RF ANALYSIS

Using Spotlight

Version 1.2
May 2008

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RF Optimization

The data source used for RF Optimization is scanner data. This is

as opposed to In-Call Analysis where the UE data is use.

The preferred workflow is that RF Analysis is completed prior to

In-Call Analysis.

This way a list of RF changes can be drawn up (antenna changes

and neighbour cell additions) and the In-Call Analysis can be
used to confirm these changes.

If any further RF changes are recommended from the In-Call

Analysis, then these changes should always be confirmed by
using the scanner data also.

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RF Optimization

The following table summarises the RF KPI thresholds that will be tested.

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Coverage

Service

Internal Targets

Best RSCP

CS Voice 12.2 Loaded

-104 dBm for 98% of the area

Pilot Ec/No

CS Voice 12.2 Unloaded

-9 dB for 95% of the area

Pilot Ec/No

CS Voice 12.2 Loaded

-12 dB for 95% of the area

Pilot Ec/No

CS Voice 12.2 Loaded

-14 dB for 98% of the area

Mean Served Area

CS Voice 12.2 Loaded

95%

SHO Overhead

CS Voice 12.2

60%

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RF Optimization

The following aspects will be examined during the RF Analysis process:

Confirm no sites were Off-Air.

Check for crossed feeders.

Confirm clusters overall coverage (RSCP).

Confirm clusters overall quality (EcIo) and Pilot Pollution.

Ensure optimal SHO areas.

Check individual cell coverage (indentify over/under shooters).

3G-3G Missing Neighbours.

3G-2G Missing Neighbours.

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RF Optimization - Off Air Sites

Even with thorough checks prior to drive commencement, sometimes

sites may go down for various reasons during or before the drive test.

The RF engineer needs to ensure that all sites were operational during
the drive.

This can be done by displaying a best server plot (Ec/Io or RSCP) and
formatting the site sector colours based on SC (Scrambling Code).

Cell properties can be

set to indicate on air and
off air cells

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RF Optimization - Off Air Sites

Off air site

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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

Sometimes the installation crew gets the feeders mixed up when

connecting the radios to the antennas.

For example, we may end up with sector A radio connected to antenna

B and vice versa.

This mistake may be masked by automatically adding neighbours

based on scanner information.

The RF Engineer should inspect the best server plot to ensure that all
sectors coverage area match expectations.

NOTE: Identifying swapped Tx paths is typically easy. If the Rx paths

are swapped then identifying it from drive test logs is not
possible.

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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

Format Cell Properties based on the scrambling codes.

Cell Properties

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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

Then display CPICH_Scan_SC_SortedBy_EcIo_0

Choose Scanner Best Server

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Choose CPICH_Scan_SC_SortedBy_EcIo_0

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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

Site with
crossed
feeders

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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

Site with
crossed
feeders

Verification can be carried out by displaying each cells coverage by clicking on the sector.
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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

Site with
crossed
feeders

Verification can be carried out by displaying each cells coverage by clicking on the sector.
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RF Optimization - Crossed Feeders

An efficient way to spot crossed feeders would be to sort by % of

samples behind the beam width. Simply click on the heading.

In this case the top 6 rows point to 3 sites with crossed feeders.

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RF Optimization - Cluster RSCP

Analysis

Actix can produce reports determining whether RSCP KPIs have been met.

Actix can also produce RSCP plots so we can pinpoint the areas where RSCP
thresholds have not been reached.

The RF Engineer, should try to see if lack of coverage can be rectified by

modifying antenna tilts or azimuths.
Display CPICH_Scan_RSCP_SortedBy_EcIo_0

Choose Scanner Best Server

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Choose CPICH_Scan_RSCP_SortedBy_EcIo_0

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RF Optimization - Cluster RSCP

Analysis

WEAK
COVERAGE
AREAS

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RF Optimization - Cluster Ec/Io

Analysis
Inadequate Ec/Io can be due to
1. Lack of coverage (Ec)
2. Lack of dominance. That is, too much interference (Io).

The RF Engineer, should try to see if Ec/Io can be improved by modifying

antenna tilts or azimuths.
Display CPICH_Scan_EcIo_SortedBy_EcIo_0

Choose Scanner Best Server

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Choose CPICH_Scan_EcIo_SortedBy_EcIo_0

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RF Optimization - Cluster Ec/Io

Analysis

POOR Ec/Io.

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RF Optimization - Pilot Pollution

Pilot pollution will occur if the number of potential serving cells exceeds the
maximum number of cells allowed in AS.

If maximum number of cells in AS is 3 and Reporting Range 1a is 3dB, then

pilot pollution will occur if:
Best Cell Ec/Io 4th Cell Ec/Io < 3 dB*

Using the above definition, a plot can be created via Actix demonstrating
areas of pilot pollution.

The RF Engineer should attempt to reduce pilot pollution by modifying

antenna tilts or azimuths to improve dominance.
*

It would make perfect sense to use a higher value than 3dB because the number of
cells in the AS is governed by Reporting Range 1b (5 dB) as well as Reporting Range 1a.

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RF Optimization - Pilot Pollution

Actix uses a different definition for Pilot Pollution.

Go to:
Tools \ Display Thresholds \ UMTS \ Scan_Coverage

This will peg a Pilot Pollution event whenever 4 (or more) cells have a
quality better -15dB.

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RF Optimization - Pilot Pollution

Pilot Pollution can be displayed on a cell by cell basis by clicking on the cell.

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RF Optimization - Pilot Pollution

Best way to flag pilot pollution is via Actix definition Too Many Servers

Go to:
Tools \ Display Thresholds \ UMTS \ Scan_Coverage

This will peg a Too Many Servers event whenever 4 (or more) cells have
a quality with 5dB of the best server.

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RF Optimization - Pilot Pollution

Too Many Servers can be displayed on a cell by cell basis by clicking on the cell.

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RF Optimization - Pilot Pollution

Best way to flag pilot pollution is to write a query to flag the event only when
RSCP is greater than a certain threshold.
(There is no point in highlighting pilot pollution where we have coverage problems.)

Go to:
Tools \ Analysis Manager \ Crosstab Query

This query will flag an event

when the Ec/Io of the 4th best cell
is within 3dB of the best server,
and the best server is stronger
than -90dBm.

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RF Optimization - SHO Area

Actix calculates Soft Handover Overhead as:

M

SoftSofterHandover

AS * Duration( AS )

AS 1

Duration( AS )

AS 1

Being in soft Handover helps improve call retainability and quality, but it
should be kept to a minimum in order to avoid excessive use of resources.

T-Mobile KPI for SHO is <1.6. Optimal value is between 1.4 & 1.6.

Actix reports can indicate if the amount of time spent in SHO exceeds the
specified threshold. Plots should be used to point out SHO areas.

The RF engineer should modify the antenna configuration in order to

reduce overlap and thus SHO area.

SHO area could also be modified by adjusting SHO parameters. (This is

not recommended and not within scope of RF Optimisation).

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RF Optimization - SHO Area

Choose Handset Best Server

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Choose ActiveSet Count

RF Optimization Individual Cell

Coverage
Every cells footprint should be assessed by displaying RSCP levels from the
scanner in Actix.

The cells footprint should not exceed the planned coverage area (i.e.- an
overshooter) or is not excessively contained (i.e.- an undershooter).

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Slide 26

RF Optimization Individual Cell

Coverage
Overshooting
can cause severe interference in a UMTS network.

In order to avoid dropped calls, if cells that are being overshot by a cell are added
to the neighbour list, then this could result in the neighbor list becoming full.

Conversely, undershooters will result in a lack on dominance on the cell edge

(unnecessary pilot pollution).

Instead of checking every single cells coverage one by one, we can sort by
Distance and check the cell coverage based on overshooting stats.
(Distance = Number of samples above a set maximum distance.)
Sort by Distance

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RF Optimization Individual Cell

Coverage

Overshooting Cell

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RF Optimization 3G-3G Neighbours

Actix can provide a missing neighbour report based on scanner readings.

The missing neighbour list can be generated based on user specified

parameters. That is,
1. The difference between the Ec/Io of best cell in Active Set and that of a
non-neighbour.
2. Number of samples where the non-neighbors Ec/Io exceeds the
threshold with respect to the best cell in AS.

The above parameters should be chosen carefully. If too many neighbours

are added, neighbour lists may become full. Maximum of 31 3G neighbours
are allowed.

Even neighbour list sizes well below the maximum may cause neighbor list
truncations when in SHO.

Choosing too few neighbours can result in dropped calls.

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RF Optimization 3G-3G Neighbours

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RF Optimization 3G-3G Neighbours

To export suggested neighbor lists, click on Export Data:

Then choose data to be exported and file location.

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RF Optimization 3G-3G Neighbours

Special care must be taken in removing neighbours.

Removal recommendation could be due to the fact that the drive route
did not cover the handover area or that once of the cells was off air
during the drive.

Neighbour relation should not be deleted if deletion in both directions is

not suggested.

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Slide 32

RF Optimization 3G-2G Neighbours

Actix can provide an IRAT missing neighbour report based on GSM

scanner readings.

Maximum of 32 GSM neighbours are permitted for each UMTS cell.

Only necessary cells should be added to the neighbour list.

Excessive neighbour lists will cause delays in finding appropriate GSM

neighbours for handover, resulting in dropped calls.

Too few neighbours can result in dropped calls due to missing

neighbours.

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