Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

The Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

For iBwave Design Version 5.0

Prediction Toolbar and Colour Scheme

Quick access to the Prediction Properties section within the Project Properties window.

To draw walls/horizontal /inclined surfaces.

Refer to Predict sub-menu section. Prediction Rectangle Area allows to define the area(s) for which a prediction is wanted within a Layout Plan. If omitted, entire Layout Plan dimension will be used by default. Color scheme (under the Output Map Configuration window) dropdown list contains entries defined under the Color scheme section under Project Properties. Selected entry will be applied to current prediction view.

Dataview Filters Related to Prediction

Once prediction results have been computed, they must be displayed from the Prediction Panel window as per below:
If enabled, Signal probe levels will appear at the tip of the mouse cursor. Display Prediction results for one or a combination of systems altogether.

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

3D View of floor plan or complete building

You can choose to see a floor or the complete building in 3D

Show current Show current plan plan in 3D. in 3D.

Show the building of current plan in 3D.

Prediction Panel
By default, Prediction Panel can be located at the right-hand side of the iBwave Design window.

Enabling this checkbox will display the contour on Layout Plan. User can have as many Output Maps as needed.

Enabling this checkbox will display the signal strength on Layout Plan.

Each name of the Output Map can be customized as per user preferences.

Enabling this checkbox will display the prediction results on Layout Plan.

Add or remove Output Map This icon will bring out the Project properties -> Prediction

Predict All Layout Plan Predict default values for the Layout Plan

This icon will show the current prediction status

Predict current active Layout Plan 2

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Walls
iBwave Design allows you to add walls onto your Layout Plans using 3 different methods: 1. CAD file import (Prediction, Import Walls) 2. Image file import (or pixel converter) (Prediction, Import Walls) and 3. free-hand drawing.

Import .vex File

In order to be able to define walls on the Layout Plan, users need to import the vex file for Propagation into their database.

.vex import is done in DB Editor. 1. Click on Import under File.

2. Choose the .vex file for Propagation.

3. Click Open.

1. Open DB Editor. 2. Go to File/Import. 3. Locate the .vex file for Propagation. If you do not have this file, you can download it from www.ibwave.com/myibwave.aspx > downloads 4. Select the .vex file and click open. 5. Once it is loaded, close your DB Editor and it will prompt you to save. Click on Yes to save the changes. 6. Go to iBwave Design and update your database under Tools/Update Database.
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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Prediction Step-by-Step (Also See Images after procedure)

Using ACAD Files
Make sure the .vex file for propagation was imported to the database. Create an empty Layout Plan. Go to Import walls under Prediction Menus at the top most toolbar. A window will pop up to prompt you to select a CAD file to be loaded. Select the .dwg file and click open. Once it is loaded, you will be able to see a window where you can select different layers to be displayed. 7. Unselect the layers that are not required. Choose the ones representing walls. 8. Depending on the previous layers selected, the user will be asked to define each layer or all layers with a material in the database. 9. After clicking ok, you will be asked to specify the height of the 2D walls either per layer by entering the height and pressing OK or for all layers by entering the height and pressing OK, all layers. 10.By clicking import, it will transfer the selected layers to iBwave Design. 11.A Layout Plan with all the defined walls will be displayed. Scale the plan accordingly using the Ruler. 12.Imported walls will be proportionally stretched to fit the plan. 13.Once the walls had been imported to the Layout Plan, scale it accordingly. 14.You can start placing the antennas and components on top of the Layout Plan. 15.Once you finish the design, go to Prediction Properties under Project Properties. 16.In the Prediction Properties, you can define all the prediction parameters accordingly, as well as the prediction setting to suit your needs. 17.Once all the settings are being made, go to Output Maps Configuration in the Prediction Panel to create the type of output maps you would like to have. 18.Once all the maps are created, click on the Predict icons on the Prediction Panel. You can choose either to predict the Layout Plan one at a time or the entire project. 19.After the prediction is done, enable the Prediction/Indoor check box under the Prediction Panel in order to display the results for the desired output maps. 20.You can display the Prediction Legend by selecting the legend icon in the toolbar and place it on the Layout Plan. 21.To customise the legend, simply double click on the legend and it will bring you to the color schemes. 22.You can customise your own legend according to requirement or you can choose from the default legend. 23.If you would like to know the signal strength at a certain area, enable the signal probe checkbox in the Prediction Panel. As you move your mouse across the Layout Plan, it will give you the signal strength reading accordingly. 24.The prediction result will be saved automatically once you save your project file.
* A height of 0 is equivalent to selecting Ignore all 2D objects.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

1. Prediction 2. Import walls

3. Select the CAD file to import (*.dwg)

4. Click Open

5. You then select the layers that will represent your walls in iBwave Design.

6. You then choose how you want the walls to be assigned for each layer.

7. You then choose how you want the Wall Optimization Type to be.

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

8. Depending on the previous Material assignment, you will be asked each layer or all layers with a material defined in the database.

Click OK

If the Autocad file does not contain height information about the layers, you then need to select a desired height for those 2D objects. IMPORTANT: Please note that the height will not be higher than the value you have in iBwave Design. You will need to set it in your Plan or project properties.

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Once walls are imported into iBwave Design, you will be able to remove unneeded layers from your Layout Plan using the Wall simplification tool.

9. Once all walls are associated with the proper material, you can Lock size and position of all walls.

10. If required, you can now associate imported walls with the proper material. Right-click a wall and select Replace components | All components like this one.

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Prediction Step-by-Step (Also See Images after procedure)

Using Image Files automatically converted
Make sure the .vex file for propagation was imported to the database. Create an empty Layout Plan. Go to Import walls under Prediction Menus at the top most toolbar. A window will pop up to prompt you to select an image file to be loaded. Select the image file and click open. Once it is loaded, you will be prompted to make your settings. It is recommended to use default settings for best performance. (You can use the preview buttons to have a look at the conversion image.) Click Import. 7. User will be asked to define the material of the walls in the database. (One material for all walls.) 8. After clicking ok, you will be asked to specify the height of the 2D walls either per layer by entering the height and pressing OK, or for all layers by entering the height and pressing OK, all layers. 9. All walls are now transferred to iBwave Design. 10.There might be a need to reduce some walls, as they might not necessarily be real walls, but maybe text or similar on the image file. 11.Walls can be selected and replaced to represent the real wall scenario. 12.A Layout Plan with all the defined walls will be displayed on the Layout Plan. Scale the plan accordingly using the Ruler. 13.Imported walls will be proportionally stretched to fit the plan. 14.You can start placing the antennas and components on top of the Layout Plan. 15.Once you finish the design, go to Prediction Properties under Project Properties. 16.In the Prediction Properties, you can define all the prediction parameters accordingly, as well as the prediction setting to suit your needs. 17.Once all the settings are being made, go to Output Maps Configuration in the Prediction Panel to create the type of output maps you would like to have. 18.Once all the maps are created, click on Predict icons on the Prediction Panel. You can choose to predict the Layout Plan one at a time or the entire project. 19.After the prediction is done, enable the Prediction/Indoor check box under the Prediction Panel in order to display the results for the desired output maps. 20.You can display the Prediction Legend by selecting the legend icon in the toolbar and place it on the Layout Plan. 21.To customise the legend, simply double click on the legend and it will bring you to the color schemes. 22.You can customise your own legend according to requirement or you can choose from the default legend. 23.If you would like to know the signal strength at a certain area, enable the signal probe checkbox in the Prediction Panel. As you moved your mouse across the Layout Plan, it will give you the signal strength reading accordingly. 24.The prediction result will be saved automatically once you save your project file.
* A height of 0 is equivalent to selecting Ignore all 2D objects. 8

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

1. Prediction 2. Import walls

3. Select the image file to import (*.JPG/bmp/tiff/gif) 4. Click Open

6. Select Preview Threshold

5. Set all the parameter accordingly (Please refer to the Recommendation section for guideline).

Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

7. Use slider and select desired threshold value according to preview!

8. Press OK

Once users are satisfied with the settings, click on Preview to view the result of the settings.

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

On the tool bar, it will show the total number of walls that will be imported.

If users are unhappy with the result, he/she can go back to the Raster to Vector window and change the settings.

9. Press Import

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Parameters Threshold Color

Descriptions Color shade of image is converted into just black and white image. [0=only black color will be converted] [255=all colors will be converted to black] Straighten indicates when curve is pulled into beeline, the dot in the curve is the maximum distance from the beeline. The higher the value, the straighter the lines will be. Note: Curves might be straightened!! Type of tracing to generate vector image. Center line: Creates one center line for each line. Outline: Creates an outline around lines Recognises circles and bends When connecting two beeline segments, the connection distance is the maximum value from one beeline segment dot to another beeline segment dot. (Adjacent lines will be connected if the distance between them is smaller than the specified length.) Delete mixed-up lines. (All lines smaller than the specified length [cm] will be deleted) Lines will have an adjusted width according to their original width Examples: Space by 1 Pixel All lines between 0-1 will be set to 1 All lines between 1-2 will be set to 2 Space by 2 Pixel All lines between 0-2 will be set to 2 All lines between 2-4 will be set to 4 ... Lines in a certain angle will be adjusted to predefined angles Example Ortho: A line in an angle of up to 10 will be converted into a line with 0, from 85 to 95 to 90... Example SmallAngle: A line in an angle between 25 and 35 will be converted into a line with 30 40 and 50 will be converted into a line with 45 55 and 65 will be converted into a line with 60 85 and 95 will be converted into a line with 90 ... Defines how the space in between the outline is filled Defines the spacing of the fill type

Straighten

Trace Method

Recognize circle Connect adjacent lines

Delete mixed-up lines Adjust line width

Adjust angle

Fill type Fill space

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

7. You will be asked to assign the layer with a material defined in the database. For Pixel Converter, you can only assign ONE material for all the layers.

Click OK

8. Select a desired height for those 2D objects. IMPORTANT: Please note that the height will not be higher than the value you have in iBwave Design. You will need to set it in your Plan or project properties.

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Once walls are imported into iBwave Design, you will be able to remove unneeded layers from your Layout Plan using the Wall simplification tool.

9. Once all walls associated with the proper material, you can Lock size and position of all walls

10. If required, you can now associate imported walls with the proper material. Right-click a wall and select Replace components | Selection

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Recommendations for Settings in Pixel Converter when importing walls from an image file:

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Prediction Step-by-Step (Also See Images after procedure) Using JPG/PDF File with Free Hand Drawing (Also See Images after procedure)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Make sure the .vex file for propagation was imported to the database. From the Layout Plan window, click on add Layout Plan. Import the image/pdf file. Once the Layout Plan had been imported, scale the Layout Plan accordingly. Define all the walls using free hand drawing method. You can start placing the antennas and the components on top of the Layout Plan. 7. Once you finish the design, go to Prediction Properties under Project Properties. 8. In the Prediction Properties, you can define all the prediction parameters accordingly, as well as the prediction setting to suit your needs. 9. Once all the settings are being made, go to Output Maps Configuration in the Prediction Panel to create the type of output maps you would like to have. 10.Once all the maps are created, click on the Predict icons on the Prediction Panel. You can choose either to predict the Layout Plan one at a time or the entire project. 11.After the prediction is done, enable the Prediction/Indoor check box under the Prediction Panel in order to display the results for the desired output maps. 12.You can display the Prediction Legend by selecting the legend icon in the toolbar and place it on the Layout Plan. 13.To customise the legend, simply double click on the legend and it will bring you to the color schemes. 14.You can customise your own legend according to requirement or you can choose from the default legend. 15.If you would like to know the signal strength at a certain area, enable the signal probe checkbox in the Prediction Panel. As you moved your mouse across the Layout Plan, it will give you the signal strength reading accordingly. 16.The prediction result will be saved automatically once you save your project file.

**Note: the accuracy of the prediction is subjected to how well the building was model compare to the actual built-up materials.

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

1. Select a material from the Draw walls drop-down list contained within the Prediction toolbar Clicking the button will select the first material from the list. To select a specific material, click the arrow to pull-down a list of all materials. The three most recently used materials are at the top of the list

2. Once in wall drawing mode the mouse changes to a cross. You can start drawing walls

3. Left click where you want to begin a wall

5. Repeat step 4 until the wall is complete

1. To end the drawing process, double-click instead of left-click at the last inflection point location or use the enter key or right-click the plan and select Enter from the menu

4. Move the mouse to the next inflection point (corner) of the wall. Leftclick to create the inflection point

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

When drawing a wall manually, various operations are available. To access these operations, simply use the keyboard shortcuts or right-click the plan and choose from the following menu:

- Enter Key or Double-click: Stops current wall drawing, and stays in wall drawing mode. - Cancel or Esc Key: Cancels current wall drawing. Remove last inflection point or Delete key: Removes the last wall corner drawn - Snap at wall corners or F9 key: When approaching an existing wall corner, the mouse pointer will be attracted to it and display an orange square around the corner. If you left-click, your newly added inflection point will be positioned at the existing corner.

- Snap on walls or F10 key: When approaching an existing wall segment, the mouse pointer will be attracted to it and display an orange X on the segment. If you left-click, your newly added inflection point will be positioned at the X marking on the existing segment.

- Snap on grid or F11 key: When you left-click to draw an inflection point, the position of the new point will be aligned to the grid.

- Orthogonal extensions or F12 key: When Orthogonal extension is turned on, only horizontal or vertical walls can be drawn.

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Wall Manipulations

Right-click a wall

Locks size and position of the selected wall

Remove the pointed endpoint/corner Select 2 walls and click Merge walls to unify them at their closest inflection points Splits the selected wall in 2 at the pointed inflection point Selects all walls

Prediction Select walls Selects all walls on current plan

Prediction Lock size and position of all walls Locks or unlocks all walls on current plan

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Wall Properties

Right-click wall Select Show part properties

View various electrical properties

View the material manufacturer and model

Modify the trace Color, the trace style or the trace width

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Wall Heights Once your wall has been imported into iBwave Design, you have the possibility to go back and change their heights. This can be done if the specific height were not specified on the imported material that was used for your wall creation.

This value will specify at which height your Wall will start from. (0 if from the ground)

This will overwrite the default values in your Prediction Properties This value will be the highest point on the wall near the ceiling

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Objects To simulate three dimensional objects in iBwave Design, you will need to create objects that can represent floors or real objects.

1. For example in a 3D prediction you would need to create a floor as an object

2. The next step would be to create your floor on the layout plan

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Wall Holes
If you want to simulate scenarios such as an atrium in a building you can create holes (using using Air as the wall material) on top of the existing object to simulate an opening.

1. The first step would be to create your horizontal surface (floor) on the layout plan

2. The next step would be to create a hole on your floor plan to simulate the opening using Air as the wall material and drawing that on top of the horizontal surface.

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Inclined Surface
To simulate objects such as staircase in iBwave Design, you will need to create objects that can represent floors or real objects with different height at both ends. Inclined surface can be use to defined such area.

2. The next step would be to create the surface on the layout plan. 1. Click on Inclined Surface icon on the Prediction toolbar.

3. Right-click on the surface and select Set height for selected inclined plane.

4. Move the cursor to set the desired height. 6. Click OK when Done. 5. Check this option like to see the height on Layout Plan

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

The arrow shows the direction of the Inclined surface. The height of each end is shown on the Layout Plan

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Propagation Module Quick Start Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was I unable to draw walls? A: Make sure that you have imported the .vex file for Propagation. If you just imported the .vex file, update your database before using Draw Walls. Q: Why does the prediction result not turn out as per expected. A: The accuracy of the prediction results are based on how well the layout is being modeled. Make sure you have define all the necessary walls before running the prediction. Q: Why are there no prediction results being displayed? A: When this happens, there are a few ways to double check it. Do your transmitters have power? Is the Layout Plan's scale set? Is the prediction check box in the data view filter checked for your system? Are there errors present in the debug message list that could affect your prediction? Does your prediction color legend cover the range of signal you expect? Use the prediction probe from the data view filter to check.

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