STARTUP

1. (Start the GPS device)
2. Start the application, select the GPS device (only at first run)
3. the program works automatically, records each cell you are passing by
4. Export the records into a text file using the 'Export' command, MCC, MNC, Cell ID, Latitude, Longitude, signal strength, LAC, name of cell are saved in a tabulator delimited (CSV), KML or Waypoint file.
   + Optionally you can log your position automatically (e.g. in each 5 seconds).
   

DISPLAY

• crossed: GPS is not connected
• rotating: GPS connected, but position is not accurate yet
• rotating slowly: valid position from GPS device.

Displays position in WSG 84 format, the name (if defined) or the ID of the current network cell with the signal strength in dBm, the current speed and the number of cells recorded in database.

Environment: estimates and visualizes the neighborhood of the current position using the distances between the center of the passed cells, from trees (large distances) to skyscrapers (small distances).

New/Updated cells: visualize the efficiency for collecting (for the last 20 cells):

• dark gray: new cells in database;
• light gray: modified cells;
• no fill: unmodified cells.

IMPORT FILE

You can import a previously exported file into the database. Only detected database files will be displayer. You will be offered to clear the existing database first, otherwise database will be merged with the imported content.

UPLOAD TO SERVER

Initiates a connection to our server storing thousands of the positions of network cells, and sends the modified records since the last upload to us. Server sends back the number of new and modified cells in database on server. Please help us to maintain and enhance our database. This database is available for registered users (upon request).

HOW DOES IT WORK

The application continuously monitors changes in cell ID and signal strength, and stores the 2 farthest positions with the highest signal strength for each cell. When exported, these positions are averaged to make the center of the cell.

CSV DATABASE FILE FORMAT

The header should be the same for each file, then each cell is in one row:

MNC MCC Cell Latitude Longitude Signal LAC NAME Network
70 216 10841 4730.4950N 1901.6330E 65 63 Test1 0
70 216 10844 4730.4655N 1901.5270E 65 63 Test2 0
70 216 11312 4727.1375N 1857.2195E 69 10162 Test3 0
70 216 11314 4727.2205N 1858.1845E 76 10162 0

MNC: mobile network code (70 means Vodafone in Hungary)
MCC: mobile country code (216 means Hungary)
Cell: cell ID
LAC: location area code
Signal: signal strength in -dBm
Latitude/longitude: 4730.4950N equals to 47 degrees and 30.4950 minutes = 47 degrees, 30 minutes and 0.4950*60 = 29 seconds. NAME: the name of the cell (if you have specified it).
Network: 0 (unknown), 1 (unregistered), 2 (GSM/GPRS or DCS1800), 3 (AMPS), 4 (CDMA IS-95), 5 (CDMA 2000), 6 (WCDMA), 7 (TD-CDMA) - not all of these types are used.

TROUBLESHOOTING

No GPS connection / changing GPS device: use Option/Reconnect GPS (lasts for about 10-15 seconds).

BACKUP/RESTORE

Application will be backed up / restored during phone backup/restore process.Logs and exported files are not backed up and restored.

VISIT OUR CURRENT DATABASE