
The audit has been improved to include a new tab providing overall statistics of the resource plan being audited.
AT321_RNR_E2 Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes
3
Release Note for Build 6147 (04 March 2014)
Working Environment
Installation
It is now possible to create a system restore point when installing Atoll.
Working with Filters
When filters are removed from tables, Atoll now keeps the filters applied through the map using the filtering zone.
Coverage Predictions
By default, when you generate a report for one or more coverage predictions, the ranges which do not contain any pixels do not
appear in the report. By setting an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can include these ranges in coverage prediction reports.
Exporting multiple coverage predictions now uses the same options as when exporting single coverage predictions.
Neighbour Planning
You can now select the new Adjust Map Window check box in the Neighbour Display dialog box to force the map window to self-
adjust in such a way that all the neighbour relations of the selected transmitter/cell will appear on the map.
By default, the automatic neighbour allocation compares the defined Max inter-site distance with the effective inter-transmitter or
inter-cell distance. You can force Atoll to compare the Max inter-site distance with the real inter-site distance by adding an option in
the Atoll.ini file.
By default, the neighbour importance calculated with respect to distance is based on the global Max inter-site distance setting for all
neighbour candidates. You can force Atoll to prioritise individual distances between the reference transmitters/cells and their
neighbour candidates by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file.
By default, when Force Symmetry is selected in the Automatic Neighbour Allocation dialog box and the neighbours list of a
transmitter/cell is full, the reference transmitter/cell is not added as a neighbour and that transmitter/cell is removed from the
neighbours list of the reference transmitter/cell. You can force Atoll to keep that transmitter/cell in the neighbours list of the
reference transmitter/cell by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file.
Calculations
Calculation Parameters
The default minimum thresholds which are proposed in the optimisation of main and extended path loss matrices are now
technology-specific. Also, and for connected documents only, the administrator can enforce in each technology different minimum
thresholds that will prevail over the values stored in the registry. The enforced values will remain the default values at the opening of
any connected document. This can be done in each single-RAT technology and on a "per technology" basis in 3GPP and 3GPP2.
Database Management
Custom Fields
Atoll no longer supports null entries in non-nullable custom fields of connected documents. You can force the previous behaviour by
adding an option in the Atoll.ini file.
3GPP Multi-RAT Networks
Multi-point Analysis
Three new columns have been added on the Results tab of the LTE: Analysis Properties dialog box: "RS C/(I+N) (DL)", "RSSI (DL)", and
"RSRQ (DL)".
3GPP2 Multi-RAT Networks
Multi-point Analysis
Three new columns have been added on the Results tab of the LTE: Analysis Properties dialog box: "RS C/(I+N) (DL)", "RSSI (DL)", and
"RSRQ (DL)".
GSM GPRS EDGE Networks
Network Configuration Using the AFP
MAL allocation has been simplified in the AFP Module Properties dialog box. A new check box, General automatic adjustment
(Recommended), has been added on the MAL tab to spare the user from specifying complex MAL settings. It is selected by default,
therefore hiding the remaining content of the MAL tab. You can clear this check box to display and modify MAL settings.
Automatic Cell Planning
Two new quality objectives are available. The first objective is based on C/I . The second is based on overlapping with a control of the
difference between the first and Nth servers, where N is a user-defined value from 3 to 100.
4
Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes Forsk 2014
UMTS HSPA Networks
Network
Uplink carrier aggregation can be now modelled in coverage predictions and in point analysis.
You can define in the transmitter properties whether the transmitter supports the UL/DL multi-cell mode. In this case, HSPA users
with capable terminals can simultaneously connect to two HSPA carriers of the transmitter.
Two new HSUPA categories supporting dual-cell mode have been added so as to model DC-HSPA-capable terminals.
In the HSUPA section of the Monte-Carlo simulation, Atoll processes DC-HSPA users as single-cell HSPA users.
Coverage Predictions
In global coverage predictions, you can now select the best carrier of a frequency band.
Automatic Cell Planning
Two new quality objectives are available. The first objective is based on RSSI. The second is based on overlapping with a control of the
difference between the first and Nth servers, where N is a user-defined value from 3 to 100.
CDMA2000 Networks
Automatic Cell Planning
A new quality objective is available. It is based on overlapping with a control of the difference between the first and Nth servers, where
N is a user-defined value from 3 to 100.
LTE Networks
Network Settings
It is now possible to eliminate interference from reference signals using an option in the Atoll.ini file. This allows simulating further
enhanced ICIC (FeICIC) in Atoll.
Network Configuration Using the AFP
It is now possible to define excluded PRACH RSIs in the AFP for automatic PRACH RSI planning.
It is now possible to take the frequency plan into account for calculating the PRACH RSI collisions during automatic planning using the
AFP.
Coverage Predictions
In global coverage predictions, you can now select the best carrier of a frequency band.
Automatic Cell Planning
A new quality objective is available. It is based on overlapping with a control of the difference between the first and Nth servers, where
N is a user-defined value from 3 to 100.
WiMAX Networks
Coverage Predictions
In global coverage predictions, you can now select the best carrier of a frequency band.
Automatic Cell Planning
A new quality objective is available. It is based on overlapping with a control of the difference between the first and Nth servers, where
N is a user-defined value from 3 to 100.
Wi-Fi Networks
Coverage Predictions
In global coverage predictions, you can now select the best carrier of a frequency band.
Automatic Cell Planning
A new quality objective is available. It is based on overlapping with a control of the difference between the first and Nth servers, where
N is a user-defined value from 3 to 100.
Release Note for Build 5871 (25 November 2013)
Working Environment
Explorer Windows
You can now create folders and subfolders in the Network and Geo explorers for organising vector and image data. Atoll allows you
to create as many folders and subfolders as required and move vectors and images from one folder to another or to the root level.
Display Properties of Objects
Objects displayed by discrete values of one of their parameters are now coloured based on a predefined palette of 36 colours. The
predefined palette uses different colours for nearby objects.
AT321_RNR_E2 Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes
5
Using the Atoll.ini file, you can replace the predefined colour palette with your own colour palette containing as many colours as
needed.
It is possible to switch back to the previous method of colouring (dynamic shading which applies similar colours to nearby objects) by
setting another option in the Atoll.ini file.
Numerical values are now sorted correctly when display is set to discrete values. For example, 0, 1, 2, 3, ... instead of 0, 1, 10, 11, ....
Distance Measurement on the Map
If the Tip Text button on the Map toolbar is active, distance measurement information is now also displayed in a tip bubble next to
the distance measurement tool cursor on the map. This information is still displayed in the status bar as in previous releases.
Table Import from Text Files
The process of importing data from text files to any data table has been improved. You can now select the import mode, Add or
Update and add, when importing data from a text file to a table in Atoll. A third mode, Reset and add, is also available when importing
neighbours, secondary antennas, and GSM TRXs.
When you export the contents of a table to a text or CSV file, carriage returns within text fields are now replaced with "\n" instead of
spaces. You can define a different escape sequence, for example, spaces, through an option in the Atoll.ini file.
Print Preview
A Preview button is now available in the Print Setup dialog box.
You can now define a printing zone containing more than one polygon. Each polygon of the printing zone is printed on a separate
page. The print preview also shows each polygon of the printing zone on a separate page.
Database Management
Database Providers and Connections
"Oracle Provider for OLE DB" has been added to the list of OLE DB providers in the Atoll management console. On the other hand,
"Microsoft OLE DB Provider for Oracle" is no longer available.
Universal data link (UDL) files are no longer supported for creating new Atoll documents from a database.
Custom Fields
It is now possible to assign a custom field to more than one field group by defining a semicolon-separated list of group names in the
GROUP_NAME field of the CustomFields table.
Antennas and Equipment
Antenna Patterns
By default, vertical antenna patterns are now displayed pointing to the right instead of the top.
Vertical Beamwidth and Tilt in Geographic Profile
You can configure Atoll to display the vertical half-power beamwidth as well as the current tilt in the geographic profile view of the
Point Analysis tool. This feature is accessible by setting an option in the Atoll.ini file.
Calculations and Propagation Models
Calculation Parameters
It is now possible to set a maximum path loss calculation radius, applicable to both main and extended matrices, through an option
in the Atoll.ini file.
Coverage Predictions
A unique ID (GUID) is now generated for each new coverage prediction. This unique ID is used to identify each coverage prediction. It
is included in the user configuration files as well as the custom predictions (studies.XML) file.
The calculation results of each new coverage prediction are now stored in a ".\%DOCNAME%.studies\{<GUID>}" folder. The numerical
results of coverage predictions calculated by value intervals are now stored externally in BIL format. However, the storage of
numerical results may require additional disk space when a document contains several coverage predictions and transmitters, or
when high resolutions are used. If you have limited disk space, you can disable this feature by adding an option in the Atoll.ini file.
It is now possible to change the coverage prediction display thresholds without having to recalculate.
It is now possible to compare signal level coverage predictions by "Value Difference" (coverage 1 - coverage 2) to obtain the difference
between predicted values in dB.
Additional columns appear in exported coverage prediction reports for hot spots containing parameters other than standard Atoll
parameters.
3GPP Multi-RAT Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
6
Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes Forsk 2014
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Multi-point Analysis
Multi-point analysis is now available in 3GPP multi-RAT documents.
You can add points to a multi-point analysis using the mouse.
Mobile heights are now taken into account in multi-point analyses.
Monte Carlo Simulations
You can choose the technologies you want include in the calculation of a Monte Carlo simulation.
You can now replay an existing simulation, add a simulation to an existing group of simulations, and duplicate a group of simulations.
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
The ACP can now be used in co-planning mode for the following cases:
3GPP multi-RAT documents with 3GPP2 multi-RAT documents (with LTE present in either one, not in both).
3GPP multi-RAT documents with Wi-Fi documents
3GPP2 Multi-RAT Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Multi-point Analysis
Multi-point analysis can now be used in 3GPP2 multi-RAT documents.
You can add points to a multi-point analysis using the mouse.
Mobile heights are now taken into account in multi-point analyses.
Monte Carlo Simulations
You can choose the technologies you want include in the calculation of a Monte Carlo simulation.
You can now replay an existing simulation, add a simulation to an existing group of simulations, and duplicate a group of simulations.
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
The ACP can now be used in co-planning mode for the following cases:
3GPP2 multi-RAT documents with 3GPP multi-RAT documents (with LTE present in either one, not in both).
3GPP2 multi-RAT documents with Wi-Fi documents
GSM GPRS EDGE Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
A new parameter, "Same BCCH", has been added to the list of neighbour plan audit parameters.
Network Configuration Using the AFP
You can display detailed separation constraint violations. This view enables you to quickly find the TRX causing violations. You can also
export detailed violation results to a text file.
AT321_RNR_E2 Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes
7
You can now choose to display only the important separation constraint violations and delete the corresponding TRXs individually or
all at once. By adding options in the Atoll.ini file, you can specify co- and adjacent channel thresholds defining important violation
levels.
The target CPU time can no longer be specified in AFP. A new "Speed vs Quality" convergence slider can be used instead.
Coverage Predictions and Point Analysis
Inter-technology interference is taken into account by default in interference-based coverage predictions. The same is true for point
analysis ("Interference" and "Details" views). By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can add "Inter-technology" to the list of
interference sources so you can choose to consider or not inter-technology interference.
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
The ACP can now be used in co-planning mode with Wi-Fi.
UMTS HSPA Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Coverage Predictions and Point Analysis
It is now possible to calculate coverage predictions by transmitter, signal level, and overlapping zones for a selected carrier or the best
carrier of a frequency band or of all frequency bands.
In the Point Analysis window, carrier numbers are displayed next to cell names in the "Reception" view. This is particularly useful
when "Carriers" is set to "All".
Multi-point Analysis
You can add points to a multi-point analysis using the mouse.
Mobile heights are now taken into account in multi-point analyses.
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
The ACP can now be used in co-planning mode with Wi-Fi.
A new Lock cell power for co-site cells check box has been added on the Reconfiguration tab for UMTS Cells to ensure that all cells
on the same site are assigned the same cell power. If you are optimising EMF exposure, the cell power of co-site cells is synchronised
automatically.
When optimising the pilot power, you can set an option in the ACP.ini file to display initial/final total power on the Sectors tab of the
Optimisation Properties dialog box, either as Total Power(dBm) or as DL Load(%) according to the DL load setting ("Absolute or "%
Pmax", resp.) in the Network Settings Properties dialog box.
CDMA2000 Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Coverage Predictions and Point Analysis
It is now possible to calculate coverage predictions by transmitter, signal level, and overlapping zones for a selected carrier or the best
carrier of a frequency band or of all frequency bands.
Through an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can create a "Coverage by Aerial" prediction that provides separate coverage areas for
transmitters, repeaters, and remote antennas.
In the Point Analysis window, carrier numbers are displayed next to cell names in the "Reception" view. This is particularly useful
when "Carriers" is set to "All".
8
Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes Forsk 2014
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
The ACP can now be used in co-planning mode with Wi-Fi.
LTE Networks
Atoll now models intra-band as well as inter-band carrier aggregation.
Atoll now models enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC, also known as time-domain ICIC) in addition to the already
supported frequency-domain ICIC methods. You can set almost blank subframe patterns per cell which define ABS and non-ABS
subframes for the cell. Interference calculations take into account the collisions between subframes.
MU-MIMO is now also modelled in downlink.
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Coverage Predictions and Point Analysis
It is now possible to calculate coverage predictions by transmitter, signal level, and overlapping zones for a selected channel or the
best channel of a frequency band or of all frequency bands.
The Details view of the Point Analysis tool has been improved to include signal and interference levels for all downlink channels.
Network Configuration Using the AFP
The Atoll LTE AFP has been considerably improved in terms of user interface and performance.
The frequency and physical cell ID audits have been considerably improved in terms of user interface, results, and performance.
The frequency and physical cell ID distribution histograms are now available within the AFP and audit windows.
The progress of a resource allocation plan can now be monitored on screen as the process moves on.
You can audit allocated frequencies. On the same occasion, the AFP folder in the Network explorer has been revamped and the
Physical Cell ID Audit dialog box no longer exists. Frequency and PCI audits can all be run from the same Resource Allocation Audit
dialog box, using the AFP > Audit command.
It is now possible to allocate lists of PRACH RSIs (root sequence indexes) to LTE cells using the Atoll LTE AFP. It is also possible to
perform a detailed audit of PRACH RSI allocations. This is an optional feature which can be activated in Atoll 3.2.1 by adding some
custom fields to database tables.
It is now possible to calculate interference matrices for cells using different channel widths and frequency bands.
Monte Carlo Simulations
The uplink noise rise control can now optionally be included among the Monte Carlo simulation convergence criteria. The new strict
noise rise control method is available in addition to the existing best effort uplink noise rise control method. For information on the
corresponding Atoll.ini option and details of the algorithm, see the Technical Reference Guide.
You can now replay an existing simulation, add a simulation to an existing group of simulations, and duplicate a group of simulations.
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
The ACP can now be used in co-planning mode with Wi-Fi.
A new Lock cell power for co-site cells check box has been added on the Reconfiguration tab for LTE Cells to ensure that all cells on
the same site are assigned the same cell power. If you are optimising EMF exposure, the cell power of co-site cells is synchronised
automatically.
A new objective, "RSSI", is now available on the Objectives tab of the Setup Properties dialog box.
Drive Test Data
You can now import drive test data by physical cell IDs in hexadecimal format in addition to the decimal format.
Network Settings
You can now set positive values for the minimum interferer C/N threshold to positive values. Interfering cells from which the received
carrier power-to-noise ratio is less than this threshold are discarded during calculations.
It is now possible to define separate downlink and uplink multi-user diversity gains for proportional fair schedulers. It is also possible
to define different gain graphs for different radio bearers.
AT321_RNR_E2 Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes
9
WiMAX Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Coverage Predictions
It is now possible to calculate coverage predictions by transmitter, signal level, and overlapping zones for a selected channel or the
best channel of a frequency band or of all frequency bands.
Network Configuration Using the AFP
The Atoll WiMAX AFP has been considerably improved in terms of user interface and performance.
The frequency, preamble index, and permbase audits have been considerably improved in terms of user interface, results, and
performance.
The frequency, preamble index, and permbase distribution histograms are now available within the AFP and audit windows.
The progress of a resource allocation plan can now be monitored on screen as the process moves on.
DL and UL zone permbase allocation is available from each transmitters context menu (Network explorer and map).
You can audit allocated frequencies and DL/UL zone permbases. On the same occasion, the AFP folder in the Network explorer has
been revamped and the Preamble Index Audit dialog box no longer exists. Frequency, preamble index, and zone permbase audits can
all be run from the same Resource Allocation Audit dialog box, using the AFP > Audit command.
It is now possible to calculate interference matrices for cells using different channel widths and frequency bands.
Monte Carlo Simulations
You can now replay an existing simulation, add a simulation to an existing group of simulations, and duplicate a group of simulations.
Automatic Cell Planning
The Zones page on the Optimisation tab has been improved. Cells and sites can now be automatically selected for reconfiguration in
an Evaluation Zone, which by default is the computation zone. In other words, ACP allows automatic selection of the sectors which
can be optimised, to improve the optimisation zone without degrading the area outside the target evaluation zone.
Network Settings
You can now set positive values for the minimum interferer C/N threshold to positive values. Interfering cells from which the received
carrier power-to-noise ratio is less than this threshold are discarded during calculations.
Wi-Fi Networks
Base Station Definition
The electrical azimuth and the electrical downtilt are now shown for information as read-only antenna parameters in the transmitter
properties dialog box.
Miscellaneous transmission and reception losses can now be defined for repeaters and remote antennas (coverage side).
Neighbour Planning
The maximum inter-site distance used in automatic neighbour allocation and neighbour importance evaluation is based, by default,
on the donor sites. By adding an option in the Atoll.ini file, you can extend it to repeaters and remote antennas.
You can compare neighbour lists in your Atoll documents with external lists using the neighbours table import function.
Coverage Predictions
It is now possible to calculate coverage predictions by transmitter, signal level, and overlapping zones for a selected channel or the
best channel of a frequency band or of all frequency bands.
Network Configuration Using the AFP
The Atoll Wi-Fi AFP has been considerably improved in terms of user interface and performance.
The frequency audit has been considerably improved in terms of user interface, results, and performance.
The frequency distribution histogram is now available within the AFP and audit windows.
You can audit allocated frequencies from the Resource Allocation Audit dialog box, using the AFP > Audit command.
It is now possible to calculate interference matrices for cells using different channel widths and frequency bands.
Monte Carlo Simulations
You can now replay an existing simulation, add a simulation to an existing group of simulations, and duplicate a group of simulations.
Network Settings
You can now set positive values for the minimum interferer C/N threshold to positive values. Interfering cells from which the received
carrier power-to-noise ratio is less than this threshold are discarded during calculations.
10
Atoll 3.2.1 Release Notes Forsk 2014