2G shutdown 2020 - new white spots - no reception

It will be changed. 3G is UMTS.

In most places, 2G is installed in parallel and is only rarely needed.

Swisscom is certainly committed to converting all locations.

But we have no influence on that.

You can also get more performance with 3G/4G. 5G would be even better because the transmission power is directed towards the active network. But a conversion took time.

In addition, they will not switch off without converting, as they may then lose their location broadcasting rights. Because operating one location is easier than reopening a new one.

If you really want to be safe in the mountains, you can buy suitable radio equipment as a REGA patron.

This means the coverage is almost complete.

Show original language (German)

However, you cannot use the radio to call your colleague, for example to arrange a meeting place and time.

There is also the so-called special case of Valais. The rescue organization KWRO is responsible there and must be alerted via number 144.

I’m also curious to see what impact the shutdown of 2G will have, especially on uninhabited areas with very low-traffic hiking trails.

Show original language (German)

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@Hempiofri65 wrote:

^^The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G supports the U900 band

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Then the 3G/4G/5G mobile reception chip is probably defective. See:

/t5/Mobile/Abschaltung-Frequenzen-3G-amp-2G/m-p/612337

Show original language (German)

One more note:

In the Nufenenpass region (VS/TI) there is the first mobile phone antenna in Switzerland, which, according to the OFCOM radio transmitter card, serves basic service, but does not emit a 2G/GSM or 3G/UMTS mobile phone signal. The mobile phone antenna on the Nufenen Pass is operated according to the Swisscom “Electric Field Strength” map.

https://map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=funksender

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Mit-welcher-Handy-Antenne-bin-ich-verbunden/m-p/657131#M8723](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/ Which cell phone antenna am I connected to/m-p/657131#M8723)

Anyone who relies on reliably functioning voice telephony in the Nufenen Pass should take a VoLTE-capable cell phone and a VoLTE-capable SIM card with them to this region. VoLTE => Voice over LTE => Voice telephony over the 4G/LTE mobile network.

When purchasing a cell phone, you should make sure that the new cell phone has all:

[/t5/Mobile/Abschaltung-Frequenzen-3G-amp-2G/m-p/612114#M7145](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Abschaltung-Frequenzen-3G-amp-2G/m-p/612114 #M7145)

listed frequency bands are supported.

Additionally the new phone should support VoLTE and the following 4G/LTE cellular frequency bands:

4G/LTE frequencies for reception worldwide
\=============================================

Band | Frequency range | Procedure | remark
---–+———————+—————-+—– ————————————–

B28 700 MHz FDD Worldwide, excluding USA+Canada

B12 700MHz FDD USA+Canada
B13 700MHz FDD USA+Canada

B20 800 MHz FDD Europe

B8 900MHz FDD Europe, Africa, America

B3 1800 MHz Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia

B5 850MHz FDD America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia
B2 1900 MHz FDD America, Asia

When purchasing a 5G-capable mobile phone, the information on basic services should be found at:

[/t5/Mobile/5G-functions-not-correct-15x-slower-than-4G/m-p/620471](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/5G-functions-not-correct-15x -slower-than-4G/m-p/620471)

be taken into account.

Be careful when staying in elevated locations on the mountain ranges of the Jura and the foothills of the Alps that directly border the Swiss plateau. At these locations, even if “full cell phone reception” (=> 5 signal bars) is displayed on the cell phone display, cell phone reception may be unreliable. In the 3G/UMTS mobile network, the reason for the unreliable mobile reception at these locations is a poor Ec/Io value. For more information on the Ec/Io value see:

[/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang-bricht-%C3%BCber-die-Staffelegg-immer-ab/m-p/572974#M5863](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang- breaks-%C3%BCover-the-relay-leg-always-off/m-p/572974#M5863)

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notruf#Notruf\_%C3%BCber\_Notrufkanal\_(161,300\_MHz)](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notruf#Notruf_%C3 %BCber_Emergency Channel_(161,300_MHz))

When staying abroad (=> roaming), the information should be provided under:

[https://www.swisscom.ch/de/privatkunden/abos-tarife/inone-mobile/auslandstarife/tarifabfrage.html](https://www.swisscom.ch/de/privatkunden/abos-tarife/inone- mobile/auslandstarife/tarifabfrage.html)

https://www.spectrummonitoring.com/frequencies/

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Handy-Empfang-im-Minergiehaus-besser/m-p/654147#M8637](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Handy-Empfang- im-Minergiehaus-bad/m-p/654147#M8637)

be taken into account. Here is the list of all mobile phone frequency bands you need to understand:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_frequency_bands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_frequency_bands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G_NR_frequency_bands

For permanent installations, such as in alpine huts, see:

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/4G-VoLTE-telefonieren-mit-externer-antenna-oder-analogem-telefon/m-p/638022](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/ Mobile/4G-VoLTE-telephoning-with-external-antenna-or-analog-phone/m-p/638022)

Show original language (German)

One aspect I would like to mention. If you assess the coverage with 2G/3G/4G/5G based on the mobile phone, you get a different perception. When suddenly only 2G appears on the display, you have the feeling that 2G is the best network because the gap in the 3G/4G network is now clearly displayed. What the cell phone doesn’t do: it doesn’t show when 4G is available but there is no longer a 2G network. And that would probably be the case more often on a hike today: 4G is there, but no more 2G. Why? For the simple reason that 2G today only broadcasts on one frequency (900 MHz), while 4G/LTE broadcasts on many more frequency bands, with 800 MHz also on a lower frequency band, which is particularly advantageous in remote locations. There are now many more 4G cells than 2G cells, so the 4G network must already be better than 2G. The cell phone is not transparent here. You would have to install scanner apps that show which bands you are currently receiving. The choice of network only shows part of reality.

Just another addition that I find useful here 🙂

Show original language (German)

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@Explorador wrote:

For the simple reason that 2G today only broadcasts on one frequency (900 MHz), while 4G/LTE broadcasts on many more frequency bands, with 800 MHz also on a lower frequency band, which is particularly advantageous in remote locations.

---

It doesn’t matter whether the cell phone operates on 600 MHz (Band 71 => USA+Canada), 700 MHz (Band 28), 800 MHz (Band 20) or 900 MHz (Band 8). The main thing is that it is a low-frequency mobile radio frequency band < 1000 MHz.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobilfunkfrequencies_in_der_Switzerland

The lower radio frequency does not bring any significant or measurable SNR/range advantage in mobile radio frequency bands < 1000 MHz. The advantage of the lower free-space attenuation of lower-frequency mobile phone signals is “ironed out” by the disadvantage of the longer antenna length required in the mobile phone. The lower the frequency of the radio signal, the more difficult it is to integrate a well-functioning (larger) antenna into the mobile phone!

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@Explorador wrote:

There are now many more 4G cells than 2G cells, so the 4G network must already be better than 2G.

---

At the same location, the 4G/LTE mobile signal broadcast by the mobile phone antenna has a significantly lower SNR (SINR), which can be measured with the “Network Monitor”, than the 3G/UMTS or 2G/GSM broadcast by the same mobile phone antenna (of the same strength). -Cellular signal.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichweit\_(radio technology)](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichweit_(radio technology))

In addition, the SINR in the 4G/LTE and 5G mobile network is highly dependent on the current utilization of the mobile phone antenna. See also:

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/4G-VoLTE-telefonieren-mit-externer-antenna-oder-analogem-telefon/m-p/638463#M8231] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/4G-VoLTE-telefonieren-mit-externer-Antenne-oder-analogem-telefon/m-p/638463#M8231)

Because of the lower SNR, the cell size of 4G/LTE and 5G radio cells is significantly smaller than comparable 3G/UMTS or 2G/GSM radio cells. See also:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funkzelle

In order to increase the data capacity of the mobile network and “iron out” the smaller cell size of 4G/LTE + 5G, the Swiss mobile phone providers are “densifying the antenna forest”.

In peripheral regions with weak cell phone reception, I recommend operating the cell phone in “pure” 3G/UMTS mode (with soft handover). See:

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang-bricht-%C3%BCber-die-Staffelegg-immer-ab/m-p/525351#M4343] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang-bricht-%C3%BCber-die-Staffelegg-immer-ab/m-p/525351#M4343)

Stand-alone mobile phone antennas in the wide area, with medium or high transmission power, which only emit a 4G/LTE mobile phone signal, are still very rare today (2021)… => Example according to the OFCOM radio transmitter card: Nufenenpass?

Be careful when staying in elevated locations on the mountain ranges of the Jura and the foothills of the Alps that directly border the Swiss plateau. See post no. 9.

Show original language (German)

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@GrandDixence wrote:

The lower radio frequency does not bring any significant or measurable SNR/range advantage in mobile phone frequency bands < 1000 MHz. The advantage of the lower free-space attenuation of lower-frequency mobile phone signals is “ironed out” by the disadvantage of the longer antenna length required in the mobile phone. The lower the frequency of the radio signal, the more difficult it is to integrate a well-functioning (larger) antenna into the mobile phone!

From my own experience designing mobile devices:
The short antenna length in the mobile has only a minor influence. Due to the lower Q and higher dielectric losses, a deficit of about 1 dB can only be expected at 900 MHz (perhaps 2-3 dB if the antenna is poorly implemented).
On the other hand, there is higher attenuation indoors; depending on the type of wall, 1800 MHz experiences an average of 5 dB higher attenuation than 900 MHz (Source), plus 6 dB more free space attenuation.

Accordingly, in the 5G auction, a minimum price of ten times higher was set for a 700 MHz frequency block than for a 3,500 MHz block.

See NZZ (paid article) https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/5g-auktion-ld.1458254

Show original language (German)

I agree with you, except on one point:

@“x”#107468 wrote:

At the same location, the 4G/LTE mobile signal broadcast by the mobile phone antenna has a significantly lower SNR (SINR), which can be measured with the “Network Monitor”, than the 3G/UMTS or 2G/GSM broadcast by the same mobile phone antenna (of the same strength). -Cellular signal.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichweit\_(radio technology)](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichweit_(radio technology))

If you mean to say that a lower performance for 4G automatically leads to poorer reception, then that is not correct. A 2G device requires more power for the same reception quality compared to a 4G device. Higher 2G performance does not equal better reception. Another point why it is good if less efficient technologies such as 2G are switched off now.

Then continue to this point:

@“x”#107468 wrote:

In peripheral regions with weak cell phone reception, I recommend operating the cell phone in “pure” 3G/UMTS mode (with soft handover). See:

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang-bricht-%C3%BCber-die-Staffelegg-immer-ab/m-p/5…](htt ps://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Natel-Empfang-bricht-%C3%BCber-die-Staffelegg-immer-ab/m-p/525351#M4343)

You can do this as an experiment if you really feel like 4G is too weak. But normally 4G will be better than 3G, not to mention that especially in the mountains I mainly need data and less telephony (meteo, avalanche reports, maps, etc.). But it’s good to know that you could perhaps only make a call or text message in an emergency with UMTS without data.

Show original language (German)

Explorador

Here are three screenshots from the “Network Monitor” during an ongoing telephone conversation. During the telephone conversation, the cell phone was always in the same location and the same Swisscom cell phone antenna was always used.

To simulate peripheral regions, i.e. regions with weak or very weak cell phone reception, the cell phone was in a building with the windows closed during the telephone conversation.

- Telephone conversation via 2G/GSM (Band 8 => 900 MHz): Transmission power 200 mW (23 dBm); Reception value RSSI: -94 dBm

- Telephone conversation via 3G/UMTS (Band 8 => 900 MHz): Transmission power: 1 mW (0 dBm); RSCP reception value: -92 dBm

- Telephone conversation with VoLTE over 4G/LTE (Band 20 => 800 MHz): Transmission power: 158 mW (22 dBm); Reception value SINR: 1

The minimum sensitivity of 2G/GSM is -104 dBm, so the transmission power reserve for telephone calls over the 2G/GSM mobile network was around 10 dB (factor 10x).

\=> Minimum sensitivity of 2G/GSM according to ETSI TS 100 910 V8.20.0, Chapter 6.2.

The minimum sensitivity of 3G/UMTS is -114 dBm, so the transmission power reserve over the 3G/UMTS mobile network was around 22 dB (factor 158x).

\=> Minimum sensitivity of 3G/UMTS according to 3GPP TS 25.101 version 14.0.0 Release 14, Chapter 7.3.1.

The measured SINR or SNR for telephone calls over the 4G/LTE mobile network was around 1 dB. This means that there was no or only a very small transmission power reserve when making a telephone call over the 4G/LTE mobile network!

Same picture with the current transmission power of the cell phone:

In the 2G/GSM mobile network, the transmission power was too high because of the poorly regulating TPC of GSM.

[https://www.bag.admin.ch/dam/bag/de/documents/str/nis/faktenblaetter-emf/faktenblatt-smartphone.pdf.download.pdf/faktenblatt%20smartphone%20d.pdf] (https://www.bag.admin.ch/dam/bag/de/documents/str/nis/faktenblaetter-emf/faktenblatt-smartphone.pdf.download.pdf/faktenblatt%20smartphone%20d.pdf)

In the 3G/UMTS mobile network, the transmission power was very low because, thanks to the technological advantages of UMTS, the Swisscom mobile antenna can receive the mobile signal very well.

Thanks to well-functioning TPC, the transmission power can be reduced to the required minimum, which minimizes radiation exposure. The battery also lasts longer in the 3G/UMTS mobile network…

In the 4G/LTE mobile network, the transmission power was very high because the Swisscom mobile antenna can only receive the LTE radio signal very weakly, with a very small SNR/SINR measurement value. For the SNR/SINR value for 4G/LTE see also:

https://www.lte-provider.info/technik/sinr.php

When making calls in the 4G/LTE mobile network, the battery will run out very quickly…and this is even worse compared to 2G/GSM and 3G/UMTS mobile reception! Have fun with VoLTE!

Because of the technical advantages of 3G/UMTS, Salt is continuing to expand its 3G/UMTS mobile network in 2021:

[https://www.heise.de/news/GSM-Mobilfunk-Die-Schweiz-schaltung-ab-5000513.html](https://www.heise.de/news/GSM-Mobilfunk-Die-Schweiz- switches-off-5000513.html)

If 4G/LTE and 5G were essential for basic mobile phone reception, the mobile phone provider Swisscom would have implemented VoLTE support for prepaid customers a long time ago. However, Swisscom prepaid customers will continue to wait for VoLTE support for Swisscom prepaid SIM cards in 2021.

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Callfilter-f%C3%BCr-Mobiltelefone-gegen-unerw%C3%BCnschte-Werberufe/m-p/616781#M7377] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Callfilter-f%C3%BCr-Mobiltelefone-gegen-unerw%C3%BCnschte-Werberufe/m-p/616781#M7377)

---——————–

2G/GSM

---———————————–

3G/UMTS

---—————–

4G/LTE

Show original language (German)

If you need network coverage maps that are reasonably precise and consistent with reality, you should calculate these network coverage maps yourself using the free Signal Server program. All you need is the exact coordinates of the desired mobile phone antenna in WGS84 format.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Geodetic_System_1984

These coordinates in WGS84 format can be obtained on the OFCOM radio transmitter card via the context menu (right mouse button).

https://map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=funksender

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontextmen%C3%BC

Generally
---———————————————- ——————————-
Signal server is:

- a program for calculating the network coverage of a radio system (coverage map).
- a program for calculating line of sight (P2P analysis) and the Fresnel zones of radio links (directional beam).

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!! There are convenient user interfaces (GUI) for operating Signal-!!!
!!! Servers available. However, these are very inadequate. That’s why he can!!!
!!! Use of a user interface (GUI) for signal servers is currently NOT!!!
!!! be recommended!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This installation guide was for the Linux distribution:

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 (SLED)

written and tested. Specifying the tilde character “~” corresponds to the current user’s home directory. For example:

/home/foo

Program start
---———————————————- ——————————-
Only after the installation described below has been carried out can the program be started for the first time. If no user interface (GUI) is installed for Signal-Server, Signal-Server can be commissioned to do computing work on the command line. The parameters of the signal server must be taken into account. Information about the Signal Server parameters can be obtained when the program is called without parameters:

# cd /var/mail/Signal-Server/
#./signalserver

Here are some examples of the Signal Server program call:

- Calculate network coverage map (normal resolution: 90 meters/3 arcseconds)

# cd /var/mail/Signal-Server/
#./signalserver -dbg -sdf ~/DEM/vfp -m -dbm -erp 1.0 -rt -90 -f 446.2 -R 100 -pm 2 -lat 46.5466 -lon 7.0186 -txh 1.0 -rxh 1.0 -o /tmp /Test_Network Coverage

- Check line of sight and calculate Fresnel zone (normal resolution: 90 meters/3 arc seconds)
# cd /var/mail/Signal-Server/
#./signalserver -ng -dbg -sdf ~/DEM/vfp -m -dbm -erp 1.0 -rt -90 -f 6000.0 -R 100 -pm 2 -lat 46.5466573 -lon 7.0186223 -txh 1.0 -rla 46.6043527 -rlo 7.3164414 -rxh 1.0 -o /tmp/Test_Richstrahl

- Calculate network coverage map (High resolution: 30 meters/1 arcsecond)
# cd /var/mail/Signal-Server/
#./signalserverHD -dbg -sdf ~/DEM/vfp -m -dbm -erp 1.0 -rt -90 -f 446.2 -R 100 -pm 2 -lat 46.5466 -lon 7.0186 -txh 1.0 -rxh 1.0 -o /tmp /Test_Network Coverage_HD

- Check line of sight and calculate Fresnel zone (high resolution: 30 meters/1 arc second)
# cd /var/mail/Signal-Server/
#./signalserverHD -ng -dbg -sdf ~/DEM/vfp -m -dbm -erp 1.0 -rt -90 -f 6000.0 -R 100 -pm 2 -lat 46.5466573 -lon 7.0186223 -txh 1.0 -rla 46.6043527 -rlo 7.3164414 -rxh 1.0 -o /tmp/Test_Richstrahl_HD

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!! When calling the signal server, please note that the parameter “-o”!!!
!!! the file name contains enough characters!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The following radio propagation models are suitable for calculating network coverage maps in rural areas
and undeveloped regions:

Radio propagation | -pm | Considered | Taken into account
ation model | | Free space attenuation | Elevation model (DEM)
---——————–+——-+—————- ———-+——————————–
ITM | 1 | Yes | Yes
GO | 2 | No | Yes
FSPL | 7 | Yes | No
---——————–+——-+—————- ———+——————————–

Signal Server outputs the network coverage map as a graphic file in PPM format (*.ppm). Using ImageMagick, the graphic file can be converted into PNG format (*.png):

# convert /tmp/Test_network coverage.ppm -transparent white /tmp/Test_network coverage.png

The next step is to create a *.kmz file by hand. Create the XML file doc.kml in a text editor. When saving the XML
Make sure that the UTF-8 character encoding is used. With or without BOM (Byte Order Mark) it probably doesn’t matter.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Markup_Language

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTF-8

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte_Order_Mark

Add this content to the XML file doc.kml:

    Title - Network coverage map
    
        Test_Network Coverage.png
    
    
        49.0
        10.0
        45.0
        5.0

- Below specify the title of the network coverage map.

- Specify the file name of the network coverage map graphic created by Signal Server. Only PNG (*.png) file format permitted!

- Under LatLonBox, the correct information about the positions of the two outer image corners of the graphic created by Signal-Server with the network coverage map must be entered. Signal server outputs these positions when calculating the network coverage map. For example:

|49.000000|10.000000|45.000000|5.000000|

If the debug parameter “-dbg” is missing, this is usually the only output from Signal Server when calculating a network coverage map. This output must be converted into the correct LatLonBox specification. For example:

    
        49.0
        10.0
        45.0
        5.0

After creating and editing the XML file doc.kml, the files can:

- XML ​​file doc.kml
- *.png file with the network coverage map

be packed into a ZIP archive (*.zip). The file extension must be adapted to this newly created ZIP archive:

Old: *.zip
New: *.kmz

This ZIP archive with the file extension (*.kmz) can then be “fed” to Google Earth as a project. See the “Google Earth” chapter. Google Earth
---———————————————- ——————————-
The manually created *.kmz file can be displayed in Google Earth.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Earth

- Start Google Earth in the web browser.
https://earth.google.com/web/

- Under “Projects” select the entry “Import KML file from computer”.

- Upload manually created *.kmz file.

- Adjust the opacity of the “Plot:” layer. In the hamburger menu of this layer, select the entry “Change the opacity of the feature”. For adjusting the opacity, see this YouTube video from 13:00 min:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWYoX3-G3gM

Installation of signal server
---———————————————- ——————————-
Signal server calculates the network coverage maps and the line of sight (P2P) and their Fresnel zones.

https://github.com/Cloud-RF/Signal-Server

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnelzone

Signal Server was written in the C/C++ programming language. More information about the data formats supported by Signal-Server can be found in the README.md file from Signal-Server:

https://github.com/Cloud-RF/Signal-Server#readme

Elevation models for global use with normal resolution (90 meters; 3 arcseconds) can be downloaded from the ViewFinderPanorma (VFP) website in HGT format (*.hgt). Select and download the desired tile on the world map.

http://viewfinderpanoramas.org/Coverage%20map%20viewfinderpanoramas_org3.htm

These HGT files in the directory:

~/DEM/vfp

take off. Compile the converter programs for the elevation models included with Signal Server:

# cd /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/usgs2sdf
#./build srtm2sdf

Adapt the bash script (note spaces at the beginning of the line!):

# vim /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/convert_sdf.sh

#!/bin/bash
for file in *.hgt
 do
 /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/usgs2sdf/srtm2sdf -d /dev/null $file
 done

Convert elevation models in HGT format (*.hgt) to SDF format (*.sdf):

# cd ~/DEM/vfp
# /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/convert_sdf.sh

After conversion, the elevation models must necessarily adhere to this notation for the file name:

- Normal resolution for “signalserver”: ba:be:la:le.sdf
- High resolution for “signalserverHD”: ba:be:la:le-hd.sdf

ba start of latitude (for example: 46° N -> 46)
be end latitude (for example: 47° N -> 47)

la start longitude (for example: 7° E -> 353)
lb end longitude (for example: 8° E -> 352)

Installation of the signal server and testing the elevation models with a few calls without a user interface (GUI). See chapter “Starting the program”. Installation of high-resolution elevation models
---———————————————- ——————————-
Elevation models in higher resolution (30 meters; 1 arc second) are also available for some regions on the ViewFinderPanorma (VFP) website. These high-resolution elevation models require special treatment. These high-resolution elevation models are hereinafter referred to as “HD elevation models”. HD elevation model downloaded from ViewFinderPanorma (VFP) website in HGT format (*.hgt). Select and download the desired tile on the world map.

http://viewfinderpanoramas.org/Coverage%20map%20viewfinderpanoramas_org1.htm

or alternatively from the website:

http://viewfinderpanoramas.org/dem3.html

download. These HGT files in the directory:

~/DEM/vfp

take off. Adapt the bash script (note spaces at the beginning of the line!):

# vim /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/convert_sdf_hd.sh

#!/bin/bash
for file in *.hgt
 do
 /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/usgs2sdf/srtm2sdf-hd -d /dev/null $file
 done

Convert elevation models in HGT format (*.hgt) to SDF format (*-hd.sdf):

# cd ~/DEM/vfp
# /var/mail/Signal-Server/utils/sdf/convert_sdf_hd.sh

Uninstall
---———————————————- ——————————-
- Uninstall Signal Server:

# rm -R /var/mail/Signal-Server/

Uninstall ImageMagick.

Show original language (German)

OpenStreetMap (OSM) and OpenTopoMap
---———————————————- ——————————-
As an alternative to Google Earth, maps from Open Street Map (OSM) can be displayed in the web browser.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenStreetMap

The solution presented in this chapter allows representation with this map material:

- OpenStreetMap (OSM)
https://www.openstreetmap.org/

- OpenTopoMap
https://opentopomap.org/

An HTML file with the file extension *.html must first be created in the text editor. When saving the HTML file, make sure that the UTF-8 character encoding is used. With or without BOM (Byte Order Mark) it probably doesn’t matter.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext_Markup_Language

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTF-8

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byte_Order_Mark

This HTML file must be filled with the following content in the text editor. Pay attention to spaces at the beginning of the line!

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <link rel="stylesheet"
	  href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/openlayers/openlayers.github.io@master/en/v6.10.0/css/ol.css" type="text/css"
	  integrity="sha512-Bw0A1Xfoa5A65m3mbHUvn0A7Iw2z2EnWeljpgbrnp9MYs47fS8M6w6M6I6vsmlBBC51qOHFYof/uNxX6OCiX6A=="
	  crossorigin="anonymous">
    </link>
    <link rel="stylesheet"
	  href="https://unpkg.com/ol-layerswitcher@3.8.3/dist/ol-layerswitcher.css" type="text/css"
	  integrity="sha512-MypO2PZIhqWcFU289e9V8MGICWwko1p/a7ETtcSjMD8iAkqgfMD+hFDcHpY6ERV1xsYL5nbo0EuwbNLg4ecpIw=="
	  crossorigin="anonymous">
    </link>
    <style>
       body {
           margin: 0;
           padding: 0
       }
.map {
          position: absolute;
          width: 100%;
          top: 0;
          bottom: 0;
          z-index: 2
      }
    </style>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/openlayers/openlayers.github.io@master/en/v6.10.0/build/ol.js"
	    integrity="sha512-GNGRl8Lxb3q2eVSIlAO1JOmJk0wSeKGRhHSrsw+LTo7wA/0ab0yUP8mEkZVkl2zNtIhXXFif6aN3gsifsrWAjQ=="
            crossorigin="anonymous">
    </script>
    <script src="https://unpkg.com/ol-layerswitcher@3.8.3/dist/ol-layerswitcher.js"
	    integrity="sha512-+cZhYSrGlO4JafMR5fEFkF+6pXr9fwMaicniLZRH76RtnJXc/+WkFpZu/9Av0rg2xDVr84M15XMA6tet1VaMrg=="
            crossorigin="anonymous">
    </script>
    <title>Radio coverage map</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h2>Loading map...</h2>
    <div id="map" class="map"></div>
    <script type="text/javascript">

      const center = [7.50, 47.00];
      const imageExtent = [6.0, 46.0, 8.0, 48.0];

      const transformCenter = ol.proj.transform(center, 'EPSG:4326', 'EPSG:3857');			// Transform coordinates from WGS 84 to Web Mercator (projection of view)
      const sourceImageExtent = ol.proj.transformExtent(imageExtent, 'EPSG:4326', 'EPSG:4326');	// Transform image corners coordinates from WGS 84 to WGS 84 (projection of source)
      const viewImageExtent = ol.proj.transformExtent(imageExtent, 'EPSG:4326', 'EPSG:3857');	// Transform image corners coordinates from WGS 84 to Web Mercator (projection of view)

      const otmLayer = new ol.layer.Tile({
	title: 'Open Topo Map', // LayerSwitcher
 	type: 'base', // LayerSwitcher
	visible: true,
        source: new ol.source.OSM({
	  crossOrigin: 'anonymous',
          url: 'https://{a-c}.tile.opentopomap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png',
	  attributions: 'Powered by OpenLayers and ol-layerswitcher | Base map data: © <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright">OpenStreetMap</a> contributors, <a href="http://viewfinderpanoramas.org">SRTM</a> | Map style: © <a href="https://opentopomap.org">OpenTopoMap</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/">CC-BY -SA</a>)',
	})
      });

      const osmLayer = new ol.layer.Tile({
	title: 'Open Street Map', // LayerSwitcher
	type: 'base', // LayerSwitcher
	visible: false,
        source: new ol.source.OSM({
	  crossOrigin: 'anonymous',
          url: 'https://{a-c}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png',
	  attributions: 'Powered by OpenLayers and ol-layerswitcher | Base map data: © <a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright">OpenStreetMap</a> contributors',
	})
      });

      const coverageMapLayer = new ol.layer.Image({
	title: 'Radio coverage map', // LayerSwitcher
	zIndex: 3,
	opacity: 0.4,
	extent: viewImageExtent,
        source: new ol.source.ImageStatic({
          //crossOrigin: 'anonymous',
	  imageExtent: sourceImageExtent,
	  projection: 'EPSG:4326', // WGS 84
 	  url: 'file:///tmp/coveragemap.png',
	  attributions: ' | Data source: Radio coverage map calculated by Signal-Server'
	})
      });

      const map = new ol.Map({
        target: 'map',
        layers: [
	  new ol.layer.Group({
	    title: 'Base map',
	    layers: [otmLayer, osmLayer],
          }),
	  new ol.layer.Group({
	    title: 'Data',
	    layers: [coverageMapLayer]
	  }),
        ],
        view: new ol.View({
	  projection: 'EPSG:3857', // Web Mercator
          center: transformCenter,
          zoom: 11
        })
      });

      const scaleLine = new ol.control.ScaleLine({
	bar: false
      });

      const layerSwitcher = new ol.control.LayerSwitcher({
        groupSelectStyle: 'none'
      });

      map.addControl(scaleLine);
      map.addControl(layerSwitcher);

    </script>
  </body>
</html>

If this HTML file is opened in a web browser, the network coverage map is displayed on the OpenStreetMap map or OpenTopoMap map. To do this, the web browser downloads two JavaScripts from the Internet according to the instructions in the HTML file and uses them to display this HTML file:

- OpenLayers
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenLayers

https://openlayers.org/

- ol-layerswitcher
[ switcher-9b63ae9e5253)

https://github.com/walkermatt/ol-layerswitcher

The network coverage map is created by JavaScript OpenLayers from the HTML file in the line:

url: ‘file:///tmp/coveragemap.png’,

specified graphic file (*.png) is loaded. In the example shown, this is the graphic file at:

/tmp/coveragemap.png

which was stored locally on the Linux computer (SSD or hard drive). The graphic file Coveragemap.png should contain the network coverage map calculated with Signal-Server. This URL line can be customized in the HTML file according to your own wishes. When using the Firefox web browser, the information is below:

https://kb.mozillazine.org/Links_to_local_pages_do_not_work

to be noted. The line must also be in the HTML file:

const imageExtent = [6.0, 46.0, 8.0, 48.0];

be adjusted. This line must contain the correct information about the positions of the two outer corners of the graphic with the network coverage map created by Signal-Server. See the information on how to create the *.kmz file for Google Earth.

The network coverage map is displayed in the web browser using the map projection:

EPSG:3857 => WGS 84 Web Mercator

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/map network design](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/map network design)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Mercator_projection

For large network coverage maps, the display with the “WGS 84 Web Mercator” map projection may fail. In this case, the HTML file must be reconfigured so that the web browser can use the map projection on the next attempt:

EPSG:4326 (WGS 84)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Geodetic_System

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Geodetic_System_1984

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Geodetic_System

used. The lines marked with the minus sign (-) at the beginning of the line must be replaced by the lines marked with the plus sign (+). Here again: pay attention to spaces at the beginning of the line!

46c46
- const transformCenter = ol.proj.transform(center, ‘EPSG:4326’, ‘EPSG:3857’); // Transform coordinates from WGS 84 to Web Mercator (projection of view)
---
+ const transformCenter = ol.proj.transform(center, ‘EPSG:4326’, ‘EPSG:4326’); // Transform coordinates from WGS 84 to WGS 84 (projection of view)
48c48
- const viewImageExtent = ol.proj.transformExtent(imageExtent, ‘EPSG:4326’, ‘EPSG:3857’); // Transform image corners coordinates from WGS 84 to Web Mercator (projection of view)
---
+ const viewImageExtent = ol.proj.transformExtent(imageExtent, ‘EPSG:4326’, ‘EPSG:4326’); // Transform image corners coordinates from WGS 84 to WGS 84 (projection of view)
99c99
view: new ol.View({
- projection: ‘EPSG:3857’, // Web Mercator
---
view: new ol.View({
+ projection: ‘EPSG:4326’, // WGS 84

The difference between the map projection EPSG:3857 and EPGS:4326 can be clearly seen in the representation of Greenland when all of Europe is visible on the screen.

To troubleshoot, you should press the <F12> key in the Firefox web browser. Then reload the HTML file. The “Console” and “Network Analysis” tabs in the toolbox contain interesting information for troubleshooting:

Tools for web developers

Show original language (German)

GrandDixence

The material for calculating your own network coverage maps has now been published on GitHub.

In GitHub you can find the latest version of the Signal Server (installation) instructions and the associated material published here:

https://github.com/GrandDixence/CoverageMaps

And here’s an example of a screenshot of a network coverage map of a mobile phone antenna in Guggisberg (Canton of Bern), calculated with Signal Server. Output in the web browser with the HTML file published above and the map material from OpenTopoMap. The network coverage map was calculated using signalserverHD and the high-resolution elevation model (30 meters/1 arcsecond) from ViewFinderPanorma (VFP).

/var/mail/Signal-Server/signalserverHD -sdf /home/foo/DEM/vfp -lat 46.76814 -lon 7.34151 -txh 5.0 -erp 1.0 -f 960.0 -pm 2 -rxh 1.5 -dbm -rt -90.0 -m - R 32.0 -o /home/foo/Desk/Mobilfunk_Guggisberg
convert /home/foo/Schreibtisch/Mobilfunk_Guggisberg.ppm -transparent white /home/foo/Schreibtisch/Mobilfunk_Guggisberg.png

Show original language (German)