TAP6 Benefits
Q: What can I do with TAP6 that I cannot do with earlier versions?
A: Lots!
HDPath
User Interface
□ A consolidated user interface for Path studies lets you see all the end point facility, path specifications, and the profile on one form.
o BENEFIT: The HDPath interface is easier to use, providing faster results for evaluating paths, link budgets, etc.
□ All TAP path-related functions (profile, single point field, link budgets, antenna elevation, reflection analysis) are included on one form.
o BENEFIT: A more integrated approach to various path study options, eliminating the need to switch between several different TAP applications.
Fixed Facility Data
□ All Fixed Facility parameters are displayed on a single form, in collapsible sections so you can display the information most useful to you.
o BENEFIT: You can easily make changes to Fixed Facility values while other values are conveniently visible.
□ Fixed Facility records with a directional antenna included display a thumbnail of the antenna pattern (azimuth and elevation patterns) including the antenna orientation and tilt settings.
o BENEFIT: When comparing different facility records with different antenna patterns or settings, you can easily see which pattern is used by the facility you have selected.
□ Select Fixed Facility sites from a pulldown list. If you have a large number of records in your Fixed Facility database, the list can be filtered to show only those which meet the specifications you set.
o BENEFIT: Selecting site information is much easier using the pulldown list. You can see all the sites, and draw the profile automatically when a new site is selected.
□ Fixed Facility coordinates can be entered and displayed in any of dozens of coordinate systems (NAD27, NAD83, WGS84, UTM, State Plane, Military Grid Reference, etc.)
o BENEFIT: You can enter each facility in the most convenient coordinates, which will be faster and more accurate than converting coordinates.
□ Changes to Fixed Facility parameters are automatically updated. For example, changing the frequency for the transmitter or the transmission line length automatically updates the line loss (if a line type and length have been specified), updating the Effective Radiated Power (ERP).
o BENEFIT: You can make changes to transmitter or receiver facility values and immediately see the effect on the computed field or link budget results.
□ Invalid or incomplete Fixed Facility information displays alerts to inform you of the problem.
o BENEFIT: You can easily see which Fixed Facility records are incomplete and need more information before they can be used in a field strength calculation.
Profile Functions
□ You can move the mouse along the path profile and see the computed field strength at the mouse location. You can either use the actual elevation of the mouse cursor on the profile, or you can set a fixed height above ground to use at the location of the mouse along the path.
o BENEFIT: You can instantly see the effect of the terrain on the field strength at any point along the path.
□ You can view the reverse path with one click. The different TX and RX configurations on the end points are automatically included.
o BENEFIT: You can check the path clearance, link budget fade margins, etc., both ways on a path much quicker than drawing two separate paths.
□ You can easily set the vertical scale for the profile.
o BENEFIT: This makes it easy to draw several profiles with identical vertical scales for comparison.
□ You can easily set the elevation units and distance units for the profile.
o BENEFIT: You can change to whatever units are most convenient without needing to redraw the profile from the menu.
□ You can easily change the topographic data types and step, as well as the elevation interpolation method and earth curvature settings.
o BENEFIT: You can change the settings without needing to redraw the profile from the menu.
□ When you add objects to a Surface Feature file you can specify default values for the coordinate datum, feature type, and height and radius units.
o BENEFIT: This considerably speeds up the creation of large numbers of Surface Feature Objects.
□ You can draw the profile with or without displaying the Land Use information.
o BENEFIT: You can easily switch between views of the profile that show or suppress the land use classifications along the path.
□ You can click anywhere on the profile to print information related to that point (distance from each site, elevation, computed field strength, etc.
o BENEFIT: This makes it easy to document information about points of interest on the path.
□ You can zoom in and out with a single mouse click anywhere on the path.
o BENEFIT: This makes it easy to inspect details on the path, such as line-of-sight clearance.
Print Functions
□ When you print the image, you have a Print Preview.
o BENEFIT: You can see your image on a layout page with the labels and other information just as it will be printed.
□ You can save layout templates with the image size and location, labels, company logo, etc.
o BENEFIT: You can create standardized templates to make your printed output more consistent.
HDCoverage
Fixed Facility & Print Functions
HDCoverage includes the same functionality and benefits in the Fixed Facility interface and the print preview functions that are described above for HDPath.
Coverage Setup
□ A consolidated user interface for Area studies lets you see the base station facility, mobile specifications, propagation parameters and the coverage area settings.
o BENEFIT: The HDCoverage interface is easier to use, providing faster results for evaluating sites, field strength previews, etc.
□ The HDCoverage form includes a map of the area (if the needed shapefiles are installed on your machine) for displaying the base station site location as well as for setting the coverage area of interest.
o BENEFIT: You can quickly set the coverage area, such as a tile study, by clicking on the map.
□ You can select the map layers (roads, rivers, county boundaries) you want to display on the HDCoverage form.
o BENEFIT: Seeing the significant features or landmarks on the map will help define the desired coverage area based on familiar objects.
□ You can display a path preview between points you click on the map.
o BENEFIT: You can see a preview of the terrain from the fixed facility location to critical locations in your coverage area.
□ You can compute a field strength preview using the Fixed Facility, Mobile Facility, and other settings on the HDCoverage form by clicking desired locations on the map. The locations and field strengths are displayed on the map.
o BENEFIT: You can quickly and easily determine field strength values at critical locations without running an entire study.
□ In addition to Radial, Contour, and Tile coverages studies you can compute a study of Target Points defined by clicking the map or reading from a shapefile or comma-delimited file.
o BENEFIT: You can easily and quickly compute field strength at desired locations without computing all the surrounding points as in a Tile study.
□ You can set up multiple coverage studies, then execute one, some, or all of them from the HDCoverage form.
o BENEFIT: You can easily set up and run numerous coverage studies from the HDCoverage form without needing to go to a different menu on a different form.
TAP6Menu
□ The TAP6 Menu form includes a list of recently created path profiles, coverage studies, and maps. You can click on an item to return to it.
o BENEFIT: You can easily go back to a profile or coverage map you were working on to pick up where you left off.
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Copyright 2005 by SoftWright LLC