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In a 5G network, gNBs are deployed to provide wireless coverage and service to UEs. In canonical models, gNBs are typically located at the center of hexagonal cells, which are arranged in a hexagonal pattern over a geographic area. Each gNB can serve multiple UEs within its coverage area, and UEs can also move between cells as they travel through the network. This is called the standard hexagonal cell model. 

An SINR heatmap is a visualization that shows the spatial distribution of SINR values across a wireless network. The SINR value is the ratio of the strength of the desired signal to the strength of the interference plus noise in the same frequency band.

Procedure to create the 7-cell, and 19-cell scenarios

The gNB coordinates for the 7-cel and 19-cell scenarios are generated using Python code. These coordinates from the corresponding CSV files are used directly for omni-directional antennas; however, since each Tri-Sector antenna consists of three sector antennas, each CSV file coordinate is used three times for the tri-Sector antennas. The python script   get7_19_hexagonal_cell_coordinates.py is attached. 

Steps to Create 7 Cell Tri-sector Heatmap scenario. 

• Use the Python utility to generate antenna coordinates. For 7 Cell Tri-sector scenario use file “7_cell_gNB.csv”. 
• Open the 5G simulation window and set the grid length and width to 3000 meters.
• Drop a sector antenna, then go to the "Rapid Configurator" tab and click on "Devices".
• In the "Rapid Devices Configurator" window, click "Export list to Excel".

• Select the last added row, which will be the sector antenna. Then drag to select the next 20 rows (since 7×3 sector antennas are required).
• Ensure the device names and IDs are sequentially incremented.
• Use the coordinates generated by the Python utility. Assign the first set of coordinates to the first 3 devices, the next set to the next 3 devices, and continue this way.

• Save and close the file. Back in the "Rapid Devices Configurator" window, click "Import list from Excel" to add the devices.

• Now, add the links. Go to the "Rapid Configurator" tab, click "Links," and click "Export list to Excel".
• For gNBs, interfaces 1, 2, and 3 should connect to interfaces 2, 2, and 1 of Core_Switch_4, Core_Switch_5, and Core_Switch_6. 
• Add links for the gNBs configured through the Rapid Configurator. Connect gNBs interfaces 1, 2, and 3 to the next available interfaces of Core_Switch_4, Core_Switch_5, and Core_Switch_6 (interfaces 3, 3, and 2 for the next device). 
• Add links for all devices in the same manner.

• To update the Boresight Angle for sector antenna scenarios, go to the "Rapid Configurator" tab and click on "Devices."
• In the "Rapid Devices Configurator" window, check the box to the left of the Device ID column (this selects all devices), then click "Export Properties to Excel." 
• In the Excel file, under column H titled “Config Name,” filter by "BORESIGHT_ANGLE". 
• In the “Property Value” column, set the boresight angle, for this scenario, the selected boresight angles are 60, 180, and 300. Save the file close it and import the properties. 

• To set the Shadow Fading Model to NONE, go to the "Rapid Configurator" tab and click on "Devices." 
• In the "Rapid Devices Configurator" window, check the box to the left of the Device ID column (this selects all devices), then click "Export Properties to Excel." 
• In the Excel file, under column H titled “Config Name,” filter by "SHADOWFADING_MODEL". 
• In the “Property Value” column, set the value to “NONE”. (Note: Do not drag the value for the first gNB to other rows, as it may affect other device properties that are hidden due to filtering). Save the file close it and import the properties. 

• For the plots shown below, the Downlink SINR Heatmap for the Best Transmitter is generated. Users can refer to section 3.4.4 of NetSim User Manual for more details on the NetSim HeatMap utility. 

 7 Cell Scenario tessellation with Omni-directional antennas 

NetSim SINR Heatmap for 7 Cell Scenario with Omni-directional antennas

7 Cell Scenario tessellation with Tri-Sector antennas 

NetSim SINR Heatmap for 7 Cell Scenario with Tri-Sector antennas

19 Cell Scenario tessellation with Omni-directional antennas 

NetSim SINR Heatmap for 19 Cell Scenario with Omni-directional antennas

19 Cell Scenario tessellation with Tri-Sector antennas 

NetSim SINR Heatmap for 19 Cell Scenario with Tri-Sector antennas

 Useful Reference

1. NetSim 5G/6G library webpage: https://tetcos.com/5g.html