Radio transmission simulation using a high performance graphics workstation

A system using a novel integrated package called SYMBL is described. The SYMBL package comprises the Longley-Rice model for computing radio wave propagation over a detailed topographical area. A radio transmission simulation system that uses SYMBL is described. The total system combines the SYMBL software, an interactive display package, a government-supplied database of topographical information, and an associated workstation, which provides high-resolution color graphics. One of the outputs features an automated topographic database verification with two- and three-dimensional views. The total system calculates the radio wave propagation receiver points at a rate exceeding 100 points/s, with an desired density and over any desired area coverage. The optimization of SYMBL and its adaptation to modern hardware and software, and how a user-friendly, multiple-window interface has created an environment specially tailored for a communications engineer to study current and planned telecommunication facilities are discussed.<>