Interference Troubleshooting

Mike Erich Sr. Engineer September 28, 2004 RF Engineering West Region

Introduction
Generally our first encounter with interference is, when we have a sector with high blocking or access failure attempts on the Reverse Link. This is generally caused by oise rise on the Reverse Link e!ceeding the thresholds set for the Improved Reverse Link "verload #ontrol $IR"#% algorithm.

As a result, Access attempts on the Reverse Link are enie .

&ystem Loading
&ystem Loading on a #'() etwork is described by the increase in Interference or oise on the Reverse Link.

Link !u gets re"er to this as Receiver #nter"erence Margin.

oise Rise for a #'() 1*RTT system is +.+d,

$2% o" &ole 'apacit(

oise Rise -G ../ d,.

))% o" &ole 'apacit(

Improved Reverse "verload #ontrol IR"#

Reverse "verload #ontrol using Improved Reverse Link #ontrol algorithm $IR"#%
IR"# is re0uired to support .G data

*he primar( ob+ective o" R,SARA -./ Reverese Supplement 'hannel 0ata Sche uler1 is to manage the R2 resources available "or reverse link supplemental channel -R,S'31 bursts through burst a mission an rate allocation. Ma+or input into R,SARA is #R4' -Reverse Link 4verloa 1

Improved Reverse Link #ontrol algorithm $IR"#% "perates on a per sector per carrier basis.
It has two functions.

Loa estimation

)n estimate of the reverse link loading is obtained periodically. ,locking of new call attempts is e!ecuted based on the relation between the reverse link loading estimate and specified thresholds

Loa management

IR"# provides enhancements to both the loading estimation as well as the loading management function.

The IR"# algorithm utili1es two measures to estimate the reverse link loading2
R&&I Rise

RSS# rise is etermine "rom the me ian rise over the backgroun noise base on a set o" RSS# measurements.

The IR"# algorithm utili1es two measures to estimate the reverse link loading2 $#ontinued%
#'() loading

*he '0MA loa ing is estimate base on the number o" users -5alsh co es1. 2or each rate set -R'6, etc1, voice activit( an Eb78o are taken into account. A *ranslation value calib_factor is use to incorporate the e""ect o" other cell inter"erence on the '0MA loa ing estimate. Estimate '0MA loa ing 9ill be a value bet9een 0 an 6, i.e. it represents the ratio o" the number o" users to the theoretical capacit(. *he loa ing management "unction is per"orme b( comparing both the RSS# rise an '0MA loa ing to translatable threshol s.

Two thresholds, L1 and L-, create three #'() loading sections. The thresholds L1 and L- are set through translations lo_load_thres and up_load_thres respectively. 3or each #'() loading section two R&&I rise thresholds can be set. 4ence, creating three R&&I rise regions for each #'() loading section.

R&&I Rise Regions

RSSI Rise (dB)

60
Up_rssi_1_thres

I
Up_rssi_2_thres Up_rssi_3_thres

lo_rssi_1_thres

lo_rssi_2_thres lo_rssi_3_thres

II

III
CDMA Loading (%)

L1

L2

IR"# 5 Lucent Recommended &ettings

Parameter Lo_load_thres #L1$ Up_load_thres #L2$ Lo_rssi_1_thres Up_rssi_1_thres Lo_rssi_2_thres Up_rssi_2_thres Lo_rssi_3_thres Up_rssi_3_thres .r'er_thres /ho_thres_ad0 1ali2_'a!tor

Data Bases %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e %!p a"d !e&'a!e

Allowed Values 0(1 0(1 0(60 0(60 0(60 0(60 0(60 0(60 1(20 0(6 0)2(*

Step Size 0)01 0)01 0)+ 0)+ 0)+ 0)+ 0)+ 0)+ 0)1 1 0)1

e!omme"d Values #Lu!e"t$ 0)33 0)6* 6 16 + 12 , 20 2 1)2

R&&I Rise Regions 6ith 'efault Thresholds

RSSI Rise (dB)

60

16 dB
Up_rssi_1_thres

12 dB

I
Up_rssi_2_thres

8 dB
Up_rssi_3_thres

6 dB
lo_rssi_1_thres lo_rssi_2_thres

II

5 dB

4 dB
lo_rssi_3_thres

III 0 L1 L2 1

CDMA Loading (%)

'isabling IR"#
IR"# does not have a separate translation to turn the feature off. 4owever, when the R&&I rise related thresholds are set to their ma!imum values, i.e. 78 d,, this will effectively turn the reverse link overload control off. (onitoring of Reverse Link loading can be accomplished by using the applicable service measurements.

&teady &tate Interference 9ffect on the Reverse Link.

#apacity is not reduced. #overage footprint is reduced. &( :erformance.

!*S

"verall decrease in (";s. &light increase in ,lock and 'rop performance.

) !

:otential loss of In< ,uilding coverage.

'ell 'overage

Service Measurements (SMs)

Lucent &ervice (easurement :eg #ounts #'()<:)3<#)RR<=/

Average RSS# Rise Above 8oise 2loor -in !1.

#'()<:)3<#)RR<=+

&eak RSS# Rise Above 8oise 2loor -in !1.

)vailable in >oice'ata &( daily &preadsheet.

8o *ren ing Report available. 4nl( a ail( !!3 Summar(.

Lucent &ervice (easurements oise 3loor Rise

,,4 )verage R&&I vs :eak R&&I Rise. 3or #ell 77 &ector 1 #arrier 1.
#ell 77?1?1
2).00 20.00

oise Rise d,

6).00 60.00 ).00 0.00 6 . ) $ : 66 6. 6) 6$ 6: 26 2. 2)

Avrg &eak

,,4 )verage R&&I vs :eak R&&I Rise. 3or #ell 77 &ector 1 #arrier -.
#ell 77?1?.0.00 2).00

oise Rise d,

20.00 6).00 60.00 ).00 0.00 6 . ) $ : 66 6. 6) 6$ 6: 26 2. 2) Avrg &eak

Lucent &ervice (easurement :eg #ounts

3or effective interference troubleshooting &( peg counts must be available on an hourly basis.

#ntermittent inter"erence ma( not occur at Sector;s !!3.

oise 3loor

Thermal oise 'efinitions

Thermal noise < )ccording to Fundamentals of RF and Microwave Noise Figure Measurement $)pplication ote +=<1, 4ewlett<:ackard, @uly 1AB.%, thermal noise is Cthe fluctuating voltage across a resistance due to the random motion of free charge caused by thermal agitation and is gaussian in nature.C

Thermal noise occurs due to agitation of electrons and holes as they get warm. In this conte!t, DwarmD means any temperature above absolute 1ero. &o Eust what happensF The atomic particlesD vibration, which is a form of vibrational kinetic energy, may be coupled electrically via some transmission path to another component or device. The higher the temperature, the more the particles Eiggle around. The more the particles Eiggle around, the more power is available to be coupled to the outside world.

Thermal oise 'efinition $#ontinued.%

The 'efinitions are descriptive of noise in circuit elements, so how does this applied to #'()F 6e are interested in the performance of a #'() receiver in a 1.-+ (h1 bandwidth channel. "ther terms for Thermal oise2 @ohnson oise 6hite oise ,ackground noise

oise 3loor 3ormula

#alculation of a Thermal following formula. oise 3loor is given by the

Nt = kTB

Thermal oise

G ,olt1mann #onstant H T Temperature $Gelvin% H , ,andwidth $41% H

1..B87!18 -. -A8G
1 41

Nt = 174dBm

oise 3loor #alculations

#alculation of the Thermal

oise 3loor for a 1.-+(h1 #'()

channel.

Nt = kTB + 10Log(Bw)

#orrection for #hannel ,andwidth

Nt = 174dBm + 10Log(1"25 0"000)

Nt = 174dBm + 60. 6dB Nt = 11!.04dBm

oise 3loor #alculation 3or #'() 'ownlink

Ns = kTB + 10 Log # Bw$ + N )F )

. 3.

oise 3igure of (obile 4andset B d,

Ns = 1*,dBm + 60)36dB + -dB Ns = 10+)0,dBm

oise 3loor #alculation 3or #'() ;plink

Ns = kTB + 10 Log # Bw$ + N )F )

. 3.

oise 3igure of ,T& + d,

Ns = 1*,dBm + 60)36dB + +dB Ns = 10-)0,dBm

'esense 'efinition
Strong Interference or spurious RF signal(s) that is near the operating frequency of a receiver causing a reduction in the overall sensitivity of the receiver to the reception of wea in!"and signals#

Is usually e!pressed in d,.

Thermal

oise 3loor 3or "ther #hannel ,andwidths

1+ Gh1 .8 Gh1 +8 Gh1 -88 Gh1 1.-+ (h1 ..=+ (h1

<1.-.- d,m <1-A.- d,m <1-=.8 d,m <11A.8 d,m <11..8/ d,m <18B.-7 d,m

arrowband 3( B88 (h1 $ e!tel% #ellular G&( #'() ;(T&

Interference below a Receiver &ystem oise 3loor.

Locating the Source of Interference

Triangulation
*riangulation is a process b( 9hich the location o" a transmitting source can be etermine b( measuring either the ra ial istance, or the irection, o" the receive signal "rom t9o or three i""erent points. *riangulation is sometimes use in cellular communications to pinpoint the geographic position o" a user or inter"erer. *he ra9ing on the ne<t sli e illustrates the basic principle o" triangulation. #n the scenario sho9n, the location o" the emitter is etermine b( measuring the relative irection o" the signal "rom three i""erent locations. *he area 9here the ra ials overlap becomes the search area "or the emitter;s location.

Triangulation

Triangulation
Repeat this process at least one more time "rom another ne9 location. 5hen complete (ou shoul have . intersecting lines. *his is the appro<imate location o" the inter"erer 9ithin a triangle o" uncertaint(. As (ou get closer to the target area, (ou ma( nee to repeat the triangulation measurements. Measurements shoul be ma e much closer to the triangle o" uncertaint( then an( previous roun s. *he "irst set o" measurements 9ill be a goo appro<imation o" the location, 9hile the secon an an( subse=uent roun s 9ill help pinpoint the inter"erer;s e<act location. *his metho can also be use to "in inter"erers insi e a large buil ing.

Triangulation

'irection )ntenna for Triangulation

4yperGain 4G1A18I Iagi

4yperGain 4G1A18I Iagi

Agilent E ! ! Scanning Receiver

)gilent Receiver #onfiguration for &pectrum )naly1er (ode

Interference on 31

;plink Interference centered on 1B+8 (h1

1

"rigination )ttempt 6ith Interference

)ttempt "rigination on 31

&ilent Re<origination on 3-

;plink Interference centered on 1B+8 (h1 "rigination 3-

Improving The oise 3loor of )n )gilent &canner

.3. of )gilent : &canner is B d,. 4ow can we improve its performance to be able to read interference near the noise floor of a ,T&F Recall the &ystem noise floor formula.

Ns = kTB + 10 Log # Bw$ + N )F )

,y adding a low noise L ) or pre<amp to the front end of the scanner we can effectively reduce the noise floor of the scanner to that of the ,T& or even lower than the ,T&.

9ffective oise 3loor Reduction of )gilent Receiver

,efore

Ns = 10+)0,dBm
Agilent Scanner

N 2ilter 10-)0,dBm !.&.

s =

L8A

8.2. > 6.$ !

)fter

8.2. > 8 !

Ns = 111)3,dBm
ote2 )n )ttenuator may also be re0uired between the L ) and input to the receiver to prevent receiver overload due to the high gain of the L ).
1

9ffective oise 3loor Reduction of a &pectrum )naly1er using an L ).

L ) Gain "n Input "f ) &pectrum )naly1er

:arts List
(ini#ircuits L ) J*78<.811 1- vdc 1-B ma K1.A.A+

Trilithic #oa!ial ,andpass 3ilter

Tel2 1<B88<.//<-/1-

*rilithic, #nc. :$60 &ark 0avis 0rive #n ianapolis, #8 4?2.) @SA Available Mon a( , 2ri a( 8A00am , )A00pm Eastern Stan ar *ime

:ower Level (easurement $:L(% 3eature

6hat is :L(F
:L( or :ower Level (easurements feature provide for use with Lucent ,ase &tations. :rovides real<time measurements (easures

*otal 4utput &o9er on 2or9ar Link Reverse Link 8oise &o9er

Run from craft shell.

:L( #ommand format

Go to craft shell and run the command 'ump2cell aLplm bLcarrier c, sector d

a B cell site number b B plm options

: "or "or9ar link po9er 60 "or reverse link noise po9er

c B carrier number B sector number

:L( otes
'isplay of 3orward Link :ower is in a percentage of total power. Reverse Link oise 3loor reading appears to be after L ) in base station.

Rea ing is t(picall( ,8) to ,:0 !m. 8.2. o" Lucent !*S t(picall( ) !. !*S 8oise 2loor shoul be ,608 !m.

:L( A 5 3orward link e!ample $ on<,4%

:L( A 5 3orward link e!ample $,4%

:L( 18 5 Reverse link e!ample $ on<,4%

:L( 18 5 Reverse link e!ample $,4%

:L( 18 5 Reverse link without e!ternal interference

dump2cell ...Lplm 18Lcarrier 1,sector 1

:L( 18 5 Reverse link < e!ternal interference

6hen to use :L(F

To confirm e!ternal interference on the reverse link. To check percentage of forward link loading. To check reverse link loading. #heck noise rise on the donor sector after repeater installation.

Reference
Lucent document $/81<71-<-8.%
$%M& Frame 'rror Rate and (ower )evel Measurements

Interference Troubleshooting
4ow do we know if the interference is internal or e!ternal to the ,T&F

Terminate the ,T& in a +8 ohm load Run :L( command 18 while ,T& is terminated in +8 ohm load Repeat command with ,T& connected to the antenna system.

If readings drop when the ,T& is connected to a +8 ohm load, interference is e!ternal. If readings remain the same, interference is internal. Repeat the :L( command a couple of times at each step to insure the trend is discernable.

Interference Troubleshooting
'oes the interference only happen at certain hours of the day. Is it repeatableF If the cell site is collocated with other wireless carriers $i.e. )6&, e!tel, >eri1on, #ingular, etc.% or other wireless carriers in close pro!imity do they e!perience the same thingF "n a multi<carrier site are all carriers affectedF

:otential oise &ources

9!ternal Interference from "ther &ervices

In &an 'iego our main sources of interference have been2

;.&. avy ;.&. (arine #orps

"perating of ;6, communications links outside of their authori1ed fre0uency band.

"9( handset developers and infrastructure manufacturers operating prototype e0uipment outside of authori1ed fre0uency band.

:rimarily they have been developing products for G&(.

Tesla #oil

)rc 6elder

)n 9ffective &park Gap 9mitter

#haracteri1ed by noise over a large fre0uency spectrum .

)uto ,ody Repair &hops, (etal 3abricator &hops

6elding )rc

6elding )rc

Repeaters

Repeaters "scillating due to insufficient antenna isolation.

9lectrical ;tility &ubstation

Residential ;tility 1- G>) &tep<'own Transformer

#lose<up of Residential ;tility Transformer

)n ;nintentional &park Gap Transmitter

)cronyms

t s

H H

Thermal &ystem

oise oise

,ibliography

:ower Level (easurement 3eature &lides B 'ourtes( o" *err( Colo ( an A+a( /hanekar. )gilent &canning Receiver &creenshots B 'ourtes( o" Morris Miller. IR"# &lides B 'ourtes( S(stems Engineering '4RE R2