GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Cell Site Configuration Using the Network

Explorer
The Network Explorer allows you to import network element data into Analyzer, creating a
cell plan file called cellrefs.txt. It also lets you browse and edit this network information once
it has been loaded into Analyzer. The Automatic Import feature provides an automated
method of updating cell site information in Analyzer as changes are made to the network.
This section describes how to import delimited data into Analyzer, and how to configure the
Automatic Import tool.

Importing Network Data

The important thing to remember about Analyzer’s network data import process is that the
process requires two files:
1. A delimited text file that contains unformatted data arranged in tabular
form, with one row for each individual sector in a network.
2. A blank file, containing only Analyzer header information, to be
populated with formatted data.
Obtaining Site Data in Tabular Format
In order to import cell site data from your own network, you will need to obtain a delimited
text file containing the data listed in the table below. To maximize the benefit Analyzer can
bring to GSM network analysis, the parameters listed in bold in the table on the following page
are REQUIRED for cell data to function with logged data in the main workspace. All other
parameters are optional.
The data may come from a network database or a planning tool configuration file. As long as
the data is in a tabular format with one row for each sector, Analyzer will be able to import the
data.
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Parameter Analyzer Analyzer Purpose

Group Name
Site Name GSM_Site SiteName Text description of the Site for display
on map.
Site GSM_Site SiteID Numeric identifier for the site.
Number
Latitude GSM_Site Latitude Locates site icons on map.
Longitude GSM_Site Longitude Locates site icons on map.
Sector GSM_Cell Sector_ID Sector-specific information useful for
Number display on maps (can be alpha or
numeric)
Azimuth GSM_Cell Azimuth Orients the sector icons on the map.
Beamwidth GSM_Cell Beamwidth Governs the shape of the sector
“wedge” icon to reflect the beamwidth of
antenna deployed at the site.
BCCH GSM_Cell BCCH Used for cell site identification and to
calculate lines to cells.
BSIC GSM_Cell BSIC Used for cell site identification and to
calculate lines to cells.

BSIC is the concatenation of the NCC

and BCC values for a cell.
CI GSM_Cell CI Used for cell site identification and to
calculate lines to cells.

This field must be numeric!

Base GSM_Cell EIRP Base station power, for informational
Station purposes only.
Power
MCC GSM_Cell MCC Mobile country code, for informational
purposes only.
MNC GSM_Cell MNC Mobile network code, for informational
purposes only.
LAC GSM_Cell LAC Location area code, for informational
purposes only.
BSC Name GSM_BSC BSCName BSC name, for use with A and Abis link
data
BSC ID GSM_BSC ID BSC identity, for use with A and Abis
link data
MSC GSM_MSC MSCName MSC name, for use with A and Abis link
Name data
MSC ID GSM_MSC ID MSC identity, for use with A and Abis
link data
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

The figure below is an example of a delimited GSM file that could be used to import a site list
into Analyzer. Though the columns can be in any order for import into Analyzer, the figure
shows all of the REQUIRED fields. Additionally, the Excel spreadsheet must be saved as a
TEXT file for import into Analyzer.

Figure 1 - GSM Cell Site Data Spreadsheet

Guidelines for Formatting Tabular Data

Although Analyzer does not require cell site data fields to be listed in a particular order,
following these guidelines will provide the best results:
1. The Site ID field must contain a unique value for each site location. Beware
of non-unique Site ID's - that is, entries that have multiple sets of lats/longs
for the same Site ID. Non-unique Site ID's will result in site markers
appearing on the map without sector wedges. Site Names need not be
unique - they are used for labeling purposes only.
2. Position information must be accurate in order for Analyzer to display sites
in the correct location on the map. Longitudes that have a 'West' notation
should be represented as a negative decimal, as should latitudes with a
'South' notation. Sites will appear skewed on the map if the latitude and
longitude fields are transposed.
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Obtaining the File to be Populated With Formatted Data

Before importing new cells into Analyzer, ensure that Analyzer is pointing to a valid cell site
database.
 A valid cell site database is a text file in which the first line
contains the text below:

; #NetworkData – datafile

 Every Analyzer installation comes with a clean file called

cellrefs.txt located in the directory called:

C:\Program Files\Actix\Analyzer\Bin\Cellrefs

 The file to be populated need not be named “cellrefs.txt”. We

recommend renaming this file with a meaningful name in order to
prevent the file from being overwritten during reinstallation.

To point the Analyzer to the file you wish to populate with the new cell site data, use the File
Location line in the Tools  Preferences dialog. See the section on Loading Cell Site Data
on page Error: Reference source not found for more details.
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Importing the Data

Once you have obtained your cell site database in delimited format and pointed Analyzer to a
valid cellrefs file, you are ready to open the Network Explorer and import the site information.
1. To access the Network Explorer, select Tools  Network Explorer

Figure 2 - Network Explorer Window

The Network Explorer display consists of two panels. The left panel contains a tree view of the
network element data. The right panel shows details about relevant parameters for the current
selection. If you have pointed Analyzer to a cellrefs file containing only header information,
you will not see any cell site data at this time.
2. On the toolbar select Import  Import From New Template to open
the Import dialog.
3. Select the appropriate network data file and click Open to display the
Import Settings dialog.
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Figure 3 - Import Settings Dialog (Step 1 of 2)

4. Give the Template a meaningful Template Name.

5. Check the appropriate Delimiter.
6. In most cases, the default information under the General Settings and
Coordinate Information headers will apply. Adjust these settings if
necessary.
7. Click Next.
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Figure 4 - Settings (Step 2 of 2) – Assign GSM_Site Data

8. Expand the GSM_Site data node. Click in the Column field next to the
Site_Name parameter. Select the parameter name from your site
database that corresponds to the Site_Name parameter. Repeat for
each of the required fields in the GSM_Site data node, based on the
table below:
Field Mapping required for proper operation?
Site_Name Optional, but this field is frequently used for
the site label.
SiteID Required, and this field must be unique for
each site in the database.
Latitude Required
Longitude Required
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Figure 5 - Column Settings (Step 2 of 2) – Assign GSM_Cell Data

9. Expand the GSM_Cell data node. Click in the Column field next to the
Sector_ID parameter. Select the parameter name from your site
database that corresponds to the Sector_ID parameter. Repeat for
each of the required fields in the GSM_Cell data node, based on the
table below:
Field Required for proper operation?
Sector_ID Required
Azimuth Required
Beamwidth Required
EIRP Optional
BCCH Required
MCC Optional
MNC Optional
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

Field Required for proper operation?

LAC Optional
CI Required, and this field must be unique for
each site in the database.
BSIC Required
Face_Display Optional, but map this field to the integer
sector ID field (i.e. 1, 2, 3) in order to color
sectors on the map by face number (i.e. 1 = red,
2 = blue, 3 = green).
Azimuth_Display Optional, but map this field to the integer
azimuth field in order to color sectors on the
map by azimuth range.
Phase_Display Optional, but map this field to a custom integer
field to color sectors on the map by that field.
An example of a custom field would be the
phase of the site where:
1 = On Air
2 = Under Construction
3 = Planned for Next Year

10. Click Finish when all the columns have been assigned. If the current
workspace contains existing site data, you will be asked whether you
want to remove existing data before importing new data. Select Yes to
overwrite existing data. Select No to append to existing data.
11. If any errors occur during the import, a pop-up message will indicate
that an error log has been created. The error log specifies the cause of
each error encountered and can be found in:
C:\Program Files\Actix\Analyzer\Bin\Cellrefs\ImportErrors.log
12. Inspect the cell data in the Network Explorer by expanding the
All_GSM_Site_Elements folder in the left-hand pane of the Network
Explorer.
13. Double-click on any site name in the right hand pane. The Name,
Location and ID of the site will appear, as well as a folder containing
GSM Cell Elements. Drill into the GSM Cell Elements folder and
examine the values corresponding to each sector.
14. To save the formatted site information, select the Save button.
15. Close the Network Explorer by clicking the “X” at the upper right hand
corner.
GSM Cell Site Parameters for Import:

16. After closing the Network Explorer, view a new map by selecting View
 Display New Map.
17. If cell icons do not appear on the map, right click on the GSM_Cell layer
in the map legend at the left hand side of the map window. Select Zoom
to Layer to zoom the map to the appropriate location. Be sure to close
the map with the “X” at the upper right hand corner to save all changes
to the map view.

Figure 6 - Use Zoom to Layer to Locate Cells on Map