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ProMan
The ProMan component includes wave propagation models for different scenarios and network planning simulators for various air interfaces.
Propagation Projects
Selection of Scenarios
Different wave propagation models (computational methods) exist to simulate the propagation environment. These models are necessary to determine propagation characteristics for any arbitrary configuration.
Rural and Suburban
Propagation Models
Summary of Wave Propagation Models for Rural/Suburban Scenarios
A summary of the rural/suburban wave propagation models in tabular format.

Welcome
Release Notes
See what's new in the latest release.
Get Started
The WinProp Getting Started Guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to get started with WinProp.
Examples
The Altair installation directory contains a collection of examples that shows you WinProp concepts and essentials.
Introduction to WinProp
WinProp is a complete suite of tools in the domain of wireless propagation and radio network planning. With applications ranging from satellite to terrestrial, from rural via urban to indoor radio links, WinProp’s innovative wave propagation models combine accuracy with short computation time.
Typical Workflow in WinProp
View the typical workflows when working with propagation simulations in specific scenarios, how to add a network planning to a propagation simulation, include a receiver pattern, set up a time-variant scenario, include multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) at both the base station and the mobile station, connectivity analysis of sensor networks and optimization.
WallMan
The WallMan component offers a convenient facility to generate and edit vector building databases.
TuMan
The TuMan tool enables you to generate and modify tunnel scenarios.
AMan
Use AMan to generate, edit and analyze a single antenna. Superimpose multiple antennas radiating similar signals to determine the actual antenna pattern while taking into consideration the local environment.
ProMan
The ProMan component includes wave propagation models for different scenarios and network planning simulators for various air interfaces.
- Introduction to Propagation Manager (ProMan)
  Predict path loss between transmitter and receiver with ProMan. Perform network planning including the wireless standards (the air interfaces) and including multiple transmitters/receivers (multiple base stations).
- Propagation Projects
  - Set Up a New Project
    Learn how to set up a new project.
  - Selection of Scenarios
    Different wave propagation models (computational methods) exist to simulate the propagation environment. These models are necessary to determine propagation characteristics for any arbitrary configuration.
    - Rural and Suburban
      - Propagation Models
        Okumura-Hata Propagation Model
        The Okumura-Hata propagation model is a simple empirical model with short computation time.
        Extended Hata Model
        The Okumura-Hata model was extended to the frequency bands from 30 MHz to 3000 MHz¹. This combination is denoted as the Extended Hata model.
        Empirical Two-Ray Model
        The empirical two-ray model (ETR) model computes the path loss to each pixel based on the assumption that the direct ray and the ground-reflected ray would exist.
        ITU P.1546 Model
        This model is used for point-to-area radio propagation predictions for terrestrial services in the frequency range 30 MHz to 3 000 MHz.
        ITU-R P.525 & P.526 Model
        This propagation model combines the free space attenuation (ITU-R P.525) with the diffraction loss (ITU-R P.526) for any type of path as defined by a terrain profile.
        Deterministic Two Ray Model
        The deterministic two-ray (DTR) model computes the direct ray and the ground reflected ray with ray optical algorithms.
        Longley-Rice Model
        The Longley-Rice (or irregular terrain) model predicts long-term median transmission loss over irregular terrain relative to free-space transmission loss.
        Parabolic Equation (PE) Model
        The parabolic equations model employs numerical evaluation of the parabolic equation (PE) to compute the field strength in a macro-cellular area based on terrain data.
        Knife Edge Model
        This model takes the effect of the actual environment into account by using 3D vector building data (plus terrain profile).
        Rural Dominant Path Model
        The Dominant Path Model uses a full 3D approach for the path searching, which leads to realistic and accurate results.
        Rural Ray Tracing Model
        The rural ray-tracing model is a (deterministic) multipath propagation model, considering phenomena like multiple reflections and wave guiding effects in canyons is required to obtain accurate predictions of the signal level and the spatial channel impulse response.
        Summary of Wave Propagation Models for Rural/Suburban Scenarios
        A summary of the rural/suburban wave propagation models in tabular format.
      - Working with Rural Projects (Pixel Databases)
        Propagation of electromagnetic waves in areas with a low density of buildings depends mainly on the topography and the land usage (clutter). The vector data of the buildings must not be considered in such scenarios.
      - Working with Rural Projects (Vector Databases)
    - Urban
    - Indoor
      The phenomena which influence radio wave propagation can generally be described by four basic mechanisms: Reflection, diffraction, penetration and scattering. For the practical usage of propagation models in real scenarios these mechanisms must be described by approximations.
    - Time-Variant
  - Calibration of Models
    WinProp allows the automatic calibration of nearly all available propagation models based on measurement data.
  - Inclusion of the Receiving Antenna
    Specify the receiver antenna pattern for a mobile station.
- Network and Base Station Planning Projects
- MIMO Analysis Through Post-Processing
- Results
- Addenda
- Parallel Processing
  Use parallel MPI processes to solve a problem efficiently using the standard ray tracing model (SRT).
- Default Shortcut Keys
  View the default shortcut keys available for ProMan for faster and easier operation.
Methods
WinProp includes empirical and semi-empirical models (calibration with measurements possible), rigorous 3D ray-tracing models as well as the unique dominant path model (DPM).
Main Applications
In WinProp various air interfaces and applications are pre-defined: broadcasting, cellular, wireless access, WiFi, sensor networks, ICNIRP and EM compliance.
WinProp Utilities
The WinProp utilities consist of the Launcher utility and the Updater.
Appendix
Reference information is provided in the appendix.

Summary of Wave Propagation Models for Rural/Suburban Scenarios

A summary of the rural/suburban wave propagation models in tabular format.

Table 1. Summary of the supported rural/suburban wave propagation empirical models in WinProp.
Model	Okumura-Hata with optional Hata Extension	Empirical Two Ray (ETR)
Type	Empirical	Empirical
Valid for	Frequency: 30 MHz to 3 GHz h_tx: 30 m to 200 m h_rx: 1 m to 10 m d: 0.1 km to 40 km	Frequency > 30 MHz h_tx: no limit (terrestrial) h_rx: no limit (terrestrial) d: no fixed limit
Accuracy	Reasonable accuracy	Reasonable accuracy
Computation Time	Very short	Very short
Preprocessing of Database	No	No
Problem Type & Size	Radio coverage simulation for various area types rural/suburban/urban etc.	Radio coverage simulation to compute average pathloss / signal level
Considers	Considers only the transmitter and receiver heights plus optional clutter map with individual properties (losses/heights) per clutter class	Model considers the transmitter and receiver heights and includes multipath propagation into account
Limitations	Model does not consider the terrain profile. If a hill is located between the transmitter and receiver, use knife-edge diffraction to include the shadowing effect.	Computes the path loss based on the assumption that the direct ray and the ground-reflected ray would exist using the defined propagation exponents. Model does not consider the terrain profile. If a hill is located between the transmitter and receiver, use knife-edge diffraction to include the shadowing effect.

Table 2. Summary of the supported rural/suburban wave propagation empirical models in WinProp.
Model	ITU P.1546	ITU-R P.526-15
Type	Empirical	Empirical
Valid for	Frequency: 30 MHz to 4 GHz h_tx < 3000 m h_rx: 1 m to 20 m d: 0.1 km to 1000 km	Frequency: 30 MHz to above 100 GHz.
Accuracy	Reasonable accuracy	Reasonable accuracy
Computation Time	Very short	Very short
Preprocessing of Database	No	No
Problem Type & Size	Method for point-to-area predictions for terrestrial services. It is intended for the use of tropospheric radio circuits over land, water, or mixed land-water paths.	Method for point-to-area and point-to-point radio links.
Considers	Model considers the transmitter and receiver heights, corrections for the time & location variability and for mixed land/sea paths.	Model considers the mean atmospheric refraction on the transmission path to evaluate the geometrical parameters situated in the vertical plane of the path (angle of diffraction, radius of curvature, height of obstacle).
Limitations	The model does not consider the terrain profile. If a hill is located between the transmitter and receiver, use knife-edge diffraction to include the shadowing effect.	The model does not consider the electrical characteristics of the ground and ground reflections.

Table 3. Summary of the supported rural/suburban wave 2D vertical plane propagation models in WinProp.
Model	Deterministic Two Ray (DTR)	Longley-Rice or Irregular Terrain Model (ITM)	Parabolic Equation (PE)
Type	2D vertical plane model	2D vertical plane model	Full wave approach in 2D vertical plane
Valid for	Frequency > 30 MHz Frequency > 30 MHz h_rx: no fixed limit (terrestrial) d: no fixed limit	Frequency: 20 MHz to 40 GHz Path lengths: 1 km to 2000 km	Frequency > 30 MHz h_tx: no fixed limit (terrestrial) h_rx: no fixed limit (terrestrial) d: no limit
Accuracy	Good accuracy	Reasonable accuracy	High accuracy
Computation Time	Short	Short	Long
Preprocessing of Database	No	No	No
Problem Type & Size	Radio coverage simulation when the superposition of the direct and the ground-reflected ray is dominating	Radio coverage simulation for larger areas, e.g. frequency planning; mainly in television broadcasting	Radio coverage simulation over terrain (often used for aerospace & defense)
Considers	Model computes the direct ray and the ground-reflected ray using ray optical algorithms and performs either coherent or power superposition of these two rays	Model considers the transmitter and receiver heights. The Point-to-Point mode takes into account the terrain elevation profile between the transmitter and receiver. The Area Mode estimates the terrain profile using empirical medians.	Considers the propagation over terrain, forward-scattering and the properties of the ground. Optional consideration of a predefined height depending permittivity.
Limitations	Model does not consider the terrain profile. If a hill is located between the transmitter and receiver, use knife-edge diffraction to include the shadowing effect.	Model considers the ground properties and the defined percentages for time & location variability	The results of the PE are valid up to a certain propagation angle in respect to the horizon lies within -40° up to +40° for the Wide Angle Parabolic Equation (WAPE). Backward-orientated effects (such as reflections at the opposite hillside) are not considered.

Table 4. Summary of the supported rural/suburban wave deterministic propagation models in WinProp.
Model	Rural 3D Dominant Path Model (DPM)	Rural Ray-Tracing (RRT)	3D Ray Launching
Type	Deterministic	Deterministic in 2D vertical plane	Deterministic
Valid for	Frequency: 30 MHz to 100 GHz h_tx: no fixed limit (terrestrial) h_rX: no fixed limit (terrestrial) d: no fixed limit	Frequency: 30 MHz to 100 GHz h_tx: no fixed limit (terrestrial) h_rX: no fixed limit (terrestrial) d: no fixed limit	Frequency: 30 MHz to 100 GHz h_tx: no fixed limit (terrestrial) h_rX: no fixed limit (terrestrial) d: no fixed limit
Accuracy	Good accuracy	Good accuracy	High accuracy
Computation Time	Short	Medium	Long
Preprocessing of Database	No	The topography data (in pixel format) must be converted to 3D vector data format	No
Problem Type & Size	Radio coverage simulation for large areas to compute average pathloss/signal level	Radio coverage simulation for large areas where the multipath situation is relevant	Radio coverage simulation for individual points (radio links or radar sensors) or LOS areas
Considers	The dominant propagation path is computed by using a full 3D approach plus optional clutter map with individual properties (losses/heights) per clutter class.	The model computes various rays including reflections and diffractions in the vertical plane. Optionally 3D scattering from topography or 3D interaction at additional 3D vector objects can be enabled.	The model considers reflections and scattering in 3D.
Limitations	The ground-reflected path as well as multipath effects are not considered	The model takes a limited number of interactions into account and may not reach all prediction points by itself. Activate the additional knife edge diffraction to predict propagation results for remaining locations.	No combination with multiple knife edge diffraction possible. The diffraction at topo obstacles is not yet supported, which limits the use of the model to the LOS area.