RAN Feature Description

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Chapter 32 RET........................................................................................................................... 32-1
32.1 Introduction................................................................................................................... 32-1
32.1.1 Definition............................................................................................................. 32-1
32.1.2 Purpose.............................................................................................................. 32-1
32.1.3 Terms and Abbreviation......................................................................................32-1
32.2 Availability..................................................................................................................... 32-2
32.2.1 Network Element Involved..................................................................................32-2
32.2.2 Software Release............................................................................................... 32-2
32.2.3 Miscellaneous..................................................................................................... 32-3
32.3 Impact........................................................................................................................... 32-3
32.3.1 On System Performance....................................................................................32-3
32.3.2 On Other Features.............................................................................................. 32-3
32.4 Technical Description.................................................................................................... 32-3
32.4.1 Operating Principle of RET.................................................................................32-3
32.4.2 Operating Principle of Huawei's RET..................................................................32-4
32.5 Capabilities................................................................................................................... 32-7
32.6 Implementation............................................................................................................. 32-7
32.6.1 Enabling RET..................................................................................................... 32-7
32.6.2 Reconfiguring RET............................................................................................. 32-9
32.6.3 Disabling the RET............................................................................................... 32-9
32.7 Maintenance Information............................................................................................... 32-9
32.7.1 Alarms................................................................................................................ 32-9
32.7.2 Counters............................................................................................................. 32-9
32.8 References.................................................................................................................. 32-10

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

i

RAN Feature Description

List of Figures

List of Figures
Figure 32-1 Operating principle of the RET antenna...........................................................32-4
Figure 32-2 Operating principle of the RET applied to the BTS3812E and BTS3812A.......32-5
Figure 32-3 RET applied to the DBS3800...........................................................................32-6

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

ii

RAN Feature Description

List of Tables

List of Tables
Table 32-1 NEs required for the RET feature......................................................................32-2
Table 32-2 RAN products and related versions...................................................................32-3

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

iii

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

Chapter 32 RET
32.1 Introduction
32.1.1 Definition
The Remote Electrical Tilt (RET) refers to an antenna system whose downtilt is
controlled electrically.
After an antenna is installed, the downtilt of the antenna always needs to be adjusted
due to network optimization. In this situation, the phases of signals that reach the
elements of the array antenna can be adjusted through electrical control. Then, the
vertical pattern of antenna changes.
You can adjust the downtilt of the RET antenna when the system is powered on and
monitor the realtime downtilt. Therefore, precise adjustment of the antenna downtilt
can be achieved.

32.1.2 Purpose
Application of the RET can prominently improve work efficiency and minimize the
O&M cost for adjusting the antenna downtilt.
Application of the RET has the following benefits:

The RET antennas at multiple sites can be adjusted remotely within a short
period. This improves work efficiency and saves cost for network optimization.

Adjusting of the RET antenna can be performed in all weather condition.

It is easy to operate the RET antennas located in some sites that are difficult to
access.

When the downtilt of the RET antenna is large, the coverage pattern keeps
undistorted, signal strength is strong, and interference between neighboring cells
is small.

32.1.3 Terms and Abbreviation

I. Terms
Term
Antenna

Description
A device for converting electromagnetic energy and for transmitting or
receiving radio waves

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

1

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

Term
Downtilt

Description
The angle between the maximum radiation direction and the horizontal
plane
To ensure that the direction of the main lobe is oriented to the ground,
proper downtilt is required for the antenna.

II. Abbreviations
Abbreviation

Full Spelling

MAFU

Multi-Antenna Filter Unit

NMON

NodeB MONitor unit

OOK

On-Off-Keying

RC

Remote Control

RCU

Remote Control Unit

RET

Remote Electrical Tilt

SBT

Smart Bias Tee

STMA

Smart TMA

TMA

Tower Mounted Amplifier

32.2 Availability
32.2.1 Network Element Involved
Table 1.1 describes the NEs required for the RET feature.
Table 1.1 NEs required for the RET feature
NodeB

RNC

Note:

: Not required

: Required

M2000

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

2

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

32.2.2 Software Release

Table 1.1 describes the versions of RAN products that support the RET feature.
Table 1.1 RAN products and related versions
Product
NodeB

Version

DBS3800

V100R006 and later releases

BTS3812A

V100R006 and later releases

BTS3812E

V100R006 and later releases

32.2.3 Miscellaneous
None.

32.3 Impact
32.3.1 On System Performance
None.

32.3.2 On Other Features

None.

32.4 Technical Description

32.4.1 Operating Principle of RET
The phase shifter inside the antenna can be adjusted through the step motor outside
the antenna. Thus, the RET antenna can be controlled remotely.
Figure 1.1 shows the operating principle of the RET antenna.

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

3

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

Radome
Phase shifter

Pulling bar

RCU
Control cable
(DC+ control signals)

Figure 1.1 Operating principle of the RET antenna

A pulling bar connects the step motor and the phase shifter. When the step motor is
started, the pulling bar moves and then the phase of the phase shifter changes
through the gearing. In this situation, the phase of the signals arrived at each element
antenna inside the array changes regularly. Then, the direction of the main beam of
the antenna changes accordingly. The downtilt of the antenna is adjusted.
The NodeB supplies DC power to the step motor and communicates with it through
the AISG interface on the motor.

32.4.2 Operating Principle of Huawei's RET

Note:
In Huawei's RET solution, the STMA and the RCU are treated as internal components
of the NodeB. Therefore, the RET system can either be remotely controlled on the
M2000 or be locally controlled on the NodeB Local Maintenance Terminal (LMT).

I. RET Applied to the BTS3812E and the BTS3812A

The RET applied to Huawei's BTS3812E and BTS3812A consists of the following two
modes:

SBT mode. In this mode, the TMA is not applied to the BTS3812E and
BTS3812A, the RET is required.

STMA mode. In this mode, the TMA is applied to the BTS3812E and BTS3812A,
the RET is required.
Huawei Technologies Proprietary
4

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

As shown in Figure 4.1, the operating principle of the RET applied to the BTS3812E
and the BTS3812A is described as follows:
1)

A command is sent to the BTS3812E and BTS3812A on the M2000 or the LMT.

2)

The NMON on the NodeB modulates that command to On-Off-Keying (OOK)

signals and then supplies them to the MAFU through the control cables in the
cabinet.

3)

The MAFUs transfer the DC power and the OOK signals to the STMA or the SBT
through feeders from the connectors on top of the cabinet.

4)

The STMA or the SBT demodulates the OOK signals to RS485 signals and then
supplies the RS485 signals and part of the DC power to the RCU.

SBT

RCU

SBT

RCU

RCU

STMA

RCU

RCU

RCU
STMA

SBT

STMA

MAFU 5

MAFU 4

MAFU 3

MAFU 2

MAFU 1

MAFU 0

TRU Subrack
M2000

BB Subrack

N
M
O
N

R
N
C

Iub

LMT

Figure 4.1 Operating principle of the RET applied to the BTS3812E and BTS3812A

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

5

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

II. RET Applied to the DBS3800

As shown in Figure 1.1, the RET applied to Huawei's DBS3800 consists of the
following modes:

Direct connection through multi-core cables. In this mode, the distance between
the RRU and the RCU is shorter than 20 m.

SBT mode. In this mode, the distance between the RRU and the RCU is longer
than 20 m and the TMA is not required for the DBS3800.

STMA mode. In this mode, the distance between the RRU and the RCU is longer
than 20 m and the TMA is required for the DBS3800.

Antenna

Antenna

Antenna

RCU

RCU

RCU

SBT

STMA

RRU

RRU

BBU

BBU

Direct connection
through multi-core

SBT

RRU

BBU

STMA

Figure 1.1 RET applied to the DBS3800

For the direct connection through multi-core cables,
1)

A command is sent to the BBU on the M2000 or the LMT, and then the BBU
transfers that command to the RRU.

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

6

RAN Feature Description

2)

Chapter 32 RET

The RRU modulates the command to RS485 signals, and then transfers the
signals and the DC power to the RCU through multi-core cables.

For the SBT mode,

1)

A command is sent to the BBU on the M2000 or the LMT, and then the BBU
transfers that command to the RRU.

2)

The RRU transfer the DC power and the OOK signals to the SBT from the
connector on top of the cabinet.

3)

The SBT demodulates the OOK signals to RS485 signals and then supplies the
RS485 signals and part of the DC power to the RCU.

For the STMA mode:

1)

A command is sent to the BBU on the M2000 or the LMT, and then the BBU
transfers that command to the RRU.

2)

The RRU transfers the DC power and the OOK signals to the STMA from the
connector on top of the cabinet.

3)

The STMA demodulates the OOK signals to RS485 signals and then supplies
the RS485 signals and part of the DC power to the RCU.

32.5 Capabilities
Type

Max. Quantity

Devices required when

Devices required

of RET

STMA is applied

when STMA is not

applied

BTS3812E

Not required

SBT

BTS3812A

Not required

SBT

DBS3800

Not required

SBT

(one RRU)

Not required (When

direct connection
mode is applied.)

Technical specifications of the components of the RET system include the following:

The NodeB supplies DC power with the working voltage 12 V to the RCU, SBT,
and STMA.

The RCU, SBT, and STMA meet the requirements of the AISG 1.1 standard.

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

7

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

32.6 Implementation
32.6.1 Enabling RET
I. Hardware Installation
For details about the procedures to install the RET, STMA, SBT, refer to the following
documents:

BTS3812E & BTS3812A Antenna & Feeder Installation Guide

DBS3800 Antenna & Feeder Installation Guide.

II. Software Installation

Only software upgrade for RET or STMA are required, the software installation needs.

III. Data Configuration

To configure the data, perform the following steps:
1)

Execute SET ALDPWRSW to set the power switch.

2)

Execute ADD ALD to add an RET device.

3)

Execute DLD ALDSWCFG to download the RET data configuration file.

4)

Execute CLB ANT to calibrate the antenna.

5)

Execute LST ANTTILTRNG to query the downtilt range supported by the

antenna.

6)

Execute DSP ANTTILT to query the current downtilt of the antenna.

7)

Execute SET ANTTILT to set the current downtilt of the antenna.

IV. Verification of the Enabled Feature

Execute DSP ALDVER to query the version of the RET device.
If the query succeeds, it shows that the RET device is enabled.

V. Examples
//1) Set power switch of the ALD.
SET ALDPWRSW: CN=MASTER, SRN=3, ANTN=N0A, PWRSW=ON,
CATTP=TMA12DB_ONLY_NON_AISG;
//2) Add an RET device.
ADD ALD: CN=MASTER, SRN=3, ANTN=N0A, DEVTP = AISG_RET;
//3) Download the RET data configuration file.
Note that IP address of the FTP server is 10.121.11.10, user name is
admin, and password is admin.
DLD

ALDSWCFG:

CN=MASTER,

SRN=3,

ANTN=N0A,

DEVTP=AISG_RET,

FILETP=CONFIGDATA, FPATH="C:\NODEBRETCFG_AB_01002.bin", IP="10.121.11.10",

USR="admin", PWD="*****";
//4) Calibrate the RET antenna.

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

8

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

CLB ANT: CN=MASTER, SRN=3, ANTN=N0A;

//5) Query the downtilt range of the antenna.
LST ANTTILTRNG: CN=MASTER, SRN=3, ANTN=N0A;
//6) Query the current downtilt of the antenna.
DSP ANTTILT: STN=10, SECN=1;

//7) Set the downtilt of the RET antenna to 2 degrees.

SET ANTTILT: STN=10, SECN=1, TILT=20;

32.6.2 Reconfiguring RET

I. Commands Applied to Reconfiguring the RET
The following commands are applied to reconfiguring the antenna:

Execute DSP ANTTILT to query the current downtilt of the antenna.

Execute SET ANTTILT to modify the current downtilt of the antenna.

II. Parameter Reconfiguration Verification

Execute DSP ANTTILT to check whether the downtilt of the current antenna is
successfully modified.

III. Examples
//1) Execute DSP ANTTILT to query the downtilt of the current antenna.
DSP ANTTILT: STN=1, SECN=1;
//2) Execute SET ANTTILT to set the downtilt of the current antenna to 3
degrees.
SET ANTTILT: STN=1, SECN=1, TILT=30;
//3) Execute DSP ANTTILT to check whether the modification is successful.
DSP ANTTILT: STN=1, SECN=1;

32.6.3 Disabling the RET

To disable the RET feature, execute RMV ALD to remove that antenna.

32.7 Maintenance Information

32.7.1 Alarms

ALM-1152 ALD Current Abnormal

ALM-1319 RRU ALD Current Abnormal

ALM-2100 RET Communication Abnormal

ALM-2102 RET Hardware Abnormal

ALM-2103 RET Motor Abnormal

ALM-2104 RET Not Adjusted

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

9

RAN Feature Description

Chapter 32 RET

ALM-2105 RET Data Loss

ALM-2106 RET Position Loss

ALM-2101 TMA Communication Abnormal

ALM-2107 TMA Fault

32.7.2 Counters
None.

32.8 References
None.

Huawei Technologies Proprietary

10