Sprint's Drive Test Rover446 viewsThis is a Sprint vehicle used to receive the test signal emitted from the temporary transmitter van. This van drives a predetermined area collecting signal strength data for later mapping.
Rover's Roof480 viewsOn the roof of the drive test 'rover' is a GPS antenna (the square antenna in the center of the roof), plus two PCS omnidirectional antennas for signal measurement and communications purposes.
Drive Test Rover Ready To Run399 viewsInside the cab of the drive test 'rover' is a portable computer connected to the output of the PCS signal strength receiver and the GPS receiver. The computer records the data for later mapping. The clipboard holds the predetermined route that the driver of the rover will cover during the test.
Sprint Conducts a Drive Test469 viewsThe tech mounts the omnidirectional antenna to the telescoping mast. Once the antenna is mounted, he'll connect the coax that runs back to the portable PCS transmitter sitting inside the van. Then the tech will elevate the antenna to the desired height, and set the proper output power of the transmitter. With all this done, another tech will drive the streets in the area recording signal strength, latitude, and longitude for later mapping.
PCS-Transmitter-in-a-Box449 viewsWhen a wireless carrier selects a candidate cell site it will usually conduct a 'drive test' to determine actual coverage. The drive test consists of elevating an antenna (here, an omnidirectional antenna) to a predetermined height. Inside the truck is a portable PCS transmitter powering the antenna.
This is a photo of the PCS transmitter used by Sprint in this drive test. What? You thought it would be larger?!
Sprint Conducts a Drive Test475 viewsWhen a wireless carrier selects a candidate cell site it will usually conduct a 'drive test' to determine actual coverage. The drive test consists of elevating an antenna to a predetermined height. Inside the truck is a portable PCS transmitter powering the antenna. In a separate vehicle (call it a 'rover') the carrier will drive the streets around the test site out to a predetermined distance from the site. The received signal level and GPS location information are stored in a portable computer inside the rover.
After the test is concluded, the received signal strength and location information are plotted on a street map. That map then serves to guide the RF engineer to select a final candidate site, and to design the antenna system to cover the desired area without causing unreasonable interference to other cell sites on the same network.
Attached to the left of the antenna (and blowing in the breeze) is a measuring tape used to determine the height of the antenna.