Introduction
Radio network planning tools rely on accurate wave propagation models to predict the path loss between two arbitrary points.
Besides the shielding of objects and multipath propagation (both considered in the propagation models) the antenna patterns of the antennas used for the communication link influence the actual path loss. Therefore, the antenna pattern must be described accurately within the radio network planning tool.
- Graphical display of antenna patterns (horizontal or vertical plane)
- 3D Display of antenna patterns
- Conversion of commercially available antenna file formats (for example, .msi, .pln)
- Conversion from 2x2D pattern (horizontal and vertical) to 3D pattern
- Graphical editor to define manually vertical and horizontal antenna patterns (drawn with a mouse while having a scanned bitmap of the pattern as a background image)
Besides these important features, AMan contains the module MASC (multiple antenna scenario configuration). This module is important if the influence of the local environment and the mounting of the antenna are considered and / or if multiple antennas are combined to radiate the same signal, and you want to see the radiation pattern of the configuration to include this actual pattern in the radio network planning process and tool.
- Compute the resulting antenna pattern if different single antennas are combined to multiple-antenna configurations (including individual phase shifters and power splitters)
- Consider the influence of the mounting of the antenna (masts, arms, tubes, radomes) on the actual antenna radiation pattern
As AMan can save the computed patterns in different file formats, it is not limited to the WinProp radio network planning suite. It can also be used for many radio network planning tools as most of the tools can read the .msi antenna pattern file format.