Wireless Network Planning Table of contents

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Special Topic ............................................................................................................... 1
1.1 The Problem of Coverage ................................................................................................. 1
1.1.1 Equipment Configuration ........................................................................................ 1
1.1.2 ase !tation !ite !election .................................................................................... 1
1.1." #ntenna Engineering $esign an% &nstallation ......................................................... "
1.1.' #ntenna fee%er( combiner )%ivi%er*( C$+ connections ........................................... ,
1.1.- Parameters settings an% others .............................................................................. ,
1.2 TC. Congestion ................................................................................................................ /
1.2.1 The Causes of .igh TC. Congestion 0atio ........................................................... /
1.2.2 Positioning 1etho%s of .igh TC. Congestion 0atio ............................................ 12
1." 3oice Prompt ................................................................................................................... 1"
1.".1 Paging !trateg4 .................................................................................................... 1"
1.".2 Paging proce%ure ................................................................................................. 1'
1."." #nal4sis on the Problem 5!ubscriber 6ut of the !ervice #rea5 ............................ 1-
1.".' !upplementar4 Notes ........................................................................................... 17
1.' The Problem of !ignal 8luctuation .................................................................................. 19
1.'.1 E:amine the !tableness of the ase !tation;s Transmission Power .................... 19
1.'.2 Cell 0eselection )in i%le state* or .an%over )in conversation state* ...................... 1/
1.'." Power Control an% $T< ........................................................................................ 1/
1.'.' T0< $own ............................................................................................................ 21
1.'.- &nterferences ......................................................................................................... 21
1.'., Cell Congestion .................................................................................................... 21
1.'.7 1ultipath Effect ..................................................................................................... 22
1.'.9 6ther causes ........................................................................................................ 22
1.- 6ther 1ain Problems ...................................................................................................... 2'
1.-.1 Poor 3oice =ualit4 ................................................................................................ 2'
1.-.2 8ailure to attach the network ................................................................................ 2'
1.-." !low to attach the network .................................................................................... 2'
1.-.' #ccess slow .......................................................................................................... 2'
1.-.- unilateral connection ............................................................................................ 2'
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
Chapter 1 Special Topic
1.1 The Problem of Coverage
#t present there are more or less problem of coverage in the network. The problem of
coverage concerns a large number of aspects. This section anal4ses the problem of
coverage that is available on>line from the perspective of base station selection(
carrier configuration( antenna fee%er organi?ation( antenna installation( installation
qualit4 an% parameter setting( etc.
1.1.1 Equipment Configuration
I. Combiner Configuration
!olution recommen%ations un%er normal circumstances@
8or cells with less than( or equal to 2 T0<s( use E$+.
8or cells with less than( or equal to ' T0<s( use C$+ combiner.
8or cells with more than( or equal to - T0<s( consi%er using cavit4 combiner or four>
in>one )!C+* combiner.
II. Tower Amplification
8or some areas or ban%s whose uplink signal qualit4 nee%s to be strengthene%(
consi%er %esigning tower amplification.
III. Antenna
+sing high gain antenna can improve the base station;s coverage capacit4 to a
certain e:tent.
When %oing network planning( first consi%er the network qualit4 from the perspective
of network coverage an% select appropriate antenna. +n%er normal circumstances
the /221 %irectional antenna gain shall be in the range of 1->17%iA the 19221
%irectional antenna gain shall be in the range of 1->19%i. 8or cit4 areas the
%irectional antenna with hori?ontal half power angle of ,- %egrees is preferable.
When high gain antenna is use%( the problem of B!ha%ow right un%er the tower5
shoul% be taken into account. Preferabl4 ?ero>point filling antenna shoul% be use%. &f
the omni>antenna is built over high mountains( the problem of B!ha%ow right un%er
the tower5 shoul% be taken into account too. Preferabl4 omni>antenna with built>in low
inci%ence shoul% be use%.
1.1.2 ase Station Site Selection
I. a! base station location an! antenna installation will lea! to the problem
of coverage.
When there is a possibilit4 that ba% station location an% antenna installation ma4 lea%
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
to the problem of coverage( the on>site surve4ing personnel shall insist their
viewpoints from the perspective of network coverage. The issue shall be e:plaine%
thoroughl4 if it cannot be solve% ultimatel4. What shall be e:plaine% is also the base
station;s coverage areas an% obCectives )in particular government offices( hotels(
airports( resi%ential areas( main roa%s( shopping centers an% former cell;s coverage
margins*( as well as the cell;s carrier frequenc4 configurations. +suall4 for intensivel4
populate% urban areas the height of the base station;s antenna is 2->"2 metersA the
height of the base station;s antenna in the suburbs )or the ones that point to the
suburbs* is '2>-2 meters. The planning personnel shall assist the network carriers to
%eci%e the coverage areas an% obCectives after a thorough stu%4 of the geographical
features( the buil%ings; absorption an% loss features( an% multipath effect to ensure
that the base station will be constructe% as e:pecte%. 8urthermore( the base station(
in particular the omni antenna base station shall not be too high. This is because the
omni antenna;s vertical beamwi%th is narrow. &f the base station is too high( it will
have ba% coverage on the nearb4 area an% goo% coverage on the farawa4 area
where there aren;t man4 subscribers. +suall4 the height of the omni antenna base
station shall not be -2>,2 meters more than the covere% area. 8or base stations that
are too high( the built>in %own>tilt omni antennas or antennas with broa% vertical beam
are %esirable.
II. The antenna !irection !ifference between the ol! an! newl" built networ#
8or %irectional cells( if the antenna %irection of the newl4 built network is %ifferent from
that of the ol% network( such as@ the ol% antenna;s %irection was 2D122D2'2( while the
newl4 built antenna;s %irection is ,2D192D"22. 8or omni cells( if the antenna %irection
of the newl4 built network is %ifferent from that of the ol% network( such as@ the ol%
antenna;s %irection )transmit an% %iversit4 antenna* is 2D192( while the newl4 built
antenna;s %irection is /2D272. This will cause the change of the %iversit4 surface an%
transmit antenna position. This ma4 make the previous goo% coverage a ba% one(
an% previous ba% coverage a goo% one. ut the mobile phone subscribers are onl4
concerne% with the change from goo% to ba%( which will give rise to complaints.
!olution recommen%ations@ $uring the engineering %esign( the antenna shall be so
%esigne% as to make the %irection of it as i%entical as that of the ol% one. &n cases
where the %irection change is %esire%( the main beam of the %irectional antenna or
the %irection of the omni antenna shall point to the places where heav4 coverage is
emphasi?e%. $ue e:planations are also %esirable.
III. The !ifference of the antenna height between the ol! an! newl" built
networ#
The engineering %esign shall be so ma%e as to ensure that the height of the new
antenna is not lower than that of the ol% antenna. &f the tower platform has not enough
space to install the antenna( the e:planations shall be given for %ecreasing the
antenna height.
I$. Concerning the !irectional antenna%s !own&tilt of the newl" built networ#
Preferabl4 the %own>tilt shall not change. &n cases where such change is %esire% %ue
to the increase of the base station in the urban area for purpose of controlling the
coverage area( such change shall be %ul4 recor%e%.
$. Change omni cell to !irectional cell
#s the half power angle of the %irectional antenna;s beamwi%th is ,- or /2 %egrees(
an% the beamwi%th of the omni antenna is ",2 %egrees( after the change( the
marginal coverage of the cell within the %irectional base station can be worse than
that of the previous omni station. $uring the planning( make sure that the main beam
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
of the %irectional antenna points to the area where emphatic coverage is %esire% an%
%escribe the coverage %ifferences between the omni>antenna an% %irectional
antenna.
1.1.' Antenna Engineering (esign an! Installation
I. The problem of the !irectional antenna installation
Eenerall4( the base station;s uplink an% %ownlink signals are balance%. a% antenna
installation ma4 leave the mobile phone subscribers such impression that the base
station;s uplink coverage capacit4 is weak.
)1* The transmitting antenna is installe% inverse.
Transmitting fee%er an% the cell;s antenna were mistakenl4 connecte% or T! set top
Cumper was mistakenl4 connecte%.
Possible phenomenon clue for fault %iscover4@
The mobile phone is somewhere in the cell but cannot call out )the
receiving antenna is in the other %irection( the uplink is ba%*A
+nilateral call connectionA
8rom a %istance of the cell( %rop>off happens frequentl4 )infrequent
near the base station*A
$rop>off after frequent han%overs )the han%overs are foun% to be
mostl4 cause% b4 weak uplink signal strength or ba% uplink qualit4*A
The fiel% intensit4 %istribution of the CC. frequenc4 ban% between the
a%Cacent sectors were foun% to be %isplace% %uring the %rive testA
+ne:pecte% severe interferences with the a%Cacent frequencies.
This t4pe of error is eas4 to %iscover in the network. &t can be foun% b4 checking
installation or b4 anal4?ing the fiel% intensit4 %istribution of the CC. frequenc4 ban%
%uring the %rive test.
)2* Wrong receiving antenna installation@
This problem( which cannot be foun% b4 anal4?ing the fiel% intensit4 %istribution of the
main CC. frequenc4 ban% in the %ownlink( can cause ba% uplink in the current cell.
#fter e:clu%ing the possibilit4 that it is cause% b4 transmitting antenna( check if the
Cumper or fee%er of the receiving antenna are wrongl4 installe%( also review the
measurement report to see if the uplink level is too low( or if there are an4 call>out or
han%over problems( power control triggere% b4 the uplink signal( or irrational
han%over ratio( etc.
II. The problem of sha!ow a!)acent to the coverage area in the !irectional cell
$uring the installation of the %irectional antenna( caution must be taken to avoi% the
creation of large area of sha%ow in its coverage area. !ha%ow usuall4 comes into
being as a result of huge hin%rance near the base station( such as sk4scrapers( or
mountains. Caution must be taken to circumvent such hin%rance %uring the
installation. When the %irectional antenna is installe% at the surface of the top of the
buil%ing( caution must be taken so that the wave beam is not hin%ere% b4 the e%ge of
the buil%ing( an% that the antenna is not installe% near the e%ge( thus re%ucing or
e:tirpating the sha%ow. $ue to the comple:it4 of the antenna surface( when the
antenna must be installe% awa4 from the e%ge of the buil%ing( it must be installe% high
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
above the antenna surface. 8or this reason( the bearing capacit4 of the buil%ing
surface an% the antenna;s against>win% force must be taken into account %uring the
engineering.
III. The problem of the !irectional antenna !iversit" interval
The effective hori?ontal interval of the /221 %irectional antenna space %iversit4
shoul% be more than 'm )at least greater than "m*A The effective hori?ontal interval of
the 19221 %irectional antenna space %iversit4 shoul% be more than 2m.
I$. The problems !uring the omni&antenna installation
6mni base stations are mostl4 locate% along the roa%s from villages to counties( or
from counties to other cities. These base stations are mainl4 to serve the mobile
subscribers along the roa% or subscribers in the villages. The common mistake that is
ma%e %uring the installation of the antenna fee%er is that the %istribution of the above
subscribers are not full4 taken into account( lea%ing to the incomplete utili?ation of the
performance of the base station( leaving the subscribers such impression that the
coverage is ba%. There are mainl4 " points concerning the %esign an% installation of
the omni antenna@
)1* The interval between the omni antennas an% the interval between the antenna an%
the tower
)2* $iversit4 %irection@ the %iversit4 surface shoul% be %irecte% to the area where
subscribers are heavil4 populate%
)"* The position of the host transmitting antenna )T<* )the host transmitting antenna
refers to that of the CC. transmitting channel*. The main transmitting antenna
shoul% be %irecte% to the area where the subscribers are heavil4 populate%. The
following figure is on the %irection of the base station omni antenna that covers the
roa%s@
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
M S _ T X P W R _ M A X ( n )
M S _ T X P W R ( n )
H O B T S 1 B T S 2
R X L E V _ N C E L L ( n )
M s O p t L e v e l ( n )

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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
I. Static Power Setting
To re%uce the interference with the a%Cacent frequencies( lower the height of the
antenna( increase the %own>tilt( or %ecreasing the base station;s transmitting power.
+suall4( %ecreasing the transmitting power can also worsen the in%oor coverage. !o
what are commonl4 a%opte% arefalling %own the height of the antenna an% increasing
the %own>tilt.
II. *AC+ Parameters Setting
To control the uplink access )call( paging response*( an% to balance between the
coverage an% call %rop ratio( .uawei a%%s the parameter B0#C. access threshol%5 in
the T!".< base station. The parameter can go upwar% from F112%m( an%
effectivel4 controls the mobile phone;s uplink access.
III. Cell Selection an! *eselection Parameters
C1 an% C2 %eci%e the cell selection an% reselection. 0<GE3H#CCE!!H1&N is
commonl4 set between >122%m to F12-%m. !etting the parameter too great will
make it %ifficult for the mobile phone to select the cell( which( when viewe% from the
subscriber;s perspective( is the mobile phone;s call %rop an% no coverageA !etting the
parameter too small will lea% to the situation that the mobile phone can receive the
signal but cannot call out.
$uring the parameter setting( also note the %ifferences of sensitivit4 an% ma:imum
transmitting power between the /221 an% 19221 networks( ignoring which ma4
cause the unbalance between the uplink an% %ownlink.
I$. ,ther Parameters an! Phenomena
The setting of the ran%om access error threshol% can also restrict the mobile phone;s
access. &ts value( which is usuall4 greater than 192( is set subCect to the ra%io
environment;s bottom noise an% statistical result. The other parameters settings that
have effect on the mobile phone attache%( access( han%over( an% connection are@
!&C( NCCHPE01&TTE$( CEGGH#0H#CCE!!( CEGGH#0H=+#G&8I( ra%io link
failure timer( the number of mobile phone;s ma:imum retransfer( the number of sen%
%istribution time slots )the number of e:ten%e% %istribution time slots*( the number of
!#CC. multi>frames( the number of ma:imum ph4sical retransfer( ra%io link
connection timer( location up%ate an% paging>relate% parameters )inclu%ing G#C
%istribution*( han%over>relate% parameters( power control>relate% parameters( flow
control>relate% parameters( roaming permit>relate% parameters( T0< power settings
of %ifferent C$+ channels( etc.
When the base station;s upper clock is ba%( 1CJ )T1+* is failure( propagation is
unstable( or the carrier frequenc4 boar% is failure )no warning( sometimes stable
interferences*( the mobile phone;s accessing( call an% han%over )usuall4
as4nchronous han%over* will be affecte%.
When the s4stem information is wrong or is not %elivere% correctl4( the mobile
phone;s accessing( call or han%over will be affecte%.
When the frequenc4 interference is severe( the mobile phone;s accessing( call an%
han%over will be affecte%.
When the channel is congeste% the mobile phone;s han%over an% call access will be
affecte%.
1ultipath effect can lea% to signal fluctuation
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
$uring the cell reselection an% frequent location bor%er up%ate( the signal of the
mobile phone will fluctuate.
$uring the connection( %irect re>tr4 an% loa% han%over cause% b4 congestion can lea%
to strong fluctuation of the signalA Priorit4 han%over )for la4ere% network* an% e%ge
han%over )the e%ge han%over threshol% is set too low an% there is no PET
han%over* can also lea% to strong fluctuation of the signal. &f the power control an%
han%over parameters are not set properl4 %uring the signal fluctuation( the fluctuation
will be strengthene% until call %rop happens.
The cross>area coverage or coverage in the bor%er areas for %ifferent services can all
cause problems( lea%ing to the subscriber;s huge increase of roaming bill. To solve
the problem( the coverage area shoul% be controlle% or enlarge% %uring the planning
an% optimi?ation phase to avoi% mutual cell reselection or onl4 single>%irection cell
reselection. !olve the problem b4 a%Custing the height( %own>tilt( an% %irection of the
antenna( C0. an% 1! minimum access threshol%( an% #& table.
The mobile phone subscriber having not sufficient un%erstan%ing on the terrain(
construction material;s absorption loss( or multipath effect will ten% to rise questions
on coverage.
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
1.2 TC+ Congestion
&n 2221( the mobile phone companies in all the provinces presente% five in%e:es as
network qualit4 criteria. The4 are@ long %istance call success ratio( traffic call %rop
ratio( traffic channel availabilit4 ratio( ra%io successful connection ratio( an% worst
cells ratio( the last two of which are %irectl4 influence% b4 TC. congestion ratio.
1.2.1 The Causes of +igh TC+ Congestion *atio
The causes for high TC. congestion ratio are man4( among others( %ata configuration
problems( har%ware problems an% e:ternal interference. ut in light of solution steps
an% sequence( it is %esirable to first check the software an% har%ware problems of the
equipment per se( an% then check other equipment>unrelate% factors such as e:ternal
interference an% constraints %ue to comple: terrain
)1* &nterface # trunk circuit %ata configuration errors.
)2* Carrier frequenc4 boar% faults or unstable performance( lea%ing to high
congestion ratio.
)"* a% base station har%ware installation causes unbalance% uplink an% %ownlink
level( lea%ing to TC. congestion.
)a* +plink branch@ antennatower amplifierfee%er line%ischarge arresterset
top connector%ivi%er or C$+T0< boar%
$ivi%er casca%e% half>rigi% cable connection error( lea%ing to uplink
level %iscrepanc4A
.alf>rigi% cable %istortion or loose connector( lea%ing to the problemA
$ata bus problem.
)b* $ownlink branch@ T0<.P#combiner or C$+set top connector%ischarge
arresterfee%er linetower amplifierantenna
The transmit branch has antenna fee%er F stan%ing wave ratio warningA
.alf>rigi% cable %istortion or loose connectorA
Cell antenna connection error or T0< natural transmit channel
%iscrepanc4 cause the %iscrepanc4 in the coverage %irection an% area
of main CC. carrier an% e:pansion carrier( lea%ing to TC.
congestion.
)'* The repeater station is subor%inate% to the host cell. The repeater station %oesn;t
e:pan% as the cell %oes.
)-* &nterferences lea%ing to congestion
),* &solate% station or comple: terrain causes TC. assignment failure( lea%ing to
congestion.
)7* .uge real traffic lea%ing to congestion.
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
1.2.2 Positioning -etho!s of +igh TC+ Congestion *atio
I. *emote Anal"sis of Congestion *atio Cause
)1* 4 traffic statistics anal4sis
4 con%ucting traffic statistics anal4sis on the cell;s TC. performance(
check if TC. congestion is %ue to all>bus4 congestion. &f it is( the
problem can be solve% b4 network optimi?ation which %elegates the
cell;s traffic to other cells( or b4 a%vising the operator to e:pan%.
&f the problem is not %ue to all>bus4 congestion( check if the congestion
is relate% to interference( namel4( check interference 1 to -. &f
interfere%( the cell;s call %rop ratio can be a little high.
0egister the receiving performance measurement traffic statistics tasks.
=uer4 the traffic statistics result b4 obCect an% see if the uplinkD%ownlink
measurement report in the same T0< is balance% to %eci%e if the
uplinkD%ownlink har%ware branch is balance%. =uer4 the traffic statistics
result b4 time an% see if there is an4 e:ceptions regar%ing the
measurement report number in the same cell to %eci%e if the
congestion is relate% to that boar%.
)2* 3iew the warning
Check the station warning to which the high>congestion>ratio cell belongs to see if
there are an4 abnormal warning( such as 3!W0 warning( PC1 s4nchroni?ation lost
warning( uplink %ata bus warning( etc( an% %eci%e if the congestion is relate% to that
warning( taking into account the traffic statistics.
)"* 0emote maintenance terminal of the base station
Check if the software of the boar%s in the base station is uniform. The version
upgra%e shall be subCect to the notice from !+PP60T website.
+se the maintenance terminal of the base station to congest in turn the cell carrier
boar%;s TC. channels that have high congestion ratio to see if the high congestion
ratio is relate% to that cell;s carrier boar%. !olution principles@
&f the fluctuation of the congestion ratio is relate% to the block of the
carrier boar%;s channel( then ver4 possibl4 that boar% is at fault. Check
if there is an4 co>channel interference. Check the har%ware
performance of the uplink( %ownlink( an% the boar%.
&f the congestion is not relate% to the carrier boar%( then the whole cell
ma4 be interfere% or affecte% b4 the terrain.
)'* +se the !ignaling #nal4?er to %iagnose the #&! interface message.
#ccor%ing to the call flow an% TC. assignment failure statistics( use the !ignaling
#nal4?er to trace the #&! interface message at ever4 high>congestion>ratio cell. The
figure shown here uses 1#12 !ignaling #nal4?er( the %etaile% anal4sis of which is as
follows@
#nal4?e the assignment comman% #ssignment C1$ %elivere% in !$CC.( as the TE&
value in figure 12>2( to %etermine the carrier boar% that !$CC. is in. The carrier
boar% that TC. is in can be %etermine% b4 referring to the #08CN ra%io frequenc4
ban%. $etermine if the assignment failures are all in a T0<. #lso anal4?e the causes
of the assignment failures b4 focusing on the mobile phone;s T# value(
uplinkD%ownlink level value( an% uplinkD%ownlink signal qualit4 in the measurement
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
report. Gocal calling is require%.
&f assignment failure points to a certain T0< boar%( the cause can be one of the
following@
T0< boar% %own or unstable performanceA
Cause% b4 ba% uplinkD%ownlink level. The uplink branchD%ownlink
branch har%ware is at faultA
a% uplinkD%ownlink signal qualit4. $eci%e which branch is interfere%(
taking into account the mobile phone;s T# value.
Figure 10-2 ABIS signaling
&f the assignment failures are ran%oml4 %istribute% over the carrier boar%s of the
whole cell( the anal4sis on the measurement report ma4 point to the following causes@
)1* Comple: terrain within the coverage area of the base stationA
)2*&nterference of the frequenc4 ban% within the whole the cell( such as the one from
the repeater station
II. E.amination on the local base station
)1* Gocal maintenance@ !ee if there are an4 abnormal warnings an% solve them
timel4.
)2* Check if there are an4 such har%ware problems in the uplink an% %ownlink
antenna fee%er branch as loose connector( inverse antenna( half>rigi% cable
connection error( an% backplane loose wiring( etc.
)"* +se mobile phones for calling in the same placeA
Calling b4 ever4 carrier or b4 ever4 channel to see if there are an4 time
slots or boar%s that cannot be assigne%.
Check weather all the carrier;s %ownlink levels are approache%. 8or
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
carrier boar% whose levels are uneven( replace the boar% or
uplinkD%ownlink antenna fee%er s4stem to look for the causes.
Note@ for frequenc4 hopping cells( use comman% line parameters to change that cell
to non>frequenc4>hopping cell for the convenience of local calling.
)'* $o the %rive test b4 the network optimi?ation software #NT>PG6T to see if there is
an4 han%over e:ceptions( %ownlink interference for an4 clues on the problem of
congestion.
)-* +se the spectrum anal4?er to look for the interference source.
),* !ee if the terrain of the station;s coverage area is comple:.
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
1.' $oice Prompt
The voice prompt in E!1 is controlle% b4 the 1!C of E!1 network an% broa%cast to
the subscribers. 1!C pla4s the pre>recor%e% voice prompt in the channel
correspon%ing to the voice car% accor%ing to the %ifferent cause values an% %ata
configuration of the message. T4pical voice prompt problems can take the following
forms@
)1* When the calle% is in i%le state( BThe subscriber 4ou;re calling is bus45 or BThe
mobile phone 4ou;re calling has turne% off5 is %elivere%.
)2* When the calle% is in i%le state( BThe subscriber 4ou;re calling is out of the service
area5 is %elivere%.
)"* When the calle% is in i%le state( B8or the time being the subscriber 4ou;re calling
cannot be accesse%5 is %elivere%.
The reasons that cause the above phenomena can be some of the following@
!ubscriber status management e:ception on the N!! si%e( roaming number fetch
failure( or no paging response.
&n the following section we emphasi?e on the anal4sis of the problem B!ubscriber out
of the service area5.
1.'.1 Paging Strateg"
The primar4 causes for the problem of Bsubscriber out of the service area5 are
twofol%@ one is paging response time overA the other is no paging response. 8irst let;s
look at how the paging is %one. The paging strateg4 can be %ivi%e% into the following
three parts as per 1!C( !C( an% T!.
I. -SC Paging *etransfer an! Paging -o!e Selection
1!C can page the same message for a ma:imum of four times. &f the latest paging is
not respon%e%( it will retransfer the paging message. The resen% time interval is "
secon%s( " secon%s( 2 secon%s( an% 2 secon%s respectivel4. Two secon%s after the
last resen%( i.e.( twelve secon%s after the first retransfer( if the paging is not
respon%e%( 1!C will regar% it as time>over an% %eliver prompt tone of B!ubscriber out
of the service area5 to the subscriber. The paging metho%s 1!C can choose are
T1!& an% &1!&.
II. SC Paging /roup Calculation an! Paging -essage Transfer between the
-o!ules
#fter !C receives the Paging 0equest %elivere% b4 1!C( it will calculate the paging
group that the paging belongs to b4 the last three %igits of &1!&( the cell;s CCC.
channel configuration( an% the paging block configuration( an% then %eliver Paging
Comman% to that cell. +n%er multiple mo%ules con%itions( the Paging Comman%
nee%s to be transferre% between the mo%ules.
III. TS Paging 0ueue an! Paging Combination
#fter T! receives the Paging Comman% from !C( it will put the paging in the
Paging Eroup =ueue that the Paging Comman% %esignates( an% sen% the paging
12
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
content of the paging group at intervals of the same paging frame perio%. #t present(
ever4 queue length of the paging group in T! is /.&n one paging reserve block( 2
&1!& paging or ' T1!& paging can be %elivere%. !o ever4 time the paging is
%elivere%( T! must combine the paging accor%ing to the paging message t4pe in the
queue.
I$. -S Paging (etection an! Paging *esponse
When in i%le state the mobile phone can not onl4 receive the s4stem information from
the broa%cast channel( but also %etect paging in its Paging !ub>channel. Therefore
when the mobile phone receives the paging that is %irecte% to it( it will sen% Channel
0equest to the Network !i%e an% finish an immi%iate assignment process. &f the
assignment is successful( it will report the Paging 0esponse in the assigne% !$CC.
channel an% complete a call connection process.
8aults in an4 one of the above>mentione% four steps will lea% to the problem of
Bsubscriber out of the service area5.
1.'.2 Paging proce!ure
When in i%le state( the mobile phone will sta4 in a cell that belongs to a location area.
The mobile phone;s location area information is store% in 3G0. When a mobile phone
is being calle%( 1!C will rea% the mobile phone;s location area an% status information
from 3G0. &f the mobile phone is in B#ttache%( &%le5 state( it will sen% Paging 0equest
to the !C to which the location area belongs. The !C will calculate the mobile
phone;s paging subgroup( create Paging Comman%( an% %eliver the Paging
Comman% to all the cells in the location area. When in i%le state the mobile phone
can not onl4 receive the s4stem information from the broa%cast channel( but also
%etect an4 paging in the Paging !ubchannel to which it belongs. Therefore after the
mobile phone receives the paging that is %irecte% to it( it will sen% Channel 0equest to
the Network !i%e an% finish an immi%iate assignment process. &f this immi%iate
assignment is successful( it will report Paging 0esponse to the assigne% !$CC.
channel an% complete a call connection process.
Note@ The Paging 0esponse is reporte% in Establishment &n%ication.
8or e:ample@ all the cells in a region belong to one location area( the common control
channel parameter configuration for the cells is as follows@
6ne non>combine% CCC.
The number of frames between the same paging@ ,
The number of access reserve block@1
Thus( there are ,:)/>1*K'9 paging groups in ever4 cell. The mobile phone will %eci%e
the paging group it belongs to accor%ing to the last three %igits of its &1!& an% the
number of the paging groups( then %etect in the relevant sub>channel. 8or a mobile
phone whose number is 1"21"",2222( an% the &1!& is ',221"",12222"7( the last
three %igits of its &1!& is 2"7( its paging sub group is "7.When in i%le state( the mobile
phone will alwa4s listen to the paging sub channel relate% to the No. "7 paging group.
&f someone calls 1"21"",2222( the paging will be sent to that subscriber from the
cells in that area. #fter the mobile phone receives the paging %irecte% at
',221"",12222"7( it will sen% a channel request( an% finish an instant assignment
accor%ing to the instant assignment from the network si%e. &f there is i%le !$CC.
channel in the cell( a !$CC. channel will be assigne% to that mobile phone( the
mobile phone establishes the connection in the channel( an% reports the paging
response.
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
1.'.' Anal"sis on the Problem 1Subscriber ,ut of the Service Area1
The reasons that cause B!ubscriber out of the service area5 are the time>out of the
mobile phone;s response to the paging or no response. 8rom the flow of the paging
response report an% anal4sis on the real cases( there are the following reasons that
cause this problem@
I. -SC subscriber status management
&f 1!C subscriber status management is %own an% the request cannot be %elivere%
to !C( then 1! will fail to receive the paging an% to respon%( lea%ing to time>out. &n
real situations( there are cases when 1!C %i%n;t %eliver the paging. There were also
such abnormalities as faulte% calle% being regar%e% as caller an% "Tick release
abnormalities. !uch abnormalities are non>recurrent. #n% can be i%entifie% b4 being
trace% b4 the E!1 subscriber interface of 1!C 1aintenance !tation.
II. *eceiver in the base station
&f the receiver of the base station( inclu%ing $!P( T0<( an% antenna fee%er( is %own( it
will fail to %etect the mobile phone;s access pulse or to establish connection with the
mobile phone within the time limit( the paging response )in essence the instruction to
set up connection* cannot be reporte% to !C( lea%ing to paging response time out or
no paging response. 8or e:ample( we foun% that T2,99 in somewhere is slow in
getting online. #fter the amplifier an% the antenna fee%er are %iscar%e%( the access
spee% can be 12 secon%s faster. #s this situation involves air interface an%
sometimes can be cause% b4 the problems of 1!( the %iagnosis of it is %ifficult an%
%ictates e:perts equippe% with special %evices.
III. The !ifferences of the mobile phone%s fa#e accessing an! accessing mo!e
#ccor%ing to the protocol( whenever the 1! is performing openDclose( it must up%ate
its position an% %o the &1!& %etachment accor%ing to the s4stem;s requirement. !ome
mobile phones( mostl4 Ericsson( %on;t perform the above operations. &f the mobile
phone fails to up%ate its position when attempting open( it will %ispla4 the message
that it has alrea%4 been attache%. ut what happens is that there is no message
reporte% an% the subscriber status %oesn;t change. $ialing that subscriber will receive
the message that it is close. #nother e:ample is that &1!& is not %etache% when the
mobile phone switches off( so the subscriber status is still Battache%5. Paging is still
%elivere% to that subscriber when it is calle%. B6ut of service area5 message will come
out when the time is out.
$ifferent mobile phones have %ifferent accessing mo%e an% spee% after the %rop>off(
causing some to have long time in accessing( lea%ing to the problem of B!ubscriber
out of the service area5. +n%er the protocols of E!1 22 an% 2"( after the call %rop the
mobile phone follows the principles of #!#P )as soon as possible* an% energ4 saving
to access the network. The mobile phone will attempt to access the network in
receiving signal;s strength or%er. /221 mobile phones search "2 frequenc4 ban%sA
19221 mobile phones search '2 CC. frequenc4 ban%sA $ouble frequenc4 mobile
phones search 72 frequenc4 ban%s. #fter the faile% attempt( the mobile phone will
%eci%e when to start ne:t time accor%ing to its own algorithm. 1obile phones of
%ifferent mo%els have %ifferent algorithms. 8or e:ample( some mo%els of 1otorola
mobile phones can set accessing network frequenc4. +n%er the low spee% accessing
mo%e( it takes -2 minutes to access the network after the mobile phone %rops off the
network an% re>enter the coverage area. &n a%%ition mobile phones of %ifferent
manufacturers have %ifferent accessing mo%e. !ome mobile phones( after several
failures in fin%ing the network( will stop %oing so for a long time to come. !o( this
problem is relate% to the mobile phone itself an% can be solve% b4 the switch on an%
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
switch off of the mobile phone.
I$. 2plin# 3 (ownlin# 2nbalance of *a!io 4in#
The ra%io signal can be classifie% into uplink an% %ownlink accor%ing to the
propagation %irection. &%eall4 the uplink>%ownlink are at balance( that is to sa4( at an4
area the base station an% the mobile phone can receive )or not receive* the other
si%e;s signal simultaneousl4. The uncertaint4 of the ra%io signal propagation an% the
%iscrepanc4 of the actual circumstances %ictate that complete balance within the
whole network is impossible. !o in the network there must be some areas where he
%ownlink signal can cover but the uplink signal cannot. &n these areas( the subscriber
can receive message sent b4 the network( while the network cannot receive the
message reporte% b4 the subscriber( inclu%ing paging response. Therefore in these
areas it is ver4 common for the B!ubscriber out of the service area5 message to occur.
To solve such problem of B!ubscriber out of the service area5( a%Cust the ra%io
parameters such as B0#C. access threshol%5( Bran%om access error threshol%5( B1!
minimum access level5( an% B0!!& check5 to optimi?e the balance. &n particular( note
that the %isplacements of the measure% level value in the measurement report for
%ifferent versions of base stations are %ifferent.
$. S(CC+ Congestion
#fter the mobile phone receives the paging comman%( it will sen% channel request to
the network si%e. &f there is no !$CC. channel available( or if the proce%ure to set up
!$CC. channel fails( the paging response cannot be %elivere% to the network si%e(
thus the problem of B!ubscriber out of the service area5 occurs. The causes for the
!$CC. congestion are !$CC. all bus4( ran%om ra%io link failure( etc. 8or the
!$CC. all bus4 situation( a%Cust that cell;s coverage area to re%uce the !$CC.
congestion. 8or congestion cause% b4 other reasons( such as ran%om ra%io link
failure or surface link failure( the solution is subCect to real situation.
$I. PC+ ,verloa!
The paging message in the network is ran%om. $ue to the restrictions on the
structure of the ra%io channels an% the limitations on the capabilit4 to sen% the paging
comman%( it is possible that some of the paging groups are overloa%e%( lea%ing to
failure to sen% the paging messages out timel4( an% the resen% paging cannot be
respon%e% within the vali% time( thus causing the problem of B!ubscriber out of the
service area5.
This situation can be improve% b4 mo%if4ing CCC. configuration parameters Bthe
number of frames in the same paging5( Bthe number of access grant reserve% block5(
an% BCCC. channel allocation5. 0e%ucing Bthe number of access grant reserve%
block5 to a proper e:tent will increase the number of PC. sub channels( thus
increasing the capacit4 of the paging channelsA 0e%ucing Bthe number of frames in
the same paging5 will improve the frequenc4 of sen%ing the paging messageA
&ncreasing the number of CCC. channels in the cell can significantl4 improve the
s4stem;s paging capacit4( but at the same time re%ucing the number of TC.
configurations. Thus this metho% is sel%om use%. &f PC. is severel4 overloa%e%( the
si?e of the location area nee%s to be re%uce%( thus lowering the flow of the paging
message.
$II. -obile Phone 0ualit"
When the mobile phone;s ra%io frequenc4 mo%ule is %own( the antenna loosens( or
the batter4 is %own( its receiving sensitivit4 goes %own( the uplink signal qualit4
worsens( an% the capabilit4 to receive the paging comman% an% access the network
lowers. 1obile phones with such problems are prone to have the phenomenon of
1-
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
B!ubscriber out of the service area5. The evaluation on the qualit4 of the mobile
phone sometimes requires special %evices. The problems of the mobile phone can
take the following forms@
)1* a% power suppl4 lea%s to insufficient uplink transmitting power an% uplink access
failure.
)2* 8aulte% mobile phone software lea%s to the mobile phone;s e:ceptional %ea%>en%
an% failure to respon% to the paging message.
)"* Problems in the ra%io frequenc4 part of the mobile phone will lea% to failure to
receive( unstable transmission( or high frequenc4 error within some frequenc4 ban%.
$III. 5on&comprehensive Coverage
&n areas where the ra%io signal coverage is not goo%( usuall4 in%oors( the signal
qualit4 is likel4 to be ba%( an% the call %rop is not uncommon .#s the subscriber status
in the 3G0 has not change%( when that subscriber is being calle%( the network si%e
can %eliver paging message normall4( but the subscriber cannot receive the paging
message an% cannot respon% to the paging message. 6r because of the low qualit4
of the signal( the paging response cannot reach the network si%e. &t is normal un%er
this circumstance that B!ubscriber out of the service area5 occurs. 8or such
B!ubscriber out of the service area5 phenomenon( the qualit4 can be improve% b4
increasing the number of the base stations an% perfecting the coverage.
There is a significant percentage of complaints concerning the problem of B!ubscriber
out of the service area5 that is %ue to ba% coverage.
1.'.6 Supplementar" 5otes
&n the wireless network( because of the ra%io channel congestion or ra%io signal
coverage( it is certain that the problem of BNo paging response5 occurs.
&n some areas where the coverage is ba%( ba% signal qualit4 will lea% to the failure to
%eliver the paging or paging response to the peer si%e( causing the phenomenon
B!ubscriber out of the service area5.
8or e:ample( %ue to the temporar4 congestion of the !$CC. channel( the 1! cannot
be assigne% an !$CC. channel( an% the paging response cannot be reporte%( in
which case the first %ial ma4 receive the prompt tone of B!ubscriber out of the service
area5 an% the secon% %ial ma4 succee%. #s the paging sub channel of the cell where
the subscriber is in is fi:e%( so the chance for that sub channel overloa% increases
significantl4. Calling that subscriber man4 times will be ver4 likel4 to encounter the
phenomenon of B!ubscriber out of the service area5. These phenomena are all
normal no>paging>response.
&t is an e:ception onl4 when the attempt to call an i%le state subscriber with goo%
signal continuousl4 for a long time receives B!ubscriber out of the service area5.
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
1.6 The Problem of Signal 7luctuation
The causes that can lea% to the mobile phone;s signal fluctuation are@
)1* 8luctuation in the base station;s transmission power
)2* Cell reselection )in i%le state* or han%over )in conversation state*
)"* Power control( $T<
)'* T0< faults
)-* &nterference
),* .uge traffic( lea%ing to channel congestion
)7* 1ultipath effect
1.6.1 E.amine the Stableness of the ase Station%s Transmission Power
)1* $irectl4 measure the base station;s output power
)a* +se !pectrum #nal4?er 9-/'( connect to the .P#;s amplifier interface that sen%s
CC. through "2% attenuator.

Spectr!
"n"l#$er %&'(
)*+B
"tten"t,r
HPA
Figure 10-3 Directly measure the base stations output power
)b* Connect the base 1"1 clock an% C1$-7 reference clock input b4 the clock line
an% s4nchroni?e the equipment to the frequenc4 ban% to test ever4 timeslot;s power(
frequenc4 error( an% phase error.
&f the test result shows that ever4 timeslot;s frequenc4 error an% phase error conform
to the stan%ar%s( an% that base station;s 1"1 clock works stabl4( then the possibilit4
that signal fluctuation is %ue to the 1"1 clock;s fluctuation can be e:clu%e%.
#fter ensuring the output power stabilit4( let;s check the installation qualit4 of the
antenna fee%er to see if there is an4 instabilit4 in the stan%ing waves. &f the
installation qualit4 is goo%( then the possibilit4 that the signal fluctuation is %ue to the
equipment;s output power instabilit4 can be e:clu%e%.
)2* Within the visual %istance of the antenna )about 1km awa4. The purpose is to test
the influence of the multipath propagation*( test the base station;s transmitting level to
see if it is stable.
)a* +se the spectrum anal4?er 9-/' an% %o the test b4 fee%ing the signal receive%
through omni>mini antenna to the spectrum anal4?er %irectl4( as shown in the
following figure@
17
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic

spectr!
"n"l#$er %&'(
O!n-.!-n-
"ntenn"
Figure 10-4 Use the mini-antenna to test the base stations transmitting
level
)b* +se the mobile phone !#EE1 an% the test software 1obile!how to %o the test at
the place that is within visual %istance an% is 1 km awa4. Preserve an% test the signal
wave b4 the laptop computer to see weather the transmitting level is stable.
4 the above test( we can %etermine if the output power at the amplifier interface is
stable. The shortcoming of it is that it cannot obtain the concrete value of the output
power in the amplifier interface.
&t sel%om happens that the output power of the base station is unstable.
1.6.2 Cell *eselection 8in i!le state9 or +an!over 8in conversation state9
oth cell reselection an% han%over can lea% to the fluctuation of the signal. To fin% the
causes( use the following testing metho%s@
)1* Watch an% test the mobile phone to see if the cell reselection or han%over occur
as the signal level changesA
)2* +se the test mobile phone !#EE1 an% software 1obile!how to see if the cell
reselection an% han%over occur as the signal fluctuates.
4 the above tests we can %eci%e if the signal level fluctuation is cause% b4 the cell
reselection or han%over. This phenomenon normall4 happens at the e%ge of the cell.
ut if the network has serious trans>cell coverage(( frequent cell reselection an%
han%over can also arise( lea%ing to the fluctuation of the signal.
1.6.' Power Control an! (T:
When the power control or $T< is %own( the receiving level in the mobile phone
fluctuates. &f the threshol% value for the uplink power control is set too low( the uplink
signal from the mobile phone to the base station will be weak( This( together with the
normal fluctuation in the ra%io space( will give rise to han%over. $uring han%over( if
the a%Cacent signal;s qualit4 is not strong to maintain the conversation( call %rop will
arise. Naturall4 the Gevel &n%icator in the mobile phone will go %own to one scale or
?ero scale from the previous full scale.
Phenomenon;
The Gevel &n%icator points to full scale( su%%enl4 the peer;s voice at the other en% of
the line cannot be hear% in the mi%%le of the conversationA the Gevel &n%icator in the
mobile phone points to one scale or ?ero scale. Call %rop happens. #fter several
secon%s the conversation is on again.
Proce!ure an! Anal"sis;
The Gevel &n%icator pointing to full scale means that mobile phone is in goo% receiving
qualit4. The level value at this time is about >7-%m. &f the %ownlink level e:cee%s this
value( the level fluctuation cannot be %ispla4e% in the mobile phone. !o such
fluctuation is not eas4 to be seen when the signal is strong. !o when the network;s
19
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
%ownlink power control is on( it is %esirable to set the %ownlink level control to
>7-%m.6ne further note@ the level in%icate% in the mobile phone is the mean value of
its ra%io frequenc4 level. !o the signal fluctuation of the narrow pulse %uration will be
partl4 smoothe% awa4. !o the scale change in the Gevel &n%icator is not the real>time
performance of the receiving signal;s strength. &t is %ela4e%. $uring %iagnosis( we %i%
the following monitoring an% testing@ Test the %ownlink power at the combiner;s test
interface( no fluctuation was foun%A the %ownlink power at the %rop>off point was
measure% to be >9-%m b4 the spectrum anal4?er. Though there was a fluctuation of
12>1-%( its minimum level was not enough to %rop off the mobile phoneA Ne:t we
monitore% an% teste% the %ownlink level of the mobile phone b4 connecting it to
mobile show( we foun% that starting from a certain time )subCect to small %ifferences
ever4 time*( the level went %own from F9-%m along the ,2 %egree slope( when it
went to the mi%%le of the slope( there happene% a han%over( but the strength of the
signal continue% to go %own( until at last the level was almost the same with that of
the other areas )about F12-%m*( an% maintaine% at this value for about 12 secon%s
an% then it %roppe% off. &f after 12 secon%s it %i%n;t %rop off( it went upwar% along the
,2 %egree slope after another 12 secon%s( an% there happene% a han%over in the
mi%%le of the slope. Then it continue% to go upwar%( an% maintaine% some time for
conversation at about F9-%m.Then it repeate% the above proce%ure( making its path
like a slope% square wave( until it %roppe% off at some trough. 4 watching the +m
interface from the backgroun%( we foun% that before or after the %rop>off an%
han%over( the %ownlink receiving level was strong an% stable( an% the uplink level
was mostl4 at F12-%m.!o it can be %etermine% that the han%over an% %rop>off were
cause% b4 the ba% uplink qualit4( that is to sa4( because of the effect from the uplink
power control( the uplink signal has almost approache% the uplink level;s minimum
threshol% value when it reache% the base station. That( along with the normal
fluctuation un%er the ra%io environment( will cause the base station to think that the
conversation qualit4 in that cell is poor( so it or%ers the mobile phone to han% over to
the a%Cacent cell. &f the qualit4 in the a%Cacent cell is goo%( the conversation goes on(
otherwise( there will be a %rop>off. &n light of the call %rop( the level in%icate% in the
mobile phone after the han%over is the %ownlink level of the a%Cacent cell. #n% the
%ownlink level of the a%Cacent cell is quite small( so naturall4 the mobile phone;s level
goes %own to 1 scale or 2 scale. &f the signal in the a%Cacent cell is not sufficient to
sustain the conversation or the %rop>off( the base station will or%er the mobile phone
to han% over back to the previous cell. &f this time it is successful( the conversation
can go on( the level in the mobile phone will return to full scale from 2 scale. This is
the reason wh4 the conversation su%%enl4 cuts off but %oesn;t call %rop( an% after a
while( the conversation recovers. When the subscriber is having long time
conversation( %ue to the perio%icit4 of the above square waves( along with the
ran%omness of the environment;s fluctuation in the ra%io space( the subscriber will
e:perience intermittent cutoff an% recover4( )not necessaril4 cutoff at ever4 trough( but
certainl4 weakening of the conversation qualit4*( until call %rop happens. #s the uplink
power control makes an4 level from the mobile phone to the base station ver4 weak(
giving rise to %rop>off regar%less of the %istance. Certainl4 as the ra%io fluctuation for
the mobile phones that are near to the base station is small( so is its chance of call
%rop. #s the in%oor ra%io fluctuation is greater than out%oor ra%io fluctuation( so is its
call %rop ratio. &n a%%ition( the antenna is usuall4 place% at high tower( ( the ra%iation
lobe is in fusiform( so the area right un%er the tower is blin%e%. The coverage onl4
reaches to the e%ge of the lobe. The carrier;s office is usuall4 locate% at that area(
an% the4 keep performing trial %ialing( so the chance for the fluctuation is greater.
Solution;
8irst make some brief Cu%gments accor%ing to the above anal4sis. &f the situations are
likewise( call the uplink power control parameters from the backgroun% an% set the
reasonable threshol% value )preferabl4 F92%m.&n a%%ition the parameters
concerning the han%over nee% to be set as per the real situation( the reasonableness
of which will affect the qualit4 of the network an% the fluctuation of the signal. Please
%o the mo%ifications onl4 after a thorough un%erstan%ing of the meaning of each
1/
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
parameter( an% test the mo%ifications.
1.6.6 T*: (own
Phenomenon;
The mobile phone;s 0eceiving !ignal &n%icator points to the full scale. When the
subscriber %ials the number an% press L6JM( the mobile phone %rops out within a
few secon%s( at the same time the &n%icator lowers to one scale or ?ero scale. This
phenomenon happens intermittentl4.
Cause an! Anal"sis;
#fter L6JM ke4 is presse%( CC. assigns a TC. to the mobile phone through
!$CC.. When the T0< where the TC. is locate% is %own( such as no power output
or output too small( then the TC. will fail to set up the communication( lea%ing to
%rop>off( an% the &n%icator lowering from full scale to 1 scale or 2 scale. #fter a few
secon%s it will return to the Wait !tatus( an% the &n%icator returns to full scale. #s the
TC.;s assignment is %4namic( that is to sa4( the first subscriber occupies the first
carrier frequenc4( the first time slotA the secon% subscriber occupies the first carrier
frequenc4( the secon% time slot( an% so on. #fter eight subscribers; calls( )or one
subscriber;s eight consecutive calls*( TC. will switch to the secon% carrier frequenc4(
thus lea%ing to normal conversation after several calls. #s the number of callers is
large( the interval for the e:aminer to encounter such fault ma4 var4. #n% the more
the number of carrier frequencies in the cell( the more %ifficult for it to %iscover the
cause. 6n the other han%( there is no fault warning when the carrier frequenc4 is not
being use%( but the warning of Power Too !mall after the assignment.
Solution;
!ee if there is an4 warning in the T0< at the backgroun% when the mobile phone is
having call test. &f 4es( replace that T0< with the a%Cacent carrier frequenc4 amplifier
or T0<( %eci%e where the fault is an% substitute the stan%b4 boar% for the at>fault
boar%. 8urthermore( this metho% can be one of the effective wa4s to %etermine if
there are an4 faults in the carrier frequenc4 channels at the cell. #t the opening
phase( use two mobile phones an% finish continuous testing on all the carrier
frequencies at the cell within several minutes.
1.6.< Interferences
&nterferences can lea% to signal fluctuations. &nterferences can cause the timeout for
the $C! counter )/2Dthe multiframes between the same paging* in the mobile phones
at the current service area( thus lea%ing to cell reselection( which when reflecte% on
the mobile phone si%e( is the fluctuation of signals.
1.6.= Cell Congestion
8irst let us e:plain the problem b4 anal4?ing the signals@ #fter a call is initiate% b4 the
mobile phone( first !$CC. channel is assigne%( after the correspon%ing signaling is
finishe%( a TC. will be assigne% to the mobile phone for its use b4 the network. What
is the normal proce%ure is that !C activates a TC. channel b4 sen%ing to T! in
the current cell a signal activation comman%( an% then the channel is assigne% to the
mobile phone. ut what actuall4 happens is that )in times when the current cell is
congeste%* the network gives the mobile phone a comman% to switch to other cells(
whose signal is weaker than the current cell. #s a result( the level goes %own
imme%iatel4( lea%ing to the fluctuations of the signal. &t is possible that after the
22
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
penalt4 time the mobile phone switches to other cell again( whose signal is stronger(
in which case the level in%icate% in the mobile phone goes up. 6r after hooking the
mobile phone is in &$GE state an% receives the CC. signal from the cell where the
mobile phone is in( which reflecte% in the &n%icator is the going up of the signal
strength. Therefore the essential cause of this problem is too much traffic( causing
congestion in the cell.
1.6.> -ultipath Effect
1ultipath effect is one of the main causes that lea% to the signal fluctuation in the
network. The performance of the ra%io communications s4stem is largel4 constraine%
b4 the ra%io channel. The propagation path between the transmitter an% receiver is
ver4 comple:( ranging from the simple visual %istance propagation to encountering
such terrain as buil%ings( hills an% trees. The form the electromagnetic wave takes to
propagate is %iverse. &n the main( it can take the forms of reflection( %iffraction( an%
scattering. 1ost cellular ra%io s4stems operate in the cit4. There is no visual path
between the transmitter an% receiver( an% what;s more( the sk4scrapers pro%uce
strong scattering loss. 8urthermore( as %ifferent obCects have %ifferent multipath
reflections( the electro>magnetic waves( after passing paths of %ifferent length(
interfere to pro%uce multi>path loss. #t the same time the strength of the electro>
magnetic waves attenuates as the %istance between the transmitter an% receiver
increases. The attenuation in the ra%io environment can be classifie% into fast
attenuation an% slow attenuation accor%ing to the estimation on the fiel% intensit4.
&n sk4scraper cities( as the height of the mobile antenna )mobile phone* is much
lower than that of the surroun%ing buil%ings( there is in most cases no visual
propagation between the mobile station to the base station( thus causing attenuation.
Even if there is such a path for visual propagation( multipath effect ma4 still arise %ue
to the reflection of the surface an% the surroun%ing buil%ings. The inci%ent waves
arrive in %ifferent %irections an% have %ifferent propagation %ela4. The signal receive%
b4 the mobile station at an4 position in the space consists of man4 signal waves(
which have ran%oml4 %istribute% amplitu%e( phase( an% inci%ent angle. These
multipath components are combine% in vectors b4 the receiver( thus giving rise to the
attenuation an% infi%elit4 of the signal being receive%. Even when the mobile receiver
is static( attenuation can still arise as the signal being receive% is affecte% b4 the
propagation me%ium )the air flow change*( or b4 the moving obCects where the ra%io
channel is in.
The metho% the base station uses to solve the fast>attenuation phenomenon is space
%iversit4 )polari?e% %iversit4*( i.e. host %iversit4 antenna. The effectiveness of this host
%iversit4 receipt is guarantee% b4 the irrelevanc4 of the host %iversit4 antenna receipt.
4 irrelevanc4( it means the signal receive% b4 the host antenna %oesn;t have the
simultaneous attenuation feature with the signal receive% b4 the %iversit4 antenna.
This requires that the gap of the host %iversit4 antenna is 12 times greater than the
ra%io signal wavelength )for E!1 /221 the antenna gap must be greater than '
meters*( or that the polari?e% %iversit4 is use% to guarantee the %ifferent attenuation
features of the signals receive% b4 the host %iversit4 antenna. Whereas the single
antenna mobile station )mobile phone* is helpless before the fast>attenuation feature
un%er the wireless environment. !o multipath will lea% to the fluctuation of the mobile
phone;s receiving level.
1.6.? ,ther causes
)1* Poor antenna fee%er connection will lea% to ups an% %owns of the stan%ing wave(
which when reflecte% in the mobile phone( is the fluctuation of the signals
)2* !erious propagation flickers will lea% to the amplification of the onDoff in the base
21
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
station.
)"* !ome mobile phones will also have fluctuation of the level when %oing location
area up%ating. This is especiall4 so when in the location area bor%er of the cit4.
)'* The signal level after the assignment will fluctuate %eepl4 %ue to the %ifference of
the carrier combination metho% or the %isaccor% of transmission channel gain within
the cell.
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Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
1.< ,ther -ain Problems
1.<.1 Poor $oice 0ualit"
)1* .ar%ware faults( poor propagation an% ba% groun%ing will lea% to poor voice
qualit4.
)2* Worse interference lea%s to poor voice qualit4( especiall4 when the frequenc4 is
%ensit4 reuse.
)"* Poor coverage( lea%ing to poor receiving level an% receiving qualit4.
1.<.2 7ailure to attach the networ#
Cannot up%ate the location areaThe CE& table of 1!C fails to keep recor% of the
cell( lea%ing to location area up%ate failure an% network access failure
1.<.' Slow to attach the networ#
Possibl4 relate% to the mobile phone;s access mo%e. Eenerall4 when the mobile
phone is opene%( it will tr4 to access the network accor%ing to the information store%
when the mobile phone was close% last time. &n cases when the information is invali%
or there is no store% information( the mobile phone will tr4 to access the network b4
scanning for the strongest signal. #s the scanning metho% ma4 %iffer( so %oes the
access spee%. 8urthermore as the mobile phone nee%s to %eco%e the scanne%
frequenc4 ban% accor%ing to the level( when the cell has a low access priorit4( it can
onl4 access the network after ensuring that there is no higher priorit4. This will also
cause the slow attach spee%.
#s the network access proce%ure inclu%es authorit4 verification on the mobile phone(
the spee% is also relate% to the performance( propagation an% s4stem processing of
the cell. Notwithstan%ing the foregoing( man4 factors shall be consi%ere% in an
integrate% wa4.
1.<.6 Access slow
Possible causes;
)1* Effect on the same number of paging multi>frames. The paging ma4 be %ela4e% for
2>2.2"-N secon%s. Certainl4 its setting is relate% to man4 a factor such as location
area. &ts parameter change shall be consi%ere% in an integrate% wa4.
)2* Effect on the number of time slots %uring propagation e:tension. &n areas where
coverage is poor( when the first access request is not %eco%e% successfull4( resen%
ma4 be %ela4e% for --:2.'77 to 1 secon%. )!ubCect to the parameters*
)"* 0elate% to the s4stem processing performance.
1.<.< unilateral connection
The common cause ma4 come from the equipment or transmission. This problem will
2"
Wireless network Planning Chapter 12 !pecial Topic
be intro%ucte% in %etail in other %ocuments.
2'