System Route

A System Route is a set of towers through which a signal is routed to get from one place to another. By defining a set of towers (defined by coordinates, height above ground, and a label) Terrain-3D can plot the system route on both the 2D and 3D maps. A system route report can be generated which shows the towers, distances, azimuths, and path loss at each point along the route.

The System Route Window

The System Route Window is used to specify the route points, select the 2D and 3D drawing options, and generate reports. It can be accessed by choosing “System Route” from the “Functions” menu, or by clicking the “Edit Route” button on the “Contour/Route” page of the 3D Options Window.

The system route is displayed in the main list box. Any entry in the list can be selected by clicking on it. The buttons along the right hand side of the window are used for modifying the route points.

Add – Add a new point.

Insert – Insert a new point before the selected point.

Edit – Edit the selected point.

Show Profile – Shows the profile path from the selected point to the next point on the list.

Remove – Removes the selected point.

Clear All – Removes all points in the route.

The buttons along the bottom of the window allow you to set the plot options and generate reports.

2D Route Plot Options

When the “Set 2D Plot Options” button is clicked, the 2D route options window will appear.

Here you can choose whether or not to display the route on the 2D map, the marker type, location and line colors, line width, and configure the labels shown at each transmitter site.

3D Route Plot Options

Clicking the “Set 3D Plot Options” button on the system route window will display the 3D route plot options window.

This window can be used to change the tower, link, and label colors and line widths.

Generating Route Reports

When the “Generate Report” button is hit, the route report options will appear.

Here you can choose which information you would like to have displayed on the report. Terrain-3D can also show a path loss for each link in the route based on calculations made by the propagation model. This path loss is based on one frequency which you enter on the route report form.

The route report is generated in a standard text output window. The distance, azimuth, and path loss are shown for each path at the receiving transmitter. For example, the distance and azimuth from “Tower 1” to “Tower 2” are shown on the output line along with the “Tower 2” data. The path loss for the path from “Tower 1” to “Tower2” are also shown on the output line for “Tower 2”. This table can be saved to an ASCII file using the “Save” button, or printed using the “Print” button.