Getting started with the

African Broadcast model

Prepared by: Cyprien de Cosson

Position:

Product Manager

Dated:

17 May 2001

Issue:

1.00

Introduction
This document describes how to get started with HerTZ Mapper and the ATDI
African Model, which is derived from Annex 2 of the Final Acts of the Regional
Administrative Conference for the Planning of VHF/UHF Television Broadcasting in
the African Broadcasting Area and Neighbouring Countries, Geneva 1984. This
model has been encapsulated in a link library named African Broadcast and may be
used with HerTZ Mapper in conjunction with geo-spatial data for Television
broadcast system planning.
To enable HerTZ Mapper to be used correctly with this model, the following
instructions should be followed carefully, since there are some features of this model
that are different from the other models supplied with HerTZ Mapper.

Hardware and Software requirements

The HerTZ Mapper requires the following hardware or software as a minimum
specification:
Pentium personal computer
64MB RAM
CD ROM
Mouse or pointing device
16-bit SVGA display adapter
Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/2000
Software Installation
Before installation, please ensure that you have read the software licence agreement
and agreed to the terms therein.
To install the HerTZ Mapper insert the installation CD into a local CD ROM. The CD
should automatically start the installation following this action. Otherwise run
D:\Setup.exe, where D is the CD ROM drive letter. Then follow the on-screen
instructions.
Technical Support
To obtain technical support please make a note of the operating system in use,
hardware components together with a brief description of the issue and how to
reproduce it. If possible please include sample files and screen shots and send them
via email to: technical.support@atdi.co.uk Support may also be obtained by telephone
on +44 (0)1293 522052 and fax +44 (0)1293 522521.

Tutorial
Following is a simple getting started tutorial to give a brief tutorial of how to get
started with the African Broadcast model and HerTZ Mapper. For more detailed help,
then please refer to the help manual supplied with HerTZ Mapper.
Step 1 Launching the package & project set-up
Launch the HerTZ Mapper from the Program Manager or Start bar. Click on the
splash screen and select Create new file server from the files menu. Specify a project
name for the file server, save the file and then and then click on the Digital Terrain
Model from the tree view to specify the desired terrain model (.geo file) and then
Primary Image to select a wallpaper map image file with its associated palette (.img
& .pal files). Finally select the Clutter, which should be the specially modified ground
clutter file delivered for use with the African Broadcast model (.sol file). If this file is
not available, then the model may still be used, but the model will behave as a single
zone.
Select the Open Coverage and Profiles checkbox and then click OK to proceed.

The following prompt will then appear. It is essential that you click No in order for
the African Broadcast model to work correctly if you are using the special clutter
map. Furthermore, all subsequent re-sampling concerning the DTM and ground
clutter file should not be used if this special clutter map is loaded (this applies to all
Resample options from the Parameters menu).

Step 2 The African Zones Clutter map

If the special clutter map has been selected, then three map windows will be
presented. The wallpaper map image and the terrain model are as standard. The clutter
map is minimised to start with. If maximised, you will see a window in a similar to
the picture below. The clutter file is a specially prepared file designed specifically to
work with the African Broadcast model. This map contains information on the
different propagation zones as well as information on the urbanisation and is derived
from of figure 2.28 along with optional definitions for urban/suburban categories as
per table 2.1 of Annex 2 of the regional agreements.

Moving the mouse cursor over the map cause the code value to change in the status
bar at the bottom of the display. The table below provides a cross reference from
clutter code value to zones in figure 2.28 of Annex 2 of the final acts. There are also
definitions for urban/suburban categories as per table 2.1 of the same document.

Code
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

African Broadcast model clutter

classifications
Zone
Code Zone
1 rural
36
N/A
2 rural
37
N/A
3 rural
38
C1-1 suburban
4 sea
39
C1-2 suburban
A
40
4 land suburban
B
41
1 urban
C
42
2 urban
C1-1 rural
43
3 urban
C1-2 rural
44
N/A
4 land rural
45
N/A
1 suburban
46
N/A
2 suburban
47
N/A
3 suburban
48
C1-1 urban
N/A
49
C1-2 urban
N/A
50
4 land urban

Step 3 Parametric set-up

Select the option Engineering paramsfrom the Parameters menu. Set the antenna
Height to 10m and check the reference to Above Ground Level as shown below.

Next select the Tx tab and check the Broadcast check box.

Next select the Coverage tab and check the External DLL check box and select
AfricanBroadcast from the list view.

This causes the African Broadcast model settings to be shown. Ensure that the settings
are as per requirements. A typical set-up is shown below. Note that the default zone
does not require setting if the special clutter file is selected.

Finally close the dialogue boxes to get back to the map display. The software is now
ready to use to predict coverage using the standard functions as defined in the user
reference manual.