RF ENGINEER

BY: RAHEEL KHURSHEED

(SENIOR GSM ENGINEER)

1
 Defining
Optimization & Planning

• What is RF Optimization ?
• What is RF Planning ?
Performance Indicators
• Lost Call (DCR) : Represents the Drop Call in the Network

• Call Blocking : How many times a subscriber is unsuccessful in setting up a

call

• Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR): A ratio tracking the success of the call
attempts in percentage

• Idle TS Interference: Interference on Idle TS

• BER: Bit error Rate

• Subscribers Feedback

• Modes For optimization

 Idle Mode
 Dedicated Mode
 GSM RF Features
&
Air Interface Channel Structure
GSM Interfaces
INTERFACE BETWEEN DATA RATE

A MSC & BSC 64Kbps

Abis BSC & BTS 16Kbps

Um MS & BTS 13kb/s -Net &

22.8Kbps-Gross (F/R)

6.5kb/s- Net &

11.4Kbps Gross
(H/R)
Measurement Report & Results
• MS & BTS have to be kept in a certain boundaries
• The results are averaged & Compared with Predefined Values

MS Measurements:
• Neighbors BCCH List
• Neighbors BSIC
• Rxlev of Serving Cell
• Channal Quality

BSS Measurement:
• Rxlev of MS
• Idle Power Measurement
• Receive Quality of Blocks
• TA Errors
Power Control

• Prolong battery life

• Reduce network interference
• Include both uplink power control and downlink power
control
• Level and quality are taken intoSignal level
account
• BSC is the final adjudicator Target level value:
e.g. -85 dm

BCCH Carrier is not

involved in power
control.

Time
Relation of Level and Power Control
DTX

Two aims can be achieved by adopting DTX mode.

One is to lower the total interference level in the air,
and the other is to save transmitter power
Paging

Paging in LA to MS
DRX
• The MS Goes into No Transmit Mode
• A means for saving battery Life
• During No Control Information being sent
Dynamic Power Control

• Reduces the Power As per the RF Environment

• Reduces the Power w.r.t the MS- BTS Distance
• Extends Battery Life
Timing Advance
Propagation Delay

d2 d1>>d2

MS2 MS1
Interfaces and Protocols
GSM FDMA+TDMA Structure
The Burst Format
TDMA frame
4.615 ms

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TIME SLOT

Training
Information S Sequence S Information

3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25
Burst
148 bits

156.25 bits
0.577 ms
Burst Period

Data Data Tail bit Guard interval

Tail bit Training sequence

3bit 57 encrypted bits 1 26bit 1 57 encrypted bits 3bit 8.25bit

Frame
stealing
flag

totally 156.25bit
Burst
• Frequency correction burst (FB): Used in frequency
synchronization between MS and BTS
Tail bit Data Tail bit Guard interval

3bit 142bit 3bit 8.25bit

• Synchronous burst (SB): Used in timing synchronization between

MS and BTS
Tail bit Data Data Tail bit Guard interval

39 encrypted 64 synchronous bits 39 encrypted

3bit bits
3bit 8.25bit
bits

• Access burst (AB): Used in MS initial access

Guard interval
Tail bit Data Tail bit

41 synchronous 36 encrypted
8bit bits bits 3bit 68.25bit
Burst - Continued

• Normal burst (NB): Used to carry the information of the traffic

channel and the control channel except for RACH
Tail bit Data Training sequence Data Tail bit Guard interval

3bit 57 encrypted bits 1 26bit 1 57 encrypted bits 3bit 8.25bit

Frame
stealing
flag

• Dummy burst (DB): Used in transmission of filling

frames by BTS at timeslots when there is no information
delivered
Tail bit Tail bit Guard interval

3bit 142 modulation bits 3bit 8.25bit

Channel Coding

Error Coding: Detect and correct error bits in the receiving end by adding redundant bits

Message Redundant Transmit

0 000 0000
1 111 1111

Message: 1 0 0 1 1 0
After channel coding:1111,0000,0000,1111,1111,0000
Receiving: 1111,0010,1000,0110,1110,0000
Judgement: 1 0 0 X 1 0
Speech Coding

• RPE – LTP Method Used

• Nyquist Theorem Applied

• A/D conversion
Channel Interleaving

First Level
Interleaving

Second Level
Interleaving
Voice Transform Process

RPE-LTP
8 KHz 260 bits/20ms
13 Kb/s
Voice
Segment Channel
A/D
Voice Coding Coding

22.8 Kb/s

Transmit
Interleaving
Encryption Burst Modulation

33.8 Kb/s Per 1 User 270.8 Kb/s Per 8 users

Radio Link Aspects
Built-in Protection
Blah Blah Blah Speech Frame = 20 ms

Speech Coding Filtering + A/D Conversion

260 bits 260/20 ms = 13kbit/s

Channel Coding
Block / Convolution Coding for Error Detection & Correction
456 bits Protected Speech (456/20 ms = 22.8kbit/s )

Interleaving

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TS3

TDMA 4.6 ms
8 TDMA frames (about 40 ms)

Information is spread over several bursts

Types of Logic Channels
Types of Logical Channels - Continued
FCCH: To find out the channel ; if it is BCCH.

SCH: Carries RFN and BSIC

BCCH: General BTS information and System

information to MS

• PCH: Page MS within LAC

AGCH: To assign SDCCH and TCH

Types of Logical Channels - Continued
RACH: Requesting SDCCH ( Uplink Only )

SDCCH: Authentication, Encryption, Location Updating, SMS. (UL & DL)

SACCH: Uplink: Measurements Report; Downlink: System Information, Power,

channel Quality, TA, LAI, Cell ID, SMS if call is established and hence SDCCH
is not available (During a call). (UL & DL)

FACCH : Handover, Used in place of SDCCH when not available; only used along
with TCH e.t.c. (UL & DL)
MS Power On Processes
Search frequency calibration  FCCH
Search synchronous information  SCH
Decoding system information  BCCH
 RACH
 AGCH
 SDCCH
Detect paging information  PCH
Send access pulse  RACH
Signaling channel assignment  AGCH
Setup calling connection  SDCCH
Traffic channel assignment  SDCCH
Communication  TCH
Channel release  FACCH
Mobility
TYPES OF HO
1. Intra CELL HO
2. Intra-BSS HO
3. Intra-MSC HO
4. Inter-MSC HO

• SOFT HO
• HARD HO
Cell Selection & Reselection Processes
• Changing Cell in Idle is Cell Selection
• Changing Cell in Dedicated is Handover

Cell Selection
• Contact a public GSM PLMN
• Selection of Proper Cell
• Control Parameters
• System Messages

Cell Reselection
• Changes Service Cell in Idle Mode
• Continuously Measures the BCCH Carriers
• Camps to the Strongest Cell
Handover Decision Process
CAUSES OF HO:
• When the need for different BTS is felt
• Handovers occur on basis of RxQual, Rxlev, TA (MS-BTS distance),
Channal Interference, Power Budgeting.
• Triggering occurs through one of above methods; Others in the list will
be ignored

HO ALGORITHM:
Algorithm decides When, Why, How and to which cell HO should be
made

HO PROCESS:
With every SACCH frame measurement information is received from MS
and in accordance with that the decision for HO is taken
Optimization Methodologies
GSM Frequency Bands
Cellular Frequency Bands
GSM 900 E-GSM 900 GSM 1800 GSM 1900
Uplink Band (MHz) 890 - 915 880 - 915 1710 - 1785 1850 - 1910
Downlink Band (MHz) 935 - 960 925 - 960 1805 - 1880 1930 - 1990
Duplex Shift (MHz) 45 45 95 80
Number of Channels 124 174 374 299

ARFCN 1..124 N=0..124 and 975..1023 512..885 512..810

900MHz Frequency Band

Uplink Downlink
E-GSM E-GSM
P-GSM P-GSM

876 880 890 915 921 925 935 960 MHz

GSM Channel Numbering

GSM900: FU(n) = 890 + 0.2n MHz

FD(n) = Fu(n) + 45 MHz，1  n  124

n is called Absolutely Radio Frequency Channel Number.

E-GSM900: FU(n) = 890 + 0.2(n-1024)，974  n  1023

FD(n) = Fu(n) + 45 MHz

GSM1800:
Fu(n) = 1710.2 + 0.2(n-512) MHz
FD(n) = Fl(n) + 95 MHz， 512  n  885
374 channels
C/I and C/A
Co-channel Interference C/I：
GSM specification regulates that C/I >9dB for
Hopping systems and C/I>12dB for Non-Hopping systems.

C/I = 10 log (Pc/Pi) dB

Adjacent channel interference C/A

C/A refers to interference of adjacent cell to the
current cell. The ratio is called C/A. The GSM
specification regulates that C/A>-9dB.
C/A = 10 log (Pc/Pa) dB
Co-Channel Interference

relative power (dB)

(C/Ic)dB > 9 dB

0 dB
C/lc
- 9 dB
carrier

interferer

fc f
Adjacent Channel Interference

relative power (dB)

(C/Ia1)dB > - 9 dB
+9 dB
C/la1
0 dB
carrier

(C/Ia2)dB > - 41 dB
interferer

(C/Ia3)dB > - 49 dB

fc fc + 200 kHz f
Interference - GSM recommendations

The reference interference ratios as specified in GSM rec. 5.05 are:

C/Ic = +9dB for co-channel interference

C/Ia1 = -9dB for adjacent interference (200 kHz)

C/Ia2 = -41dB for adjacent interference (400 kHz)

C/Ia3 = -49dB for adjacent interference (600 kHz)

Frequency Reuse

• Limited amount of spectrum

• TCH can be tighten by use of frequency Hopping, DTX,
dynamic power control
• BCCH and signaling requires reuse techniques

RE-USE TECHNIQUES:
• 1*3 reuse pattern
• 3*3 reuse pattern
• 4*3 reuse pattern
Frequency Hopping

Error burst
NON HOPPING

Error burst
HOPPING
Types Of Frequency Hopping

• Base Band Hopping: Base band frequency hopping

does not use dedicated RF synthesizer to generate
the current RF channel to be used. The number of
hopping TRXs equals the number of hopping
frequencies. Each Hopping TRX is tuned to a fixed
frequency

• Synthesizer Hopping: Synthesized frequency hopping

consists in changing the RF channel of each TDMA
frame, except the BCCH, within each cell of the
network
Concentric

Used by 900, also as a BCCH and

SDCCH TRX
Used by DCS frequencies mostly in Dual band
Case.
Multi Band Cells
Single Band Network
Cell coverage radius :

We know

Propagation characteristic

The higher the propagation 900MHz

frequency
1800MHz
The higher the propagation loss
1900MHz
The smaller the cell coverage radius.
Adaptive Multi Rate

• Supports HR & FR
• Uses Speech Codec Algorithms
• Increase System Capacity
• Improved Network Quality
Extended Range Cells

• With the extended range cell (ERC) function, a

PGSM/EGSM cell can be extended from 35 km
to 121 km
• Enabled on per cell basis
• As MS moves out of normal range which can
be about 35 km than it has to use extended
feature
• Uses two merge TS instead of one
Extended Range Cells - Continued
Directed Retry

Directed retry redirects new traffic when the cell

is congested, resulting in the new call being
moved to an alternative cell
Cell Optimization
Antenna Theory

• Amplify signals for range or building

penetration purposes
• Direct radiation in a controlled manner, omni,
sectored, directional
• Reduce/enlarge coverage using gain and
diversity
• Optimize performance in a range of mast
fixing arrangements
Antenna Use

Blah blah
blah bl ah
Electrical & Mechanical Properties
Electrical Properties Mechanical Properties
• Dipoles • Size
• Input impedance • Weight
• VSWR • Appearance and color
• Polarization • Working temperature
• Gain • Storage temperature
• Radiation Pattern • Wind load
• Horizontal/Vertical beam • Connector types
width • Package Size
• Down tilt/ Up tilt • Lightening
• Front/back ratio
Dipoles

Wavelengt
h 1/4
Wavelength
1/2
Wavelength
1 λ/2 1/4
Dipole Wavelength
1/2
Wavelength

1800MHz = 166 mm
900MHz = 333 mm
Polarization

Vertical Horizontal

+ 45
45degree
degree slant
slant -- 45
45degree
degree slant
slant
Polarization - Continued

V/H (Vertical/Horizontal) Slant (+/- 45°)

• Gain
Increment in Energy
• Energy radiates to every direction without Gain
• Gain Concentrates the Energy at one single point
Impedance

 50

Antenna
Cable
50 ohms
50 ohms
VSWR

Forward: 10W

50 ohms 80
ohms 9.5 W
Backward: 0.5W
Beamwidth

3 dB Beamwidth 10 dB Beamwidth

Peak - 3dB Peak - 10dB

60° Peak 120° Peak

Peak - 3dB Peak - 10dB

3dB Beam width Horizontal

Sectoring antenna Omni antenna

3dB Beam width Vertical

Sectoring antenna Omni antenna

Electrical/Mechanical Tilt
Antenna Tilt Examples
Electrical Tilt
Tilt - Continued

No downtilt Electrical down tilt Mechanical

down tilt
Front to Back Ratio

Ratio of maximum main lobe to maximum side lobe

Back power Front power

F/B = 10 log (Front Power / Back Power) typically = 25dB

THANK YOU