A Demonstration of the Suite
Spot Predictive Modeling Process
Connect802 licenses the same advanced
RF modeling and simulation software that's
been used for many years by cell phone
companies to position antenna towers on
the hillside and to design in-building
cellular repeater systems. This software
allows both outdoor and indoor simultion
for RF design not only in the 800 MHz cellular
bands but for 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g), 5.8
GHz (802.11a), WiMAX (802.16), WMTS (600
MHz) and other frequency bands.
Below you will find screen images and
accompanying Flash movie clips showing
the steps in creating an RF predictive
model. You send your floor plan or outdoor
map to Connect802 and our RF engineering
team does the rest.
You can also view a six minute demonstration of the RF CAD modeling and simulation process,
shown in real time with annotations.
Here's how it works:
The Project Phase:
What the video clip shows:
Click for full-size image
SELECT CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
The building
or outdoor area is evaluated and a
set of probable RF signal characteristic
categories is determined by the Connect802
design engineer.
Propagation
characteristics of various materials at
different frequencies are examined in the
materials library. Appropriate categories
are defined for the construction of the
present building. An architect's drawing
of the building has been imported into
the AutoCAD floor plan.
(576K)
FORMAT THE DRAWING
An architect
places similar partitions and construction
features on separate drawing layers in
an AutoCAD file. Each layer is evaluated
by the Connect802 design engineer and assigned
specific characteristics.
Layers
of the AutoCAD drawing are examined, and
then assigned a particular partition category
from the previously defined list. You see
the layers appear, one by one, as they
are processed by the RF modeling engineer.
(281K)
CREATE DRAWING IF NECESSARY
If an AutoCAD
file is not available, partitions are drawn
manually by the Connect802 designer, using
a scanned image or aerial photograph as
a basis.
The scanned
image is attached to a new AutoCAD file.
You then see partitions being manually
drawn on top of the image and, finally,
a 3-dimensional room is created. This process
is repeated until the entire scanned floor
plan or outdoor map is built as an AutoCAD
drawing.
(740K)
CONFIRM 3-DIMENSIONAL
MODEL
Once the
drawing is formatted, it is viewed in 3-dimensions
to confirm the overall structure and relationship
between objects in space. This is where
the Connect802 designer is able to see
the flat floor plan spring into a 3-dimensional
representation of the space being modeled.
The formatted
floor plan for an airport design is examined
showing the baggage carousel and overhead
conveyor belt system.
(481K)
CREATE MODEL OF RADIO TRANSMITTER
An RF base
station and antenna are created and placed
into the model. The Connect802 designer
chooses from an extensive library of antennas,
cables, and other components to model the
equipment. Each of the RF characteristics
associated with the radio transmitter/receiver
system must be specified by the designer.
The dialog
to create a single Wi-Fi access point is
shown and a brief tour of the tabs and
options is seen.
(320K)
SELECT SIMULATION OPTIONS
A number
of technical decisions must be made by
the Connect802 designer to correctly match
the simulation to the real-world characteristics
of the building (or outdoor space.) These
decisions are made on the basis of expertise
and experience.
The clip
shows a brief tour of various modeling
and simulation configuration options that
are selected by the designer for each individual
project and, in some cases, for different
floors, or parts of floors, in a building.
(202K)
FIND BEST ANTENNA POSITIONS
Using, "Antenna
Positioning Mode" the newly created
access point can be moved around in the
model and the propagation boundaries
in which proper coverage will be obtained
can be evaluated. The numerous parameters
associated with the prediction are determined
by the Connect802 design engineer. They
take into consideration: signal attenuation,
multi-path reflection/fading, interference
from other transmitters and noise sources,
and the potential difference in the access
point and client machines antenna type
and output power.
The access
point is moved around in the building (dragged
with the mouse) and the red propagation
boundary fluctuates as a result of the
interaction with the building partitions,
signal reflections (multi-path fading),
and interfering sources.
(214K)
GENERATE PROPAGATION BOUNDARIES
Once in
position, the designer now "locks
in" the propagation boundaries for
the access point. The inner-most boundary
is the zone in which no other transmitter
should be located. The middle boundary
is where adjacent transmitters may "touch" to
provide consistent, complete coverage.
The outer-most boundary is the limit
of coverage for the access point, beyond
which there will be no coverage.
The designer
returns to the prediction dialog and uses "Contour
Coverage" to have the three signal
contours drawn onto the model.
(273K)
RF COVERAGE FOR ENTIRE AREA
The process
of placing access points continues until
the entire space is properly covered. The
Connect802 designer has taken into consideration
all of the pertinent design considerations
including channel overlap. Now a complete
coverage grid is generated to confirm the
overall coverage.
A grid
coverage area is selected and a prediction
is performed to assess the characteristics
of the building. Notice that a number of
possible values can be predicted including
Relative Power, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR),
and bit rate Throughput.
(386K)
CONFIRM COMPLETE COVERAGE
The designer
evaluates the Grid Coverage model to
confirm that all areas of the building
are properly covered. This is also done
in 3-dimensions to make it more obvious
where the "peaks" and "valleys" are
in the coverage grid.
The designer
examines the floor plan from various angles
to get an idea of whether or not coverage "holes" exist.
Red areas are the strongest signals, dark
purple is the weakest.
(946K)
CREATE INSTALLATION PLAN
Finally,
the Connect802 designer hides the coverage
display and uses the AutoCAD distance measuring
tool to create the installation work order.
As the distances from a wall or corner
are established the designer is writing
the results down in their notes. The AutoCAD
image will be rendered as an Acrobat PDF
file with the distances for installation
annotated.
The coverage
prediction is cleared from the drawing
and the Distance Tool is turned on to show
the distances from an access point to the
corner of the hallway (23.37 feet).
(281K)
MULTI-FLOOR CONSIDERATIONS
Models
are processed in 3-dimensions. This means
that access points on the 2nd floor of
a building may have an impact on performance
or coverage on the 1st, 3rd, or other floors.
AutoCAD allows multiple building floors
to be evaluated at the same time.
The clip
shows the designer generating a 3-dimensional
signal coverage volume. The red zone is
the area, extending upwards into space,
where the signal is propagating.
(281K)
OUTDOOR RF MODELING
Thus far
in these demonstration clips you've only
been seeing indoor RF design. The same
principles apply to outdoor areas. In this
example, a multi-building apartment complex
is being modeled, including trees and other
outdoor features.
The clip
shows the outdoor area and several buildings,
with the associated RF signal propagation
coverage areas.
SERVICES 
