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Installation · Free Excel and Word template

GNSS and cellular signal field-test and commissioning drive record

A tracker that sits where the sky and the network are weak sends late, jumpy data. Test each mounting position, drive a known route against a reference, trigger the events and sign what you found.

Get the English Excel file (.xlsx)Get the English Word form (.docx)
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Free: enter your name and email and we send you the files. Excel for the formulas, Word to print and fill on site. No macros.
  • 9 sheets, no macros
  • Limits you can edit
  • Word form to print
The limits are typical values

The limits for satellites, HDOP, time to first fix, event delay, speed, distance and heading are typical starting values. They are not Tracom specifications and no body has approved them. The LTE signal bands follow common field guidance for mobile signal strength, shortened to four bands. They are not a standard. Replace every value with your device datasheet, contract or client requirement. The CSQ conversion was checked against 3GPP TS 27.007 clause 8.5 (ETSI TS 127 007), last checked 2026-11-03.

What is inside

Nine sheets and a Word form, one record

For installers, technicians and fleet engineers who commission a tracker. The Word form carries the same sections for a site with no laptop. Work through the sheets in order. The Summary collects everything and suggests a decision. Examples sit in gray rows and are not counted.

  1. 01

    Limits

    Typical limits you can change, four network bands and the CSQ conversion. Every result reads these cells.

  2. 02

    Static test and mount comparison

    One row per position: first fix, satellites, HDOP, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR and RSSI. A second sheet averages each position and shows the pass rate.

  3. 03

    Drive test

    GPS speed and heading against a reference, and distance against the trip meter or a mapped route, with your error limit.

  4. 04

    Event tests

    13 events from ignition to a network gap. Write the time at the vehicle and on the platform and read the delay.

  5. 05

    Summary and sign-off

    Counts by section, the pass rate, a suggested decision, a punch list and two signatures. A person decides.

Limits and bands

Seven checks and four signal bands you can edit

Each result is Pass, Check or Fail. A second limit, the check limit, sits between them. Excellent and Good signal count as Pass, Fair as Check, Poor as Fail.

Typical pass limits (editable)
Measured valueTypical pass limit
Satellites used≥ 6typical
HDOP≤ 2typical
Time to first fix after power-up≤ 60 stypical
Event delay, vehicle to platform≤ 60 stypical
Speed difference to the referencelarger of 2 km/h and 3%typical
Distance error against the reference≤ 2 %typical
Heading difference, above 10 km/h≤ 10 °typical
Typical LTE signal bands (editable)
ReadingBands, below the last one is Poor
RSRPExcellent ≥ -80 · Good ≥ -90 · Fair ≥ -100 dBmtypical
RSRQExcellent ≥ -10 · Good ≥ -15 · Fair ≥ -20 dBtypical
SINRExcellent ≥ 20 · Good ≥ 13 · Fair ≥ 0 dBtypical
RSSIExcellent ≥ -65 · Good ≥ -75 · Fair ≥ -85 dBmtypical

Typical values. Replace them with your device datasheet, contract or client requirement.

The static test

Compare positions on the same vehicle

The result is the worse of the GNSS result and the network result. The mount comparison sheet averages each position so you can see which one to fix.

tracom-gnss-cellular-field-test-record-en.xlsx
PositionFirst fix (s)SatellitesHDOPRSRP (dBm)NetworkOverall
Dashboard top38110.9-86GoodPass
Behind metal-coated glass9553.1-104PoorFail
Roof, external31120.8-83GoodPass
Example rows with sample figures. They show how a position that passes and one that fails look in the static test sheet.
The decision

The sheet suggests, a person decides

The suggested decision is Not started, Incomplete, Pass, Pass with punch list or Fail: repeat the test. You choose the final decision and sign.

Pass with punch list

Example: 2 fails among 40 results, nothing open, pass rate above your minimum.

95%
RSSI (dBm) = -113 + 2 × CSQExample: CSQ 20 gives -73 dBmFor 2G and 3G readings. CSQ 99 means not known. Source: 3GPP TS 27.007 clause 8.5, last checked 2026-11-03. Distance error (%) = (device - reference) ÷ reference × 100.

Why test the signal before you hand over

A tracker can power up, show a green light and still report badly. The antenna may see too little sky, or the SIM may sit in a weak cell. The problem then shows up as a jumpy track, a late alert or a distance that does not match the odometer, weeks after the installer has left.

One record of what you measured, in the same order on every vehicle, turns that argument into a comparison.

The static test

Park outdoors with a clear sky, away from tall buildings and covered parking. Power the device up and write the time until the first fix, the satellites used and the HDOP. HDOP is the horizontal dilution of precision: a lower number means a better satellite geometry. Then read the network: RSRP, RSRQ, SINR and RSSI for LTE, or CSQ for 2G and 3G.

Choosing the mounting position

Test more than one position on the same vehicle: the top of the dashboard, behind the mirror, and the roof if the device allows it. Compare clear glass with metal-coated or heated glass, because some receivers lose satellites behind them. Take a photo of each position and write the file name, so the next person sees what you tested.

The drive test

Drive a route you know. Take the reference speed from a calibrated source, not the dashboard, which often reads high. Heading is only compared above a minimum speed, because it is not stable at a standstill. For distance, read the trip meter or a mapped route at the start and end of each leg and enter your error limit.

Event tests

The event sheet lists 13 tests, from ignition on and off to a network gap. Do each one safely: a private area for overspeed and harsh events, a stationary vehicle for panic and power disconnect. Mark Applies as No for a function that is not fitted. A blank row counts as open, so nothing is skipped by accident.

Limits of this record

It records one test on one vehicle on one day and suggests a decision. It is not a certificate, a standard or an approval, and it does not replace your device installation instructions. Where a client or regulator sets a limit, check it against the current official text.

Related Tracom solution

Test Tracom devices the same way

Installing Tracom ST100 or M1N? Run this record next to the device manual, then confirm the first message and the events on the SCMS portal.

  • SCMS portal. Compare the position, speed and time with your reference.
  • Tamper-proof security. Test the tamper alert on the event sheet.
  • Emergency panic alerts. Press the panic input and see it on the platform.
  • Over-the-air updates. If your device supports remote configuration, send a harmless change and check the result on the platform.
Questions

Signal test and drive record questions

Setting up a commissioning process? Talk to Tracom.

What do HDOP and satellites tell me?

More satellites and a lower HDOP usually mean a steadier position. Neither proves the position is right. Compare positions on the same vehicle and set your own limits.

Are the limits official?

No. They are typical starting values. The LTE bands follow common field guidance, and we shortened them. Replace every value with your datasheet, contract or client requirement.

How do I read CSQ?

For 2G and 3G, RSSI in dBm is -113 plus 2 times CSQ, and 99 means not known. The sheet does the sum and shows the value it used. The formula was checked against 3GPP TS 27.007 clause 8.5 (ETSI TS 127 007), last checked 2026-11-03: CSQ 0 is -113 dBm or less and CSQ 31 is -51 dBm or more.

Can the sheet accept a vehicle on its own?

No. It suggests a decision from the results. A person chooses the final decision and signs.

Excel or Word?

Use Excel when you have a laptop: it calculates the results. Use the Word form to print and fill on site, then type the numbers into Excel later.

What is Tracom's role here?

Tracom makes the devices. This record is a neutral tool for any installer. It gives no approval, certificate or legal advice.

Next step

Test the signal, then sign on a record

Bring your test record. We will go through it with you and show how the first message and the events look on the portal.

Contact Us Get the record
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