RF Channel Modeler Results Tab

Use the Results tab to specify settings for generating data plots, view the plots, and adjust the plot displays, and export the plots and data out of the RF Channel Modeler. The following sections of this topic page provide detailed information about these settings and options.

The left side of the Results tab shows the plot generation settings, and the right side of the tab shows the plot display, from which you can access further plot options and export options.

Results Folder

The Results Folder field defaults to the folder path you specified in the Analysis tab. To view results from a different folder, clear the Use analysis output folder as results folder check box and click Select to browse to and choose a different folder.

Results Filter

For the folder you selected, you can choose to display specific results by applying one or more of the following filters. These filters are in cascading order, from broad to more specific.

Filter Description
Type

Use the drop-down menu to select from the following choices of configuration types:

  • Communications
  • Radar
Subtype

Use the drop-down menu to select from the following choices of configuration subtypes to include within the configuration Type:

  • All - include all possible subtypes
  • SAR - only include the synthetic aperture radar subtype
  • ISAR - only include the integrated synthetic aperture radar subtype
Analysis Use the drop-down menu to choose a specific analysis configuration name.
Results Use the drop-down menu to choose the results from a specific run of the selected analysis configuration.
Link Use the drop-down menu to choose to show results only for a specific link within a specific run of an analysis configuration. This option is only available if you chose to run the analysis configuration using Results File Mode = "one file per link", as specified on the Results Output subtab of the Analysis tab.

Summary

Given the filtered results you chose to show, the RF Channel Modeler will display the following read-only information about the analysis configuration from which the results came.

For Communications results, the Summary section shows the following information

Item Description
Analysis Description This is a link to the description you wrote in the Results Output subtab of the Analysis tab.
(Filename) The name of the data source file appears in this section, hyperlinked to the file itself.
Channel Soundings This is the total number of channel soundings in the results file you chose.
Frequency Sample Count This is the total number of frequency samples in the results you are analyzing.
Center Frequency This is the middle frequency of the frequency band generated by the transmitters, in MHz.
Bandwidth This is the width of the frequency band generated by the transmitters, in MHz.
Transmit Antenna Count This is the total number of transmitting antennas in the analysis results.
Receive Antenna Count This is the total number of receiving antennas in the analysis results.
Analysis Extent NW and SE Latitudes and Longitudes These define the extent boundary for the analysis results.
Scene Contributor Count This is the total number of objects in the analysis scene that you designated as contributors.

For Radar results, the Summary section shows the following information

Item Description
Analysis Description This is a link to the description you wrote in the Results Output subtab of the Analysis tab.
(Filename) The name of the data source file appears in this section, hyperlinked to the file itself.
Center Frequency This is the RF Channel Frequency you specified in the Design tab.
Transceiver Waveform Bandwidth (MHz) This is the bandwidth of the channel, in MHz.
Required Bandwidth (MHz) This is a calculated field defined by the desired range resolution parameter. It is the minimum bandwidth necessary to achieve the desired range resolution.
Range Resolution Defines the desired smallest spacing that can be resolved from two scattering sources in range. This is directly related to the radar bandwidth.
Range Window Size Defines the desired image window extent in range. You should set this to a number that is larger than the largest extent of the target/scene.
Cross Range Resolution Defines the desired smallest spacing that can be resolved from two scattering sources in cross-range (related to Doppler). This is directly related to the number of pulses selected for data processing (related to the collection total angular extent).
Cross Range Window Size Defines the desired image window extent in cross-range (related to Doppler). You should set this to a number that is larger than the largest extent of the target/scene.
Pulses / Image This is the number of radar pulses for a single image, based on the Pulse Repetition Frequency you set in the antenna waveform.
Collection Angle (deg) This is a calculated field defined by the desired cross-range resolution parameter. It is the minimum bandwidth necessary to achieve the desired cross-range resolution.
Freuqency Samples / Pulse This is a calculated field defined by the desired range window size. This ensures that the image will have no range ambiguities due to data processing wrap-around.
Sensor Fixed Distance Mode This indicates whether or not you selected the Sensor Fixed Distance check box in the Imaging Data subtab of the Analysis tab.
Desired Sensor Fixed Distance (m) This is the desired approximate fixed distance for collection to ensure pulse alignment resulting in a centered image. It only appears when you select the Sensor Fixed Distance check box.
Center Image in Range Window This check box defaults to selected, meaning that the plots for this analysis configuration will have the image centered in the Range Window that you specify. It only appears when you select the Sensor Fixed Distance check box.
Distance to Range Window Start (m) This is the calculated range to the beginning of the image window, based on the desired sensor fixed distance. It only appears when you select the Sensor Fixed Distance check box.
Distance to Range Window Center (m) This is the calculated range to the center of the image window. It only appears when you select the Sensor Fixed Distance check box.
Imaging This indicates whether or not you selected the Enable Range-Doppler Image check box in the Imaging Data Products subtab of the Analysis tab.
Image Range Pixel Count This defines the image pixel resolution in range (display only). It should always be greater than the frequency samples per pulse parameter.
Image Range Window Type

This shows the Range signal processing windowing choice for this results set. It will be one of the following options:

  • Flat
  • Hann
  • Hamming
  • Taylor
Image Range Window Side Lobe Level This is the level of the side lobe in dB down. This parameter only appears in the Summary list when you choose Taylor for the Image Range Window Type.
Image Velocity Pixel Count This defines the image pixel resolution in cross-range (display only). It should always be greater than the minimum pulse count parameter.
Image Velocity Window Type

This shows the Velocity signal processing windowing choice for this results set. It will be one of the following options:

  • Flat
  • Hann
  • Hamming
  • Taylor
Image Velocity Window Side Lobe Level This is the level of the side lobe in dB down. This parameter only appears in the Summary list when you choose Taylor for the Image Velocity Window Type.
Transmit Antenna Count This is the total number of transmitting antennas in the analysis results.
Receive Antenna Count This is the total number of receiving antennas in the analysis results.
Analysis Extent NW and SE Latitudes and Longitudes These define the extent boundary for the analysis results.
Scene Contributor Count This is the total number of objects in the analysis scene that you designated as contributors.

Plotting Parameters

This section of the tab provides the following parameters to enable you to choose how to plot the results data.

Parameter Description
Plot Type

From the drop-down menu, choose one of the following types:

  • Response vs Time
  • Response vs Frequency
  • Power Ratio vs Channel Delay
  • Power Ratio vs Distance
  • Time vs Frequency Waterfall
  • Time vs Channel Waterfall
  • Time vs Signal Distance-of-Flight Waterfall

If you selected the Enable Range-Doppler check box on the Image Data Products subtab of the Analysis tab, then these options do not appear. Generating a plot will produce a Range-Doppler image for each transmitter and receiver in the selected Link at each time step.
Transmit Antenna Index This drop-down menu lists the ID numbers for all of the elements of the transmitting antenna of a link. Choose one for the plot.
Receive Antenna Index This drop-down menu lists the ID numbers for all of the elements of the receive antenna of a link. Choose one for the plot.
Channel Sounding Index This drop-down menu lists the ID numbers for all of the channel soundings. Choose one for the plot.
Frequency Sample (MHz) Enter the frequency over which to plot a data set.

When you finish setting all the plotting parameters, click Generate Plot to have the designated plot type appear on the right side of the window. Each time you adjust one or more plotting parameters, you must click Generate Plot to see the new plot version.

Further plot options

On the right side of the Results tab, in addition to the plot itself, you can use icons and shortcut menus to save data and adjust the plot display.

To zoom in on an area of a plot, you can move your mouse wheel forward or click and drag a box around the area of interest. To zoom out, move your mouse wheel backward or right-click and select Undo Zoom.

Option Icons

Above the plot, you have the following option icons available:

Option Icon Description
Save Plot Data Saves the data of a specific plot in a CSV file to a folder you choose.
Display Plot Data Click the icon to toggle between displaying just the plot and displaying both the plot and the data used to generate the plot. Waterfall plot types only display the plot, due to the large volume of data.

Basic plot options

When you right-click while hovering over the plot, you will see the following additional plot display options:

Option Description
Reset Plot Defaults Select this option to have the plot revert to the default display settings.
Waterfall Properties

This option is only available for waterfall plots. When you select this option, it open the Waterfall Plot Properties dialog box, which has the following tabs:

  • Contrast: Select Percentage to use the slider to set legend bounds. Move it toward -10 to reduce the maximum value applied to the maximum coloring in the legend, with -10 making the maximum value equal to the minimum value. Move the slider toward 10 to increase the minimum value applied to the minimum legend color, with 10 making the minimum equal to the maximum value. The slider helps you quickly focus on a narrow range of the signal strength spectrum. Select the Update Explicit Min/Max Values check box to have the legend bounds appear in the boxes below. Select the Explicit Values radio button to enter legend minimum and maximum bounds directly rather than using the slider.
  • Color Scheme: Choose one of the available color sets for the legend.
Decibel Select this to change to a decibel scale. Select it again to clear the decibel scale.
Border Style Choose one of the available styles for displaying the plot border.
Font Size Choose from Large, Medium, and Small.
Show Legend This toggles between showing and hiding the plot legend.
Plotting Method Choose from one of the available plotting styles. This option does not appear for waterfall plots.
Grid Options

There are three sets of choices available, with sets separated by a line. You can make choices from each of the sets:

  • Top set: You can toggle separately each of the following grid attributes: Grid Background Bands, Bold Grid Lines, Grid in Front, and Extend Y Axis Tick Marks.
  • Second set: Choose one of the radio buttons to show just X, just Y, both, or hide the lines.
  • Third set: Choose one of the grid line styles.
Undo Zoom Select this to restore your plot to its default size.
Customization Dialog Select this to bring up the Customization dialog box.
Export Dialog Select this to bring up the Export dialog box.

Customization options

When you double-click while hovering over the plot, the Customization dialog box will appear. You can also expose this dialog box by right-clicking the plot and selecting Customization Dialog.

The Customization dialog box has two buttons on the lower right. Export opens the Export dialog box, which has options for sending your plot out of the RF Channel Modeler. Maximize will make your plot take up the entire screen. Press the Esc key to restore the plot to normal size.

The Customization dialog box has five tabs with the following options:

Tab Description
General

The General tab provides the following options:

  • Main Title: You can change the default plot title in this text box.
  • Sub Title: You can add a subtitle for the plot in this text box.
  • Show Annotations: This is not applicable to RF Channel Modeler.
  • Border Style: Choose one of the available styles for displaying the plot border.
  • Grid Lines: Choose one of the radio buttons to show X, Y, Both, or None. Also, the Grid in front of data check box defaults to selected, but you can clear it to have the data be in front.
  • Font Size: Choose Large, Medium, or Small (default).
Plot

The Plot tab provides the following options:

  • Axes: Select the axis for which you want to apply the subsequent settings.
  • Plot Style: Choose from one of the available plotting styles.
  • Comparison Plot Style: This is not applicable to RF Channel Modeler.
Font The Font tab enables you to choose separate font style settings for your Main Title, Sub Title, and Labels (subset, point, axis). You can choose the font type for each as well as whether or not to apply bold, italics, and underlining to any of them.
Color

On the left, choose the graph attribute that you want to customize. You can then choose from the following options:

  • Color: Select one of the displayed colors or double-click any color box to select from a larger set of possible colors.
  • Quick Styles: Select the check box to have the graph attribute appear in the Bitmap / Gradient Style. You can also choose one of the radio buttons to have the graph attribute appear as light, medium, or dark with your selected style.
Style

The Style tab provides the following options for points and lines on the plot:

Color: Select one of the displayed colors or double-click any color box to select from a larger set of possible colors.

  • Point Type: Use the drop-down arrow to select the shape/fill of the plot points.
  • Line Type: Use the drop-down arrow to select the plot line style.

This tab is not available for waterfall plots.

Export options

When you select to export a plot out of the RF Channel Modeler, the Exporting dialog box appears with the following options:

Option Description
Export Choose one of the following options for the export file format: BMP, JPG, PNG, or Text/Data.
Export Destination Choose to send your plot to the Clipboard, a file location, or a printer. The Printer option is not available for the Text/Data format.
Export Size

For exporting to the clipboard or a file, you can set the width in pixels, set the DPI using a drop-down arrow, and select whether or not to use large font.

For sending to a printer, you can choose to print the whole page or set the width in millimeters, inches, or points.

The Export Size section is not available if you choose the Text/Data format.