Field Tools: How I Structure a Live 5G Drive Test
Urban drive testing isn’t just “watching numbers move”, It’s structured observation.
Here’s how I typically approach a live 5G NSA/SA drive test session using G-NetTrack:
SERVING CELL – What am I really connected to?
Band combination, PCI, ARFCN, RSRP/RSRQ/SNR.
Before analysing behaviour, confirm the serving cell.
NEIGHBOUR CELL – Who’s waiting in the wings?
Mobility starts here.
Neighbour cells stats for reselection or handover.
LOCATION MAP – Where does RF meet geography?
Urban clutter, reflections, elevated roads, tunnels.
Overlaying measurements on the map reveals patterns you won’t see in raw logs alone.
SIGNAL INFO – Stability over time
Short spikes are noise.
Sustained degradation is a pattern.
Trend view exposes what averages hide.
DRIVE – Capture everything
If it isn’t logged, it didn’t happen.
And when needed, controlled voice/data sequences can be triggered to make behaviour repeatable not just anecdotal.
Tools don’t replace engineering judgement, they give you visibility so you can apply it.
- Install G-NetTrack → G-NetTrack (and other Great Tools) for 2G-3G-4G GSM-UMTS-LTE Monitoring and Test - Tips - telecomHall Forum
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