Pilot Pollution and Cell Dominance Calculator
Too many strong cells at one location means poor SINR and unstable handovers.
Your numbers
Your results
Pilot Pollution and Cell Dominance Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the Pilot Pollution and Cell Dominance Calculator works
Enter the best server’s RSRP and up to five neighbours measured at the same point.
A cell counts if it is within the dominance window of the best server and above the minimum RSRP.
If the count exceeds your limit (often 3), the location suffers pilot pollution.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Best server RSRP (dBm) | -85 dBm |
|---|---|
| Cell 2 RSRP (dBm) | -88 dBm |
| Cell 3 RSRP (dBm) | -90 dBm |
| Cell 4 RSRP (dBm) | -94 dBm |
| Cell 5 RSRP (dBm; −140 if none) | -140 dBm |
| Cell 6 RSRP (dBm; −140 if none) | -140 dBm |
| Dominance window (dB) | 6 |
| Minimum RSRP to count (dBm) | -110 |
| Pollution threshold (cells) | 3 |
- Within 6 dB of −85 dBm (cells ≥ −91 dBm): cells at −88 and −90 qualify; −94 does not.
- Count = 3; gap to second best = 3.0 dB. Healthy dominance.
Result:
| Cells within the window (including best) | 3 |
|---|---|
| Gap to second best (dB) | 3.0 |
| Result | Healthy dominance |
Frequently asked questions
What fixes pilot pollution?
Adjust antenna tilt and azimuth, reduce power on over-shooting cells, change PCI/Azimuth plan, or add a dominant site. Check for overshooting cells first.
What window is typical?
6 dB is common in drive-test analysis; operators may use 3–10 dB.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.