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Atoll 3.4.0 Release Notes Radio
Atoll 3.4.0 Release Notes Radio
Atoll 3.4.0 Release Notes Radio
Version 3.4.0
Release Notes
New features and other changes introduced in Atoll 3.4.0 are described below. For more information, refer to the online help, the Atoll
User Manual, the Atoll Administrator Manual, and the Atoll Technical Reference Guide.
This is a corrective build that fixes several known issues. For more information, see the List of Corrected Bugs in the Current Build on
downloads.forsk.com.
5G Multi-RAT Networks
The default display for LTE Downlink Coverage predictions displayed by discrete values is now set to the Transmitter field.
It is now possible to import multiple beam pattern files in MSI format, using an index file, for different beam types.
It is now possible to include interference from other radio access technologies in the calculation of Downlink Quality, Downlink
Service Areas, and Downlink Capacity predictions.
You can now update electrical tilt, beamwidth, and electrical azimuth based on patterns for 3D Beamforming Patterns.
You can now define Refinement beam as new beam type in 3D Beamforming. These beams are used for 5G NR CSI-RS.
New CSI-RS coverage predictions are now available:
CSI-RSRP Level (DL)
CSI-RS C/N Level (DL)
CSI-RS C/(I+N) Level (DL)
CSI-RS Total Noise (I+N) (DL)
User Interface
Atoll now supports Windows Server 2019.
Atoll now supports Oracle version 18c.
Atoll now supports feet in addition to meters, kilometers, and miles, as a distance unit. Setting the document properties distance
unit to feet applies to any related calculated values ("inhabitants/sq. ft", "ft per hour", and so on).
Predictions
You can now duplicate and clone multiple coverage predictions in subfolders or all coverage predictions in the Predictions
folder.
Population Maps
To add precision to population maps in predictions, you can now configure Atoll to weight population by clutter class when it
generates population maps. You can add a Clutter tab to the Population Properties dialog box, which enables you to configure
the Distribution per clutter class, by adding the "ClutterWeighting" option the [Population] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Macros
You can now configure Atoll to start macros from a path that is relative to the Atoll.exe program, instead of an absolute path, by
adding the "RelativePathname" option to the [Macros] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Atoll 5G Multi-RAT
You can now define LTE Terminals with and without support for beamforming.
The EARFCN to PRB Mapping tool is now available for 5G Multi-RAT documents.
5G NR Networks
You can now run the Beam Usage Calculation separately for primary cells and secondary cells.
You can now calculate the 5G NR Coverage Prediction in NSA mode.
When exporting vector formats based on Effective Signal Analysis predictions, the Configure Export dialog box now allows you
to a add a wider range of data columns.
Atoll 5G Multi-RAT
This release of Atoll introduces support for 5G Multi-RAT networks, this enables you to work with GSM, UMTS, and 4G/5G (5G NR, LTE,
and NB-IoT) networks in the same Atoll document.
For information on acquiring the new 5G Multi-RAT module, contact your Forsk representative.
Add-ins
The following add-ins have been updated and validated to ensure support of 5G NR and 5G Multi-RAT networks starting with this
release of Atoll:
Working Environment
User Interface
The distance measurement tool can now measure distances using either projected distances (measured between points
projected on a 2D plane) or geographic distances (measured along the surface of the earth using a ellipsoidal-surface method).
5G NR Compatibility
The Atoll Live Module for GSM, UMTS, LTE, and NB-IoT, is now available in 5G Multi-RAT documents.
UE Trace Data
You can now filter UE trace data in the Network explorer at the folder and subfolder level.
You can now export UE trace data in the Network explorer at the folder and subfolder level.
You can now set Display settings on UE trace data in the Network explorer at the folder and subfolder level.
You can now select multiple UE trace data items in the Network to connect them in one operation (as long as they share identical
headers).
You can now display UE trace statistics on a single UE trace item or on the entire UE Traces folder.
You can now generate weighting maps that use a variable spread radius (the radius that models the precision of the
geolocation). This enables weighting maps to display subscriber locations within an uncertainty radius that is linked to a
"Location uncertainty" value imported from the UE trace data instead of a fixed value.
Propagation Models
Atoll 5G NR
This release of Atoll introduces support for 5G NR networks, including the following features:
Support for all 5G NR frequency bands both below and above 6 GHz
Support for TDD, FDD, SUL, and SDL duplex modes
Support for all 5G NR carrier widths, from 5 to 400 MHz
Support for multiple bandwidth part configurations
Support for all 5G NR numerologies: 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 kHz
Support for all 5G NR self-contained slot formats
Support for standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) deployments
Support for multi-layer network deployments
Intra- and inter-band carrier aggregation
Dual connectivity (5G NR + LTE)
Coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission and reception
C-RAN architecture
Advanced bearer and service modelling
Massive MIMO: SU-MIMO, MU-MIMO, and transmit/receive diversity
3D beamforming
The 5G NR module introduces a common technology framework that supports 5G NR, LTE, and NB-IoT. This new module is separate
from the existing LTE - NB-IoT module.
For information on acquiring the new 5G NR module, contact your Forsk representative.
Add-ins
The following add-ins have been validated to ensure support of 5G NR networks starting with this release of Atoll:
User Interface
The toolbar layout can be customised in Atoll. The toolbar customisation is now preserved from one Atoll session to another.
A scroll bar has been added to the list of transmitters in the point analysis results.
The Site Lists and Transmitter List filters are now available when using the Filter button in the Sites and Transmitters tables.
The Cells table now retains filters when it is closed and reopened.
You can use the Compare Records window to compare the transmitter and cell property records of several transmitters that use
the same radio technology. The records are listed in a table format.
By default, Atoll assigns a colour for each cell that is different from the colours of the 50 nearest neighbouring cells. To reduce
the risk of assigning the same colour to adjacent cells, you can increase this value by setting the MaxColorNeighbours
parameter in the [Display] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Administration
You can now define the size of memory blocks that are allocated to prediction calculations. Allocating more memory increases
the size of the blocks, which reduces the total number of blocks that are processed and therefore causes a significant
performance gain. To defined the memory block size, you can use the StudyMemorySize setting in the [Perfos] section of the
Atoll.ini file.
Predictions
In Service Area Analysis (UL and DL) predictions for LTE, NB-IoT, WiFi, WiMax, and LPWA networks, when displaying the Bearer
field, only bearers that are relevant for the selected Service are now displayed.
GSM Networks
UMTS Networks
UMTS Terminals can now be configured with a specific additional loss (in dB) for each supported frequency band.
LTE Networks
LTE Terminals can now be configured with a specific additional loss (in dB) for each supported frequency band.
Atoll Live
Atoll now properly handles thousands separators when importing UE traces.
You can filter UE trace data by defining, for example, data ranges and advanced filtering conditions.
You can export UE trace data into a text file. If filtering conditions have been applied to UE trace data, only the filtered UE trace
data are exported.
Propagation Models
Atoll Live
The Atoll Live module is now generally available. Atoll Live enables you to use live network measurement data, such as Key
Performance Indicators (KPI) and User Equipment (UE) traces, including MDT traces (Minimisation of Drive Tests), for network
planning and optimisation in Atoll. Atoll Live requires a specific license. Contact Forsk support for more information.
You can hide all references to the Atoll Live module, KPIs, and UE traces in the user interface by setting the Live option in the
[Licenses] section of the Atoll.ini file.
Working Environment
User Interface
Atoll now supports hypertext links in data tables for text custom fields that are specifically identified as hypertext fields. This
enables you, for example, to include links to external files, web sites, documents, or images in data tables.
The Find on Map feature now allows you to sort search results by the search field or a secondary field depending on the searched
elements. You can switch between an alphanumerical-sorted or a numerical-sorted display.
The Group feature now includes a search capability in order to easily find the fields by which you want to group data objects
from the Available fields list.
Atoll now automatically adds scroll bars to dialog boxes that are too large for the current screen resolution.
Objects in the Site Explorer are now sorted by alphanumerical order.
Due to the addition of new fields to the Sites data table, some objects or predictions might be displayed with the wrong colours,
in particular when data from custom fields is displayed for the first time a document is opened in Atoll 3.4. If this occurs, you
must reconfigure the colours in the Display properties of the object.
Atoll no longer allows leading and trailing spaces in text fields such as names, custom fields, and so on. By default, space
characters at the beginning and at the end of text fields are automatically trimmed. This behaviour can be modified by setting
the TrimTextFields option in the [Validation] section of the Atoll.ini file. A macro is available to verify that existing text fields in
the database comply with this rule.
When importing cells from a CSV, Atoll can now check for duplicate cell names. To enable a warning when duplicate cell names
are detected, set the WarningSameValues option in the [Import] section of the atoll.ini file.
You can reload the data in coverage prediction and point analysis reports by clicking Refresh in the toolbar of the report window
or the point analysis window.
The Indoor coverage option has been renamed into Clutter indoor losses in order to clarify the purpose of this option.
Before recalculating existing predictions, Atoll now displays a warning dialog box in the following situations:
If the Atoll document was saved in a different location (Save As) and the pathloss data folder location has changed.
If you are using the Multi-storey Predictions and are recalculating a multi-storey prediction outside of a multi-storey context
(for example, if you select Calculate, Force Calculation, or press F7). You should recalculate multi-storey predictions by using
the commands provided by the Multi-storey Predictions add-in.
Sites now have an additional Alias field, which can be used as secondary name. To display the alias along with the site name in
the site explorer, right-click the Sites folder and select Show Alias.
Transmitters
Atoll now fully supports both absolute coordinates (X,Y) and relative position (Dx, Dy) for transmitters, remote antennas, and
repeaters in the corresponding data tables, as well as the ability to switch and convert from one mode to the other.
Database
After a database upgrade or a data refresh, a database integrity check can be run automatically and silently. To enable this
feature, set the ControlIntegrity option in the [Refresh] section of the atoll.ini file.
The following text fields have been increased to allow for longer names:
Custom field names: 30 characters.
Site names: 60 characters.
Transmitter names, cell names, repeater names, remote and secondary antenna names: 100 characters.
Several improvements have been made to the Atoll Management Console:
You can now add NB-IoT as a technology with the View/Add Technologies command.
User management is now fully supported with SQL Server databases.
In the User Management dialog box, you can now select multiple projects as well as multiple users before changing access
rights.
For Oracle databases, you can now select multiple databases before applying the Upgrade Database command. The results
of the upgrade are displayed in a log window.
After adding a custom field to a data table, you can perform an Install/Repair command on the database to propagate the
changes.
Geo Data
When importing .TAB files that contain colour data produced by third-party tools, Atoll now applies and displays those colours.
GSM Networks
You can now select the frequency band for coverage by transmitter and coverage by signal level predictions.
All transmitters that do not use the selected band are excluded before the calculation starts.
Multi-band single BCCH transmitters are considered with and without multi-band management.
An error message is displayed when transmitters that use the same frequency band are on the same site and on the same
layer. The messages is a warning if the service zone is "All servers" or if a band filter is selected.