Extended

Range Cell Tes/ng

Public Safety Communications
Christopher Redding
Research
(
PSCR)
P
rogram

Camillo Gen4le

Public Safety Broadband S takeholder Conference

June 3-5, 2014

Acknowledgement
Funding for this work was provided by:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Oce for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC)

Overview

Objectives
Methodology
Implementation
Modeling
Drive Test Route
Selected Results
Future Directions

Objectives
Support the public safety community needs to
provide LTE coverage in rural areas
Minimize deployment costs in rural areas
Band-14 LTE (763 MHz DL & 793 MHz UL)
Test and evaluate extended LTE cell radius
beyond the typical range of 2-3 miles
Conduct drive testing to demonstrate coverage
and performance

Methodology
Deploy single sector eNodeB with antenna
mounted at a height of 85 m (280 feet)
eNodeB radio head mounted on tower near
antenna
Fiber backhaul on tower connected to
ground-based equipment network switch,
applications server and EPC
Mobile test system consists of band 14 user
equipment (UE), scanner and antennas
5

Phased Approach
Phase 1 FY 2014
Deploy eNodeB antenna at 85 m (280 ft)
PRACH Preamble Format 1
Supports up to 77 km (48 miles) cell radius
40 W eNodeB transmit power (typical transmit power
for macrocell)

Phase 2 FY 2015
Deploy eNodeB antenna at 280 m (920 ft)
PRACH Preamble Format 3
Supports up to 100 km (62 miles) cell radius
40 W eNodeB transmit power (typical transmit power
for macrocell)
6

Implementation Requirements
PRACH Preamble Format 1
eNodeB parameter that allows extended cell
range out to 77 km (48 miles)

eNodeB remote radio head

Minimizes RF cable loss at antenna location

Adequate eNodeB antenna tower

Based on modeling (height and location) and
availability/access

PRACH Preamble Format

4 Random Access preamble formats for FDD
specied in 3GPP
Allows for longer round trip propagation
delay in large cells

Preamble
Typical Cell Range

Format

0
Up to ~14 km (8.7 miles)
1
Up to ~77 km (48 miles)

2
Up to ~29 km (18 miles)

3
Up to ~100 km (62 miles)
Reference: 3GPP TS 36.211 Section 5.7: Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH)

Types of Measurements
Mobile
Single user on network
UDP Uplink and Downlink
UE antenna on rooftop
3 dB gain

Static
Single user on network
UDP Downlink
Directional antenna at UE
14 dB gain
9

Lab Characterization
Characterize path delay performance with channel
simulator
Determine the maximum cell radius where UE
attaches
Propagation delay of 5.38 S/mile
Example: 250 S delay equates to a cell radius of
46.5 miles (74.8 km)

UE

Channel Simulator

eNB

EPC

10

Tower Capabilities
Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO)
Research facility in Erie, CO maintained by
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Atmospheric measurement facility
300 m (985 feet) tower
AC power, ber access and elevator to
top of tower
Agreement with NOAA for PSCR shared
use
Public safety radio towers vary in
capabilities
11

NOAA Tower Site

Fiber

Ground equipment
12

Test Conguration

eNodeB

Fiber

500 feet to
antenna

Switch

EPC

Remote
Radio Head

-48V DC
Rectifier

RF

GPS

RF1

RF2

Vehicular
Modem

Scanner

USB
Ethernet

USB

LTE
Logger

App
Server

Ground Equipment

Tower Equipment

Drive Test Equipment

13

Antenna Deployment
Phase II
280 m (920 ft)

Antenna

Phase I
85 m (280 ft)

14

85 m (280 ft) Deployment

Antenna

Radio Head
Rectifier

15

Modeling
!

Network Descrip4on

Extended cell site

Analysis area
Congura4on seQngs

RF Propaga4on Model Calibra4on

Network Deployment

Measure key network metrics

Compare measured and predicted values

Extended Cell Antenna Height

Show simula4ons for an upcoming deployment

16

16

Analysis Area

100 km

17

Network Conguration Settings

300 m

18

eNodeB Loca/on

Long. -105.0038350
Lat. 40.0500280

eNodeB Power

46 dBm per polariza4on

eNodeB Antenna

8 Y. panel antenna
16.6 dBi gain
650 beamwidth

eNodeB Tilt

10

eNodeB Height

75 m

UE Power

23 dBm

UE Antenna Gain

3 dBi gain
Omnidirec4onal antenna
Car roof-mounted

MIMO

2 x 2 Downlink
1 x 2 Uplink

Cable Loss

0.2 dB

18

Propagation Model Calibration

Predicted RSRP before Calibra/on
" A three-
dimensional
raytracing
propaga4on
model with 5 m-
resolu4on
geodata was
used for
predic4ng signal
strength
LEGEND

19

Propagation Model Calibration

Predicted RSRP with Drive-Test Route Overlay
" In order to
calibrate the
propaga4on
model to the
area, RSRP
values were
measured during
drive-tests

LEGEND

20

Propagation Model Calibration

Predicted RSRP with Measured RSRP Overlay
" The calibra4on
step consists of
tuning the
propaga4on
model such that
the error
between the
predicted and
measured RSRP
values is
minimized

LEGEND

21

Propagation Model Calibration

Predicted RSRP after Calibration
" AYer calibra4on,
the predicted
RSRP values
blend in much
be^er with the
measured values

LEGEND

22

Propagation Model Calibration

CALIBRATION RESULTS
# Loca4ons

Min Error

(dB)

Max Error

(dB)

Mean Error

(dB)

Standard
Devia4on
(dB)

Correla4on
Factor
(%)

Set #1

16595

-22.1

17.1

0.132

5.6

94

Set #2

20461

-22.3

19.2

0.900

6.0

94

Set #3

24410

-25.0

17.3

-0.844

6.4

87

All points

61466

-25.0

19.2

0.000

6.1

93

" The main objec4ve of the calibra4on step is to minimize the mean error over all
loca4ons between the predicted and measured RSRP values
" The overall standard devia4on and correla4on factor are 6.1 dB are 93%, which
indicate an excellent t
" Based on the standard devia4on and the correla4on factor, Set #1 (closest to
base sta4on) gives the best t
Predic4ons are generally less accurate as distance increases
23

Network Deployment
" Predic4ons can be made even
for congura4on seQngs
dierent from the calibra4on
step
" Congura4on changes in
network deployment:

1. eNodeB antenna height:

75m 85 m
2.

"

UE antenna:
3 dBi gain
Omnidirec4onal antenna Car
roof-mounted

14.15 dBi gain
Direc4onal antenna
Fixed

61 km

30 km

77 km
58 km

70 km

In order to verify the predic4ons,

network metrics were collected at
the ve loca4ons on the map

24

24

Network Deployment
TEST POINT at 61 km
Predicted

Measured

Dierence

RSRP

-105.7 dBm

-108.2 dBm

2.5 dB

RSSI

-83.3 dBm

-83.4 dBm

0.1 dB

RSRQ

-5.3 dB

-8.2 dB

2.9 dB

DL SINR

18.4 dB

16.2 dB

2.2 dB

DL throughput

59.1 Mbps

45 Mbps

14.1 Mbps

UL throughput

876 kbps

1783 kbps

907 kbps

" For the DL signal-strength based metrics, the measured values are all
lower, but the difference is within 3 dB
Because the values are lower, we also expect a lower DL throughput
" The throughput depends on the number of resource blocks used, which can
vary widely based on the scheduler
We used assumed values on the DL and UL, making for an additional
25
source of discrepancy

25

Extended Cell Antenna Height

Predicted RSRP at 85 m
In our upcoming network
deployment, we plan to raise
the antenna height of the
extended cell site:
85 m 280 m
Simula4ons were run in
advance to predict the network
performance

LEGEND
LEGEND

26

Extended Cell Antenna Height

Predicted RSRP at 280 m
Increasing the extended cell
antenna height increases
the RSRP throughout the
analysis area

LEGEND

27

Extended Cell Antenna Height

For a coverage deni4on of
RSRP > -110 dBm, the
coverage area can be
extended by a factor of 2:
4864 km2 at 85 m
10012 km2 at 280 m

100 km

Height 85 m
Height 280 m

28

Extended Cell Antenna Height

TEST POINT at 61 km
Predicted 85 m

Predicted 280 m

Dierence

RSRP

-105.7 dBm

-100. 7 dBm

5 dB

RSSI

-83.4 dBm

-71.0 dBm

12.4 dB

RSRQ

-5.3 dB

-5.2 dB

0.1 dB

SINR

18.4 dB

31.9 dB

13.5 dB

DL throughput

59.1 Mbps

81.1 Mbps

22 Mbps

UL throughput

876 kbps

19870 kbps

18994 kbps

Besides increased coverage, raising the antenna height improves performance at

a xed loca4on
The benet is especially seen on the uplink, which is typically the limi4ng factor
of the budget
The downside of increasing antenna height is increased interference
Benecial in rural areas, but less so in urban area
29

29

Key Observations
" Calibra4on of RF propaga4on models with drive-test data is
benecial
" Simula4ons tools can be used to predict network metrics
well
Received signal strength
Throughput
Modula4on & coding scheme
Resource-block use
" Extended cell sites can both extend coverage and improve
network performance
30

30

Drive Test Measurement System

LTE Modem
Vehicular modem with external antenna ports
Transmit Power +23 dB (200 mW)
Same power as commercial cell phone
Typical UE, Class 3

LTE logging software

Scanner
UE Antennas
Rooftop antenna = 3 dB gain
Directional antenna = 14 dB gain
31

UE Antennas
Roof Top Antenna
Omni-directional
3 dB Gain

Directional antenna
14 dB Gain
32

Drive Test Vehicle

33

Drive Test Route

Drive test route

34

Drive Route Elevation Prole

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

48

Miles from eNodeB

35

Drive Route Terrain

36

Measurements
Rooftop Antenna
UL and DL UDP throughput
3 complete mobile loops east of Hudson, CO and
return

Directional Antenna
DL UDP throughput
Static locations at cell edge
58 km (36 mi)
61 km (38 mi)
70 km (43 mi)
77 km (48 mi)
37

DL Throughput vs Location with Roof Top Antenna

Hudson

38

DL Throughput vs Distance with Roof Top Antenna

39

DL Throughput vs Elevation with Roof Top Antenna

Expected drop in
throughput due to
terrain shadowing

40

Predic4on RSRP -110 dBm with Roof Top Antenna

25 miles from eNodeB

41

UL Throughput with Roof Top Antenna

42

UE TX Power vs Location with Roof Top Antenna

43

Number of Occurrences

UE TX Power Distribution with Roof Top Antenna

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

22

23

UE Transmit Power (dB)

44

Observations with Roof Top Antenna

DL throughput
55% of data < 10 Mbps
45% of data at 10-30 Mbps

UL throughput
Predominantly < 2 Mbps

Expected drop in throughput at 25 mile point

due to terrain shadowing
High occurrence of max UE transmit power

45

Measurements with Directional Antenna

Static measurement locations at cell edge
Hwy 52 & MCR-3
36 miles (58 km)
Tx Power: 20 dB
RSRP: -107
PDSCH: 50 Mbps

36 miles
(58 km)

Hwy 52 & CR-83

38 miles (61 km)
Tx Power: 21.2 dB
RSRP: -108.4
PDSCH: 44.6 Mbps

38 miles
(61 km)

Hwy 52 & CR-93

43 miles (70 km)
Tx Power: 23 dB
RSRP: -117
PDSCH: 25 Mbps

43 miles
(70 km)

Hwy 52 & MCR-3

48 miles (77 km)
Tx Power: 23 dB
RSRP: -125
PDSCH: 6.7 Mbps

48 miles
(77 km)

Distance from eNodeB tower

46

Observations with Directional Antenna

Provided sucient gain at cell edge
77 km (48 miles)

UE at max transmit power

DL throughput at cell edge
70 km (43 mi) = 25 Mbps
77 km (48 mi) = 6.7 Mbps

47

Observations
Demonstrated cell edge at 48 miles (77 km)
Conforms to 3GPP standards

Unable to attach at cell edge with roof top antenna

Aligns with expectations from modeling

Performance improves with directional antennas

Uplink limited
Signicant throughput at cell edge
Directional antenna is a practical application for
xed situations
Rooftop antenna is a practical application for
mobile use

48

Future Work
Phase II with 100 km (62 mile) eNodeB
conguration
Deploy eNodeB antenna at 280 m (920 feet)
Summer 2014

High power UE if available

Higher gain roof top antennas
Expected coverage improvements
Start testing October 2014
49

Thank you
Questions?

50