Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop

Con t e n t s INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 5 SCOPE OF THE COURSE................................................................................................................................. 5 WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS TRAINING COURSE?.......................................................................................... 6 PREREQUISITES ............................................................................................................................................ 6 TOPICS TO BE COVERED ............................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1.................................................................................................................................................. 9 INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK DEPLOYMENT ............................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2................................................................................................................................................ 11 SCANNER THRESHOLDS, PREFERENCE ATTRIBUTES .............................................................................. 11 UE THRESHOLDS, PREFERENCE ATTRIBUTES ........................................................................................ 15 ATTRIBUTES .............................................................................................................................................. 23 EXERCISE 1: EXAM YOUR OWN DATA (ATTRIBUTES) ............................................................................... 31 CHAPTER 3................................................................................................................................................ 32 SITE AND CLUSTER INTEGRATION ............................................................................................................. 32 INTEGRATION PREREQUISITES ................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER 4................................................................................................................................................ 36 SITE INTEGRATION .................................................................................................................................... 36 POST PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS USING ACTIX SOFTWARE .................................................................... 38 EXAMPLE: HOW TO DETERMINE HARDWARE PROBLEM OR CROSSFEEDER DURING SITE INTEGRATION? . 39 EXERCISE 2: SITE INTEGRATION ................................................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER 5................................................................................................................................................ 47 CLUSTER INTEGRATION ............................................................................................................................. 47 FIRST DRIVE TEST: SC SCAN AND DEDICATED MODE ................................................................................ 49 IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR CLUSTER INTEGRATION .................................................................................. 52 MISSING NEIGHBOURS ............................................................................................................................... 58 MISSING NEIGHBOURS ATTRIBUTES .......................................................................................................... 69 SCANNER BASED NETWORK ROLLOUT ANALYSES: NEIGHBOUR LIST ANALYSIS ..................................... 71 INTERFERENCE FACTOR (F FACTOR) ......................................................................................................... 74 F FACTOR REPORT..................................................................................................................................... 77 EXAMPLE: COVERAGE ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................. 78 EXAMPLE: CPICH POLLUTION ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 80 SECOND DRIVE TEST: DEDICATED MODE WITH SC SCANNING ................................................................. 83 TYPES OF DROPS (RADIO AND NONRADIO RELATED): ............................................................................. 86 EXAMPLE: DROPPED CALL ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................... 89 EXAMPLE: CALL SETUP FAILURE ANALYSIS ............................................................................................. 91 EXIT CRITERION DRIVE TEST .................................................................................................................... 93 EXERCISE 3: CLUSTER INTEGRATION......................................................................................................... 96 SITE INTEGRATION IN INTEGRATED CLUSTER............................................................................................. 97 CHAPTER 6................................................................................................................................................ 98 CELL RESELECTION ................................................................................................................................... 98 RESELECTION CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................ 99 MEASUREMENT RULES ............................................................................................................................ 100 INTRA FREQUENCY SOFT HANDOVER ...................................................................................................... 101 HANDOVER ATTRIBUTES AND RELATED EVENTS .................................................................................... 105 HANDOFF ANALYSIS................................................................................................................................ 108 EXERCISE 4: HANDOVER ......................................................................................................................... 111 CHAPTER 7.............................................................................................................................................. 112 REPORT.................................................................................................................................................... 112 EXERCISE 5: SINGLE FILE REPORT TEMPLATE ......................................................................................... 113 WHERE TO GET MORE HELP............................................................................................................ 116 HELP FILE................................................................................................................................................ 116 TECHNICAL SUPPORT............................................................................................................................... 118 APPENDIX A UMTS EVENT DEFINITIONS .................................................................................. 119 Introduction Scope of the course Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the integration and radio optimisation procedure for WCDMA networks making use of the Actix Analyzer. Our goal is to give new users an understanding of what Analyzer can do and how it can help them improve the quality of service for their network subscribers. Advanced users will be introduced to Analyzer features they may not know about and to new network applications that can be performed using Analyzer. The instructors for this course are experts in optimising 3G networks and are familiar with the challenges faced by engineers using measurement and postprocessing software. Class size is limited to ensure that everyone receives extensive one on one instruction. Participants are given ample opportunity to ask questions relevant to their particular optimization needs. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to use what they learned in class to identify and solve real network problems. Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network workshop begins with a highlevel presentation of the Analyzer interface and its capabilities. We will then cover how Analyzer can be customized to tailor existing optimization processes to the specific needs of the participants. We will try to establish procedures and create Analyzer customized solutions for these procedures Who should attend this training course? Engineers responsible for enhancing cellular performance and implementing wireless system optimization. System Performance Engineers responsible for measuring and quantifying network quality relative to competitors andor established benchmarks. Engineers looking to further understand the application of drive test, call trace and protocol data in optimizing networks. Experienced technicians involved in field optimization. Anyone looking to maximize the return on investment in Actix software. Prerequisites Familiarity with network infrastructure and operation of the air interface. A general understanding of drive test and call trace collection and postprocessing methodology and advantageslimitations with each dataset. Access to Actix software. Basic computer literacy, including familiarity with Windows and MS Office applications.

All contents of this document are the property of Actix and are provided for information purposes only The information in this document is subject to change without notice Actix will not be held liable for technical or editorial omissions made herein, and will not

be held liable for incidental, consequential or other similar damages resulting from the use of its products

Copyright © Actix 2006 All Rights Reserved

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 3

Con t e n t s

INTRODUCTION 5

S COPE OF THE COURSE 5

W HO SHOULD ATTEND THIS TRAINING COURSE ? 6

P REREQUISITES 6

T OPICS TO BE COVERED 7

CHAPTER 1 9

I NTRODUCTION TO N ETWORK D EPLOYMENT 9

CHAPTER 2 11

S CANNER T HRESHOLDS , P REFERENCE & A TTRIBUTES 11

UE T HRESHOLDS , P REFERENCE & A TTRIBUTES 15

A TTRIBUTES 23

E XERCISE 1: E XAM Y OUR O WN D ATA (A TTRIBUTES ) 31

CHAPTER 3 32

S ITE AND C LUSTER I NTEGRATION 32

I NTEGRATION P RE -R EQUISITES 33

CHAPTER 4 36

S ITE I NTEGRATION 36

P OST P ROCESSING AND A NALYSIS U SING A CTIX S OFTWARE 38

E XAMPLE : H OW TO D ETERMINE H ARDWARE P ROBLEM OR C ROSSFEEDER D URING S ITE I NTEGRATION ? 39 E XERCISE 2: S ITE I NTEGRATION 46

CHAPTER 5 47

C LUSTER I NTEGRATION 47

F IRST D RIVE T EST : SC SCAN AND DEDICATED MODE 49

I MPORTANT C RITERIA FOR C LUSTER I NTEGRATION 52

M ISSING NEIGHBOURS 58

M ISSING N EIGHBOURS A TTRIBUTES 69

S CANNER B ASED N ETWORK R OLLOUT A NALYSES : N EIGHBOUR L IST A NALYSIS 71

I NTERFERENCE F ACTOR (F F ACTOR ) 74

F F ACTOR R EPORT 77

E XAMPLE : C OVERAGE A NALYSIS 78

E XAMPLE : CPICH P OLLUTION A NALYSIS 80

S ECOND D RIVE T EST : D EDICATED M ODE WITH SC S CANNING 83

T YPES OF D ROPS (R ADIO AND N ON -R ADIO R ELATED ): 86

E XAMPLE : D ROPPED C ALL A NALYSIS 89

E XAMPLE : C ALL S ETUP F AILURE A NALYSIS 91

E XIT C RITERION D RIVE T EST 93

E XERCISE 3: C LUSTER I NTEGRATION 96

S ITE I NTEGRATION IN INTEGRATED CLUSTER 97

CHAPTER 6 98

C ELL R ESELECTION 98

R ESELECTION C RITERIA 99

M EASUREMENT R ULES 100

I NTRA F REQUENCY S OFT H ANDOVER 101

H ANDOVER A TTRIBUTES AND R ELATED E VENTS 105

H ANDOFF A NALYSIS 108

E XERCISE 4: H ANDOVER 111

CHAPTER 7 112

R EPORT 112

E XERCISE 5: S INGLE F ILE R EPORT T EMPLATE 113

WHERE TO GET MORE HELP 116

H ELP F ILE 116

T ECHNICAL S UPPORT 118

APPENDIX A UMTS EVENT DEFINITIONS 119

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 5

Introduction

Scope of the course

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the integration and radio optimisation procedure for WCDMA networks making use of the Actix Analyzer Our goal is to give new users an understanding of what Analyzer can do and how it can help them improve the quality of service for their network subscribers Advanced users will be introduced to Analyzer features they may not know about and

to new network applications that can be performed using Analyzer The instructors for this course are experts in optimising 3G networks and are familiar with the challenges faced by engineers using measurement and post-processing software

Class size is limited to ensure that everyone receives extensive one on one instruction Participants are given ample opportunity to ask questions relevant to their particular optimization needs Upon completing the course, participants will be able to use what they learned in class to identify and solve real network problems

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network workshop begins with a level presentation of the Analyzer interface and its capabilities We will then cover how Analyzer can be customized to tailor existing optimization

high-processes to the specific needs of the participants We will try to establish procedures and create Analyzer customized solutions for these procedures

Who should attend this training course?

Engineers responsible for enhancing cellular performance and implementing wireless system optimization

System Performance Engineers responsible for measuring and quantifying network quality relative to competitors and/or established benchmarks

Engineers looking to further understand the application of drive test, call trace and protocol data in optimizing networks

Experienced technicians involved in field optimization

Anyone looking to maximize the return on investment in Actix software

Access to Actix software

Basic computer literacy, including familiarity with Windows and

MS Office applications

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 7

A computer meeting optimal (or at least minimum) requirements:

Performance

Minimal Performance

Processor: P4 2.6 GHz Pentium II 440 MHz Memory (RAM) 1 GB 256 MB Disk Space 60+ GB Available 1 GB Available Monitor 1280x1024

64k colour resolution

1024x768

256 colour resolution CD-ROM drive To install the application

One parallel port For single-use hardware key Mouse and keyboard Yes

In addition to the hardware requirements listed above, the Actix platform performs best when the Windows Virtual Memory Paging size

is set to between 1000 and 1500 MB The method for setting this parameter varies by operating system Please consult your OS help for specific instructions regarding this parameter

Topics to be covered

Configuring your workspace, including map, cell site, and parameter configuration in order to display your geographic area and network cell plan

Viewing data in a variety of ways to gain insight into possible network problems

Diagnosing and solving quality of service problems with drive test and switch data

Using pre-defined and custom analyses to analyze data and devise tailored optimization solutions

Identifying the impact of wide area network optimization changes in terms of Quality of Service, using advanced features

to develop optimization process and procedures

Using some of the latest engineering processes, which highlight how to fine tune network performance and further enhance quality of service

Using the Help options and maximizing the benefit of technical support

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 9

Chapter 1

Introduction to Network Deployment

The common practice for Network Deployment is shown below:

Service Definition and QoS Requirements

Link budget establishment and Nominal design

Deployment activities (site acquisition, civil works, installation etc)

KPI Definition and Tracking

Ongoing optimization

Design Validation Site and Cluster

Integration

= Ongoing Optimization of Growing and mature network

Network Design Validation

Design validation is executed on the first cluster(s) of a new area where 3G is deployed The aim of the validation is to approve the link budget and eventually to change or update that link budget with some radio engineering measurement quantities which can be typical for a certain region

Site Integration

Site integration is performed to test how well Node B is functioning, hardware (e.g installation of aerials and cabling), and software (e.g correct parameters downloaded and connection with RNC functions) A drive test can be conducted where scanner and trace mobile are used to verify if node B is functioning well

Cluster Integration

Cluster integration is performed to maximize the coverage in the cluster with the available sites When performing on an unloaded network, cluster integration is coverage based After the initial tuning (cluster integration), ongoing optimization tasks, such as

Dedicated Drive Test (dedicated mode with SC scanning) will be performed The network deployment activities will deal with real traffic KPI s, and trouble tickets will be raised if necessary

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 11

Chapter 2

Scanner Thresholds, Preference & Attributes

Thresholds are user-definable values that can be used as constants in event detection and queries For example: Uu_Scan_Poor_RSCP_Threshold

defines the minimum value which the RSCP signal is considered to be poor This threshold has a default value of -95 dBm, but users can change this to any other value Using a threshold (rather than a hard-coded value) in queries and event diagrams makes it is easy to adjust them for individual requirements

Scanner Thresholds

Uu_Scan_PilotPollutionThreshold (Scanner Pilot Pollution) Recommended value is -15 dB and value should vary between -10 and -18 dB By changing this threshold value, it will directly affect the

Uu_Scan_PilotPollution attribute

Uu_Scan_TooManyServersThreshold (Scanner Too Many Server Event)

Recommended value is 5 dB and value should vary between 1 and 10

dB By changing this threshold value, it will directly affect the

Uu_Scan_TooManyServers attribute

Scanner Attributes (Coverage Related Events)

Uu_Scan_PilotPollution (Pilot Pollution) Actix Software s event detection allows you to visualize pilot pollution

on a map with drive test scanner data The pilot pollution event occurs when 4 or more pilots with Ec/Io greater than

Uu_PilotPollutionThreshold are can be seen

Uu_Scan_TooManyServer (Too Many Servers) Due to UMTS uses relative levels to evaluate additions/removals to the active set Actix Software has a different event that allows the

engineer to visualize pilot pollution relative to the best server The

Too Many Servers event behaves similarly like the pilot pollution event except with relative levels The event occurs when 4 or more pilots with Ec/No within Uu_Scan_TooManyServersThreshold dB of the best server (CPICH_Scan_EcIo_SortedBy_EcIo [0])

Other Information Attributes (Emulated Active Set Module)

EventCellAddition EventCellRemoval EcIo_in_ActiveSet EcIo_in_MonitoredSet

CPICH Pollution Analysis and Handoff Analysis are both based on a calculated Active Set, which is determined by the Emulated Active Set module The Emulated Active Set module implements the 3GPP

handoff algorithm and uses scanner Ec/Io measurements in conjunction with user-specific 3GPP handoff thresholds to emulate the Active Set at each point along a drive test

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 13

A sample set of scanner data for three SCs with individual colour and vertical lines indicating transitions of pilots into and out of the Active Set is shown below:

Using Scanner Ec/Io measurements to implement 3GPP handoff algorithms

Scanner Preferences

The WCDMA options within the General Settings group in the Tool Preferences dialog control the simulated active set feature When this feature is selected, Analyzer calculates a UMTS simulated active set from the scanner data, as it envisages the handset would see it You can configure the simulated active set and specify the maximum size of the simulated active set in the range 1 8 The simulated active set feature was useful in the early days of WCDMA technology, when logging devices were not readily available Now that they are available, you may want to turn off the feature

Management Strategies specification

Max Active Set Size (up to 8) specifies the maximum size of the Active Set (1-8)

Disable active set simulation Select this check box to turn off the active set simulation feature This will usually give faster file loading times and will mean that the lines to cells feature in the map will be based on the measured SC (if it's available) rather than the simulated active set This option is off (deselected) by default

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 15

UE Thresholds, Preference & Attributes

UE Thresholds

Uu_EcNoInterferenceThreshold (System Interference) Recommended value is -15 dB and value should vary between -10 and -18 dB

Uu_RSCP_InterferenceThreshold (System Interference) Recommended value is -80 dBm and value should vary between -60 and -90 dBm

Uu_Poor_EcNoThreshold (Coverage Limited, Poor Downlink and Poor Uplink Coverage)

Recommended value is -15 dB and value should vary between -10 and -18 dB

Uu_Poor_RSCP_Threshold (Coverage Limited, Poor Downlink and Poor Uplink Coverage)

Recommended value is -95 dBm and value should vary between -85 and -105 dBm

Uu_HighUE_TxPower (Poor Uplink Coverage) Recommended value is 15 dBm and value should vary between 0 and

25 dBm

Uu_LowUE_TxPower (Poor Downlink Coverage) Recommended value is -15 dBm and value should vary between 0 and -30 dBm

Uu_CoverageLimitedUE_TxPowerThreshold (Coverage Limited) Recommended value is 10 dBm and value should vary between 0 and

25 dBm

Uu_PilotPollutionThreshold (Pilot Pollution) Recommended value is -15 dB and value should vary between -10 and -18 dB

Uu_CallSetupFailure_Num_RRCConnReq (Call Setup Failure event)

Recommended value is 3 and value should vary between 1 and 5

Uu_CallSetupFailure_TimeDelay (Call Setup Failure event) Recommended value is 2 and value should vary between 1 and 45 seconds

Uu_TooManyServersThreshold (Too Many Server event) Recommended value is 5 dB and value should vary between 1 and 10

Note: Zero = disables this feature

Uu_wait_timer_complete (Change Reconfig process) Recomended value is 8000ms (8Sec) and value should vary between 0 and 15000

Note: Zero = disables this feature

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 17

UE Attributes (Coverage Related Events)

Uu_SystemInterference (System Interference) The system interference event occurs when the CPICH_EcNo_in_ActiveSet is less than Uu_EcNoInterferenceThreshold (in dB) and the CPICH_RSCP_in_ActiveSet is greater than

Uu_RSCP_InterferenceThreshold (in dBm)

Example of system interference before a dropped call

Uu_PoorUL_Coverage (Poor Uplink Coverage) The poor uplink coverage event occurs when the CPICH_EcNo_in_ActiveSet is greater than Uu_Poor_EcNoThreshold and the CPICH_RSCP_in_ActiveSet is greater than

Uu_Poor_RSCP_Threshold and UeTransmittedPower is greater than Uu_HighUE_TxPower threshold

Example of poor uplink coverage before a dropped call

Uu_PoorDL_Coverage (Poor Downlink Coverage) The poor downlink coverage event occurs when the CPICH_EcNo_in_ActiveSet is less than Uu_Poor_EcNoThreshold and the CPICH_RSCP_in_ActiveSet is less than Uu_Poor_RSCP_Threshold and the UeTransmittedPower is less than Uu_LowUE_TxPower

threshold

Example of poor downlink coverage before a dropped call

Uu_CoverageLimited (Coverage Limited) The coverage limited event occurs when the CPICH_EcNo_in_ActiveSet

is less than Uu_Poor_EcNoThreshold and the CPICH_RSCP_in_ActiveSet is less than Uu_Poor_RSCP_Threshold and the UeTransmittedPower is greater than

Uu_CoverageLimitedUE_TxPowerThreshold

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 19

Uu_PilotPollution (Pilot Pollution) Actix Software s event detection allows you to visualize pilot pollution

on a map with drive test data The pilot pollution event occurs when 4

or more pilots with Ec/No greater than Uu_PilotPollutionThreshold are

in the active or monitored set

Look at each SC and try to find out what is the best way to optimize the area See the training document for a full detailed description on optimization techniques

Example of pilot pollution before a dropped call

Uu_TooManyServer (Too Many Servers) Due to UMTS uses relative levels to evaluate additions/removals to the active set, RVS has a different event that allows the engineer to

visualize pilot pollution relative to the best server The Too Many Servers event acts like the pilot pollution event except with relative levels The event occurs when 4 or more pilots with Ec/No within Uu_TooManyServersThreshold dB of the best server

(Uu_ActiveSet_EcNo_0) are in the active or monitored set

Look at each SC and try to find out what is the best way to optimize the area See the training document for a full detailed description on optimization techniques

Example of too many servers around a dropped call

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 21

UE Attributes (System Related Events)

Uu_HandoverProblem (Handover Problems) Actix Software s event detection allows you to visualize handover problems on a map with drive test data The handover problem event works as follows:

o Event detection looks for a dropped call or call setup failure

o It counts the number of times when the first best SC in the Monitored set is stronger than the first best SC in the Active set, within an 8-second window leading up to the drop

o If that number is greater than the number of times the Active set is stronger than the Monitored set, it sets a Handover problem (assuming we have no Active set update messages)

Example of handover problems before a dropped call

Uu_MissingNeighbour (Missing Neighbours) Actix Software s event detection allows you to visualizemissing neighbour on a map with drive test data The missing neighbour event occurs when a particular SC is not in the neighbour list and forces the call to drop

The following procedure is followed to trigger the event:

o When the drop call occurs, a specific function looks for the next origination and gets the value of the new SC in the active set If the new SC is different from the SC s in the active set before the call dropped, the function looks for the last neighbour list before the call dropped If that same neighbour list does not contain the new SC, it is a possible missing neighbour

So, in other words:

o If (SC in active set after drop call) <> (SC s in active set before drop call and Neighbour list before drop call) then missing neighbour

o Of course, in this case, the engineer needs to understand the coverage issues If the new SC is not meant to cover the specific area, optimization is probably the best solution and the engineer should not add the specific neighbour

Example of missing neighbour before a dropped call

The UE (Samsung Mobile in above example) provides real measured values, while the scanner (Agilent in above example) provides measurements from all scanned SCs The active and monitored set information in the following example are simulated, based on thresholds which are set in the

Tools preferences

Different UE s provides different Attributes Some provides trace mobiles log data such as BLER, but others don t The presented attributes under the UE group are the ones provided by the UE manufacturer Note that the UE call trace attributes sometimes do not contain what you expect

For example: The Samsung mobile gives attributes on monitored, detected and active set count These are not totally correct by just taken from the amount of measurements in the uplink measurement report

Example

Example below shows that measurements obtained from an uplink measurement report might not be always correct A measurement report gives measurement information on all detected SC of the combined neighbour list

Screenshot below shows that the attribute is not giving the expected data

On the measurement point the active set count is 6 (impossible)

The following tips should be considered when measuring the network:

Always use the same trace mobiles Make sure all attributes you use contain the information you want Filter out the non-diagnostic attributes or attributes which are meaningless to you

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 25

UMTS Handset Data Groups in Actix Software

Upon loading a UMTS handset file, note that several data groups are created These data groups are common in Analyzer to all UMTS handset files, regardless of data collection vendor Each group will appear as long as at least one parameter within that group was collected by the device

The following data groups are created under the UMTS node:

Dedicated Radio Link

Once a call has been established, parameters that are associated with the SCs serving the call, such as Handoff State, are contained here

Event Data

Call events triggered by the current state

of the UMTS mobile If an event is not present in the tree, it did not occur in the file This group also contains events with user-definable thresholds, such as

Uu_PilotPollution and

Uu_CoverageLimited

Statistics Data This group contains statistics calculated based on UMTS protocol messaging, including Call Duration and timing components of Call Setup Time

Vendor Specific

This group contains parameters unique to a specific type of data collection equipment

Rake Finger Measurements This group (Qualcomm chipset handsets only) provides individual finger measurements, including multi-path measurements for the same

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 27

UMTS Scanner Data Groups in Actix Software

Due to the nature of the coding scheme in a UMTS system, scanner data is

an invaluable tool for detecting problems in the network Because SCs are reused across a UMTS network with a much lower frequency than in an FDMA/TDMA network, each SC scan can be directly linked to a particular site or sector in the network

The following data groups are created under the scanner stream:

Other This group contains scanner measurements concerning RSSI, Chip Offset, Carrier Error and the Scan Code Group

Nth Best

This node contains ranked measurements for EcNo, RSCP, SC and PathLoss Within each group, the

0 element contains the best performing data For example,

CPICH_Scan_EcIo_SortedBy_EcNo_0

gives the strongest EcNo of all SCs scanned

Ec/Io This group contains the interference-to-chip-energy measurements

organized by various dimensions

RSCP

This group contains the Received Signal Code Power organized by various dimensions

Delay Find the CPICH Scan Delay Spread for each SC in this group

Tools Preferences dialog

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 29

Technology- Independent Data

Under the Independent folder, you may find some technology independent parameters decoded in Actix Software such as GPS measurements, device-specific data, and internal Analyzer messages:

GPS Data

This group contains mobile longitude, latitude, distance traveled, and speed

Message Info

The date and time for the start of the data stream can

be found in this group This information is useful when building report templates

Site Data Node

If a cell site database is being used in the Analyzer, the software will automatically calculate these measurements that take both the drive and the cell site information into account Some of the

measurements contained here are:

ServingCellDistance Distance (in meters) to the serving sector NeighborCellDistance

Distance(in meters), to non-primary serving sectors

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 31

Exercise 1: Exam Your Own Data (Attributes)

Exam these attributes from your UE and scanner logfiles by displaying them

on a map, tables or charts:

Exam the attributes from the UE and scanner Find out the interaction between the values under tab Nth best and

Ec/Io

Chapter 3

Site and Cluster Integration

This chapter explains what the radio engineering tasks are and the tests to

be performed during site and cluster integration This includes the phase between site commissioning and site for commercial use This RF

intervention (initial tuning and optimization) happens after the design part and before the ongoing optimization phase:

If a new site is needed, the steps in site integration will be repeated

Detailed Radio Design using Planning Tool Software

Initial Tuning and Optimization:

Site and Cluster

I ntegration

Performance Engineering and Ongoing Optimization

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 33

Integration Pre- Requisites

Before you start to integrate a site or/and a cluster, the following roll-out procedure should be performed and make sure the site and integration information documentation is available This section elaborates how a site and cluster is integrated (from the beginning to the end of roll-out process)

It also defines the integration pre-requisites and how the integration is triggered or performed

1 Roll- out Procedure

The following definitions and requirements should be taken into account in the roll-out procedure:

a) Cluster definition

Cluster definition is performed at the stage of network design and according

to the rules and thresholds coming from the link budget analysis In general clusters will contain between 15 and 20 sites

b) Radio Site definition

This step is taken place before the site construction begins The radio engineer will define the initial site configuration and decide on the followings:

Node B type Sector definition Antenna type per sector Azimuths and tilts per sector Initial CPICH power setting Antenna heights and cable lengths Additional radio equipment (boosters, MHA, combiners, etc) The site will be constructed and implemented according to these definitions

It is important to keep track of this information and check the integrated site against these site definitions

c) Data build

The RF part of the data build can be prepared just after the installation and measurement of the radio chain of the site In this stage the following data needs to be prepared for each cell:

Scrambling Code (from planning tool ) Cell Id (from local rule)

Local Cell Id (can be equal to Cell Id) SAC (service area code) (can be equal to Cell Id) LAC (location area code)

RAC (routing area code) CPICH power (set to 30dBm at TMA level per default) Cable loss (from installation measurements)

2 Site and Cluster Integration Information Documents

Before you start to integrate a site and cluster, the following documentation should be available on the cluster:

a) Simulation results on final design of the cluster (all sites in nominal plan):

CPICH RSCP CPICH Ec/Io Pilot Pollution Overlap b) Simulation results on detailed design:

CPICH RSCP CPICH Ec/Io Pilot Pollution Overlap c) Simulation results on individual sites:

CPICH RSCP d) Initial 3G-3G neighbour plan:

performed in planning tool according to local neighbour planning guidelines

At this point, the design will be pre-optimized for coverage It is clear that the design will not completely fulfill the coverage objectives of the cluster if not all planned sites are ready for integration These simulations will help you (RF engineer) to detect trouble areas in the cluster where you should

be focus on during cluster integration

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 35

Trigger for site integration

The trigger for site integration can be given site per site after installation Site integration process, as described further in this training course will lead to cluster integration

Trigger for cluster integration

The trigger for cluster integration is given on a per cluster basis Cluster integration can start when all sites in cluster for which detailed design is performed which have had a successful site integration Any site reaching the status of ready to build , but not previously included in the frozen detailed design, will only be considered in a later phase when it is decided

to retune the cluster (see later)

Drive Tests

Chapter 4

Site Integration

Purpose of Drive Test

When a single site or a new site is integrated, it is important to complete the I&C tests (on-line commissioning tests mainly) This verification shall be done by performing some drive tests around each site clockwise and anti-clockwise at 25-35 percent of the expected cell range (50m 100m in build up area) A scanner and a trace mobile are used to verify if Node B is functioning well

Traces are collected from the scanner and the mobiles using any measurement data collection tool

First analysis is done live on the measurement trace tool Post processing is done with Analyzer by an optimization engineer

The purpose of the site verification is NOT to propose optimization changes for the aerial system or to propose new parameter settings

At this stage, the neighbour planning is not complete and the cluster is not completely build

Troubleshooting and Optimizing UMTS Network Workshop 37

Site I ntegration Procedure

A) Node B installation check

The purpose of Node B Installation check is to ensure the Node

B is installed and integrated correctly The focus will be on the following points:

Node B up and running; NO ALARMS Feeders connected correctly

Antenna clearance OK

B) Drive test procedure

Choose position in the middle of cell 1 (main beam of antenna)

at max 100m (in car or outdoor)

Start up UE and scanner logging tool and start logfile Setup CS voice call or CS video call to test number

Go (drive) to middle of cell 2, clockwise and check:

o SHO functionality (link addition and link removal)

o CPICH RSCP (should be > -70 dBm when outdoor; in the middle of the main beam of the antenna; and line of site

o UE TX pwr (should remain below 0 dBm all the time when outdoor, )

o Cell ID (should be the planned one for the SC Terminate CS call and setup new call

Go to cell 3 and verify identical parameters Stop and restart CS call and go to cell 1 while checking the same parameters

Redo the procedure counter clockwise but with continuous call Setup PS call (ftp download of 10 Mb file) and drive clockwise route

Post Processing and Analysis Using Actix Software

With all the information gathered during the drive test, we can now using Actix Software to analyze the following information to determine if any hardware problem or installation issues occur:

SHO functionality (RL addition and deletion in both directions) Call setup on each cell

Normal output power behaviour (roughly) Crossed feeders (through SC) and correct identifier parameters (Cell ID)

Antenna orientation

PS throughput MHA functionality The following information mentioned above can be obtained by examining and analyzing the attributes using Actix Software

1 All Radio Information (RF Condition)

Active Set RSCP (Scanner and UE) EcIo (Scanner and UE)

Conclude if Malfunction is due to high UL Tx Power

4 Site Integration Report

If all the attributes is OK, the site is considered verified and can be included in the cluster optimization phase Follow by that, a site integration report should be created with the following information:

Test result summary Coverage plots of each cell Parameter summary

The following example demonstrates how to determine hardware problem

or crossfeeder during site integration After taking the measurements from

a site integration drive test, the optimization engineer will check the measured data for the following conditions:

1 RF Condition

a) Active Set

By examining the Active Set attributes, you can find out the answers

of the following questions:

Are the correct Scrambling codes implemented on each cell compared with the data fill values?

Are all intra-site SHO working, i.e active set updates in both directions: addition and deletion?

Screen Layout of Active Set (UE and Scanner) and Tx Power

Good Practice: Screen layouts are very useful to have an immediate view of how well a site is functioning The screen shots from previous page shows:

Site environment & parameter Display new map to view all available

sites Active set size, simulated from

scanner

Uu_SimulatedActiveSet_EcIo_0;

Uu_SimulatedActiveSet_Count (if you want to know the count) Active set size from UE Uu_ActiveSet_EcN0

UL Tx power UE_TxPow

b) RSCP (scanner/mobile) for all SC of Node B

By displaying the Serving SC information (from UE and Scanner) on maps, you can quickly determine if any cross feeder (where dominant SC not in its supposed best server area) occurs By displaying the EcIo and RSCP

information from scanner, you ll obtain an overview of the quality and coverage of your network