Radio Mobile Handbook

  A new release consisting of 350 pages in 19 chapters. This is an illustrated step by step descriptive volume in pdf format covering all aspects of the operation of Radio Mobile and use of the many functions and features. This format allows full word searches of the Handbook text.

   The Front descriptive page for the Radio Mobile program, with links to other pages and related descriptive articles.

     This is the starting page where there is an introduction to Radio Mobile  and details of the steps required to download and install the latest version on your computer.

   The basic program concepts are described, followed by how to download and run my installer, which sets up the program on your computer with my 'Base Network'.

      The page also has a link to the Installation page which shows a 'Walk through' of the sequence of panes which will be seen when running the installer.

   My 'Base Network' consists of a map of my local area with a Base, Mobile and Hand Held set of radio Units defined and placed as a working VHF demonstrator. The installer also generates all the height data files for the area enabling the program features to be explored.

  The page ends with additional notes showing how to access the basic functions available, and a trouble-shooting table.

Installation

  This page shows a non-installing 'Walk Through' of the of the successive panes generated by the installer 'Radio Mobile Setup.exe'. The file is available from the Quick Start and RM Downloads pages, accessed via the control buttons at the bottom of the page, or the page names on the left.

Base Network Settings

  There are numerous screenshots showing the stages of setup procedure to enable modification of the program parameters to suit your individual requirements.

  The location and settings used to generate the Base Network are shown. These are the panes which require modification when you are changing Unit Names, locations and Radio Systems. The Map Properties pane is also shown which defines the centre location and area displayed by the map, plus the dimensions of the screen display in pixels.

   If you require to install the program files in an alternative location, notes  in Blue are shown defining the entries which will require modification.

Folder Layout

  A description of the Directory and Folder layout I have used in my installer, and the additional files contained above those produced by a Manual installation. The Manual installation is also described, with a suggested folder layout to avoid main drive root area congestion.

Network Radio Link and Route Styles

   The action of the Network Properties Style pane is demonstrated on a Network, a Radio Link and a Route plot. By changing the settings, the displayed signal strength colour limits can be modified to suit requirements. These settings and colours can also be used in Polar and Combined Cartesian plots.

Once you get going

   This next page moves on to show how to create Extra Units, Place them on the map, Move and Rename them.

    There are also additional links to the Changing map location, Radio Link and Radio Coverage pages.

Changing Location

   A detailed description, with screenshots, of how to change the Base Network location from Central UK to any other part of the World to suit your own requirements.

    There is also a description of the use of the World Map and an Alternate world map for changing the map location. The Alternate World map shows the UK, but can be replaced by your own area map which can be generated by Radio Mobile.

Radio Link

F2

  The Radio Link pane gives a visualisation of any selected Radio Link between selected a pair of Units. The Radio Link ground profile is displayed along with the Radio Link radio parameters and Fresnel zones.

  A cursor can be moved along the radio path with its position being reflected on the main display, path parameters and the elevation being indicated for the cursor position.

  Antenna heights can be incremented to immediately observe the effect on the Radio Path.

   Alternate displays can show tabular data or the view of one Unit from the other taken over an elevation map or aerial photograph.

   The additional data generated and changed representation, where Land cover is being used, is also shown.

  Link Data can be exported to :

1) a .txt file for further analysis, or

2) to RMPath, a stand alone link viewer with selectable Fresnel zone display, or

3) to Google Earth, where a visualisation of the Radio Link can be observed, and a display of Fresnel zones plotted for the path.

Land cover

   This page describes the use of Land cover data, which indicates the type and height of foliage covering the ground.

   First, the data can be used to merge with existing plots,

   and second, this data can be added to the ground profile for propagation studies. In the propagation studies, the losses incurred by Land cover impinging on part of the Radio Link Path are calculated, and included in the final display.

Radio Coverage

    Radio Coverage Plots can be performed in Single Polar or Combined Cartesian form. The working units displayed being selected from S-Unit, dBm, μV or dBμV/m over an automatic or defined range.

    See this page for a description of the operating panes, and details of how to use the features which are common to the plots, with links to the separate plot pages.

Single Polar Coverage

F3

   Single Polar plots are performed in a Radial manner, where plot areas may be defined by azimuth and radial range. The plot resolution reduces towards the edge of the area, as it is defined in degree wedges.

Combined Cartesian plots

F4

   Note that from Version 9.7.4, after a plot has been performed, the actual signal level at the cross wire cursor can be reported in the data area at the bottom of the pane if required.

   Using the Combined Cartesian Plots, the following different functions can be performed, but see the Cartesian pane page for a description of the controls available.

Combined Cartesian Plot Features

       Single Unit Coverage

  Where a single fixed Unit is selected, and the radio coverage to a defined mobile Unit is plotted over the map area.

       Multiple Unit Coverage

    Where a number of fixed Units are selected, and the combined Best Coverage signal to a defined mobile Unit is plotted over the map area.

    Plots using this feature display signal levels in colour bands determined by the Network 'Style' pane settings.

        Best Unit for Coverage 

    Where a number of fixed Units are selected, and the one giving best signal coverage to a defined mobile unit is plotted over the map area. The 'Best Unit' being shown using the Unit label background colour.

  From Version 10.5.4 Signal to Interference margin can be specified for the plots!

         Detailed Area Coverage

   A signal plot is performed over a full screen, zoomed area of the map, using any of the methods shown.

      Interference coverage

    Plots are performed showing areas of a map where a defined signal margin between the Wanted and Interfering Unit are achievable.

      Fresnel Zone Coverage

    Plots of areas of the map indicating selected Fresnel zone clearance regions.

          Coverage tools and notes.

    The page also has notes on:

 - mouse click shortcuts

 - signal plot legend location

 - single colour plots with level customisation

 - notes on gain antenna patterns

 - how to produce a 'blank' white screen for plots

 - the Unit description pane

 - measuring selected Unit to cursor location azimuth and distance

Route Radio Coverage

F6

  Using the Object Editor, Route lines can be drawn on the map using waypoints and saved for future use. The Route Radio Coverage feature is described, where the Radio Performance between:

a)    a specified fixed Unit,

            with

b)   a mobile Unit traversing the Route on the map in defined distance step increments,

            may be evaluated.

      At any point on the Route, the Radio Link path profile and parameters can be examined in detail using the Radio Link pane.

      The Route Radio Coverage pane shows a linear representation of the Route with a plot of signal strength, and elevation, at every point with an indication of Line of Sight paths.

      Moving the cursor along the route gives an indication of Linear distance, Radio Path length and azimuth, Elevation and signal strength at the cursor location. The Radio Link Path Profile to the cursor position is also shown at the bottom of the pane.

Coverage data from a drawn Route can be saved in Text or kml format. When the  Route.klm file is clicked, it is exported into Google Earth Temporary places folder which then allows the Route to be flown, and if required the calculation waypoints with their signal levels displayed.

Split Route Radio Coverage

F6

    A second ability of the Object Editor is to generate a sequence of unconnected Route segments on the map. This page describes how to use the Object Editor to generate segmented multiple Routes and evaluate the Radio Performance along a sequence of Split Routes.

Find Best Sites in a Network

F5

   Where it is required to locate a Control Unit, capable of communicating with a number of fixed subordinate Units within a network, at a suitable position on a map, the Find Best Sites function can be invoked.

  The resultant plot displays areas where communication is achievable with a specified percentage of subordinate Units, allowing a choice of location to be made for the Control Unit with consideration to site accessibility.

Find Best Sites using Waypoints

F5

   Waypoints can be placed on a map using the Object Editor, and the Best Site for a Control Unit to communicate with these locations found.

   Where it is required to locate a Control Unit, capable of communicating with a mobile subordinate Unit as it traverses a Route, at a suitable accessible position on a map, the Find Best Sites function can be invoked, but using Waypoints.

  The Waypoints are generated using the Object Editor, and this procedure is also suitable for Split Routes.

Visual Coverage

F11

  A Visual Coverage plot is performed on the Base Network, with a demonstration of the use of the Visual Horizon pane.

   The Observer location and height can be selected, with the Azimuth and Elevation angle ranges of the observation.

   The Observed Target height and range are also selectable.

Visual Horizon

F12

   The height of the Observer and Target can be set, and the Elevation angle viewed may be generated automatically or selected.

Merging Pictures

F7

   Screenshots are shown of the effects of the various Merge options on the resultant picture. The use of Merge after a zoom on a screen area is shown, which produces a high resolution picture of the smaller area.

    Access to external Data Sources is also demonstrated, with pictures of Road and Aerial photograph merges.

Antenna Alignment

  Screenshots of the various control panes, with descriptions of the operation and alignment of Gain Antennas.

Antenna Plots

   A description of the operation of a new '3D-360˚ gain plot accepting Omni phased verticals' revisited spreadsheet, which allows you to generate your own antenna radiation patterns at 5˚ or 10˚ increments  for use in Radio Mobile. In this version the antenna gain is entered directly in dB, and it also works with Omni Phased antenna patterns where the maximum Elevation gain does not occur at the 0˚ horizontal value.

    This new spreadsheet enables 3D 'Azimuth + Elevation' data to be generated at 5˚ or 10˚ intervals for use in ***.ant files, and works for full 360˚ 3D plots.

   The 2D AntDiag.xls spreadsheet allows 10˚ 'Azimuth only' relative gain entries  to be entered, with gain values described as -ve dB from maximum gain.

    The spreadsheets are available from the 'RM Downloads' page.

Antenna Pattern Viewer

   This page shows the 3D Antenna Pattern Viewer, and the effect of its use with the Network Properties, Polar plots, Cartesian Plots  and Radio Link pane. The viewer can also explore the patterns in a 'stand alone' mode.

       and          

Large Maps and Pictures

Object Editor

   Use of the Object Editor in generating Waypoints for Routes is shown. In particular, how to generate routes over zoomed segments of the maps to improve precision of placement.

     The Object editor can also edit previously generated route waypoint locations by deletion and insertion.

Fox Hunt

    This feature was added in version 7.8.9, and provides the facility to plot azimuth bearing lines from up to six Units on a map for use in Radio Direction Finding 'Fox Hunts'. It is now possible to produce bearing uncertainty coloured 'wedge' plots along the azimuth bearing, and also up to six different 'angle coverage' display plots for gain antennas from a single unit.

Importing Pictures

     A description, and example, of how a picture can be imported and calibrated for use in Radio Mobile. This takes a scanned UK Ordinance Survey map portion and imports it into the Base Network. Coordinate conversion to WGS-84 datum is also shown.

    Pictures generated in Radio Mobile can also be imported into Google Earth. User pictures can be taking from Radio Mobile and calibrated as an Overlay.

    Coverage plots may be saved in .png format, where their background is made transparent by Radio Mobile, and a corresponding .kml file generated for direct import into Google Earth.

    During import, the opacity of the picture overlay can be adjusted in Google Earth.

Exporting and Importing Units

    Units may be exported from Radio Mobile as Text or Google Earth klm files. The klm files can then be imported into Google Earth to show Unit locations as placemarks.

     It is also possible to generate a set of placemarks in Google Earth, which when saved as a klm file, can then be imported into Radio Mobile as Unit locations.

Network Files

   Network files can be saved and opened in *.net or *.csv formats. The CSV format enables all the network parameters to be viewed - and changed if required - in five *.csv files using Excel.

RM Batch Files

     An index to the Program help files as web pages.

         (F1 opens the help files in the program)

RM Downloads

  Location of links to

1)  .pdf versions of all the web pages.

2)  Radio Mobile Setup.zip, my Installation file in zip format.

3)   Introduction to Radio Mobile

                     a Radio Communication article.

4)   Application of Radio Mobile to Fox Hunts

                     a Radio Communication article.

5)  Radio Mobile, what can it do for you?

     This introductory article, first of a series, was published in

     AntenneX issue 147 in July 2009. Click the link to download.

6)  Additional useful files including an Antenna Pattern file generator.

7)  A .pdf version of the Program Help Files.

8)  G8HUL's UK & Irish NGR add-ons for RM

       and Stand-alone UK NGR to/from WGS-84 converter.

8)  UK Alternate World Map - (unzip into RM folder).

10)   Links to alternative additional Documentation sources.

Toolbar Icons

    Description of the Icon shortcuts on the main window toolbar,

How to...

   Pieces of information without a home:-

    Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts. 

    Antenna alignment.

    Antenna radiation pattern generation.

    Program Help Files.

    UK National Grid Reference coordinate Converter.

    Positioning the Elevation and other Legends.

    Changing signal threshold colours for Radio Link and Route displays.

    Using the New Multiple Unit icons at one location.

    Increase the number of Units, Systems and Networks available.

Plus links to all other pages.

Walk Best Site

   A description of my initial use of Radio Mobile to find the Best Site for a Radio Relay Unit required to provide coverage of an 18 mile charity walking event in the Derbyshire Peak District.

  A selection of screenshots from my Base Network - located in the UK Derbyshire Peak District - showing some of the features available from the program.