Technical Note

Cover Page

PGM-A Propagation Model

The PGM-A propagation model emulates the Asset

propagation model and is intended to enable users to re-use
propagation models in Planet EV that have been tuned using
Asset. This propagation model is not distributed with
Planet EV and is only available upon request.

Copyright 20022006
Metapath Software International (US), Inc.
A Marconi Company

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PGM-A Propagation Model

PGM-A Technical Note

Introduction
The PGM-A propagation model enables customers migrating from Asset to
re-use their tuned Asset macrocell models within Planet EV. The algorithms
used in the PGM-A propagation model are modified versions of those used in
the PGM propagation model included with Planet EV. As you would do in
Asset, you can define model parameters (k-factors) that influence results.
Using the PGM-A propagation model, you will produce results that are
comparable to those achieved using Asset in the most common
implementations of the model. Results will not be precisely the same.
However, performance is very comparable to Asset.
Although it is typically recommended that you use Planet EV models and tune
them using measurements, it can be a more cost effective approach to
replicate Asset models in Planet EV using the PGM-A model as there is no
need to retune models.
This document provides the information necessary to successfully use the
PGM-A propagation model, and it is intended for use during evaluation
periods or when Marconi Wireless implementation services are not being
used. This document explains how to add the PGM-A propagation model and
associated user documentation to Planet EV, details some key differences
between the PGM and the PGM-A propagation models, and explains how to
edit the PGM-A propagation model.
The performance of prediction generation using the PGM-A model has
proven to be very similar to that of the original Asset predictions.
However, the performance is not guaranteed and use of this model is optional.
All efforts will be made to support this propagation model in the event of a
defect; however, it is distributed as an Add-on tool that is not part of the
standard software warranty.

Prerequisites to PGM-A propagation model use

In order to successfully use the PGM-A propagation model to migrate tuned
Asset macrocell models to Planet EV, the following requirements must be met
before using the PGM-A propagation model:
1

Project data and site configurations must be converted for use in

Planet EV.
The project must be set up to replicate the Asset project. It is imperative
that the site configuration, antenna data, and all related parameters are

PGM-A Technical Note

identical to those in Asset. Planet EV utilities are available to support this

effort. For more information, contact Technical Support.
2

The geodata (height and clutter data) must be the same files as those
available in Asset in order to achieve similar results.

Clutter classes must have the same names or be mapped using the
Planet EV Clutter Property Assignment dialog box.

Currently, there is no automated method of converting Asset model

data into Planet EV model (.dpm) files or related Clutter Property
Assignment (.cpa) files. This must be done manually.

In Asset, model parameters are saved in the Model-List001.XML file.

This file provides quick access all model parameters (alternatively, you
can view model parameters in the Asset user interface).

Adding the PGM-A propagation model and user documentation

to Planet EV
The PGM-A propagation model is not part of the standard Planet EV
installation. As the model has a very specific purpose (i.e., supporting
customers migrating from Asset), it is only distributed to specific customers
or for specific projects. It is available upon request from Technical Support or
Product Management.
Typically, the distribution and installation of this propagation model and
the conversion of Asset models will be part of a Planet EV
Implementation service. It is strongly recommended that customers make use
of these services for migration projects.

To add the PGM-A propagation model and user

documentation to Planet EV

Copy the PGM-A.mdl to the Planet EV/mdl folder.

Copy the PGMA.chm file to the Planet EV/Help folder.

Copy the PGM-A Technical Notes.pdf file to the Planet EV/Help/User

Guides folder.

PGM-A Propagation Model

PGM-A Technical Note

Workflow for using the PGM-A propagation model

Step 1

Open the Model-List001.XML file generated using Asset.

The model name is listed in the ID column and is shown on
multiple lines (one line for each clutter class). K factors for a
model will be listed on several lines but the values will all be the
same.

Step 2

Edit PGM-A propagation model parameters replicating the Asset

model. See Editing PGM-A propagation model parameters on
page 5.
Ensure that the model name is exactly the same as that used in
Asset.

Step 3

Create a Clutter Property Assignment (.cpa) file to associate with

the new model. See Creating a .cpa file for the PGM-A
propagation model on page 10.

Step 4

For every Asset model, repeat the steps of the workflow to create
a model (.dpm) file in Planet EV.

Editing PGM-A propagation model parameters

The first step in the creation of a new propagation model is to edit model
parameters. Then, you need to create a clutter property assignment (.cpa) file
to associate with it.

To edit PGM-A propagation model parameters

1

Open a project in Planet EV.

In the Project Data category, right-click Propagation Models and

choose New.

In the Propagation Model Type dialog box, choose PGM-A and click
OK.
The Propagation Model Editor opens.

PGM-A Technical Note

On the Settings tab, in the Frequency box, define the frequency as shown
in the FREQUENCY column of the Model-List001.XML file.

In the Receiver Height box, define the receiver height as shown in the
MOBILE-HEIGHT column of the Model-List001.XML file.

From the Earth Curvature list, choose one of the following options:

4/3 Earth Curvaturewhen the value in the EARTH-RADIUS

column of the Model-List001.XML file is approximately 8500.

Normal Earth Curvaturewhen the value in the

EARTH-RADIUS column of the Model-List001.XML file is
approximately 6400.

Click Edit.
The PGM-A Parameters dialog box opens.

PGM-A Propagation Model

PGM-A Technical Note

On the General tab, in the Model Type section, choose one of the
following options:

1 piecethis type of model uses factors K1 to K7. Factors

K1 (near) and K2 (near) are not used to define a 1-piece model.

2 Piecethis type of model uses factors K1 to K7 as well as

K1 (near) and K2 (near).

If you chose the 2-piece model, in the Distance box, define the distance
(in meters) at which to use the constants K1 (near) and K2 (near).

10 In the K Factors section, define the K1 to K7 values as the K1 to K7

values in Model-List001.XML file or Asset GUI.
11 If you are using a 2-piece model, in the K1 (near) and the K2 (near)
boxes enter a value between -150 and 250.
12 Click the Path Clutter tab.

PGM-A Technical Note

13 If clutter through loss is used in the Asset model, enable the Enable the
Path Clutter check box and define the distance as the K12 value
contained in the Model-List001.XML file or Asset GUI.
14 Click the Diffraction tab.

PGM-A Propagation Model

PGM-A Technical Note

15 In the Knife-Edge Merging Distance box, define the distance as K11 in

the Model-List001.XML file or Asset GUI.
16 Click the Effective Antenna Height tab.

17 Choose one of the following options:

Absolutethis is the same as the Base Height algorithm in

Asset.

Relativethis is the same as the Spot Height algorithm in

Asset.

Averagethis is the same as the Average Height algorithm in

Asset. You must define the ground level in the prediction area
when you chose this type.

Slopethis is the same as the Slope algorithm in Asset. You

must define the slope distance, the minimum height, and the
maximum height when you chose this type.

18 When you have finished editing the propagation model parameters, click
OK.
19 Create a .cpa file to associate with the model. See Creating a .cpa file for
the PGM-A propagation model on page 10.

PGM-A Technical Note

Creating a .cpa file for the PGM-A propagation model

In order to create a new model, you must create a .cpa file to associate with it.
1

In the Propagation Model Editor, click the Clutter Properties tab.

Click Edit CPA.

If your project uses clutter, clutter classes are automatically displayed in
the Clutter Property Assignment dialog box.

10

In the Clutter Property Assignment dialog box, ensure that the clutter
classes contained in the Model-List001.XML file are listed in the
Reference Name box.

Define the Clutter Absorption Loss for each clutter class as contained in
the OFFSET column of the Model-List001.XML file.

Define the Through Clutter Loss for each clutter class as contained in
the MOBILE-HEIGHT3 column of the Model-List001.XML file.

From the File menu, choose Save As to save the .cpa file.

In the Save As dialog box, in the File Name box, type a name for the file
and click Save.

Click Close.

In the Propagation Model Editor, choose File Save to save the new
propagation model.

PGM-A Propagation Model

PGM-A Technical Note

10 In the Save As dialog box, in the File Name box, type the same name for
the propagation model as that used in Asset and click Save.
11 Click Close.
The new propagation model is added to the Propagation Models node in
the Project Data category of the Project Explorer.
For additional information on propagation models, or for information on
working with Planet EV, see the Planet EV User Guide.

Comparing the PGM and PGM-A propagation models

Both the Asset model and PGM model support two-piece models, where two
sets of slope and intercept K1 and K2 are defined. One set is used for near Tx
predictions (d < distance) and the second set for predictions (d > distance). In
the PGM model, distance is entered in meters while in the Asset model,
distance is entered in km.

PGM propagation model

The received signal strength at the mobile is given by the following equation
in the PGM propagation model.
P RX = P TX + K 1 + K 2 log ( d ) + K 3 log ( H eff ) + K 4 Diffraction + K 5 log ( H eff ) log ( d )
+ K 6 ( H meff ) + K CLUTTER

Equation 1.1 Received signal strength in the PGM propagation model

Where
P RX

is the receive power in dBm.

P TX

is the transmit power (ERP) in dBm.

K1

is the constant offset in dB.

K2

is the multiplying factor for log(d).

With the two-piece model, both K1 and K 2 can be assigned two sets of values.
One set is used for d< distance and the other for d> distance, where distance is
the distance in meters away from the base site specified in the Model Editor.
K 3 is the multiplying factor for log( H eff ). It compensates for gain due to antenna
height.

11

PGM-A Technical Note

K 4 is the multiplying factor for diffraction calculation.
K 5 is the Okumura-Hata type of multiplying factor for log ( H eff ) log ( d ) .
K 6 is the correction factor for the mobile effective antenna height gain ( K 6 H eff ).
d is the distance, in meters, of the receiver from the base site.
H is the effective height of base site antenna from ground.
eff

Diffraction is the value calculated for loss due to diffraction over an obstructed path.
The value produced is a negative number, so a positive multiplication factor, K 4 is
required.
K CLUTTER is the gain in dB for the clutter type at the mobile position in Planet DMS. In
Planet EV, K CLUTTER represents a loss.
H meff is the mobile effective antenna height.

PGM-A propagation model

In order to achieve similar results to those obtained using the Asset model, the
PGM-A propagation model received signal equation (Equation 1.1) was
modified. The following sections detail key mappings between the two
models:

12

K-factor mapping. See K-Factor mapping on page 13.

effective transmit antenna height mapping. See Effective

receive antenna heights mapping on page 13.

clutter parameters. See Clutter parameters on page 13.

diffraction loss calculations. See Diffraction loss calculations

on page 14.

PGM-A Propagation Model

PGM-A Technical Note

K-Factor mapping
K factors in the Asset propagation model can be mapped to those in the PGM
model as follows:

K 1 = ( k 1 3k 2 + k 4 log ( H ms ) )
K 2 = k 2 pa
K 3 = ( k 5 3k 6 )
K4 = k7
K5 = k6
K6 = k3
Where

The capital letter K indicates a K-factor in the PGM propagation model and
small letter k indicates a K-factor in the Asset model.
In the mapping equation for K1, the k4(logHms) term is only valid if the
Rx height is defined globally and not per clutter. If the Rx height is
defined by clutter, then the Rx height must be set to zero.

Effective receive antenna heights mapping

In Asset model, the height of Rx antenna is defined as the height of the mobile
above ground. However, in the PGM model, an effective Rx height is used, as
this typically leads to more accurate predictions.

Clutter parameters
The following table contains a comparison between the parameters in the
Asset model versus those in the PGM model.

Asset Model

PGM

Offset-loss (dB)

Clutter Absorption Loss

Height

Clutter Height (m)

Separation (m)

Clutter Separation

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PGM-A Technical Note

Asset Model

PGM

Through-loss (dB)

Through Clutter Loss is mapped to the Path

Clutter parameter in PGM via the following:

Through-loss Distance

Through-loss Distance was mapped to Path

Clutter Distance

Function Coefficient was set to 1

Triangular Function type was selected

The Clutter Properties Assignment dialog box

was modified to include the Through-loss
parameter defined in the Asset model

Diffraction loss calculations

In the Asset model, there are four methods for computing diffraction losses
due to radio wave propagation over obstacles. These methods include the
Bullington, Japanese Atlas, Deygout, and Epstein-Peterson methods. PGM
only includes a modified version of the Epstein-Peterson method for
computing losses due to diffraction, which is automatically balanced with a
Bullington algorithm, as a function of the profile characteristics; this method
provides more accuracy as it allows for an automated adaptation of the
algorithm for each predicted point. In this method, if there are more than three
knife edges between the Tx and Rx, the first two knife edges are fixed, but the
remaining knife edges are combined into the third knife edge. Both PGM and
Asset models include an option for merging the distance of knife edges where
knife edges with a distance of less than the merging distance are represented
as a single knife edge.

14