G-NetTrack Pro Manual
G-NetTrack Pro Manual
G-NetTrack Pro Manual
Manual
G-NetTrack Pro is a wireless network monitor and drive test tool for Android OS devices. It
allows monitoring and logging of mobile network parameters without using specialized
equipment. It's a tool and it's a toy. It can be used by professionals to get better insight on the
network or by radio enthusiasts to learn more about wireless networks. It can be used even if you
want just to make easy representation of your traveled route.
Here is a video demonstration of G-NetTrack Pro
Using application you can easily pinpoint network problems like:
- 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
- blocked calls
- dropped calls
The main features of G-NetTrack Pro are:
- measuring of wireless network parameters
- logging of measured values in text and kml files
- displaying measured values on map view
- displaying base stations and serving cell line on map view
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------New things in G-NetTrack Pro compared to G-NetTrack:
- INDOOR measurements
- AUTO INDOOR mode
- Floorplans loading
- New 3D map - different type of maps, 3D buildings, autocacheing
- LTE serving and neighbor cells measurements
- SMS test sequence for monitoring SMS successful sending and delivering
- Screen orientation change (portrait/landscape)
- and many more features and fixes
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The measured data by G-NetTrack can be analyzed with the help of other tools available here on
this site as G-NetDiag and G-NetEarth.
This manual describes the information available, the settings and the actions that can be done
using G-NetTrack.
Tabs
There are five tabs with different information - CELL, NEI, MAP, INFO and DRIVE. The
information displayed on each tab is
2.1 CELL Tab
CELL tab shows network and geographical information. It also shows history log of the serving
cells. The shown information is:
- Operator - the name of your wireless provider
- MCC - Mobile Country Code - it is a 3 digit code specific for each country
- MNC - Mobile Network Code - it is 2 or 3 digits code and is specific for each operator in the
country
- LAC - location area code - the network is split by location areas, in which the subscriber is
paged in all cells simultaneously. LAC is the code of the current area
- RNC - Radio Network Controller - when on 3G it shows the ID of the RNC that controlls the
current serving cell
- CELLID - the ID of the current serving cell
- Type - the network technology mode (like GPRS, EDGE on 2G or UMTS, HSPA etc... on 3G)
- LEVEL - the current signal strength in dBm. For different technologies the caption is different RXLEV for 2G, RSCP for 3G and RSRP for 4G.
- QUAL - the signal quality of the network. For different technologies the caption is different RXQUAL for 2G, ECNO for 3G and RSRQ for 4G. This value is not reported by most phones.
Only several phones report ECNO and maybe no phone reports RXQUAL.
- SNR - signal to noise ratio. It is measured on LTE only.
- CQI - channel quality indicator. It is measured on 4G only.
- Longitude - current location longitude in decimal format
- Latitude - current location latitude in decimal format
- Speed - current speed in kmph.
- Accuracy - the accuracy with which the location is determined. Location determination could
be based on GPS or Network (using Google location service - using serving and neighbor cells or
WiFi networks)
- Height - the difference between Altitude and Ground values
- Altitude - the GPS measured altitude
- Height - the ground level height - this is ajustable in settings.
- UL - the current uplink data transfer speed in kbps
- DL - the current downlink data transfer speed in kbps
- Data - the used data network - Mobile Network or WiFi
- Phone State - IDLE, CALL, DATA - the current phone state - if it is idle or in active data
Settings
Settings are activated via Menu - Settings. There are several group of settings, which are related
to different app features:
INDOOR Settings
AUTO INDOOR mode allows auto filling of measurement points when the GPS fix is not
available like in tunnels or on places with bad GPS reception.
When GPS fix is lost the measurements are collected in a buffer and when the GPS fix is back
again the missing measurements are filled on a straight line connecting the point of loss and
regaining GPS fix.
Alternatively you can use the point set tool to set intermediate points if the route is not straight
line - [Settings] - [Set Point in auto indoor mode].
AUTO INDOOR mode works only when the log is active.
If INDOOR mode is selected AUTO INDOOR mode is not activated.
How to use it:
1. Enable AUTO INDOOR mode in Settings.
2. Choose threshold for GPS validity
- Accuracy - if the GPS accuracy is bigger than this threshold the GPS is considered not valid
- Time - if the last good GPS fix was received before the specified value (in seconds) - the GSP
is considered not valid.
When log is active both current values are visible on the upper right corner of MAP tab next to
GPS writing. When one of the conditions is satisfied the GPS fix is considered not valid and
values are colored in blue.
3. Start log.
4. When you enter the tunnel and lose GPS fix the GPS writing on upper right corner of MAP tab
will color in blue which means that AUTO INDOOR mode is active and measurements are
collected. In order measurements to be more precise you can wait a little until GPS fix is lost at
the beginning of the tunnel and the entering point is auto set.
5. When you go out of the tunnel and GPS fix is valid the values for GPS accuracy and time are
colored in green, the exiting point is auto set and the missing measurements between entering
and exiting point are shown on the map and filled in the log.
MAP VIEW Settings
- Map Satellite View - switches satellite/street view of the map
- Map in background - when active the GPS stays on while the app is in the background when
the log is not started
- Map Center - switches on/off automatic centering of the map around current location
- Point Size - size of the point on map view
- Serving Cell Font Size - font size of the serving cell on Map view
- Cells Font Size - font size of the cells on Map view
- Serving Cell Thickness - thickness of the serving cell on Map view
- Cells Thickness - thickness of the cells on Map view
- 2G cell layers colors - colors in RRGGBB format for 2G layers (default 4 layers). Modify the
colors or add new layers via adding "," and new layer color
- 3G cell layers colors - colors in RRGGBB format for 3G layers (default 4 layers). Modify the
colors or add new layers via adding "," and new layer color
- 4G cell layers colors - colors in RRGGBB format for 4G layers (default 4 layers). Modify the
colors or add new layers via adding "," and new layer color
- Ground Level - sets the ground level altitude. When set different than 0 Height in CELL tab
shows the height above this ground/street level
- Log reduction factor - when this value (N) is bigger than 1 then every N-th measurements is
shown on map. This does not impact the logfile
VOICE SEQUENCE Settings
Here is a video demonstration of VOICE SEQUENCE with G-NetTrack Pro
VOICE SEQUENCE allows automatic generation of voice calls to specified number with
specified duration and pause between the calls. When Voice Sequence is active the number of
successful, blocked and dropped calls are shown in INFO tab
- Called Nmber - the number to be dialed
- Number of Calls - number of calls to be made
- Call Duration - duration of a single call
- Pause Between Calls - pause between the calls
- Start calls only on - allows starting of calls only on specific technology (2G, 3G, 4G) - useful
for example when you want to test 3G coverage only. If the call has been handovered to 2G the
sequence will wait until 3G is reselected again and then will continue
DATA SEQUENCE Settings
- CQI
- LTE RSSI
- SPEED - the speed of movement
- PSC - UMTS primary scrambling code of the serving cell
- NEIGHBOR CELLS - separate file for cellid and level for each of the first 6 neighbor cells
measured
- CELLFIND - when active this will activate a CELLFIND feature which shows the serving cell
location determined by Google location service, based on the cellid measurements. In order this
feature to be available you must have mobile network data connection on. Turn your WiFi off in
order to prevent location determination based on WiFi networks. In kml file there is information
about the cell location and accuracy. It can help to gain insight on cell size (bigger when
accuracy is greater number) and location.
- DATA TEST - 4 kml files for DATA SEQUENCE statistics - average ping, ping loss, upload
bitrate and download bitrate
- Use height in kml - when this is on, the points in the kml file will show above ground level as
Height in CELL tab shows.
- Use short kml format - reduces the kml size showing only the respective measurement in the
information baloon.
- KML Point Size - size of kml dot in kml export file.
- Application folder - set the root folder for export files. The folder must exist, otherwise the
default folder is used. Check the [App folder] in INFO tab in order to see if the correct folder
was chosen. If you want to use external SD card you have to put "/sdcardname" - check with
some file manager the name of your external SD card.
CELLHUNTER Settings
- CELLHUNTER Mode - this switches on/off CELLHUNTER mode. Cellfile is required for this
feature. When it is on only unknown cells (that are missing in cellfile) will be written in the text
and kml log files. This feature is useful for Cell Hunters when they search for new cells in th
area.
- CELLFILTER Mode - this switches on/off CELLFILTER mode. Cellfile is required for this
feature. When it is on only known cells (that are in cellfile) will be written in the text and kml
log files. This feature is useful for logging only data for specific cell.
SITE VIEW Settings
- Show Sites - requires cellfile. When it is on the list of cells from cellfile will be loaded at the
program start. Requires restart of the app.
- Show Serving Line - shows a line between current location and srving cell location
- Show Cell Names - shows cell names in map view
- Load only sites in range - load only closest sites within specified range - usefull when the
cellfile is big and the map view is slowed down because the big number of cells
- Range of loaded sites - range in meters around current location of sites to be loaded
- Add unknown cells - when this option is on the new cells are automatically added to cellfile. If
you have no cellfile and both [Show Sites] and [Add unknown cells] are on, the app will create
new cellfile and when the log is on it will start filling it with new cells.
level is -200. Check current network type number on bottom of INFO tab.
- Auto screen on - while the log is active if the screen is turned off incidentally (with POWER
button) it will be turned automatically on again.
Actions
Start Log
Starts the logging. During this the text and kml export files are created in G-NetTrack_Logs
folder on main phone storage. The measurements kml files that are created can be selected in
Settings. A record is put in log on change of position with specified distance interval, change of
cellid or each specified time interval if there is no change of position or celld. Time and distance
intervals can be set in Settings.
When the logging is activated the app will lock your GPS and screen on and the screen will
remain lit during the logging. In order not to interrupt logging you have to not switch the device
screen off. The phone could be locked, but the screen should be on.
Pause Log
Pauses the log.
Resume Log
Resumes the log.
End Log
Finishes the log.
Add Filemark
Adds the filemark (note) to the file. The filemarks are visible in text logfile and filemarkers.kml
file.
Settings
Opens the settings page.
Exit
Exits the app.
Start Voice Sequence
Here is a video demonstration of VOICE SEQUENCE with G-NetTrack Pro
Starts the Voice Sequence with which you can make automatic voice calls with specified
duration and pause. During this sequence the number of successful, blocked and dopped calls are
dispalyed in INFO tab.
Start Data Sequence
Here is a video demonstration of DATA SEQUENCE with G-NetTrack Pro
Starts automatic data transfer sequence. It includes:
- 10 seconds ping
- 10 seconds upload
- 10 seconds download
- pause (specified in Settings)
Note: If your Android version is 2.2 or earlier then the upload is until at least 128kB file is
uploaded.
How to use:
1. Input the ping, upload and download URL in Settings.
2. Check DATA TEST in kml export settings to export statistics in kml
3. Start Data Sequence from Menu.
4. Observe the stats on INFO tab
The statistics are:
- average ping
- min ping
- max ping
- ping standard deviation
- ping loss
- upload bitrate
- download bitrate
The statistics are exported in text logfile and in kml files if option DATA TEST is selected in
kml export settings.
Data Test
Starts data test. It includes:
- 10 seconds ping
- 10 seconds upload
- 10 seconds download
Note: If your Android version is 2.2 or earlier then the upload is until at least 128kB file is
uploaded.
How to use:
1. Input the ping, upload and download URL in Settings.
2. Select Menu - More - Data Test
Deletes the filtered cellfile so a new filtering can be done on next app start.
Load Route
Loads a route from logfiles. Put the logfiles in folder [route] in app folder. Also text file with
column headers "Longitude" and "Latitude" can be used. This will help when you want to follow
predefined route.
Load Floorplan
Load floorplan from image files located in \floorplan folder. Index file index.txt describing edge
locations also should be present in the folder
How to load floorplans:
1. In folder G_NetTrack_Pro_Logs/floorplan put the floorplan images and create text index file
(index.txt) with rows for each image and following content (tab delimited)
imagename longitudeSW latitudeSW longitudeNE latitudeNE
where SW and NE are South - West corner and North - East corner.
example:
1-floor.png 23.378626 42.660569 23.381324 42.662407
2. Go to Menu - Load Floorplan. The floorplans will be shown on map and for each floorplan a
kml file will be created to be used with Google Earth. Notice that you have to change the image
location tag <href> if you copy kml file and intend to use it on your computer.
Here you can download floorplan sample.
facebook page/A>
Opens G-NetTrack facebook page, where you can communicate with other G-NetTrack users.
About
Opens G-NetTrack web page
Cellfile
If you have cell information you can create a cellfile and view the sites on the map. In order to
do this create cellfile and put it into folder G_NetTrack_Logs/cellfile. Two types of cellfiles can
be used:
The cellfile format is tab delimited text file with following columns:
- tab delimited text cellfile
- clf file
Recommended format is tab delimited text cellfile since it suppports more features (azimuth,
layers, height etc...)
LAT
Latitude coordinate in decimal WGS 84. Use point as decimal delimiter!
LON
Longitude coordinate in decimal WGS 84. Use point as decimal delimiter!
POS-RAT Accuracy of the site coordinates. Use -1 for the exact position.
Cell description. Put any text for describing the cell here, but avoid characters like ;
DESC
or " or '
SYS
Radio system:
0: unknown
1: GSM
2: CDMA
3: 3G / UMTS
4: LTE
LABEL
Short label with up to 8 characters to identify the cell in the map or log file
AZI
HEIGHT
BW
Known issues
Not all the phones are capable of reporting the measurements:
- CELLID and LEVEL - if you see that LEVEL is less than -200 that means that your phone
does not report anything and can not be used for measurement purposes.
- RXQUAL, ECNO, PSC is not reported by all phones
- Neighbor cells are not reported by all phones
Check Phone Measurement Capabilities for list of phones and measurements that they report.
If your phone does not report some measurements the only thing you can do is to search for
software update from device manufacturer. There is no possibility a change in app to make your
phone to report properly.
Map performance depends on number of objects drawn on the map. The objects are:
- Log points - the points drawn each time the location is changed
- Cells - it include two types of objects: line and cell name
- Route points - the points of loaded predefined route (Pro version only)
When the number of objects becomes big (too many cells in cellfile, too long log, or too long
route) then the map performance deteriorates and the app is slowed. This depends on the phone
capabilities (CPU, RAM).
In such case the map performance can be improved by taking the following actions to reduce the
number of objects without losing the app functionality:
1. Reduce the number of log points - Change [Log Reduction Factor] in Settings - this
determines when a log point is drawn on the map. If the value is default (1) then every location
change bigger than 15m is drawn as log point. If you put value N bigger than 1, then every N-th
log point is drawn on the map which results in less log points and improved map performance.
Note that the number of samples in text and kml log is not affected and stays the same.
2. Turn off the visibility of cell names - Settings - [Show Cell Names]. Cell names are plotted
using additional markers and switching them off reduces the number of objects on the map.
3. Reduce the number of route points - when predefined route is loaded it can contains a lot of
points which are not necessary and can be reduced without losing the route direction. Change
Route Reduction Factor] in Settings - this determines when a route point is drawn on the map. If
the value is default (1) then every route point is drawn. If you put value N bigger than 1, then
every N-th log point is drawn on the map which results in less log points and improves the map
performance.
4. Reduce the number of cells loaded from cellfile - Use option [Load only sites in range] in
Settings. Then only the sites that are within specified radius around your current location are
loaded. The radius can be controlled via [Range of loaded sites ,m] and the value is in meters.
When this option is active the cellfile is filtered and includes only the sites within that range. A
new cellfile (cellfile_filtered.txt) is created in cellfile folder and is loaded on next app start. If
you have changed your location and want to filter the sites again you have to delete filtered
cellfile manually or from {Menu} - {Delete Filtered Cellfile} and restart the app.