PT NEXWAVE 2012

Drive Test Measurement

Drive Test Analysis
Example DT Analysis
Preparing Drive Test
Before Executing Drive Test

Alarm Check / Cell Status Check: Make sure the cells are not
having Alarm occurred or intermittent alarms.

Parameter Check: Make sure ensure the radio part parameters

configuration list has been achieved according planning.

Choose a route: Define a route that can covered the problem area
2G Drive Test
 Drive Test Measurement
Drive Test Analysis
Example DT Analysis
 Drive Test Measurement
What Need to be Measure:
RXLEV
In 2G the first and one of the most important consideration in radio link management is
signal strength.
In 2G the first and one of the most important consideration in radio link management is
signal strength.
This received signal strength that we generally called RXLEV, or some called RSSI (received
signal strength indicator)
The standard measure of RXLEV is dBm or a number from 0-63 that corresponds to a dBm
value range

RXQUAL
RXQUAL is a value that represents the quality of the received signal and calculate by using
BER (Bit Error Rate )
The MS determines the BER of the signal and reports it back to the network.
The BER is simply a percentage of the number of bits it receives that did not pass error
checking.
The bits may have been garbled along the RF path or lost due to fading or interference.
RXQUAL is given as a number from 0 to 7 and represents a percentage range of BER.
 Drive Test Measurement
What Need to be Measure:
SQI (Speech Quality Index)

For estimating the downlink speech quality in a cellular network as perceived by a human listener
SQI has been designed to cover all factors that RXQUAL lack to measure, because consider calculating of these factors:
the bit error rate (BER)
the frame erasure rate (FER)
data on handover events
statistics on the distribution of these parameters

FER (Frame Erasure Rate)

Percentage of the number of frames of data that contained errors and could not be processed (Erased Frame Received/Total
Frame Sent)
It is used to test the performance of a mobile station's receiver
It send at FACCH and only can be made at dedicated mode
Drive Test Measurement
What Need to be Measure:
C/I (Carrier to Interference ratio)
To check interference level

Co-channel Interference
Cochannel interference is the term used for interference in a cell caused by carriers with the same frequency present in
other cells
GSM specification state that C/I ration must be greater than 9 dB, however it is generally recommended to use C/I >12
dB as a planning criterion, but if frequency hopping is implemented, it adds extra diversity to the system corresponding
to a margin of approximately 3 dB.
So, C/I > 12 dB (without frequency hopping), and, C/I > 9 dB (with frequency hopping)

Adjacent Channel Interference

Adjacent carrier frequencies (i.e., frequencies shifted 200 kHz from carrier) cannot be allowed to have too strong signal
Even though they are at different frequencies, part of the signal can interfere with the wanted carriers signal and cause
quality problems
Adjacent frequencies must be avoided in the same cell and (is possible) in neighboring cells as well
The GSM specification states that the signal strength ratio, C/A, must be larger than 9 dB. However, adjacent channel
interference also degrades the sensitivity as well as the C/I performance
During cell planning the aim should be to have C/A > -3 dB

TA (Timing Advance)
To check overshooting or multipath signal
Drive Test Measurement
Interference Check
One of the methods for checking interference is by looking at Current Channel Window.
If we see RxLev at good value but SQI or/and RxQual or/and C/I value at bad value, it could be theres
Interference at the frequency were being observed.
We need to have frequency check and retune frequency.
 Drive Test Measurement
Interference Check
GSM Frequency Scanning
How to assign a new frequency without getting another interferer from other same/adjacent channel?
One of the methods is using Frequency Scanning.

Purpose of Scanning Frequency is to verify the dominant serving cell by signal strength level in each BCCH
ARFCN and BSIC.
Choose Manual Selection
and pick the ARFCN we
Click on Scan want to observed
Properties

Choose Frequency
Scanning

Start Scanning
Stop when finished
Frequency
Drive Test Measurement
Interference Check
GSM Frequency Scanning Result

View of the frequency list from the strongest

RXLEV to the weakest RXLEV.

Neighbor list scanning mode:

It can be used to check which cells that have

good RXLEV but havent registered as a
neighbor(s).

Also we can use this as a reference for add-

remove neighbors.
 Drive Test Measurement
Basic Parameter
C1
C1 is the path-loss parameter that is used to determine the strongest cell for selection.
The MS will calculate a C1 for each cell it can see and select the cell with the highest C1.
One of criteria is C1>0, if theres a cell has C1<0 in averaging period time (5 sec), this cell will be remove from list.
The C1 uses the following parameters for calculation:

The formula for calculating C1 is given as:

C1 = (A) - Max(B,0); with must be C1>0

Where:
A = (RXLEV - RLAM)
B = MS Transmit Power Max CCH -Max RF Output of MS

A This value is merely a difference between what RSSI is required to select that cell and what RXLEV the MS
sees the tower at. If the RLAM is -110dB and the MS sees the tower at -90dB then the value of A is 20dB.

B This value is merely a difference between Power Transmit that BTS allowed MS to transmit (MS Transmit
Power Max CCH) and Maximum Power Transmit that MS able to do (Max RF Output of MS).
 Drive Test Measurement
Basic Parameter
C2
C2 is the parameter used for cell reselection. After camped in, MS will continuously monitor neighbor cells by monitoring BCCH
signal strength.
Every BCCH sends out a BCCH Allocation (BA) List. This is a list of neighbor cells ARFCNs that the MS must monitor while
camped on a particular cell. The MS only reselect a cell that is on this list.
The MS will calculate a C2 value for each cell on the BA list. The cell with the highest C2 wins and the MS will camp on it. C2 is
calculated by the MS and the MS decides which cell tower to camp on.
The C2 is calculated using the following parameters:

The formula for calculating C2 is:

C2 = C1 + CRO - (Temp_Offset * H), where:
H = 1 if the MS has been monitoring a particular cell for less than the penalty time.
H = 0 if the MS has been monitoring the particular cell for longer than the penalty time (expired).
H = 0 if the MS has been monitoring the original serving cell that MS camped.
And,
C2 = C1 - CRO, if PENALTY TIME = 31
 Drive Test Measurement
Basic Parameter
CRO (Cell Reselection Offset)
CRO is a value from 0 to 63. Each step represents a 2 dBm step (0 to 126 dBm). This value is added to C1.
A higher CRO value will make the cell more attractive to the MS. The higher the CRO, the more attractive the cell will be (in idle
mode).
The network might assign a CRO value to a cell if the network wanted to encourage mobile stations to utilize that cell in order to
reduce the load on other cells during times of high traffic volume or to force MS's to a certain band (GSM900 & DCS1800 Network).

CRH (Cell Reselection Hysteresis)

When a MS reselects a new cell it does not need to notify the network unless that new cell is in a different Location Area:
If a MS is located along the border of two location areas then it will see cells in both location areas.
Whenever MS located in this border, theres a value that will be added to C1 calculation. Its called CRH (Cell Reselection
Hysteresis)
So, on averaging period time (5 sec), if C1(neighbor cell) > C1(serving cell)+CRH, than MS will reselection to a neighbor cell.
CRH is used to avoid Ping-Pong Cell Reselection along Location Area border.

Neighbor List
The neighbor list is a list of the 6 strongest cells that the MS can see.
The RXLEV for these cells is transmitted in a measurement report from the MS to the BTS on the SACCH whenever the MS has
been allocated an SDCCH or a TCH.
The BSC and MSC use these measurements to determine if the MS needs to move to a different cell (idle mode: reselection &
dedicated mode: handover)
 Drive Test Measurement
Basic Parameter
Power Control
It used to reduce interference from near distance user.
With Power Control, BTS will manage to have a same receive power level from all MS within its
coverage.
Power control will tells MS increasing its power when MS sense its RXLEV or RXQUAL decreasing
and Power Control will tell MS decreasing its power when MS sense its RXLEV already too high.

Handover Control
Handover make sure call continuity and call quality within the process of MS moving at
dedicated mode.
Handover may be trigger by: Interference, signal quality, signal strength, distance, power
budget, umbrella cell, Power control, etc.

DTX (Discontinuous Transmission )

Its a functionality to reduce Interference level by deactivate transmitter whenever MS not
having any conversation even though MS still in dedicated mode.
If DTX active then Voice Activity Detector (VAD) will always monitor every silent frame that
occurs.

FULL values and SUB values

RXLEV and RXQUAL have two type measurements: FULL values and SUB values.
FULL values become invalid if DTX is active because BER still be calculated even there is no data
being sent and this will make BER value so high.
But, SUB values is calculated only from every frame that having data in it.
 Drive Test Measurement
Drive Test Analysis
Example DT Analysis
2G Weak Spot Improvement Flow

Start

Mengambil Data
(Drivetest before)

Pengidentifikasian
5
weak spot

Analisis
weak
spot
3 2
2G Weak Spot Improvement Flow
2

YES
Bad Rx Level (<-94 NO
dBm) and Good Rx
Qual (>=5)
Coverage Hole/No
2G coverage YES Good Rx Level (>=-94 NO
dBm) and Bad Rx
Qual(< 5)
Blocking Interferensi
yang disebabkan YES Bad Rx Level (<-94 NO
oleh. dBm) and Rx Qual
(<5)
Poor 2G Coverage
Co BCCH
Others
Tidak ada Best (Parameter)
Adjacent Serving cell/ Site
Channel BCCH

Overshooting Cell Site Down

Coverage Gap/Small
3
Coverage

Cell Dragging/ Missing

Neighbor
2G Weak Spot Improvement Flow
3

Site Audit

Parameter Tuning,
Recommendation/ Missing Neighbor
Proposal Check, Check power
transmitt

4
Site/Antenna Site/Antenna Antenna Penggantian
Relocation Height tipe antenna
increase/
decrease

Physical Tuning Mechanical/ Re-azimuth

Electrical Tilt
adjustment

New Site Forward Request to

Planning team
2G Weak Spot Improvement Flow

Change Request

YES NO
Change Request CR Request
Implementation Approved

Mengambil Data
(Drivetest after)
YES NO
Weak Spot
Improved?
5
Reporting dengan disertai analisis,
perbandingan drivetest before-after
dan action yang dilakukan

Finish
2G Weak Spot Improvement Flow

Change Request

YES NO
Change Request CR Request
Implementation Approved

Mengambil Data
(Drivetest after)
YES NO
Weak Spot
Improved?
5
Reporting dengan disertai analisis,
perbandingan drivetest before-after
dan action yang dilakukan

Finish
3G Drive Test
 Drive Test Measurement
Drive Test Analysis
Example DT Analysis
Drive Test Measurement
What Need to be Measure:
RSCP (Received Signal Code Power )
To observed power receive level at UE (dBm). Same analogy with RxLev (-15 dBm to -140 dBm)

Ec/No
To observed signal quality received at UE (scale: 0 to -25)
Is comparison between information signal energy chip with interferer signal (noise)

Scrambling Code (SC)

A spreading code that separate Node-B (Downlink) and UE (Uplink)
Drive Test Measurement
RSCP and Ec/No Analysis

Good Coverage (Q1)

RSCP >= -94dBm & Ec /Io => -14 dB
Coverage Limited (Q2)
RSCP <= -94dBm & Ec /Io => -14 dB
Poor Radio Condition (Q3)
RSCP <= -94dBm & Ec /Io =< -14 dB
Pilot Pollution (Q4)
RSCP >= -94dBm & Ec /Io =< -14 dB
Drive Test Measurement
RSCP and Ec/No Analysis

In Weak Spot Drive test

analysis, we must analyzed
the problem and categorized
as four different type:
-Good Coverage
-Poor Coverage,
-Pilot Pollution , and
-Poor Radio Condition.

If the problems are mapped

into a graph of four
quadrant, then we can
categorized as picture
shown.
Drive Test Measurement
RSCP and Ec/No Analysis

Active Set- Currently serving Cell

Measured neighbor- Defined Neighbor
Detected Neighbor- Undefined strong detected server
UARFCN DL- UMTS Absolute radio frequency channel number
Drive Test Measurement
Soft Handover
 Drive Test Measurement
Hard Handover, Soft Handover, Softer Handover

Hard Handover (Intra System: 2G-2G)

Theres a duration of time where MS is

Hard Handover (Inter System: 3G-2G) disconnected, when move to another
channel.
BTS1

NODEB4

BTS2
Softer Handover:
between 3G sector

NODEB3 Hard Handover (Inter System: 2G-3G)

Soft Handover (Intra System: 3G-3G)
MS wont disconnected from network,
because Active Cell in 3G can be 2-3
cells.
 Drive Test Measurement
Drive Test Analysis
Example DT Analysis
3G Weak Spot Improvement Flow
RSCP Weak Spot Ec/No Weak Spot

Start

Mengambil Data
(Drivetest before)

Pengidentifikasian
5
weak spot

Analisis weak
spot

1 2
3G Weak Spot Improvement Flow
2

YES Bad RSCP (<-94 NO

dBm) and Good
Ec/No (>= -14 dB)
Coverage Gap/No
3G coverage Good RSCP (>=-94 NO
YES
dBm) and Bad
Ec/No (< -14 dB)
Blocking Pilot Pollution
yang disebabkan YES Bad RSCP (<-94 NO
oleh. dBm) and Bad
Ec/No (< -14 dB)
Poor 3G Coverage
Too Many
Serving cells Others
Tidak ada Best (Parameter)
Serving cell/ Site
Overshooting Cell

Site Down
1

Coverage Gap/Small
Coverage

Cell Dragging/ Missing

Neighbor
3G Weak Spot Improvement Flow

Site Audit

Parameter Tuning,
Recommendation/ Missing Neighbor
Proposal Check, PCPICH
Adjustment

3 4
3G Weak Spot Improvement Flow
4

Power Antenna Forward Request

Upgrade to Planning team

Site/Antenna Site/Antenna Antenna Penggantian

Relocation Height tipe antenna
increase/
decrease

Physical Tuning Mechanical/ Re-azimuth

Electrical Tilt
adjustment

New Site Forward Request

to Planning team
3G Weak Spot Improvement Flow
3

Change Request

YES NO
Change Request CR Request
Implementation Approved

Mengambil Data
(Drivetest after)
YES NO
Weak Spot
Improved?
5
Reporting dengan disertai analisis,
perbandingan drivetest before-after
dan action yang dilakukan

Finish
 Drive Test Measurement
Drive Test Analysis
Example DT Analysis
 Coverage Problem: Low Signal Level

Low signal level, can be

caused by many obstacle, hilly
terrain or cells location at
different type terrain.

This can affect to having lot

of coverage holes or
insufficient signal level area.
 Coverage Problem: Lack of Dominant Server

Lack of dominant Server:

Signals of more than one cell
can be reaching a spot with
low level causing ping pong
handovers

This might happen because

the MS is located on the cell
borders and there is no any
best server to keep the call.
 Sudden Neighbors Appearance: Terrain Effect

Sudden Appearance of
Neighbors Terrain Effect:
Due to terrain or obstacles,
neighbors may pop up with
high levels causing the BSC to
give wrong handover decisions Sudden
Increase and
In this case, there wont be a Decrease in
stable server, but the call will Neighbors
Caused too
be handed to the neighbors Level
Frequent
for very short period. Handovers
 Sudden Neighbors Appearance: Fast Moving Mobile

Sudden Appearance of Neighbors Fast

Moving Mobile Effect:
When MS moves very fast, we will see a
lot of handovers and sudden changes on
signal levels.
This case might happen when the MS
user is driving fast on the highway.
The serving time of the cell will depend
on the cell size and vary with hierarchical
cell structure of the network.
There seem to happen too many
handovers but this is due to fast moving
mobile.
 Sudden Decrease on Signal Level: Tunnel Effect

Sometimes we can have sudden

decrease on signal level and will result in
excessive number of handovers.

Before suspecting anything else, check

if the test was performed on a highway
and that particular area was a tunnel or
not.

Signal level on the chart will make a

curve rather than unstable changes.

Tunnel effect will most likely result in

ping pong handovers
 Coverage Problem: RX Levels too Closed to Each Other

RX Levels too Closed to Each

Other This might point
overlapping cells.

Other cells else than the one that

suppose to serve at that particular
area should be coverage reduced.

We need to do some optimization

at these cells, such as: power
reductions, down-tilts or
parameter changes.
 Coverage Problem: Many cells almost same level

This shows the network needs big

optimization work because there
are too many cells having
overlapping coverage

This will cause quality problems

because of frequency reuse and
immediate action to optimize cell
coverage should be taken.
 Coverage Problem: Drop Call due to Bad Coverage

Call is dropped because of poor

coverage

The signal level goes down below

the minimum signal level allowed
at BTS (RLAM)
 Coverage Problem: Access Failures After a Drop Call

Access failures can happen

because of low level below RLAM,
bad quality or blocking in the
target cell, or hardware failures.

If you get a blocked call message

during call setup, it is because the
signal leveling the cell you are
trying to make call setup is below
RLAM which prevents MS to access
the cell.
 Quality Problem: Bad Quality due to Signal Strength

As the signal strength drops

down, the quality of the call
becomes worse being effected by
interference and/ or fading.

Notice that not only Rx Quality is

bad, but also FER is high. SQI is
still within acceptable limits

Thats why we check all RX

Quality, FER and SQI when
analyzing interference problems
 Quality Problem: Bad Quality due to Signal Strength

The difference of this case from

the previous is only the difference
in FER (FER is OK)

Signal strength is also bad in this,

but FER is still fine which means
there is no obvious interference in
the area

This should be flat terrain area or

low dense cells area.
 Quality Problem: Adjacent Channel Interference

From picture we see that neighbor

have adjacent frequency from
serving and also have the same
(close) RXLEV value.

Some cases where you use

adjacent channels in neighboring
cells might bring you quality
problems and even handover
failures
Quality Problem: Time Dispersion

Time dispersion can be cause by

Time Dispersion is happen when
environments, e.g., mountains,
interferer coming from reflection of
lakes with steep or densely built
carrier signal with difference time
shores, hilly cities, and high metal
arrival more than 15 ms.
covered buildings

The interferer, R, is a time delayed

reflection of the wanted carrier.
According to GSM specifications,
the signal strength ratio C/R must
be larger than 9 dB (compared to
the C/Icriterion).
However, if the time delay is
smaller than 15 ms (i.e., 4 bits or
approximately 4.4 km), the
equalizer can solve the problem
 Quality Problem: Time Dispersion

This is a good example to

reflection from a source of
reflection whether a hill or a tall
building

In this case, the reflected signal

(R) is even stronger than the
original signal (C).

Time Advance value also not

correct (bigger than it should)
Coverage Problem: Pilot Pollution

Good RSCP but Bad Ec/No due to Pilot Pollution.

Do parameter check and coverage audit.

Coverage Problem: No Dominant server

Nearest Active Serving cell not

dominant.

If cell doesnt have ALARM, we

must do site audit and obstacle.
Coverage Problem: Poor Radio Condition

Bad RSCP and Bad Ec/No due to

Poor Radio Condition.

If cell doesnt have ALARM, we

must do site audit and obstacle.

Propose New Site

Coverage Problem: Overshoot Signal

Sudden coverage appeared.

Overshoot.

Audit site
Terima kasih