Table of Contents. Begin. Operating FSC. Controls - Function and Purpose

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2 FSC Instruction Manual Table of Contents Begin Introduction 5 Installation 9 Quick Start 11 Organization and Structure 15 Preference File 20 General Functions and Menu Descriptions 21 Starting FSC 26 Operating FSC Operations Common To All Categories 27 Continuous Category Jobs 30 Continuous Category Site 32 Contour Category Job 34 Contour Category Site 35 Great Circle (point-to-point) 37 Controls - Function and Purpose Continuous Category Job Controls 38 Continuous Category Site Controls 46 Contour Category Job Controls 53 Contour Category Site Controls 59 Great Circle (Point-to-Point) Job Controls 66 Great Circle (Point-to-Point) Site Controls 69 Boundaries/Roads 75 Calibration Aid 77 Labels 80 Map Projection 84 Page Size 86

3 FSC Instruction Manual How To - Actions Isotropic/Dipole Considerations 88 dbu Calculations 90 Antenna Input Power 91 Attach Universal Site to a Job 92 Copy Job 93 Copy Site 94 Create a New Job 95 Create a New Site For a Job 96 Create a New Universal Site 97 Create Roads/Boundaries 98 Create Terrain 100 Defaults - Setting 101 Delete a Site from a Job 102 Delete a Universal Site 103 Detach a Site From a Job 104 Display Results On Screen 105 Fixed Gains and Losses 107 Import Antenna 109 Modify a Universal Site 110 Printing 111 Save Coverage To Files 113 Scale of km/miles 115 Select An Existing Job 116 Discussions, Considerations and Background Contour Methods Background 117 Contour Types 119 Graphics Output 123 Map Considerations 124 Map Scanning Issues 126

4 FSC Instruction Manual Preference File 127 Terrain Expanding FSC Terrain Coverage 128 SRTM Data 129 SRTM Errors 131 Terrain For Jobs and Sites 132 Terrain Usage in FSC - WARNING 133 DeLorme XMap Using XMap 134 Getting Started 135 Sizing A Map 136 Positioning A Map 139 Photoshop (Elements) Using Photoshop 141 Working With A Defined Map 142 Working With An Undefined Map 144 References 145 Contact 147

5 FSC Instruction Manual 5 Introduction Do not be alarmed at the size of this manual. The length arises not from program complexity but from a rich feature set and many notes describing technical practices, hints and historical anecdotes. Actual operations of this program may be accomplished by persons with limited knowledge or experience in the field of radio-frequency propagation. Collecting various field strength program elements used regularly for many years by the radio frequency consulting engineering firm of Arthur K. Peters, Consulting Engineers, Inc. has led to the creation of this software tool. By combining a variety of sophisticated programs, tables and data into one tool, a simplified program using two screens has been created to solve many coverage issues in a unified manner. The program has been given the copyrighted name FieldStrengthCalc, also referred to as FSC. Current FSC calculation functions include:! FM and TV Contour calculations as used in the USA.! A variation of the preceding FM/TV calculations that permits usage for mobile calculations by adjusting for mobile antenna height.! COST contour method for modern cellular and 2 way systems.! Carey contour methods for paging & mobile systems.! Point-to-point great circle calculations with reliability statistics for communications links.

6 FSC Instruction Manual 6 statistics for communications links.! Detailed continuous area coverage analyses using Longley-Rice (NBS, Technical Note 101) calculations for both power (dbm, dbw, dbk) and voltage (dbu) problems. Each calculation method produces some form of output report or file. Each method produces a screen calculation, a print and one or more graphics files. The point-to-point method produces a graphical report showing a great circle terrain profile with Fresnel and earth radius data and path reliability information. Valid frequency ranges exist for each of the calculations. For example, the COST calculations have a valid frequency range from 150 MHz to 2 GHz. Longley-Rice continuous analyses and point-to-point calculations are valid from 30 MHz to 20 GHz. Mobile, FM and TV calculations are valid in the range 50 MHz to approximately 1 GHz. Other parameters such as distance and antenna heights also may depend upon a specific calculation method. FSC is fully capable of using directional antenna patterns for all calculations. Presently, FSC employs antenna patterns using the Obspat internal antenna format. FSC has no antenna data management or manipulation capabilities. However, FSC provides for importing antenna pattern files using CelPlan, Planet and TIA-804-B formats. Moreover, FSC is supplied with an antenna database of some 10,000 common directional antenna patterns. The FSC database was created several years ago and does not include newer antennas, the patterns of which may easily be downloaded from manufacturers.

7 FSC Instruction Manual 7 (Obspat is a tool that computes antenna pattern distortions due to nearby metallic objects such as when using side-mounted antennas. It also enables custom pattern creation and synthesis using combinations of stock antennas.) FSC is supported with a 3 arc-second terrain database that is available for a substantial portion of the earth. Because of its enormous size and the shear logistics of copying the terrain database, FSC is supplied with one regional coverage area specified by the purchaser. Other regions are available for a nominal fee. Typical regions are North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Northern Asia and Southern Asia including Australia and New Zealand. At the outset of the FSC development process it was decided to keep costs low and features high. Since we are experts in radio frequency engineering and not as expert in mapping and graphics, the decision was made to leave mapping and graphics operations to those experts, eliminating the requirement for us to incorporate and maintain that software. FSC was designed to provide overlay graphics files that could be imported into software such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and similar graphics programs. It was also decided that it is much more efficient and cost effective to use commercial mapping software to produce high quality maps when and where they are required. Both of these decisions are proving to be correct. The work product or output from FSC can be quickly imported into an inexpensive graphics program such as Photoshop Elements (under $100 USD). Base maps can be created using, for example, Delorme s X-Map (under $200 USD) that may also be imported into a graphics program. Adjusting the transparency of an FSC overlay yields high quality, professional maps for much lower costs. Note that the use of three programs (FSC, mapping and

8 FSC Instruction Manual 8 costs. Note that the use of three programs (FSC, mapping and graphics) is not onerous. Consider that once a base map is created for an area, it may be a long time before another map is necessary. The graphics processing is as simple as creating the FSC overlay file and then importing a base map and the FSC overlay into a graphics program and printing or saving the result.

9 FSC Instruction Manual 9 Installation This process depends upon how the user desires to utilize FSC. Single Computer The simplest configuration is operation on a single computer. To install, drag the installer from the CD or DVD to your desktop. Double click and follow instructions. If this is not a new installation, before installing, please search for and delete all files named FieldStrengthPreferences. Once the application is installed, double-click the FSC icon. For Windows, this is located in Start>Programs>FieldStrengthCalc. The user will then be requested, via four dialogs, to identify 1) a Jobs folder, 2) a Sites folder, 3) a folder containing antenna files and 4) a folder containing digital terrain data. After the user performs a validation process FSC will display its main screen. Network For network operations all folders may be located on a server or another computer to which read and write access is permitted. However, it is required that an FSC application be placed on each client computer. On each licensed computer, multiple users may use FSC and will be provided with separate preferences. Once the application is installed, double-click the FSC icon. For Windows, this is located in Start>Programs>FieldStrengthCalc. The user, for each computer to be licensed for Obspat, will then be requested, via four dialogs, to identify 1) a Jobs folder, 2) a Sites folder, 3) a folder containing antenna files and 4) a folder containing digital terrain data. After the user performs a

10 FSC Instruction Manual 10 containing digital terrain data. After the user performs a validation process FSC will display its main screen. File And Folder Locations Data folders and files may be located anywhere. Networked users may access them anywhere on the network and use them as their own. Single computer users may have folders located anywhere on their computers. This permits subsets of Sites, antennas and Jobs to be stored or grouped as desired. Be certain that all FSC files and folders permit read and write access.

11 FSC Instruction Manual 11 Quick Start FSC Many of the field entries presented here are normally set as default values that do not need to be entered each and every time. But for this exercise the process includes entry of all necessary variables. For each calculation type in this program there are certain data that must be entered. It is assumed that FSC has been installed and the operating folders have been selected. To get started you will need the following information. For the first coverage calculation we choose to perform a "Continuous" coverage calculation. Also we want to use metric units. Setting up a job: Start FSC In the upper right corner: Select Continuous. Enter a Job name in the field below the Job pull-down menu (Select Job). Enter in the Scale field Enter 150 in the Resolution field Enter 800 in the Frequency field Click on the Save button at bottom of screen In the Job pull-down menu, select the job with the name you just entered. All FSC operations require certain SITE data. Switch to the Site screen (click on Site button)

12 FSC Instruction Manual 12 Enter a Site name in the Site Name field Click the Save Site button From the Current Site pull down menu, select the site with the name you just entered Enter 800 in the Frequency field Enter v in the Polarization field In the Latitude field enter In the Longitude field enter Leave the Ground elev field blank - FSC will fill it in Enter 100 in the Antenna Height agl field Enter 1.5 in the Mobile Antenna Height agl field Enter 0, 359,1 in the Start, Stop, Increment Azimuth fields, respectively Enter 0.8, 32, 0.32 in the Start, Stop, Increment Distance fields, respectively From the Climate Type pull down menu select Continental Temperate From the Soil Type pull down menu select Poor Ground Enter 301 in the Average Surface Refractivity field Enter 90, 90, 90 in the Locations, Time and Confidence fields Click the Save Terrain With Site checkbox Click the Save Site button Click the Make Terrain button. A value should appear in the Ground Elev field When the Have Terrain words appear, Click the Calculate button. When the Have Calcs words appear click the Cancel button On the Main screen the Site name should appear in the Sites table (upper left) Click the site name you entered

13 FSC Instruction Manual 13 Click the checkbox beside the site name you entered. If any other sites are checked, click to uncheck them Click the Save button The only data entry that remains is the selection of the system power and selection of signal level values and colors you want to observe. System power is determined by adding the transmitter output power to the sum of all system gains and all system losses. Assume a transmitter has an output power of 30 Watts (which is 10 LOG (30) = 14.8 dbw). Assume: 10 db = base station antenna gain -3 db = base station transmission line loss 3 db = mobile receiver antenna gain -1 db = mobile transmission line loss 14.8 dbw = transmitter power output 23.8 dbw = Fixed Gains and Losses Enter 23.8 into the Fixed Gains and Losses field From the pull down menu next to the fixed gains/losses field, select dbw The Level Table is located to the right of the Projection type indicator and the +Row button From the Level pull down menu select dbm In the first column of the first row enter -110 Click the +Row button and enter -95 below the -110 Click the +Row button and enter -75 below the -95 Click In the right column of each row and select a color. Click the Save button at the bottom of the screen

14 FSC Instruction Manual 14 Click the Display button for a screen display On the main screen: In the Sites table click (Highlight) the Site name Above the Display button click the Print Scale checkbox On the left of the screen, check the Site Center Cross Enter some words in the Site Label field Check the Print checkbox Click the Save button Click the Display button again To Print the Coverage to Printer In the File Menu Select Page Setup and choose a printer In the File Menu Select Print (to printer) To Print Coverage to a picture file for use as an image overlay In the File Menu select "Save Coverage to File" Open the images (coverage and scale) in an image editor for overlaying on a base map To make a Label In the Tools menu select Create Label Click the Init button. Type words into the various fields. Make them different sizes, colors, fonts, etc. When finished click OK. Go Back to the label and adjust spacings. Add Returns+Spaces for empty lines to space vertically. The label should show on the main screen. Set the print checkbox and position drop down menu. Click the Display button

15 FSC Instruction Manual 15 Program Organization and Structure Conceptually, the program is comprised of Jobs, each of which contains a collection of one or more Sites. A Job employs a single calculation category. There are three general calculation categories:! Area coverage (labeled Continuous ) using power and voltage parameters (dbm, dbw, dbk, dbu)! Contour calculations (labeled Contour ) (Currently 10 types of contour calculations may be selected and intermixed.) See the discussion under Contour Types in the Discussions, Considerations and Background chapter.! Great circle point-to-point calculations (labeled Great Circle ) A Job may contain any number of Sites. (Point-to-point has only one Site file that holds data for two locations.) When printing or creating a graphics file all Sites connected with a Job may be selectively included in the output. A Site is a collection of specific data, usually associated with a physical location. Depending on the calculation category, this can comprise geographical coordinates and details and selections of various parameters used in coverage calculations including terrain details, antenna heights, etc. Antennas are individual files (with.opa extensions) of one antenna or antenna configuration. Antenna files are listed in and may be selected from a contextual (pull-down or drop-down)

16 FSC Instruction Manual 16 may be selected from a contextual (pull-down or drop-down) menu. FSC has two important screens and several less frequently used supporting screens. The Job screen is where jobs are established and selected. Print and file details are set on this screen and some Site details can be reviewed. The second primary screen is the Site screen that provides for Site establishment and holds data for one site. Its controls select various parameters for a site and initiate terrain and field strength calculations. The terms folder and directory have the same meaning. Program Components The executable application may be installed at any convenient location on the computer. Application aliases or shortcuts may also be placed anywhere, such as the desktop, etc. However, Windows versions are installed in specific locations automatically by the installer. There are four types of operational folders that may have any desired names, are selected by the user, and their identities and locations are retained in FSC until the user selects others. These folders store functionally different data. Jobs A user selected folder where FSC stores new jobs and reads existing jobs. FSC will read and write job and other job support files to this folder. Since this folder is selectable, any number of Jobs folders may exist. This folder will contain individual job folders.

17 FSC Instruction Manual 17 Sites A folder that contains site files. This folder may be visualized as a pool folder containing sites that may be attached to any compatible job. Because sites in this folder may be selected for any job, we have termed them universal sites. Ant A folder that contains antenna files formatted for FSC. Properly formatted files have an.opa file extension. Each antenna file includes a horizontal, and optionally a vertical, plane radiation pattern with gain values referenced to a dipole (dbd). Ter A folder containing digital elevation data files. All files contain a 1-degree x 1-degree matrix of terrain elevations at 3 arc-second intervals. These files are formatted in the SRTM format. There are two databases that are in an FSC Databases folder that may be placed anywhere that contain boundary and road data. The databases have extensions of.rsd and are entitled COUNTRYdb and uscountydb. Job Each job in FSC is a folder with a job name preceded by fsj_. For example, a job named Savannah would be a folder named (by FSC) fsj_savannah. A job contains several components. Foremost is a job file with the name of the job and a file extension of.fsj. The job name is taken as the job file name, for example, Savannah.fsj. The job folder will contain site files and may contain terrain files, a boundary file and graphics files consisting of results of coverage calculations, a scale of distance and/or a label to be placed on a map.

18 FSC Instruction Manual 18 A job file contains data common to all sites attached to it and the overall job, including for example, site names of attached sites, printing and resolution values and, in the case of Continuous and Contour categories, signal levels and colors. Each job folder contains one or more attached site folders. For an active job, the names of all sites contained in the job folder are shown in a table on the Job screen. To attach a site to a job simply click the checkbox to the left of its name. Click again to detach a site from a job. Site A site file has as its name the site name with an.fss extension. Sites created when there is no active job are created in the Sites pool folder. Sites created while a job is active are written directly into the active job folder, as illustrated in the next section. Site In a Job An active job is one that has been selected on the Job screen from the Job popup menu. Actions described refer to the active job. When a job is selected all of the sites contained in that job folder are listed in the Sites table on the Job screen. Also listed in the table are all the sites contained in the Sites pool folder. When a site from the Sites folder is attached to a job that has not previously been attached to the job (by clicking the checkbox to the left of the site name on the Job screen) a copy of the site file from the site pool is placed into the job folder. The site name of the pool site is retained when placed in the job folder. Once a site is attached to a job, whenever that job is selected, functions and modifications are performed on the attached site. That is, the original pool site file remains unchanged; all changes

19 FSC Instruction Manual 19 That is, the original pool site file remains unchanged; all changes are performed on the copy placed in the selected job folder. This architecture permits reuse of a site file from a pool to be used in many jobs with each job able to customize the site as desired. For example, changing antennas, heights and/or powers.

20 FSC Instruction Manual 20 Preference File FSC maintains on each computer, for each user, a file named FieldStrengthPreferences. In that file are all of the user selectable options including data units and user entered titles to be printed on data sheets and coverage plots. Preferences are automatically saved when FSC quits. All information is saved in the preferences file and will not be requested again unless the preferences file has been replaced or corrupted. Because the possible names and locations of FSC data files are limitless, there may be occasions when the user or application becomes confused. If this occurs, locate the FieldStrengthPreferences file and move it to the recycle bin/trash. This will force FSC to start from scratch including re-entering title information and identifying the various data folders.

21 FSC Instruction Manual 21 General Functions and Menu Descriptions In the FSC menu bar are standard functional and operational selections such as Edit and Help. Other functions specific to FSC are found in the File and Tools menus. Rename Functions Job Screen Select the job to be renamed in the Job pull down menu. Type the new job name in the field beneath the Job pull down menu. Click the Save button. Site Screen Select a site to be renamed from the Current Site pull down menu. Type the new site name in the Site Name field. Click the Save Site button. Save, Save As and Change Name Functions Save functions take different meanings depending on the state of FSC. FSC is designed to guide the user when extra information is required to perform a function. The following pseudo code is included for informational purposes. There will normally be no reason to study it. Job Screen Save button clicked. If a job is currently selected If changes have been made to a site, the site is saved. If the field beneath the Job pull down menu is empty, the Job is saved. If the field is not empty, user will get prompted for a name change or for a Save As operation.

22 FSC Instruction Manual 22 operation. If a job is not currently selected If the field under Job pull down menu is not empty a new job is created if there is no existing job with the same name. Site Screen Save Site button has been clicked. If a job is currently selected the following takes place in the site s job folder. Otherwise, the following takes place in the Sites folder. If a Site is selected - If the Site Name field is empty the site is saved. If the field is not empty, the user is prompted for a name change or for a Save As operation. If a name change was selected the user is given the option to change names of all occurrences of sites with the old name. If a Site is not selected - If the Site Name field is not empty a new site is created if there is no existing site with the same name. File Menu Save Job or Site This is a smart save that saves either or both job and site. It may be invoked using the Ctrl-S (Cmd-S) keys. It is also the equivalent of clicking the Save buttons on both Job and Site screens. Save Coverage To File Saves the calculated coverage of the selected job to an image (.bmp or.pict-mac) file. Also saves as images a scale of km/miles based on the map scale, and any label created in FSC. This function may also be invoked using Ctrl-F (Cmd-F) keys.

23 FSC Instruction Manual 23 Print Coverage Prints the computed coverage image to a printer using the user specified dot resolution and map scale. May be invoked using Ctrl-P (Cmd-P) keys. Print Job Data Prints a text page to the printer containing user specified job and site data for all sites. May be invoked using Ctrl-D (Cmd-D) keys. Tools Menu Create Label Displays the Label dialog of FSC. May also be invoked using the Ctrl-L (Cmd-L) keys. The label is saved on dialog exit. Boundaries/Roads Opens a dialog with which boundaries and roads may be selected for U.S. counties and roads and the same for most countries of the world. Feature colors and line thicknesses are also set here. Copy Job A job that has been selected in FSC, and its contents, is copied to another user specified folder. If copied to the same folder as the selected job, FSC prompts for a different job name. Copy Site Duplicates a site file and its attendant files. If copied to the same job folder FSC prompts for a different site name. Set Site Preferences Saves as default any data present in the Site screen. Once preferences have been set, clearing the Site screen will load the saved values. Set Job Preferences Saves as default any data present in the Job screen. Once set, clearing the Job screen will load the saved values.

24 FSC Instruction Manual 24 Calibrate Invokes the Calibrate dialog that enables some statistical analysis of signal levels or path losses in user specified areas. Used only with the Continuous category. Import Antenna Performs a sequence of steps to import an antenna file. A pull down menu selector lists the permitted formats. When obtaining antenna patterns specify one of these formats. Imported formats are converted to the Obspat format and stored in the Ant folder. Set Map Parameters Invokes the dialog that selects the map projection used for output files and displays. These include Geometric, Lambert Conformal Conic, Albers Equal Area and Transverse Mercator projections. Geographic coordinates may be entered that define the map reference from which Sites and directions are computed for the selected projection. Earth shape constants may be entered or selected from a list of reference values. This data is stored with a job and may differ between jobs, if desired. Most of these parameters are filled-in automatically by FSC. Select Jobs Folder Selects the default folder within which FSC will search for jobs. Select Sites Folder Selects the default folder within which FSC will search for sites if not found in the current Job folder. Select Antenna Folder Selects the default folder within which FSC will search for antennas. Select Terrain Folder Selects the default folder within which FSC will search for SRTM terrain data.

25 FSC Instruction Manual 25 Select Database folder Selects the default folder containing the County and Country boundary/roads databases.

26 FSC Instruction Manual 26 Starting FSC Once installed, FSC may be started in all of the usual ways according to each particular platform. Normal Windows users may use the Start>Program menu or click a shortcut. Mac users have similar availability. Emergency FSC normally starts by using the user preference file that contains paths to the previously selected working directories. FSC can be made to start when one or more of these folder locations are missing from the user preference file. Start FSC program in the usual manner. As each folder location is requested in a dialog, click cancel. Several warning messages may be issued. Dismiss them. Eventually, the main screen will appear. Then, from the Tools menu, select the locations of the desired operational folders.

27 FSC Instruction Manual 27 Operations Issues Common to all Categories A typical session for any category, except point-to-point, begins with an assessment of the desired project s goals, usually starting with obtaining or creating a base map of a known scale. If the map is digital, the resolution (dot density - dpi) should be known. Scale and resolution factors are entered in each Job. The base map creation process includes determining the overall km or mile extent of the map. For example, determine the required length and width of the map in km or miles considering the positions of the Sites to be plotted, including their approximate coverage radii. Other times a map might be required to include a specific geographic area. Next consider the features to be included on the map such as roads, political boundaries, cities, etc. (It is very useful and impressive - to use topographic maps with included contour lines because coverage data has breaks in coverage that match terrain undulations.) FSC can be run at any map scale. Therefore, one could pick any random scale, create a map, the signal coverage, a label and a title block and have accurate results if one can create a map at the selected scale. Without a mapping program this may be difficult to accomplish. Usually it is necessary that scale also consider the size of the desired output plot to match the desired map size to paper size. While it is true that any size is possible, simple reductions of oversize maps usually lead to losses of resolution and poorer quality. The same is true for expanding undersized maps. So, get in the habit of sizing a project to both map scale and paper size. This is a simple process. To determine scale considering paper size, scales must be computed for both the length and width of the paper and select the larger of the two values. Include a margin on each edge as

28 FSC Instruction Manual 28 the larger of the two values. Include a margin on each edge as desired. For metric sizes, divide the required map width in km (converted to cm) by the width of the paper (in cm), less the left and right margins in cm. Likewise, divide the required map height in km (converted to cm) by the height of the paper less the top and bottom margins in cm. For English units use miles and inches. The required map scale is the larger of the two calculations and is spoken as a scale of one to scale and written as 1: scale. For example, assume a paper width = 20 cm and height = 30 cm. Assume margins of 1 cm on all sides. Assume the required map width to be 50 km and the height to be 25 km. It is clear that the paper first needs to be rotated to the landscape position for best fit. To convert km to cm, multiply by This obtains a width = cm and a height = cm. Then compute two scales as /(30 2) = = width and /(20 2) = = height. The map scale that will fit inside the paper margins is , which can be rounded up to a scale of 1: For English units, use miles and inches and a conversion multiplier = 63,360. To keep file sizes reasonable, a resolution of 150 dpi for maps and all FSC images has yielded good quality maps. For organizational efficiency a Project folder is usually first created to hold all project jobs, sites and terrain. With multi-site projects there are frequently several jobs, perhaps holding different combinations of sites or sites that have different characteristics such as different antenna heights. If not already selected, select the new project folder in the Tools/Select Jobs Folder menu.

29 FSC Instruction Manual 29 If sites are to be used repeatedly for a project and are not in the user designated Sites folder, you may want to enter these sites into the Sites folder at this time or copy (and edit) a site to the Sites folder. Recall also, that new sites may also be independently placed in any Job folder at any time.

30 FSC Instruction Manual 30 Continuous Category Job Operations Either select an existing job in the Job menu, or, start a new Job by entering a job name in the field below the Job menu. If several configurations are to be computed, it is usual to place each configuration in a separate Job in the project folder. Each job name should also reflect the configuration to avoid later confusion. For new jobs, select the Job Type. Then enter print scale, resolution and frequency. Next, click on the Save button. Then select the new Job in the Job menu. Create new or select Sites to be used from the Site list box. A Save is recommended at this point. Highlight each selected Site by clicking on its name. On the Job screen enter Site Label information, Site Center Cross, Print and label location with respect to the Site center. Select an antenna if the desired pattern is in the Antenna Pattern list and enter the antenna orientation azimuth. Omni antenna gain is included in the Fixed Gains and Losses field. Enter Fixed Gains and Losses and select the power units for the Job. If a job label is to be used, it may be created at any time. Note the label will not appear in any output unless the Print (label) is selected. Select the position of the label. This category plots coverage continuously over a desired area. The size of the area depends on the desired signal level to be observed, lower levels producing larger areas. In the Level

31 FSC Instruction Manual 31 observed, lower levels producing larger areas. In the Level section select Level Units, fill in the table showing (signal) Level, Level Label and color. FSC first plots the top row of the Level table for each site and repeats for each subsequent row. This strategy enables coherent plotting of multiple sites. It is important that the table use ascending signal levels. Recall that Sites for the Power and dbu categories compute path losses for a given polarization, transmitting antenna location and height. Thus, any changes may be made, for any Site, to the Site s transmitter antenna and Fixed Gains and Losses field without need to re-compute path losses. Any change of Site location requires re-computing terrain and path loss. Antenna height and polarization changes also require that path losses be re-computed.

32 FSC Instruction Manual 32 Continuous Category Site Operations If a site is to be added to a job, select the job. Transfer to the Site screen. If a site is to be installed in the general Sites folder, verify that the Sites folder path is correct. On the Job screen verify that no job is selected, then select a Job Type. Transfer to the Site screen. Enter the site s name in the Site Name field. If using English units, click the English Units control on the lower right of the Site screen. Click the Save Site button at the bottom of the screen. Select the Site from the Current Site drop down menu. Enter the remaining data for the Site. Click the Save Site button. Click the Make Terrain button. Click the Calculate Button. Click the Save Site button. If everything is functional, the Have Terrain and Have Calcs indicators will be visible. Additional Site information, such as a site label that appears adjacent to the site center mark, may be added on the Job screen after a site has been selected for an existing job. The Job screen Site Center Cross, Print and Site Label controls are Site controls that appear in the Job screen. To add, change or delete the Site label information, select a Job and click on the site name. On the Job screen, make desired changes or delete the label text. Click the Save button. Establishment of map markings may proceed as desired. Provisions are included to easily link map markings to one of the sites in a job. Select either Cmd-B/Ctrl-B or the Tools >

33 FSC Instruction Manual 33 sites in a job. Select either Cmd-B/Ctrl-B or the Tools > Boundaries/Roads menu. Select one of the sites from the dropdown menu in the Boundaries window. Then fill in the rest of the information and exit the window. Selecting one of the job s sites is not mandatory. Any area center latitude/longitude pair and distance may be used.

34 FSC Instruction Manual 34 Contour Category Job Operations Either select an existing job in the Job menu, or, start a new Job by entering a job name in the field below the Job menu. If several configurations of sites are to be computed, it is usual to place each configuration in a separate Job in the project folder. Each job name should also indicate the configuration to avoid later confusion. For new jobs, select the Job Type. Then enter print scale, resolution and frequency. Next, click on the Save button. Then select the new Job in the Job menu. Select Sites to be used from the Sites list. Save is recommended at this point. Highlight each selected Site by clicking on its name. Enter Site Label information, Site Center Cross, Print and label location with respect to the Site center. Establishment of map markings may proceed as desired. Provisions are included to easily link map markings to one of the sites in a job. Select either Cmd-B/Ctrl-B or the Tools > Boundaries/Roads menu. Select one of the sites from the dropdown menu in the Boundaries window. Then fill in the rest of the information and exit the window. Selecting one of the job s sites is not mandatory. Any area center latitude/longitude pair and distance may be used. If a job label is to be used it may be created at any time. Note the label will not appear in any output unless the Print (label) is selected. Select the position of the label.

35 FSC Instruction Manual 35 Contour Category Site Operations If a site is to be added to a job, select the job. Transfer to the Site screen. If a site is to be installed in the Sites folder, verify that the Sites folder path is correct. On the Job screen verify that no job is selected, then select a Job Type. Transfer to the Site screen. Enter the site s name in the Site Name field. If using English units, click the English Units control on the lower right of the Site screen. Click the Save Site button at the bottom of the screen. Select the Site from the Current Site list. Enter the remaining values for the Site. Begin by entering for each contour a Contour Value and selecting a Data Source (right click), Line Color and Fill Color, if any. Then enter Label, Line Type and Line thickness (mm) and other data. Click the Save Site button. When finished entering data and saving, click the Calculate button. The Have Calcs control will turn on if all is well. Note that all contour methods except manual entry and Cost-Hata require terrain calculations. However, since the required terrain distances are fixed, FSC automatically computes all required terrain without the need for user attention. Additional Site information may be added on the Job screen after a site has been selected for an existing job. The Job screen Site Center Cross, Print and Site Label controls are stored in the Site file. To add, change or delete the Site label information, on the Job screen select a Job and click on the site name. Make desired

36 FSC Instruction Manual 36 Job screen select a Job and click on the site name. Make desired changes or delete the label text. Click the Save button.

37 FSC Instruction Manual 37 Great Circle (Pt to Pt) Category Operations Either select an existing job in the Job menu, or, start a new Job by entering a job name in the field below the Job menu. For new jobs, select Great Circle in the Job Type. Click the Save button. Then select the new Job in the Job menu. Transfer to the Site screen by clicking on the Site button. Enter or make changes for data on that page. If the Have Calcs control is not activated click on the Calculate button. Click the Save Site button at the bottom of the screen. Return to the Job screen. Enter any remaining data and click on the Save button.

38 FSC Instruction Manual 38 Continuous Category Job Controls There are a number of options, checkboxes and other controls on the FSC Job screen. This Section deals with their functions. Note that some controls from this category also appear in other categories, their functions remaining identical. This category employs a detailed terrain database and a set of sophisticated calculations to produce (isotropic) path loss over a user defined area. It can account for and employ atmospheric conditions, soil conditions, frequency and other physical characteristics known to affect radio frequency propagation. Based on a series of worldwide, long-term measurements this method can also account for statistical variations to obtain estimates of reliability over time, location and situation. Because this category produces path losses it is independent of all radio system characteristics except transmitting antenna location, frequency, polarization and the heights above ground of the transmitting and receiving antennas. Thus, once path losses for an area have been computed, any system parameter may be changed without the need to recalculate. For example, antenna patterns, transmitter powers, receiver sensitivities and transmission line components may be changed, provided that transmitter location, polarization, antenna heights and frequency remain unchanged.

39 FSC Instruction Manual 39 Job Screen Right Side The right side of the Job screen deals with calculation category selection and those job parameters that are common to all sites in the Job. The following describes these controls and their meanings. For an existing job: Select the desired job from the Job pull down menu. To start a new job: Select Continuous. Enter a job name in the field directly below the Job pull down menu. Press the Save button. Select the new job, which has been added to the job list, from the pull-down menu.

40 FSC Instruction Manual 40 from the pull-down menu. Print Scale This is a ratio of cm to cm. Usually this is set to match your map scale. For example, a Print or Map scale of 1: would represent 1 cm (on map) = cm (on Earth) (= 1000 m = 1 km). Resolution is in dots per inch (dpi) for historical reasons. This value directly impacts the size of an output file. This number should also match your base map resolution, a reasonable value being 150 dpi. Frequency This is the official job frequency value and is stored with the job. There is also a frequency value associated with each site, which is the frequency used for determining the site s path loss. These two frequencies are used as verification to help prevent a site computed at one frequency from being used in a job having a different frequency. A warning is issued when the site and job frequencies differ by more than 15 percent. Map Markings Available Four checkboxes indicate which features are included in the boundary (.bdr) file of this job. This file is created by selecting Tools > Boundaries/Roads or using Ctrl-B (Cmd-B). US County displays Unites States county boundaries. Roads currently displays US Interstate Highways and some other limited access roadways. World Country displays country boundaries for most of the Earth. Roads displays many major roads in most countries. Note that World Country also displays ocean boundaries and may be used with US County boundaries for states bordering water.

41 FSC Instruction Manual 41 Picture Label Print Select if a label is to be printed on the graphic. FSC has label generating capability. The label routine is invoked with Ctrl-L (Cmd-L) or in the Tools menu. Labels may be included separately as a file or printed on screen and printer presentations. Position Label This pull down menu positions the label in one of the corners of the graphic. Open Area A label generated with FSC and appearing in a job folder is displayed in this area. Level Units A pull down menu that identifies the units of the Levels entered in the first column of the Level table. Choices are dbm, dbw and dbu (db above one microvolt per meter). Levels and Colors This is the input table controlling display of computed field strength data. Power levels are entered at which the display of signals will change color. Each level and its associated color will be applied to all sites appearing in an output graphic. Words typed in the Level Label column may be used in an FSC created Label along with the level entered in the first column. See the label in the example file. Clicking the mouse button in the third column of the table invokes the system s color pallet. (It is recommended that values producing the greatest distance be entered first, followed in order by levels producing lesser distances. This sequence is recommended because the coverage from the first row of the table is drawn first, on top of which is drawn each of the others in row sequence. FSC has some provisions for sorting, but will automatically sort only in situations where it is clear

42 FSC Instruction Manual 42 will automatically sort only in situations where it is clear what the user desires. For other situations the user is responsible for ordering the data. For example, if levels are entered in dbm, the sequence entered might be -110, - 100, -85 dbm.) Projection Indicator Shows the currently selected map projection. A mouse click on this indicator opens the map projection window. DBI Indicator FSC antenna gain reference. Either isotropic (dbi) or dipole (dbd) reference. Draw Roads/Boundaries Select to have FSC include roads and boundaries in output graphics and prints. Show Page Size When selected, prior to printing, a message is issued that gives the page size required to completely contain the output graphic at the given scale. Draw Center Cross Select to have FSC place a cross at the center of the output graphic. Print Scale Select if a distance scale is desired on the graphic. Position pull down menu If a distance scale is requested this control selects the corner of the graphic at which the scale is placed. Choices are upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left. Jobs, Sites, Ant, Ter These grayed words reveal the paths to their respective folders when the mouse cursor is poised above them. The paths are displayed beneath the

43 FSC Instruction Manual 43 poised above them. The paths are displayed beneath the row of buttons at the bottom of the Job screen. Job Screen Left Side On the left side some parameters may be entered or selected that will not require recalculation of a site s path losses. These are specific to and are a part of a Site file. Sites in the Sites list are attached to an active Job by clicking the checkbox to the left of the site s name. (A Job is active once it has been selected in the Jobs pull down menu.) Sites are deselected from a job by unchecking the checkbox. To view limited Site data, whether or not the site has been selected, click the desired Site s name outside of the checkbox. Select Antenna Pattern Pull down menu displays antenna files in the current Ant folder from which an antenna may be selected. If no antenna is selected a default gain of zero dbd (unity gain) is assumed. Inclu V Pat If the selected antenna has a vertical radiation pattern, selecting this function causes FSC to also utilize that data. Pattern Orientation Antenna directional radiation patterns are stored with their main lobes pointed to North (N 0 E). Azimuths increase from 0 to 360 degrees in a clockwise direction through East, South and West. Fixed Gains and Losses This field should include all system gains and losses except path losses (calculated by

44 FSC Instruction Manual 44 system gains and losses except path losses (calculated by FSC). Include the transmitting antenna gain unless an antenna has been selected in the pull down menu. Calibration and other adjustments may also be included. But, minimally, this number should include transmitter power, filter and line losses at both ends, preamplifier gain and antenna gains (exclude the transmitter antenna gain when employing an antenna pattern from the Select Antenna Pattern drop down menu). FSC then computes the received power including path losses. English Units This indicator displays which units version is in effect for the displayed site. Sites may use either English or metric systems. Sites using either system may be freely intermixed in a given job. Site Center Cross When selected a cross will be placed on graphics at the location of the site. Site Label Print When selected this will include the site s text label. Site Label Position Pull down menu selects the offset direction, from the site s center, where the label is placed. Site Label Text that will be placed on the graphics output at the position selected above. Carriage returns and empty lines are honored, thus providing for limited layout capability. Clear Button Clears, resets the screen and deselects the job.

45 FSC Instruction Manual 45 Delete Job Button Deletes the selected Job Save Button Smartly saves Job and Site changes as necessary. Site Button Switches to the Site screen. Page Setup Button The standard printer setup. Display Prints on the screen a scaled picture of the output. Cancel Quits the program.

46 FSC Instruction Manual 46 Continuous Category Site Controls There are a number of options, checkboxes and other controls on the FSC Job screen. This Section deals with their functions. Note that some controls from this category also appear in other categories, their functions remaining identical. This category employs a detailed terrain database and a set of sophisticated calculations to produce (isotropic) path loss over a user defined area. It can account for and employ atmospheric conditions, soil conditions, frequency and other physical characteristics known to affect radio frequency propagation. Based on a series of worldwide, long-term measurements this method can also account for statistical variations to obtain estimates of reliability over time, location and situation. Because this category produces path losses it is independent of all radio system characteristics except transmitting antenna location, frequency, polarization and the heights above ground of the transmitting and receiving antennas. Thus, once path losses for an area have been computed, any system parameter may be changed without the need to recalculate. For example, antenna patterns, transmitter powers, receiver sensitivities and transmission line components may be changed, provided that transmitter location, polarization, antenna heights and frequency remain unchanged. Site Screen Sites created with no job selected are placed in the user specified Sites folder. Sites created while a job is selected are placed in the selected job s folder. A Site is a file containing information about a site. A site file name is comprised of the site name with an.fss file extension.

47 FSC Instruction Manual 47 name is comprised of the site name with an.fss file extension. Sites are individually calculated, by site, and may, if attached to a job, spawn additional files such as a terrain file and path loss file. Site Name If no site is selected, entering a name in this field and clicking the Save Site button will create a new site file in the current Sites folder. If a job has been selected it will be placed in the current job s folder. Comments This field is for any notes or private comments associated with a site. None of these comments are printed or otherwise exposed outside of the site file. Frequency (MHz) The frequency that will be used with all calculations associated with this site.

48 FSC Instruction Manual 48 Polarization The main electric field vector orientation for this site. The choices are v = vertical and h = horizontal. (In the case of circular polarization, create two sites, one h and one v polarization. This will at least give some idea of differences in propagation between the two polarizations. Site Latitude & Longitude Geographic coordinates of the transmitting antenna. Entry may be in degrees, minutes, seconds or decimal degrees.

49 FSC Instruction Manual 49 Ground Elev. Elevation above mean sea level of the ground at the transmitting antenna location using the prevailing units. If left blank, when terrain is computed for the site, this field will be filled-in automatically. If a more accurate elevation is known, it should be utilized. Ant Hgt agl Antenna radiation center height above ground level. Mobile Ant Hgt agl This is the height above ground of the test receive antenna radiation center. This antenna is moved over the user specified area of interest. Calculation Limits Azimuth The beginning, ending and incremental azimuths (degrees) of radials to be calculated. Frequently these values are [0, 360, 1]. However, if the desired radial distance is great, the increment may be decreased to provide less space between radials at greater distances. Incremental distances could be 0.5 or 0.25 degrees, or less. Calculation Limits Distance The beginning, ending and incremental distances in current units at which FSC should compute the path loss. Incremental distances less than the distance between terrain elevation points produces no accuracy improvements. A typical value for increment is about 0.3 km. Hint: the start distance is usually made greater than zero to provide an empty circle for a short distance around the site location. This permits greater accuracy in aligning the site on a map, particularly when a cross is also plotted at the site s center. The stop and incremental distances are also used by terrain routines.

50 FSC Instruction Manual 50 also used by terrain routines. Current Site Pull down menu to select a site from the list of Sites on the Job screen. The following three controls are to be used only if a Job Terrain file is to be created. (Terrain for individual sites use the site coordinates and end distance and Make Terrain button for terrain creation.) Terrain Radius, Center Lat, Center Lon Enter desired values and click Make Job Terrain. This can be used to produce a common terrain file for all sites within the specified Radius. Be careful to ensure the radius includes the full extent of the desired areas of the enclosed sites. Climate Type Selection This pull down menu selects for the general type of climate in which the system will operate. Select the one that applies. Soil type The pull down menu selects for soil conductivity and dielectric constant with types ranging from poor to seawater. If in doubt select Average Ground. Conductivity and Dielectric values for the selected soil type are automatically entered. Conductivity and Dielectric constant These two fields permit direct entry if the values are known. Averages over radial distances or over the entire area should be used. Average Surface Refractivity Tables and graphs showing average values worldwide are available. If unknown, use the default value.

51 FSC Instruction Manual 51 unknown, use the default value. Statistics: Locations, Time and Confidence These fields permit modification of path loss values based on percentage of time and locations. Median (50%) values may be used, although many problems require 90% time and locations reliability data. For interference calculations values of 10% time/locations are typically assigned to potential interferors. Confidence is a statistic that biases the calculations; for example, one area may be more likely to provide lower path losses than another area. This might occur when one system has significantly fewer trees than another. Confidence is an estimate of how the current system relates to all possible systems from the poorest to the best. If a pessimistic outlook (higher path loss values) is desired, confidence should be given a higher percentage and vice-versa. Have Terrain An indicator that illuminates when the selected site has appropriate terrain data. FSC operates this control. Have Calcs An indicator that illuminates when the selected site has appropriate path loss data. FSC operates this control. Save Terrain With Site If unchecked, terrain will be recalculated each time path loss is calculated. The size of a 32 x 32 km terrain file is about 1 Mb. English Units A user control that selects English units. This applies only to the current site. The default is metric units.

52 FSC Instruction Manual 52 Jobs, Sites, Ant, Ter These grayed words reveal the paths to their respective folders when the mouse cursor is poised above them. The paths are displayed beneath the row of buttons at the bottom of the screen. Paths to the various folders are selected from the Tools menu bar. Clear Button Clears and resets the Site screen. Delete Site Button Deletes a selected site from a current Job or from the Site folder if no Job has been selected. Save Site Button Saves the selected site to a Job folder or to the Sites folder if no job has been selected. Make Terrain Button Creates a terrain file for the selected site. Calculate Button Computes the path loss after first developing any necessary terrain data. Cancel Quits the Site screen.

53 FSC Instruction Manual 53 Contour Category Job Controls Job Screen Most technical data for this category is entered on the Site screen where each site may have different antennas, powers, types of contour lines and different fill and line colors for each contour. The Job screen has fewer controls than the Continuous categories, but each control has the same functionality as described in detail for the Continuous category. Job Screen Right Side

54 FSC Instruction Manual 54 The right side of the Job screen deals with calculation category selection and those job parameters that are common to all sites in the Job. The following describes these controls and their meanings. Note that a label would show on this screen if this job had one. See Job screen of the Continuous Category. For an existing job: Select the desired job from the Job pull down menu. To start a new job: Select Continuous. Enter a job name in the field directly below the Job pull down menu. Press the Save button. Select the new job, which has been added to the job list, from the pull-down menu. Print Scale This is a ratio of cm to cm. Usually this is set to match your map scale. For example, a Print or Map scale of 1: would represent 1 cm (on map) = cm (on Earth) (= 1000 m = 1 km). Resolution is in dots per inch (dpi) for historical reasons. This value directly impacts the size of an output file. This number should also match your base map resolution, a reasonable value being 150 dpi. Frequency This is the official job frequency value and is stored with the job. There is also a frequency value associated with each site, which is the frequency used for determining the site s path loss. These two frequencies are used as verification to help prevent a site computed at one frequency from being used in a job having a different frequency. A warning is issued when the site and job frequencies differ by more than 15 percent.

55 FSC Instruction Manual 55 Map Markings Available Four checkboxes indicate which features are included in the boundary (.bdr) file of this job. This file is created by selecting Tools > Boundaries/Roads or using Ctrl-B (Cmd-B). US County displays Unites States county boundaries. Roads currently displays US Interstate Highways and some other limited access roadways. World Country displays country boundaries for most of the Earth. Roads displays many major roads in most countries. Note that World Country also displays ocean boundaries and may be used with US County boundaries for states bordering water. Picture Label Print Select if a label is to be printed on the graphic. FSC has label generating capability. The label routine is invoked with Ctrl-L (Cmd-L) or in the Tools menu. Labels may be included separately as a file or printed on screen and printer presentations. Position Label This pull down menu positions the label in one of the corners of the graphic. Open Area A label generated with FSC and appearing in a job folder is displayed in this area. Level Units A pull down menu that identifies the units of the Levels entered in the first column of the Level table. Choices are dbm, dbw and dbu (db above one microvolt per meter). Levels and Colors This is the input table controlling display of computed field strength data. Power levels are entered at which the display of signals will change color. Each level and its associated color will be applied to all sites appearing in an output graphic. Words typed in the

56 FSC Instruction Manual 56 sites appearing in an output graphic. Words typed in the Level Label column may be used in an FSC created Label along with the level entered in the first column. See the label in the example file. Clicking the mouse button in the third column of the table invokes the system s color pallet. (It is recommended that values producing the greatest distance be entered first, followed in order by levels producing lesser distances. This sequence is recommended because the coverage from the first row of the table is drawn first, on top of which is drawn each of the others in row sequence. FSC has some provisions for sorting, but will automatically sort only in situations where it is clear what the user desires. For other situations the user is responsible for ordering the data. For example, if levels are entered in dbm, the sequence entered might be -110, - 100, -85 dbm.) Projection Indicator Shows the currently selected map projection. A mouse click on this indicator opens the map projection window. Draw Roads/Boundaries Select to have FSC include roads and boundaries in output graphics and prints. Show Page Size When selected, prior to printing, a message is issued that gives the page size required to completely contain the output graphic at the given scale. Draw Center Cross Select to have FSC place a cross at the center of the output graphic. Print Scale Select if a distance scale is desired on the graphic.

57 FSC Instruction Manual 57 graphic. Position pull down menu If a distance scale is requested this control selects the corner of the graphic at which the scale is placed. Choices are upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left. Jobs, Sites, Ant, Ter, DB These grayed words reveal the paths to their respective folders when the mouse cursor is poised above them. The paths are displayed beneath the row of buttons at the bottom of the Job screen. Job Screen Left Side On the left side some parameters may be entered or selected that will not require recalculation of a site s path losses. These are specific to and are a part of a Site file. Sites in the Sites list are attached to an active Job by clicking the checkbox to the left of the site s name. (A Job is active once it has been selected in the Jobs pull down menu.) Sites are deselected from a job by unchecking the checkbox. To view limited Site data, whether or not the site has been selected, click the desired Site s name outside of the checkbox. English Units This indicator displays which units version is in effect for the displayed site. Sites may use either English or metric systems. Sites using either system may be freely intermixed in a given job. Site Center Cross When selected a cross will be placed on graphics at the location of the site.

58 FSC Instruction Manual 58 on graphics at the location of the site. Site Label Print When selected this will include the site s text label. Site Label Position Pull down menu selects the offset direction, from the site s center, where the label is placed. Site Label Text that will be placed on the graphics output at the position selected above. Carriage returns and empty lines are honored, thus providing for limited layout capability. Clear Button Clears, resets the screen and deselects the job. Delete Job Button Deletes the selected Job Save Button Smartly saves Job and Site changes as necessary. Site Button Switches to the Site screen. Page Setup Button The standard printer setup. Display Prints on the screen a scaled picture of the output. Cancel Quits the program.

59 FSC Instruction Manual 59 Contour Category Site Controls Each control is described below, ordered from top to bottom, first on the left side and then on the right side of the Site screen. The above Site Screen illustrates mixed calculation types. Note that all required Site data is entered in this screen. However, display functions such as site labels are controlled in the Job screen. The following Site Screen is shown when a manual entry (azimuth, distance) contour is selected. The table entries are azimuths (degrees) and distances in the prevailing units (miles or km). A maximum of 360 pairs may be entered.

60 If a site is currently selected, entering a name in this field and clicking the Save Site button invokes a dialog allowing selection of a Change Name or Save As FSC Instruction Manual 60 Entry of a single pair is interpreted as a circle with a radius equal to the tabular distance value. All entered points are linearly interpolated to fill in the distances every degree. Control descriptions and functions are detailed below for both Site screen variations. Site Name If no site is selected, entering a name in this field and clicking the Save Site button will create a new site file. This file will be placed in the current Sites folder if no job is selected, otherwise it will be placed in the current job s folder.

61 FSC Instruction Manual 61 allowing selection of a Change Name or Save As function. Comments This field is for any notes or private comments associated with a selected site. None of these comments are printed or otherwise exposed outside of the site file. Frequency (MHz) The frequency that will be used in all calculations associated with this site. Site Latitude & Longitude Geographic coordinates of the transmitting antenna. Entry may be in degrees, minutes, seconds or decimal degrees. Ground Elev. Elevation above mean sea level of the ground at the transmitting antenna using the chosen units. If left blank, when terrain is obtained for the site, this field will be filled-in automatically. If a more accurate elevation is known, it should be utilized. Ant Hgt agl Antenna radiation center height above ground level. Mobile Ant Hgt agl This is the height above ground of the test receive antenna radiation center that is moved over the user specified area of interest. This field is required only for those calculations that permit the mobile antenna height to be changed such as the Cost-Hata and Mobile(TV) contour methods. The remaining methods have mobile antenna heights implicit in their definitions with no provisions for changing heights. However, by adjusting the contour value and/or power input values, any factor may be compensated for. Calculation Limits Start and Stop Azimuth fields provide for display of partial contours. If left blank a full

62 FSC Instruction Manual 62 provide for display of partial contours. If left blank a full 360 contour is assumed. Current Site This pull down menu selects the current site from its list of sites, if any. Contour Setup The following items occur in the table. Many of the tabular values may be defaulted. Contour Value All contour types except Enter Distance require a value in this column. The value units are dbm, dbw or dbu. To enter a value, click on the desired cell. Data Source This column is activated by rightclicking (Ctl-click) when the mouse cursor is simultaneously poised over the desired row and the Data Source column. A list is presented after which scrolling the mouse and releasing selects the desired calculation. Label This column accepts a text label that is used by the job Label creation process. The label text and contour value are colored with either the contour fill color or, if no fill is selected, the contour line color. This cell may be displayed in a larger format by shift-clicking on a Label cell. Typ (Line Type) This column selects one of the line types shown in the box of lines. Click on the Typ cell and enter the type number, 0 to 7. No entry defaults to Line Type 0, a solid line. Clr (Line Color) Clicking in these cells invokes the system color picker. The contour line will be drawn in the selected color. Colors may be defaulted, typically using black. Recall that white

63 FSC Instruction Manual 63 defaulted, typically using black. Recall that white will not print. Thk (Line Thickness) The contour line thickness in millimeters. A value of zero causes the line to be not drawn. Fill Clr (Fill Color) Clicking in these cells invokes the system color picker. The entire contour will be filled in the selected color. Colors may be defaulted. + Row This button adds a row to the table. Clicking multiple times adds multiple rows. However, when a Site is calculated, rows missing a Contour value are culled from the table. - Row This button deletes a row from the table. Click a row and then click this button. Contour Units This pull down menu sets the units for the Contour Values. Choices are dbm, dbw or dbu. All contours must use the selected unit. (If mixed units are desired, create an additional site and select a different unit.) Select Antenna Selects the antenna pattern from the list of antenna files in the user designated Antenna folder. The antenna name is displayed and its maximum gain is displayed. If no antenna is selected the default gain is 0 dbd. Pattern Orientation Antenna directional radiation patterns are stored with their main lobes pointed north (N 0 E). Azimuths increase from 0 to 360 degrees in a clockwise direction through East, South and West.

64 FSC Instruction Manual 64 Antenna Input Power The value entered in this field should include system losses and gains and include a power source. See an expanded discussion in the Fixed Gains and Losses Continuous, dbu and Great Circle section. Antenna Power Units The units of the power source can be dbm, dbw or dbk. These units are referenced to one milliwatt, one Watt and one kilowatt, respectively. Enter Distance When the Data Source is Enter Distance, an Azimuth/Distance table and two buttons appear. Azimuth Holds azimuth values in degrees. Distance Holds distance values in metric or English units according to the selected system. Clear List Button Clears the entire entry table. Save List Button Saves only the manual entry table. Have Calcs An indicator that illuminates when the selected site has had the contours calculated. FSC operates this control. English Units A user control that selects English units. This applies only to the currently selected site. The default is metric units. Jobs, Sites, Ant, Ter These grayed words reveal the paths to their respective folders when the mouse cursor is poised above them. The paths are displayed beneath the row of buttons at the bottom of the screen.

65 FSC Instruction Manual 65 row of buttons at the bottom of the screen. Clear button Clears and loads default values into the Site screen. Delete Site button Deletes a selected site from a current Job or from the Sites folder if no Job has been selected. Save Site button Saves the selected site to a Job folder or to the Site folder if no job has been selected. Calculate button Computes the results after first developing any required terrain data. Cancel button Quits the Site screen.

66 FSC Instruction Manual 66 Great Circle (Point-to-Point) Job Controls This category provides a point-to-point or link method that usually is associated with dedicated communications between two fixed locations using fixed antennas. This category is named Great Circle because the terrain between two sites is generated by FSC on a true great circle path. (Frequently point-to-point terrain in other software uses a linear interpolation of geographic coordinates, which is only accurate over relatively short distances. FSC enjoys no such distance limitations.) The path loss calculator is the same as used for the Continuous category. Frequency limitations are 20 MHz to 20 GHz. Thus, this method is very versatile. It is also simple to use and achieves good, practical accuracy for most calculations. This category features a single output form. A rectangular graph shows the terrain profile between the two selected sites. Included on the graph are up to three user selected earth curvature lines and one FSC supplied earth curvature derived from the path calculations. Additionally, Fresnel zone terrain heights are shown based on the first Fresnel zone multiplied by a user supplied factor (frequently 0.6). In this graph the terrain profile and Fresnel zone are plotted minus the earth s curvature. All other data and lines are drawn as curves that include the earth s curvature. This form of display amplifies the effects of terrain blockages. Great Circle Job Screen Most of the functions for the Job screen have been relocated to the Site page for convenience.

67 FSC Instruction Manual 67 On the left side of this screen are the usual site data shown in other categories. The right side consists of Job selection and creation. Select Antenna Pattern Pull down menu selects an antenna from the antenna files in the current antenna folder. If no antenna is selected the default gain is 0 dbd. Pattern Orientation Antenna directional radiation patterns are stored with their main lobes pointed north (N 0 E). Azimuths increase from 0 to 360 degrees in a

68 FSC Instruction Manual 68 0 E). Azimuths increase from 0 to 360 degrees in a clockwise direction through East, South and West. Fixed Gains and Losses This field should include all system gains and losses except path losses (calculated by FSC). Include the transmitting antenna gain unless an antenna has been selected in the pull down menu. Calibration and other adjustments may also be included. But, minimally, this number should include transmitter power, filter and line losses at both ends, preamplifier gain and antenna gains (exclude the transmitter antenna gain when employing an antenna pattern from the Select Antenna Pattern drop down menu). FSC then computes the received power including path losses. The right side consists of Job selection, creation and name change functions. Terrain Min Plot Elev FSC normally plots all terrain variations at the largest scale that fits in the graph. It also automatically suppresses elevations below the lowest value of terrain along the path. This field permits the user to override FSC s selection.

69 FSC Instruction Manual 69 Great Circle (Point-to-Point) Site Controls This category provides a point-to-point or link method that usually is associated with dedicated communications between two fixed locations using fixed antennas. This category is named Great Circle because the terrain between two sites is generated by FSC on a true great circle path. (Frequently point-to-point terrain in other software uses a linear interpolation of geographic coordinates, which is only accurate over relatively short distances. FSC enjoys no such distance limitations.) The path loss calculator is the same as used for the Continuous category. Frequency limitations are 20 MHz to 20 GHz. Thus, this method is very versatile. It is also simple to use and achieves good, practical accuracy for most calculations. This category features a single output form. A rectangular graph shows the terrain profile between the two selected sites. Included on the graph are up to three user selected earth curvature lines and one FSC supplied earth curvature derived from the path calculations. Additionally, Fresnel zone terrain heights are shown based on the first Fresnel zone multiplied by a user supplied factor (frequently 0.6). In this graph the terrain profile and Fresnel zone are plotted minus the earth s curvature. All other data and lines are drawn as curves that include the earth s curvature. This form of display amplifies the effects of terrain blockages. Great Circle Site Screen Most of the controls are the same as on the Site screens of the other categories. However, this screen includes data for two sites a FROM site and a TO site. Geographic coordinate, ground elevation and antenna height data are required for both sites. (If

70 FSC Instruction Manual 70 elevation and antenna height data are required for both sites. (If left blank, the ground elevations for both sites will be filled-in by FSC. Data of greatest accuracy should be utilized.) Site Name If no site is selected, entering a name in this field and clicking the Save Site button will create a new site file. This file will be placed in the current Sites folder if no job is selected, otherwise it will be placed in the current job s folder. If a site is currently selected, entering a name in this field and clicking the Save Site button will invoke a dialog allowing selection of a Change Name or Save As function. Comments This field is for any notes or private comments associated with a selected site. None of these comments are printed or otherwise exposed outside of the site file. Frequency (MHz) The frequency that will be used in all calculations associated with this site. Polarization The main electric field vector orientation for this site. The choices are v = vertical and h = horizontal. (In the case of circular polarization, create two jobs, one using h and one v polarization. This will at least give some idea of differences in propagation between the two polarizations.)

71 FSC Instruction Manual 71 The following are the data for the station at the beginning of the path, the FROM site. Site Latitude & Longitude Geographic coordinates of the transmitting antenna. Entry may be in degrees, minutes, seconds or decimal degrees. Ground Elev. Elevation above mean sea level of the ground at the transmitting antenna using the chosen units. If left blank, when terrain is obtained for the site, this field will be filled-in automatically. If a more accurate

72 FSC Instruction Manual 72 field will be filled-in automatically. If a more accurate elevation is known, it should be used. Ant Hgt agl Antenna radiation center height above ground level. k1, k2 and k3 Relative values of the Earth s radius. When a value is entered, a line representing that (relative) radius is plotted on the graph. Weather and atmospheric conditions play a role in the diffraction of signals causing them to more or less follow the earth s curvature. Sometimes signals follow a sharp curvature and sometimes a broad curvature that may be represented as a sphere. The ratios of these radii to the actual earth s radius are called k factors. Frequently, k values ranging between 0.5 and 1.5 are used, depending on the nature of the path and character of the region containing the path. FSC computes and displays an internal k value based on the Climate type and refractivity. The user can add three additional k-factors that will be plotted on the output graph. First Fresnel A Fresnel zone is a locus of points about the direct line between two site antennas where, if a signal reflection occurs, the reflected signal could cause cancellation of the direct signal. The full set of points looks like a watermelon (ellipsoid of revolution) centered on the direct line between antennas. There are many Fresnel zones, where the reflected signal is out of phase by 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, wavelengths, the most important being the first. For the waves to totally cancel they must be exactly out-of-phase and their amplitudes must be equal. As a result, many engineers accept path clearances that are within 0.6 of the first Fresnel zone. This relaxes somewhat

73 FSC Instruction Manual 73 within 0.6 of the first Fresnel zone. This relaxes somewhat the amount of ground, water and vegetation clearance necessary for a given path. Entering a value in First Fresnel causes a light line to be drawn above the terrain line on the output graph. The distance between this line and the terrain line is the Fresnel distance. If the k-factor line computed by FSC crosses (intersects) the Fresnel line, then the path does not have Fresnel clearance. The following are the data for the station at the end of the path, the TO site. Site Name Site Latitude & Longitude Geographic coordinates of the receiving antenna. Entry may be in degrees, minutes, seconds or decimal degrees. Ground Elev. Elevation above mean sea level of the ground at the receiving antenna using the chosen units. If left blank, when terrain is obtained for the site, this field will be filled-in automatically. If a more accurate elevation is known, it should be utilized. Ant Hgt agl Antenna radiation center height above ground level. Climate Type Selection This pull down menu selects for the general type of climate of the path. Select the one that applies. Soil type The pull down menu selects for soil conductivity and dielectric constant with types ranging from poor to seawater. If in doubt select Average Ground. Conductivity and Dielectric values

74 FSC Instruction Manual 74 doubt select Average Ground. Conductivity and Dielectric values for the selected soil type are automatically entered. Conductivity and Dielectric constant These two fields permit direct entry if the values are known. Averages over an entire path should be used. Average Surface Refractivity Tables and graphs showing worldwide average values are available. If unknown, use the default value. Statistics are automatically included on the output graph as a reliability factor ranging from 1 per cent to percent. Output values are given at the various reliability levels for both path loss and power including Gains, Losses and transmit antenna gain, if any.

75 FSC Instruction Manual 75 Map Boundaries and Roads FSC is supplied with two databases containing boundaries and major roads for the United States and the rest of the world. These map markings are applied on top of coverage data when selected. A two-step process first collects data from the databases. The data is stored in the job file and is given a name selected by the user. This file is recognizable as having an extension of.bdr. Once a.bdr file has been created, it may be relocated or copied to any job file. FSC searches for a.bdr file upon job selection.

76 FSC Instruction Manual 76 Opening the Boundary dialog from Tools>Boundary or Ctrl-B (Cmd-B) displays data from an existing.bdr file. If one does not exist, the top pull-down menu lists the sites attached to the job. The user may reference the boundary file to one of the listed sites, or, enter any Lat/Lon desired. To change any data, type new data and click Make. To delete a file simply click the Delete button.

77 FSC Instruction Manual 77 Calibration Aid The Continuous category calculations can produce a very large number of data points. Consider a calculation that is computed at distances of say, 1 to 20 km every 0.2 km for 360 radials. FSC s path loss files would contain more than data points and would have computed more than individual terrain profiles in the process. Sometimes users have some actual measurements from a cell or station at known locations. FSC, like other prediction tools, does a good job of obtaining field strength (path loss) on a relative basis. For example, when FSC predicts the path loss at two locations, the values obtained are typically accurate relative to each other but, for environmental reasons, the absolute path loss may be somewhat inaccurate and need adjustment. A routine is provided in FSC that helps the user select and view statistics of a series of path loss values for a selected radial and distance span. From that information an adjustment factor may be found that can be added to Fixed Gains and Losses. In general, this works fairly well.

78 FSC Instruction Manual 78 The various controls have the following meanings and requirements. Include Antenna Gain Check if the antenna gain is to be included in the statistical results. Include Fixed Gain and Losses Check if this value is to be included in the statistical results. Azimuth The radial azimuth of the desired path for this calculation.

79 FSC Instruction Manual 79 Start/Stop Distance Include points between the start and stop distances. For the selected points the mean, median, standard deviation and rms signal statistics are presented. If either of the upper two check boxes is selected, the statistics values will appropriately reflect those changes. Another less sophisticated, but equally valid technique for adjusting FSC s calculated results, in areas where signal reception experience can be obtained, is to simply ask some users where reception is inadequate. Then adjust the contour values or the levels at which colors change or Fixed Gains and Losses, singly or in combination, until coverage plots show losses of coverage at those locations. This is a very successful technique even if not scientifically rigorous. The results are very often quite accurate because FSC s relative path loss calculations are accurate. Furthermore, user interviews have the effect of including system equipment, actual area clutter factors and usage patterns. This type of information may be of value, even if it pertains to different frequencies, because most gross coverage deficiencies are caused by gross factors, such as terrain shielding, that affect signals over relatively wide frequency ranges. Note: This technique should never be applied using just one or two locations. Employ a sufficient number of locations to be confident that adjustments are warranted.

80 FSC Instruction Manual 80 Labels There is capability in FSC to produce labels. It is relatively easy and fast. However, a graphics program, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, will provide greater flexibility. Labels created in FSC are saved as internal FSC files in the Job folder with a filename consisting of the Job name with an.lbl extension. Job labels created in FSC are also displayed in the Job screens of the Continuous and Contour jobs. Great Circle jobs use their own special output presentations. Label making and modifications are invoked from the Tools menu (Tools>Create Label) or using Ctrl-L (Cmd-L). A label is turned on/off from the Job screens by selecting Print in the checkbox above the Print Label field. The location of the Label is determined by selecting the printout target corner from the drop down menu under the Print Scale checkbox. To create a Label, open the Label dialog. Fill-in the desired information and close the dialog. If a job has been selected the label will be placed in the job folder. If no job has been selected the label will be placed in the Jobs folder as a default label with the filename fs.lbl. Default labels may be assigned to jobs by selecting a job and then opening the Label dialog, then clicking the Get Default button. Make changes, if any, and when finished close the dialog. Default labels are typically created to hold information that does not frequently change. When creating image files, by selecting Make File from the menu bar or using Ctrl-F (Cmd-F), the user will be asked if a label file is desired. If so, FSC will request a filename. This separate Label file is an image file that may be used in a graphics program to place a label anywhere.

81 FSC Instruction Manual 81 The above label is produced in the following label screen. Each section (field) of the Label screen is independent. Blank sections add nothing to the label. Each section uses rich text formatting in which the text font may be colored and have different font types and sizes. The individual sections are positioned on the label in about the same order as appears on the Label screen. Spacing within a section may be adjusted by inserting line feeds and spaces. Label controls and functions are: Font Selected from the drop-down font menu. Size Sets size of the highlighted text. Color Sets color of the highlighted text. B, I, U Changes the state of highlighted text. B is bold, I is italicize and U is underscore.

82 FSC Instruction Manual 82 Max Label Width Sets the maximum width limit of the label. The label may be narrower, but never wider than this size. Text that is longer than this width is wrapped to the next line. Titles/Notes Contents of this section appear centered at the top of the label.

83 FSC Instruction Manual 83 Init Button Clicking places, in the Signal Descriptions section, the values and colors from the table of contour levels on the Continuous category Job screen. This button is disabled for the other categories, requiring that data be hand entered. Signal Descriptions This section is the label body that can have the above Init Button values and/or any other manually entered text. Text in this section is centered on the label below the Titles/Notes section. Company Name This section is centered below the Signal Descriptions field. Date Appears at the bottom left of the label, beneath the Company Name section. Page Appears at the bottom right of the label, beneath the Company Name section. Get Default Button If one exists, a default label is read into this screen. OK Button Saves the current label and exits the screen. Cancel Button Closes screen without saving.

84 FSC Instruction Manual 84 Map Projection Control There are four map projections available in FSC. Geometric Albers Equal Area Conic Lambert Conformal Conic Transverse Mercator These may be selected using the Tools>Set Map Parameters or by pressing Ctrl-M (Cmd-M) or by clicking the projection graphic on the Job screen. The screen has pull-down menus to select the projection type, select a reference earth and set the hemisphere in which the map center is located. There are also data fields where the user may insert data instead of using the default data entered by the pull-down menu selections. Many common maps exist worldwide using the available projections. There should be local paper maps or electronic maps available in one or more of these projections.

85 FSC Instruction Manual 85 available in one or more of these projections. The Reference Earth pull-down menu presents a choice of seven reference earths used widely from the 19 th century to the present. These include the latest satellite generated earth. This great range is necessary because there are many older maps still in circulation and, in some cases, still being published. Values are automatically loaded for the selected earth. Other earth models may be represented by manually entering their values. Most FSC operations require no values to be entered. Only Reference Earth and Projection Type selections are required. FSC will insert other values if none are provided. However, if specific maps are to be used, the values from the maps may be entered.

86 FSC Instruction Manual 86 Page Size (and Map Center) When Show Page Size is selected on a Job screen this dialog appears just before a print occurs. The user may cancel or accept the printing process. The scale, specified on the Main page, and the paper size, specified in the Page Setup dialog, and the project size to be printed are used to determine if the project will fit on the page at the given scale. If Show Page Size is checked and the project will not fit on the page the warning message is presented. If the user selects Print, the project image will be reduced and printed at a scale that will fit on the paper. When this occurs, the scale designation (eg Scale 1:250000) will not appear on the scale of miles/kilometers. Only when the image fits on the paper at the correct scale will the scale designation appear. This feature may be used to determine the scale at which the project can be printed on the specified paper size by specifying different scales and submitting the project for printing, repeating until a scale that fits is found. None of this is necessary when creating files as they are always made as large as required. The page size required to contain the entire full-sized print at the specified scale is presented using appropriate units. Many printer drivers permit image reductions to fit a selected paper size. However, if it is important that the image scale be true on the printed page, then the scale (or paper size) must be adjusted until the image fits on the page.

87 FSC Instruction Manual 87 FSC also computes the approximate geographic coordinates of the map center that includes coverage areas associated with all sites to be printed. Once sites have been selected and calculated and prior to creating the base map, the map center may be found by Printing from the menu or Ctrl-P (Cmd-P), receiving the Sheet size and center data and then canceling the Print.

88 FSC Instruction Manual 88 Isotropic/Dipole Considerations FSC may use either an Isotropic or Dipole reference system. There is a checkbox on the main screen that shows the current reference being used. This reference should be set for each new job and may be changed at any time by clicking the checkbox. A dipole antenna has a gain of 1.64 ( 2.15 db) with respect to an isotropic radiator s gain of 1 (0 db). All antenna patterns imported into FSC, with file extensions of.opa, have gains that are referenced to a dipole (dbd). However, it is important to understand that when using FSC in the isotropic mode (DBI checked), antennas with gains expressed as referenced to a dipole require that a factor of 2.15 db be added for each (dbd) antenna. For example, with dbd gain antennas at both the transmitter and receiver, a 4.3 db factor is added to the Fixed Gains and Losses* field. Antennas with gains expressed in dbi require no changes. In the dipole mode (DBI unchecked), using antennas with gains expressed in dbi, the Fixed Gains and Losses* field must be reduced by 2.15 db for each (dbi) antenna. This includes antenna patterns selected from FSC antennas folder. Thus, when both antennas are isotropic referenced, a factor of 4.3 must be subtracted from the Fixed Gain and Losses* field. If the DBI checkbox is changed in an existing Job, FSC issues a reminder to adjust the Fixed Gains and Losses* field.

89 FSC Instruction Manual 89 * Adjust the Ant Input Power field (Site screen) for the Contour Job category.

90 FSC Instruction Manual 90 dbu Calculations dbu calculations require some special mention. Continuous and Contour categories permit (or require) specifying signal levels as field voltages. The usual form is dbu, which is defined as the number of db above one microvolt per meter. FSC utilizes the same calculations for dbu as for the Power category. The relation between power received and the inducing electric field is P r = ( E 2 /Z 0 ) A e (Watts) Where P r = received power, W, E = electric field intensity magnitude, V/m, and Z 0 = 377 Ohms, the intrinsic impedance of free space. The effective antenna aperture, A e, is A e = G! 2 / 4" (m 2 ) where G = receiving antenna gain and! = wavelength. FSC assumes for this conversion an isotropic radiator with G = 1. Coverage areas are frequently defined using electric field intensity as, for example, the area within the 74 dbu contour. With FSC it is only necessary to enter 74 dbu and the coverage is automatically computed.

91 FSC Instruction Manual 91 Antenna Input Power Contour This parameter appears in the Contour category on the Site screen. It is similar to the Fixed Gains and Losses factor in the Continuous and Great Circle categories. All of the Contour category methods (except manual distance entry) in FSC employ the concept of antenna input power as a reference. This power value should also include all gains and losses at the receiver and transmitter as well as any other desired adjustments such as clutter and dbd/dbi conversions. (See Isotropic/Dipole Considerations.) If an FSC directional transmitting antenna is to be used do not include a gain for that antenna. Omnidirectional transmitting antenna gain may be included when using omni antennas rather than selecting an omni antenna from the Ant folder.

92 FSC Instruction Manual 92 Attach an Existing Universal Site To a Job With a Job selected, click in the check box to the left of the desired Site s name. This will copy the site file from the Sites folder into the current Job file. Any number of sites may be selected. Site may be reviewed by clicking the Site s name outside of the checkbox. This displays some site information on the left side of the Job screen. For more site information, click the Site button at the bottom of the screen. Once a site is attached to a job, all further site actions are associated with the job s copy of the site file from the Sites folder.

93 FSC Instruction Manual 93 Copy Job Select a Job. From the Tools menu select Copy Job When the Select dialog appears, select the destination folder and enter a new name for the copied job if the destination location is the same as the source location.

94 FSC Instruction Manual 94 Copy Site Select a Site. From the Tools menu select Copy Site When the Select dialog appears, select the destination folder and enter a new name for the copied site if the destination location is the same as the source location.

95 FSC Instruction Manual 95 Create a New Job Clear the Job screen by clicking the Clear button at the bottom left of the screen. This will clear all fields and load into fields all previously defined default values, if any. Select the Job category by clicking the desired radio button in the upper right corner of the Job screen. Enter a name and frequency. Click the Save button at bottom of screen. In the Select Job drop down menu, select the new Job by name. This prepares a job for all subsequent operations.

96 FSC Instruction Manual 96 Create a New Site For a Job To create a site, select a Job by name from the Job drop down menu. Click the Site button. Enter a name in the Site Name: field, fill in desired information and click the Save Site button. New sites created using the Site screen while a Job is selected will be placed only in that Job s folder, the folder that begins with the prefix fsj_ followed by the job name. They will not be accessible to other jobs unless manually copied and pasted into another job or by using the Site Copy function in the Tools menu.

97 FSC Instruction Manual 97 Create a New Universal Site This is a site that is placed in the user selected Sites folder and is available to all jobs. The location of the Sites folder may be found by placing the mouse cursor over the dimmed word Sites just above the Site button. Sites in this folder maintain most of the information about a site. However, they may not have any associated terrain or path loss data as those items are specific to each Job. The purpose of a universal site is to reduce the need to enter site data over and over again. Site files have two configurations, one for Great Circle and one for the remaining categories. Deselect any current job by selecting Select Job in the Job drop down menu. If the universal site is to be used for Great Circle calculations click the Great Circle button in the Job screen. Go to the Site screen by clicking the Site button. Click the Clear button to clear fields and load Site default values. Fill in as many fields as desired. Enter the Site name and click the Save Site button. This site will be placed in the Sites folder. All sites in that folder appear in the Sites list on the Job screen.

98 FSC Instruction Manual 98 Create Boundaries and Roads Applies to Continuous and Contour Category jobs. Select a Job. Select Tools > Boundaries/Roads from the menu or press Ctrl-B (Cmd-B) on the keyboard. On the dialog enter a file name and. in the checkboxes, select the desired county and road data categories. Set the color and line thickness for each desired road and boundary category. (Color is selected by clicking on the color space adjacent to a category.) The data for Ref Lat, Ref Lon and Distance should be referenced to some known location because, when creating files for overlay, the Boundary file is separate from the coverage, scale and label files. Using a known reference makes it easier to align components. To aid in the alignment process, there is a drop-down menu listing all sites attached to the job. This will provide a road/boundary mark at one of the sites, which makes it obvious when aligning coverage and boundary files. Jobs with numerous sites often are built using a central reference point at a known latitude/longitude. This location may be used for the Ref Lat/Ref Lon values. Click the Make button when ready. This creates a database file (with a.bdr extension) in the Job folder that has all the raw boundary/road data for the Job. When a display, print or file creation is called for, FSC uses the raw data file to produce the

99 FSC Instruction Manual 99 creation is called for, FSC uses the raw data file to produce the final boundary/road picture. The.bdr file may be deleted from a selected job by selecting Boundary/Roads and clicking the Delete button.

100 FSC Instruction Manual 100 Create Terrain for Jobs and Sites Applies only to Continuous Category jobs. Other job categories produce their own terrain automatically. Create Terrain For a Site Select a Job. Go to the site screen and select a Site. Be certain the Site s geographic coordinates and calculation limits are specified. Click the Make Terrain button at the bottom of the screen. Create Terrain For a Job Select a job by name from the Job drop down menu. Go to the Site screen by clicking the Site button. Fill in the fields in the JOB TERRAIN area of the screen. Click the Make Job Terrain button.

101 FSC Instruction Manual 101 Defaults Setup Users may set, or not, default values for most parameters and controls. Once set, the default values are loaded into their respective controls automatically on opening the program or on clearing a screen. This applies to both Jobs and Sites. It also applies to most calculations, contour, environmental, printing and statistical values. To set Job defaults: Start FSC in the usual manner. A splash screen will appear followed by the Job screen. Without selecting a Job, fill in all desired values on the Job screen including colors. A calculation category may also be selected. When finished, select the menu Tools>Set Job Preferences. To set Site defaults: Start FSC. Without selecting a Job, click the Site button. Fill in all desired values on the Site screen including colors. By selecting the various calculation categories (on the Job screen) and filling in the Site parameters, virtually all Site controls may be given default values. When finished, select the menu Tools>Set Site Preferences.

102 FSC Instruction Manual 102 Delete a Site From a Job Select a job and transfer to the Site screen by clicking the Site button. Select the site in the Current Site drop down menu. Click the Delete Site button.

103 FSC Instruction Manual 103 Delete a Universal Site Deselect any active job by selecting Select Job on the Job drop down menu on the Job screen. Transfer to the Site screen by clicking the Site button. Select the universal site in the Current Site drop down menu. Click the Delete Site button.

104 FSC Instruction Manual 104 Detach an Attached Site From a Job A site that has been attached to a job has a folder in that job. To detach the site simply uncheck its checkbox. The site folder remains in the job folder and may be reattached by checking the checkbox. The site may be reattached by selecting its checkbox.

105 FSC Instruction Manual 105 Display Results On Screen Users may visualize calculation results on the screen. All job categories can provide a display on the Job screen of user selected components such as coverage, label, etc. The Great Circle category provides a rectangular graph showing a terrain profile with the various Fresnel and k-factor lines drawn. Contour and Continuous jobs will display all site coverage and if selected, label, scale and boundary/road data. Select a Job. Click the Display button on the bottom-right of the Job screen. NOTES: The display accounts for map offsets and scale. FSC will attempt to place the largest version of the results as will fit on the display screen, meaning it will automatically scale the picture. If the user does not enter reference coordinates in the Map Projection Control (Ctrl-M, Cmd-M), FSC automatically creates a reference Latitude & Longitude for every Job. FSC normally supplies most data it needs that is not entered by the user. Occasionally, during the process of selecting or changing sites or the job reference coordinates, the reference Lat/Lon in the Map Projection Dialog remains as it was initially entered or created by FSC. When a display is requested and conditions have changed,

106 FSC Instruction Manual 106 FSC. When a display is requested and conditions have changed, the picture may be incorrect. If things do look incorrect, it is suggested that the Map Reference Lat/Lon fields of the Map Projection dialog be cleared. FSC will then reset the reference values based on the existing job data and the display will be correct.

107 FSC Instruction Manual 107 Fixed Gains and Losses The Continuous and Great Circle categories require that this parameter be given a value. It is the place where system power, gains and losses are accounted for. FSC calculates path loss for these two categories. Path loss is dependent on climate, soils, signal refractivity, frequency, antenna heights, terrain and a factor generally known as clutter. The behavior of signals versus these factors has been extensively measured and studied and forms the basis of path loss. From an examination of path loss, amplifier and antenna gains, transmitter output power, filter and line losses and receiver sensitivities, one determines the median expected power available at a receiver. With that median and with FSC s knowledge of the statistics of signal variations, estimates of power at the receiver are determined. The general technique is to add to the transmitter power all gains (G) and subtract all losses (L). FSC then subtracts path loss to yield power available at the receiver terminals. Over an extended time interval, the difference between the FSC calculated and actual received power can be lumped into a clutter factor. Clutter arises from local disturbances due to such factors as shrubs, trees, buildings, and from inaccuracies in the path loss model. Clutter may change with location and season. Fortunately, clutter is easily accounted for because values tend to be relatively constant for a given system environment.

108 FSC Instruction Manual 108 The above diagram shows some system factors that should be considered when using FSC. Diagram variables G, L, P and R respectively mean Gain, Loss, Power output and Receiver threshold power. FSC permits use of three logarithmic power units dbm, dbw or dbk. These are, respectively, defined as 10Log10(Power in milliwatts, Watts or kilowatts). Conversion into other units is dbk = dbm 60, or, dbk = dbw 30. All other losses and gains are expressed in db.

109 FSC Instruction Manual 109 Import Antennas A number of different antenna file formats may be imported into FSC. Importing is the process of reading an antenna pattern file in some format and converting as much information and data as possible from that file. The information is then stored as an FSC antenna. Currently, FSC will import files formatted as CelPlan, Planet and TIA-804-B. Imported files are stored using the Obspat format with file extensions of.opa. Obspat files store pattern gain data referenced to a dipole. The Antenna Folder location must be defined before proceeding. (Tools > Select Antenna Folder.) Select from the menu: Tools> Import Antenna. A dialog will appear requesting, via a drop down menu, the specific format and a name for the antenna. A dialog will appear requesting identification of the file to be imported. Once identified, the process occurs automatically with the antenna appearing alphabetically in Antenna drop down menus.

110 FSC Instruction Manual 110 Modify a Universal Site Deselect any existing job by selecting Select Job from the drop down Job menu. If the site is to be used for Great Circle calculations, first select the category button for Great Circle on the Job screen. Click the Site button to go to the Site screen. Select the desired Site by name from the Current Site drop down menu. Make changes and click the Save Site button.

111 FSC Instruction Manual 111 Printing All Categories have a printable product accessible from File > Print Coverage or Ctrl-P/Cmd-P. All categories also have a limited usefulness worksheet Job printout accessible from File > Print Job Data or Ctrl-D/Cmd-D. Printer Setup data is stored by FSC and does not require reinitializing unless the default printer is changed. Use the menu File > Print Setup to set and store this information. Great Circle printing: There are no content options. The Print Coverage menu option prints a fixed format terrain and data graph that includes userentered data and FSC calculated data. These functions provide all the information necessary to describe and evaluate a point-topoint radio path. Continuous and Contour Categories: Print Coverage for theses categories is influenced by the following user selections: Four map projections, Geometric, Lambert, Albers, Transverse Mercator Coverage size, scale and resolution Coverage information colors Contour dash patterns Contour color fills Boundaries

112 FSC Instruction Manual 112 Roads Label composed in FSC Cross centered in output image Crosses at each site location Labels at each site location A scale of km and mi

113 FSC Instruction Manual 113 Save Coverage To Files All Categories have a file product accessible from menu File > Save Coverage to File (Ctrl-F/Cmd-F). The file format is.bmp in Windows and.pict in Macintosh. Great Circle Category: There are no content options. The Save Coverage to File menu option creates an image file of a fixed format terrain and data graph that includes user-entered data and FSC calculated data. These functions provide all the information necessary to describe and evaluate a point-to-point radio path. Continuous and Contour Categories: Files for theses categories are influenced by the following user selections: Four map projections, Geometric, Lambert, Albers, Transverse Mercator Coverage size, scale and resolution Coverage information colors Contour dash patterns Contour color fills Boundaries Roads Label composed in FSC Cross centered in output image Crosses at each site location Labels at each site location A scale of km and mi

114 FSC Instruction Manual 114 It is assumed that those desiring files for these categories will use them in a graphics program. Therefore, FSC makes individual files for each layer. Based on the options set in the Job screen, the files created are: Coverage, Scale, Label and Boundary. When this menu option is invoked, the user is given the option to accept each file prior to its creation.

115 FSC Instruction Manual 115 Scale of km/miles FSC includes a Scale of km/miles that is automatically included on printouts, if requested. Its size is based on the Print Scale value in the Job screen. This process is turned on/off from a Job screen by checking Print Scale. The location of the Scale on printouts is determined by selecting the target corner of the printout with the pull down menu beneath the Print Scale checkbox. When the Make File option is selected the user will be asked if a Scale is desired. If so, a filename must be given. The scale is created as a separate file and stored as an image file in the Job folder.