The Professional 5G Drive Test:
A Step-by-Step Technical Guide

Drive testing remains the gold standard for verifying real-world network performance. While lab simulations are useful, they cannot replicate the complexity of urban canyons, foliage attenuation, and high-speed handovers. Here is how to perform a professional-grade 5G drive test using CellInfo.

1. Route Planning & Methodology

A successful drive test begins with a clear objective. Are you testing Initial Site Verification (ISV) or performing Competitor Benchmarking?

• Urban Scenarios: Focus on “Crosstalk” areas where multiple beams from different gNodeBs overlap.
• FWA Testing: If testing Fixed Wireless Access, focus on the stationary signal stability over a 24-hour period.

2. Critical Parameters to Monitor

During the drive, CellInfo tracks hundreds of variables. For a professional report, focus on the following “Big Five”:

Metric	Importance
SS-RSRP	Defines the coverage boundary of the 5G cell.
PCI (Physical Cell ID)	Used to identify base station “pollution” or overlapping cells.
NR-ARFCN	Confirms if you are on the correct frequency band (e.g., n78 vs n28).

3. Analyzing Beam Handovers

In 5G NR, mobility is handled through beam management. As you move, the network switches between different “beams” of a single tower before handing over to a new tower entirely. Using the Signal Mapping feature in CellInfo, you can visualize exactly where these handovers occur. A “jagged” signal line often indicates poor neighbor cell planning or “pilot pollution.”