Introduction

A Cellular Network (also known as a mobile network) is a communication network where the last link is wireless. The Cellular Network is distributed over land areas called cells.

Every cell contains at least one fixed-location transceiver known as a base station. The cells altogether provide Cellular Network coverage over larger geographical areas.

In a Cellular Network, handover is a process of transferring an ongoing call or data session from one channel to another channel, where both are connected to the same core network. This way, user equipment such as mobile phones, can communicate even if the user is moving across different cells.

Cellular Networks use non-IP protocols and run standalone. So, you cannot connect Cellular Networks to Internetworks.

Note: NetSim Cellular Networks library contains two such Cellular Network standards: Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) and Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

Simulation GUI

In the Main menu select New Simulation -> Cellular Network -> GSM/CDMA as shown in Figure-1.

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Figure-1: NetSim Home Screen

Create Scenario

Cellular networks come with a palette of various devices like Mobile station, MSC and Base Station.

Click and drop into environment

  • Add a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) – click the Base Station icon on the toolbar and place the BTS in the grid.

  • Add a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) – click the MSC icon on the toolbar and place the MSC in the grid.

  • Add a Mobile Station (MS) – click the Mobile_Station icon on the toolbar and place the mobile station in the grid.

Note: If you change the settings of the grid, then ensure that you place the mobile station in the BTS’s coverage area.

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Figure-2: GSM and CDMA Device Palette in GUI

Note: You cannot place a mobile station over another mobile station.

  • Connect the devices in the Cellular Network by clicking the Wired/Wireless icon on the toolbar.

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Figure-3: Wired/Wireless icon on the top tool bar

  • Configure an application as follows:

  1. Click the Application icon on the toolbar.

  2. Specify the source and destination device in the network.

  3. Specify other parameters such as method and type of the application.

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Figure-4: Application icon on the top tool bar

  • Set the properties of the BTS, MSC, MS, and the application as follows:

  1. Right-click a BTS, MSC, MS, click Properties and modify the interface and layers’ properties to your requirement.

Enable Packet Trace, Event Trace (Optional)

Click Packet Trace / Event Trace icon in the tool bar and click on OK button. For detailed help, please refer sections 8.4 and 8.5 of the User Manual. Select Plots icon for enabling Plots and click on OK button see Figure-5.

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Figure-5: Packet Trace, Event Trace & Plots options on top ribbon.

Run Simulation

Click on Run Simulation icon on the top ribbon/toolbar.

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Figure-6: Run Simulation on top ribbon.

Set the Simulation Time and click on OK button.