Tools & Toys
for Radio Network Planning and Optimization

Android OS UMTS/GSM/LTE/CDMA/EVDO Network Monitor and Drive Test tools

- G-NetTrack
- G-NetTrack Pro - enhanced version of G-NetTrack with many more features
- G-NetLog - same as G-NetTrack Pro, but without map support - suitable for devices without Google Play services installed

G-NetTrack Pro
Get G-NetTrack Pro on:


 
G-NetTrack Pro Manual
G-NetTrack Pro presentation
See demonstration (video)


G-NetTrack Lite
Download from Google Play
Download from local server
G-NetTrack Manual
G-NetTrack Manual pdf file
Visit our facebook page
See demonstration (video)
G-NetLog
Get G-NetLog on:

 
G-NetTrack Pro and Lite feature comparison:

FEATURE G-NetTrack Pro G-NetTrack Lite
Serving cells measurement YES YES
Neighbor cells measurement YES YES
Route visualization on map YES YES
Data throughput test YES YES
Serving cell change history YES YES
Chart with serving and neighbor cells levels YES YES
Frequency information ARFCN for serving and neighbor cells YES YES
INDOOR measurements on floorplan YES YES
AUTO INDOOR mode for tunnels and places with bad GPS reception YES YES
Dual SIM support YES YES
Voice announcements for events (handovers, reselections etc...) YES YES
Send measurements online to G-NetWorld database YES YES
Record measurements in logfiles (text and kml format) YES Only RxLevel
Cellfile import/export and sites visualization  YES NO
Serving and neighbor cells lines visualization on map YES NO
Voice seuence test YES NO
SMS sequence test YES NO
Data (upload,download,ping) sequence test YES NO
Mixed (Data/Voice/SMS) sequence test YES NO
Multithread upload and download YES NO
Predefined routes loading YES NO
SMS remote control of the app YES NO
Barometer measured altitude YES NO
Unlimited number of cell layers and custom cell colors YES NO

This is a fieldtest/netmonitor application for UMTS/GSM/LTE/CDMA/EVDO network.

The application monitors the serving CELLID, LEVEL, QUAL, MCC, MNC, LAC, technology, cell serving time and neighbor cells CELLID/PSC and LEVEL.

LEVEL and QUAL depend on technology:
- 2G - RXLEVEL and RXQUAL
- 3G - RSCP and ECNO
- 4G - RSRP and RSRQ

For 4G also SNR and CQI are monitored.

The phone measurement capabilities vary with the phone brand and type.

!!!Important: G-NetTrack phone measurement capabilities survey - see results!!!

If LEVEL is -200dBm or less that means your device does not report correctly and you have to search for a software update from your device manufacturer. Anyway you can still use the app for logging the call or data transfer statistics.

There are two modes in which app could be used - instant and log modes.

1. Instant mode - this is a quick mode for fast measurements
- start the app
- enable the mapview (Control tab)
- select measurement (LEVEL, QUAL, CELLID, DL-bitrate, UL-bitrate, Speed)
- when you finish with measurements you can export the observed measurement to kml or take a screenshot.

2. Log mode - this is more sophisticated mode. You can also start voice and data sequences (that's why you see in the app permissions "Services that cost you money - Directly call phone numbers") in order to monitor the network for blocked and dropped calls and to measure upload and download bitrate. Don't lock the phone while the log is running.
- start the app
- select what measurements you want to log (Menu-Settings)
- start log (Control tab)
- the app starts to create kml and text tab export for the selected measurements
- it also creates event kml and text file - for cell reselections, handovers, Call Start, Call End, Call Drop, Call Block
- when you are finished with measurements press End Log button
- you can find kml exports and tab exports in folder G-NetTrack_Logs on sdcard

There are two automatic sequences VOICE and DATA that can be performed:
1. VOICE - it includes
- Voice call to predefined number with predefined duration
- Pause with predefined duration
During the VOICE sequence the following stats are calculated:
- successful calls
- blocked calls
- dropped calls
VOICE SEQUENCE is activated from Menu - Start Voice Sequence
2. DATA - it includes:
- 10 seconds ping
- 10 seconds upload
- 10 seconds download
During the DATA sequence the following stats are calculated:
average ping
- min ping
- max ping
- ping standard deviation
- ping loss
- upload bitrate
- download bitrate
DATA SEQUENCE is activated from Menu - Start Data Sequence

DATA TEST is available for checking of data ping, upload and download bitrates.
How to start Data Test:
1. Input the ping, upload and download URL in Settings.
2. Select: Menu - More - Data Test

Download sample kml and text logfiles

The measurements from G-NetTrack can be uploaded online to G-NetWorld - webservice for browsing the measurements sent from G-NetTrack users

Using application you can easily pinpoint network problems like:
- blocked calls
- dropped calls
- bad coverage - low RXLEVEL
- low uplink and downlink data throughput
- lack of dominant server causing lot of cell reselections and frequent service interruptions - when the serving cell time is small
- weak 3G coverage - when you have a lot of reselections between cells on 3G and 2G

Auto start possibilities include:
- auto start app on phone boot
- auto start logging on app start
- auto start voice sequence on app start
- auto start data sequence on app start

If you have cell information you can view the sites on the map. In order to do this create cellfile and put it into folder G_NetTrack_Logs/cellfile. The cellfile format is tab delimited text file with following columns:

CELLNAME - name of the cell - you can put anything here
LAT - latitude in decimal format
LONG - longitude in decimal format
LAC - LAC of the cell - number
CELLID - CELLID of the cell - number
AZIMUTH - azimuth of the antenna - number
TECH - technology - 2G, 3G or 4G
NODE - for GSM is empty, for 3G is RNC and for 4G is eNodeB ID - this column is mandatory only for 4G. For 3G you can skip it if "LAC-CELLID" is unique

CELLNAME LAT LONG LAC CELLID AZIMUTH TECH NODE
BG10021 42.69838 23.32268 1400 10021 0 2G  
BG10022 42.69838 23.32268 1400 10022 120 2G  
BG10023 42.69838 23.32268 1400 10023 240 2G  
BG10027 42.69838 23.32268 1010 10027 0 3G 621
BG10028 42.69838 23.32268 1010 10028 120 3G 621
BG10029 42.69838 23.32268 1010 10029 240 3G 621
BG10024 42.69838 23.32268 1050 10024 0 4G 1001
BG10025 42.69838 23.32268 1050 10025 120 4G 1001
BG10026 42.69838 23.32268 1050 10026 240 4G 1001

Download sample cellfile.

In the sample cellfile there are additional columns like MCC, MNC, HEIGHT, TILT, HORIZBEAM, VERTBEAM, PSC, LAYER - they are optional and are for compatibility with the other tools.

LAYER columns (values 1,2,3) allows layering for different technologies and different coloring for different layers.

If you create cellfile with the example data after choosing to show sites in Menu - Settings and starting the app you will see this three sector 2G/3G/4G site in the center of Sofia, Bulgaria:

So provided you have information about the sites of your network you can create similar cellfile and use it in order to better understand how your network works.

From Menu - Setings you can switch on/off serving cell line and cell names. If you have too many cells in the cell file this can degrade performance when Map tab is active.

From Menu - Setings you can switch on/off following features:
- CELLFIND - serving cell area estimation - records the location determined by Google geolocation server based on cellid measurements and draws the location and location accuracy (as circle) in cellfind kml file.WiFi must not be on during the measurement because then Google determines the location based on WiFi reports. Active internet connection through mobile network must be on in order to connect with Google location server.
- CELLHUNTER Mode - when turned on only the cells that are missing in the cellfile are logged in the exported files
- G-NetWorld reporting - G-NetWorld is an experimental webservice for G-NetTrack users to share and upload their measurements and to be able to browse them online.
The measurements are uploaded:
- online - by allowing it in G-NetTrack - Menu - Settings - G-NetReport - Send Measurements Online (requires internet connection)
- offline - by uploading a file manually from the G-NetLook (Menu - Upload logfile to database)

For log files new point is created when the distance difference is >15m or cellid has changed. The icon size varies with technology - size2G < size3G < size4G.

Threshold and colors for LEVEL could be changed - Go to Menu Settings and modify thresholds LT in dBm and colors L in RRGGBB (red, green, blue from 00 to FF) format.In order to see changes on Map legend change LEVEL to some other value and back to LEVEL

KML log file can be used with Google Earth or G-NetLook in order easily to view measurement results.
Text log file can be used online with G-NetDiag or for statistical purposes or imported in MapInfo in order to create coverage maps.

Map tab allows to view the measurement in real time (LEVEL, QUAL, CELLID, DL bitrate, UL bitrate, Speed) and export kml files and screenshots. Showing map requires internet connection and gps fix.

When the automatic voice call sequence is started - the events CALL START, CALL BLOCK, CALL DROP and CALL END are included in events.kml file viewable in Google Earth and in events.txt file.

App should be in foreground in order sequence to run.
if it is in the background the sequence is paused.

Note: In 3G during the voice call cell parameters are not updated. So in 3G use very short calls (5s) in order to get correct cellid and cell parameters

To exit the application press [Menu - Exit].

 

Tips and tricks:
- GPS is turned off when the application is in background and log is not running.
- GPS can be switched ON/OFF via Menu - Enable/Disable Map and GPS.
- In order not to be charged for voice calls you can call number which is not answering.
- The notification icon is shown only during logging.
- If you have exited the application without saving the log, then the kml files are not finished and in order to repair them open them in text editor and add "</Folder></kml>" at the end of the files.
- Make sure the GPS has found location before starting the log
- if the file in target URL is bigger the download speed will be faster
- Neighbor cells are visible only on several mobiles. Tested and confirmed on some Sony HTC, Alcatel and LG mobiles (see screenshots)
- In some cases on 3G the serving cell is also included in neighbor cells - usually this is the best cell. Its RxLev could be different than what is shown for the serving cells and is more frequently updated

The time and distance interval for logging can be changed in Settings:

- Time interval - the time between measurement is put in log if the position is not changed and serving cellid is not changed - default 300s, lower values will allow more frequent recording of fluctuations, higher values will make log files smaller and save battery
- Distance interval - the spatial interval between points in the log - default value 15m, lower values will increase point density, but will use more battery

For more information read G-NetTrack Manual



     
  


Download G-NetTrack on Google play                                      Download G-NetTrack from local server

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