GSM BSS: Radio Path Training Document

GSM BSS
Radio Path
Training Document
NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 1 (36)

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
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Issue 3.0
Contents
Contents
1 Properties of Radio Path 4

1.1 Fast Fading (Rayleigh Fading) 4
1.1.1 Selective Fading (Time Dispersion ) 5
1.1.2 Flat Fading 6
1.1.2.1 Frequency Hopping 8
1.1.2.2 Coding 9
1.1.2.3 Interleaving 13
1.1.2.4 Antenna/Receiver Diversity 15
1.2 Slow Fading (Log-normal Fading) "Shadowing" 16
2 Channel Organisation 17
2.1 Logical Channels 17
2.2 Permitted Channel Combinations 22
3 Timeslots and Bursts 23

3.1 Normal Burst 24
3.2 Frequency Correction Burst 24
3.3 Synchronization Burst 25
3.4 Access Burst 25
3.5 Dummy Burst 26
4 Modulation 27
5 Synchronization 29
6 Measurements on Air Interface 31

6.1 Signal Strength Measurement 32
6.2 Signal Quality Measurement 32
6.3 Distance Measurement 33
6.4 Delivery of Results 33
7 Camping on a Cell 34
7.1 General Description of Idle Mode 35
7.2 General Description of Busy Mode 36

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GSM BSS
1 Properties of Radio Path
1.1 Fast Fading (Rayleigh Fading)

Fast fading is caused by multi path propagation. This means that the
signal arriving at the receiver is the vector sum of the original
transmitted signal, its path being reflected several times so that it
arrives from several directions almost simultaneously but with
varying phase shifts and amplitudes due to the varying path lengths.
Fast fading is typical in land mobile services. This sort of problem is
particularly noticeable in city areas where there are many high
buildings and structures which act as reflectors. Indeed there may be
no direct path to a mobile at all from the transmitter (incident wave);
reception may rely entirely on the reflections to maintain contact
(reflected wave.)
Fast fading can be divided in two groups according to delay
differences:
a) Selective fading
b) Flat fading
Whilst the cause of these problems is basically the same, the effects
they have are distinctly different and require separate solutions.

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Properties of Radio Path
1.1.1 Selective Fading (Time Dispersion )

Selective fading is like flat fading caused by reflections but unlike
flat fading the reflected signal comes from objects that are some
distance away from the receiver. This distance is of the order 1-5
Kms.
Since the bit rate in GSM/DCS 1800 is 270 Kbits / sec this means
that the time between bits is 3.7uS. This time corresponds to 1.1
Km. If signals are reflected from objects which cause the reflected
path to be of a length of this or greater the individual bits arriving at
the receiver will be coincident and result in difficulty interpreting
them. This problem is also referred to as ISI, Inter Symbol
Interference.
The delay that causes us a problem is of duration one bit time or
greater (3.7 us plus). There will obviously be even greater problems
if the delay is bigger and in our solution we are able to correct for up
to four bit times.
This sort of problem is particularly noticeable in areas of
mountainous terrain or areas with large expanses of water, or in
worse cases both.
This problem is corrected by channel equalizer. In order to
overcome this problem of bits interfering with each other we employ
a method called channel equalization.
When a signal arrives at a receiver we have no way of knowing the
details of what was transmitted and, even worse, how it was affected
by the air interface. However, if we could model the air interface we
would at least have one of our unknowns. So for every burst coming
into the receiver we treat the air interface as a filter. This filter we
can model mathematically in software. Whilst we do not know the
data being sent, what we do know about each burst is that the 26 bit
training sequence in the middle of every burst remains the same.
Knowing what was sent in these 26 bits, we can try every
combination of filter within certain limitations and mimic the air
interface. Each time we model the interface we pass the fixed 26 bit
pattern through it and compare that to what was received. Once our
models output matches our received information we can be
reasonably confident that we have a good simile of the air interface
for that moment in time. We can now pass every combination of our
116 bits through that model until we have an output corresponding
to our received bit combination. When it matches we know what
was sent.

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Even with very powerful processors to carry out every single

combination of interface model and every combination of
transmitted data bits would take an extremely long time. Therefore,
rather than try every combination we use an equaliser called the
Viterbi equaliser to best guess and eliminate unlikely combinations.
Even still we need two equalisers in each mobile and BTS in order
to reduce the processing time to acceptable levels.
The Viterbi equaliser can cope with ISI of up to 4 bit times on every
bit, which corresponds to reflected signals of greater than 4.4 Kms
longer than incident. To cover an extra bit shift would require
doubling the processing capacity again.
1.1.2 Flat Fading

Flat fading, as mentioned previously, is caused by the vector
summation of signals from near objects. The resultant value may in
some case be beneficial but it is also possible that the result could be
zero or close to it, causing a severe fading dip. The position in which
these fading dips are most likely to occur is at every half
wavelength, and therefore they are frequency dependent.
Since the frequency in GSM/DCS 1800 is of the order 900/1800
Mhz the dips will occur at approximately every 17/8.5cms.
If the dip is severe enough the strength of the received signal may go
below that of the receiver sensitivity, resulting in signal loss.
The speed at which you travel though the radiating field is also a
factor since the faster you travel the less time is spent in each
potential dip, and the less information is lost.

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approx 17 cm
Rx sensitivity
Fading dips
Fig. 1.1 Flat Fading
In order to overcome the problem of flat fading the following

methods are employed:
1. Frequency hopping
2. Channel coding/speech coding
3. Interleaving
4. Antenna/receiver diversity

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The diagram below shows the reference configuration for both the
MS and the BTS as well as the basic functions required by them to
overcome problems on the radio interface.
Channel coding
SPEECH SPEECH BLOCK CONVOL- INTER-

SEGMEN- CODING CODING TUTIONAL
LEAVING
TATION CODING
20 ms 13 Kbits/sec 22.8 Kbits

= 260 bits = 456 bits
BURST TRX
CIPHERING FORMAT- MODULA-
TING TION 900/1800 MHz
33.8 Kbits
Fig. 1.2 Reference Configuration.
1.1.2.1 Frequency Hopping

Fading dips are frequency dependent and sequential time slots will
not have fading dips in the same place.
The benefit of frequency hopping is improved quality of received
signals since the fading dips are frequency dependent and changing
the frequency changes their physical location. This improved quality
is especially beneficial to slow moving vehicles.
Frequency hopping is optional in the BTS but obligatory in MS. For
each cell the hopping sequence is the same, and the frequency
hopping sequence and frequencies are broadcast on the control
channels. The hopping sequence must be different on each BTS. The
first frequency of a BTS, i.e. the one containing the BCHs and CCH
is not frequency hopped since the MS needs to synchronise with
this. (These channels will be discussed in the section Logical
Channels.)

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1.1.2.2 Coding
Speech Coding
In PCM systems of the fixed telephone network the speech signal is
encoded by A - or u - law to 8 bit samples at 8 kHz sampling rate. In
the radio path the 64 kbit/s is too high due to the limited bandwidth
available. Therefore an alternative form of speech coding is used.
In GSM/DCS 1800 - system LPC - LTP - RPE coding was chosen.
RPE = Regular Pulse Excitation
LPC = Linear Predictive Coding
LTP = Long Term Prediction
This is an hybrid speech coder, which is a combination of a
wavecoder and a vocoder. The waveform coder is of type that is
used in standard PCM principles. The vocoder treats the speech as
being made up by a filter. By describing the way in which the filter
works and changes we can recreate the speech by sending that
information. Vocoders require much less information to recreate the
basic speech, but sound very synthetic. However, with the additional
information from the waveform coder we can regenerate
recognisable speech.
Speech samples of 20 ms are coded in a way that not the whole
speech is transmitted but only certain parameters. The other end
knows how to decode the parameters and is capable of reproducing
the original speech signal.
The channel coding is needed to protect the signal against noise and
distortion of the radio channel. This means that a part of the
transmission capacity has to be used for transmission of the channel
code.
The bit rate after LPC -RPE -LTP speech coder is 13 kbit/s. This bit
rate is used on full rate channels. Half rate channels are also
specified, but speech coder standardisation is not yet finished. Half
rate channels require a 6 - 7 kbit/s rate.
After adding the channel coding to the coded speech the bit rate rises
up to 22.8 kbit/s. Burst formatting takes this up to 33.8 Kbits/s. Data
channel bit rates are 9600, 4800, 2400, bit/s or less.

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Channel Coding
Due to the nature of the air interface it is inevitable that some bits of
information will be lost. What we would like to do is minimise this
loss. If we lose some information when transmitting speech the only
effect is a degradation in the speech quality. However, when we
transmit data it is much more important that we reduce errors to as
small as possible.
To carry this out we implement channel coding, which will enable
us not only to detect errors but also correct them without the need to
retransmit the information (this being impractical in speech.)
We use two sorts of coding in GSM/DCS 1800: block coding and
convolutional coding.
Block Coding
This method of coding allows us to detect errors. At the end of each
block of information we add a parity or check sum that will indicate
the correctness of the received information.
Convolutional Coding
This method of coding allows us to correct any errors detected
within a block by the block coding. There is a price to be paid for
this coding. With block coding we need to add only an extra few
bits, but with convolutional coding each one bit in generates two out.
The basic principle of the coder is that the output not only relies on
the state of the single bit but also on the preceding bits. In order to
reset the coder there are three tail bits at the start of each message
block.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
...
...
...
...
57 BITS per HALF BURST
Fig. 1.3 Speech Coding (See pages 8&9)
Speech is segmented into 20mS which is then coded into 260 bits.
Not all of these bits have the same relative importance. Therefore
they are divided into three classes (class 1a, 1b and 2) and treated
differently.

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GSM BSS
Signalling Channel Coding

Length of one signalling message is 184 bits (23 octets) and it is
divided into four bursts.
1 2 3 4
114 bits
FULL BURST
Fig. 1.4 Signalling Coding

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1.1.2.3 Interleaving
Before we take a look at interleaving we need to have an
understanding of what information is being interleaved and where it
came from. In order to do that we need to examine how speech is
coded.
If the amount of information lost is not just a few bits but a whole
burst, our channel coding which we employ to detect and correct our
errors is ineffective. Our channel coding is able to not only detect
errors, but also to correct them if there is not more than 12.5% lost
and if the loss is spread out within the burst. To overcome this
problem we split up our bits of information in such a way that if a
burst error does occur it does not affect our ability to detect and
correct it.
Since each 20mS of speech is made up of 456 bits of information we
move the bits around in a set pattern to avoid a whole portion of it
being lost to a burst type error.
Thus the bits are arranged:
1, 9, 17, 25 ... 449 2, 10 ... 450
3, 11 ... 451 4, 12 ... 452
5, 13 ... 453 6, 14 ... 454
7, 15 ... 455 8, 16 ... 456
Fig. 1.5 First Level of Interleaving
If we were to lose a burst of information, say 5mS, we would lose

only 25% of the information. This is too much for the channel
coding to correct. So what we have to do is employ a second level of
interleaving.

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GSM BSS
1/2 BURST PREVIOUS BURST
NEXT BURST 1/2 BURST
Fig. 1.6 Second Level of Interleaving
The air interface is changing all the time in terms of the way it
affects the transmitted signal. Therefore we need to remodel it for
every burst. For the period of one burst the air interface is assumed
to remain constant.
In this way, if we now lose a whole burst of information, we are able
to detect it and correct it. However, there is a price to be paid for this
ability which is the time delay in spreading this information out, i.e
40mS.

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1.1.2.4 Antenna/Receiver Diversity

By using two receiver aerials we have a much better chance that one
of them is not being influenced by a fading dip at an instant of time.
By combining the signals received at each antenna fading dips are
minimised. The distance between antennas is relative to the
frequency. For GSM/DCS 1800 this means a separation of about
six/three metres for optimum improvement. This distance gives us a
potential gain in signal strength of up to 6dB.
Receved signal
DIP
Rx Rx
DSPU
BTS
Fig. 1.7 Rx/Antenna Diversity

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1.2 Slow Fading (Log-normal Fading)

"Shadowing"
Slow fading is caused by topography (hills) and obstacles
(buildings). The signal is attenuated by these obstacles.
This type of attenuation can be overcome in part by adaptive power
control, i.e. changing the output power of the BTS or ME. So the
received strength is measured and analysed.
Adaptive power control is active on all speech and common
channels but not on the broadcast channels.
Fig. 1.8 Log-normal Fading

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Channel Organisation
2 Channel Organisation
2.1 Logical Channels

In order to define how we organise the various channels we need
first to define what we mean by a channel. In GSM/DCS 1800 we
have two types of channels: Physical and Logical.
A physical channel is a single timeslot on a single frequency. Thus
there are eight physical channels per frequency or per TDMA frame.
The information contained by a physical channel is termed a burst.
A logical channel is contained by a burst but it is information of a
particular type. The way in which we organise these channels is
partly dependent on the application but also on whether the
information is uplink (MS to BTS) or downlink (BTS to MS) or
both.
There are 11 logical channels to be mapped onto the physical
channels. Most of them are signalling information. Obviously we
cannot assign a logical channel to a single physical channel since
this would require us to use a lot of our available bandwidth. What
we do is mapping the logical channels in such a way that the
signalling takes up the minimum space whilst still maintaining the
required service and, at the same time, allows maximum use of the
remaining channels for traffic.

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The first type of the logical channels are traffic channels (TCH).
There are two of these, or will be in the future. We have a full rate
TCH, i.e. speech coded at 13Kbit/s. In the future we will have half
rate speech coders, i.e. speech coded at 6.5Kbit/s. This ability to
code speech at half rate will allow us to expand the network without
need to replan it, although half rate speech coders are not fully
developed yet.
These traffic channels are intended to carry either speech or data.
However, the data transfer rate will be limited by the type of traffic
channel used.
The rest of the logical channels, nine in all, can be divided into two
groups: Common Channels (CCH) and Dedicated Channels (DCH).
The Common channels can be further split into two types: Broadcast
Channels (BCH) and Common Control Channels (CCCH)
The broadcast channels are all downlink information sent out by a
BTS to inform all mobiles within that cell of general information
about that cell. Within the Broadcast Channels there are three logical
channels
1. FCCH (Frequency Correction Channel)
The FCCH carries information that will enable a mobile to
tune its frequency to that being broadcast by the BTS.
FCCH = pure sine wave
The mobile searches for this after switching on.
2. SCH (Synchronisation Channel )
Once a mobile has locked onto the frequency of the BTS, it
needs to know some further information in order to continue
with the signalling procedures. This information is contained
in the SCH. The information broadcast includes the BSIC of
the transmitting BTS and the current TDMA frame number
which the mobile needs to cipher a call.
Parameters: BSIC = Base Station Identity Code
RFN = Reduced TDMA frame number,
where the frame number can be
calculated
3. BCCH ( Broadcast Control Channel)
This channel contains more information required by the
mobile concerning such things as the frequency hopping
sequence, the paging groups the channel combination etc.
(information required for call set-up.)

Issue 3.0
BCCH contains general information about the BTS:

- used frequencies
- frequency hopping sequence
- channel combination
- paging groups
- surrounding cell information
The Common Control Channels also contain three logical

channels. These are used to access the BTS or MS, and as such are
concerned with a particular MS.
1. PCH (Paging Channel)
This channel is used by the BTS to try and access a mobile if
there is an incoming call for it. It is a downlink channel.
2. RACH (Random Access Channel)
This is used by the mobile (uplink) to request a SDCCH in
order to proceed or instigate setting up a call, or as a response
to a PCH.
3. AGCH (Access Grant Channel)
This logical channel is used to assign a mobile a SDCCH, in
order to further proceed with the call. It is broadcast from the
BTS to MS (downlink)
The third group of channels are the Dedicated Channels and, again,
there are three of these. They are:
1. SDCCH (Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel)
This channel is bi-directional and is used for call set-up
procedures such as authentication. It is the channel that is used
to assign a particular TCH to the mobile.
2. SACCH (Slow Associated Control Channel)
A SACCH is associated with each SDCCH and also every
TCH. During call set-up and call in progress the system needs
to know if a handover is required, and information pertaining
to this is broadcast on this channel. It is also used to regulate
the power of the MS and to maintain the correct timing
alignment of a mobile moving in a cell.
3. FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel)
This logical channel is used instead of SACCH to inter-

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
exchange information in a much quicker timescale than what

would be possible using a SACCH. It could, for example, be
used when a handover is required. The FACCH is mapped
onto a TCH and replaces 20mS of speech. This way it is said
to work in a "steal" mode.
The channel organisation for the traffic channels TCH, FACCHs and
SACCH/T uses the 26 - TDMA - frame multiframe (120 ms). It is
organised as described in the following figure in which only one
timeslot per TDMA frame is considered. When a BTS contains more
than one transceiver, i.e. more than one frequency, TSL0 is used for
BCH and CCH. TSL1 is used for SDCCH and SACCH. These are
organised similarly but shifted in time to allow the mobile to
calculate its response on the first frequency. The remaining six TSL
can all be used for traffic. The second frequency can be utilised for
carrying a full eight TSLs. If the cell is only to be used for limited
capacity of traffic all logical channels can be mapped in a special
way onto TSL0 to give 7TSL for traffic.
The common control channels downlink, i.e. PCH and AGCH, are
organised dependent on the customers requirements. The third
common control channel is organised as TSL 0 uplink on every
timeslot.

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NTC CTXX1169en
BCCH+
CCCH F S B C F S C C F S C C F S C C F S C C
(downlink)
BCCH+
CCCH R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
(uplink)
51 frames = 234.38 ms
8 D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 A0 A1 A2 A3 - - -
SDCCH/8
(downlink) D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 A4 A5 A7 - - -
A6
© Nokia Telecommunications Oy
8 A5 A6 A7 - - - D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 A0
SDCCH/8
(uplink) D5
A1 A2 A3 - - - D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D6 D7 A4
BCCH+ F S B C F S C C F S F S F S A0 -
D0 D1 D2 D3 A1
CCH
+4
SDCCH/4 F S B C F S C C F S D0 D1 F S D2 D3 F S A2 A3 -
(downlink)
BCCH+
D3 R R A2 A3 R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D0 D1 R R D2
CCCH
+4
SDCCH/4 D3 R R A0 A1 R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D0 D1 R R D2
(uplink)
F: TDMA frame for frequency correction burst S: TDMA frame for synchronisation burst
B: TDMA frame for BCCH R: TDMA frame for RACH
D: TDMA frame for SDCCH
21 (36)
A: TDMA frame for SACCH/C

GSM BSS
a) T T T T T T T T T T T T A T T T T T T T T T T T T -
25 frames = 120 ms
b) T t T t T t T t T t T t A t T t T t T t T t T t T a
a) One full rate TCH b) Two half rate TCHs

A,a: TDMA frame for SACCH/T
- idle TDMA frame
Fig. 2.2 Traffic Channel Configuration
2.2 Permitted Channel Combinations

4. TCH/F + FACCH/F + SACCH/F
5. TCH/H (0,1) + FACCH/H (0,1) + SACCH/THE (0,1)
6. TCH/H (0) + FACCH/H (0) + SACCH/THE (0) + TCH/H(1)
7. FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH (TSL0)
8. FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4 + SACCH/4
(TSL0)
9. BCCH + CCCH (TSL1 when in this combination)
10. SDCCH/8 + SACCH/8 (TSL1)

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Timeslots and Bursts
3 Timeslots and Bursts

A timeslot is a time interval of about 576.9 us, that is a 156.25 bit
duration. Its physical content is called a burst. It is the formatted
information corresponding to one part of a TDMA channel. Five
different types of bursts exist in the system. Each of these bursts
contains particular information.

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GSM BSS
3.1 Normal Burst

(NB, see below): This burst is used to carry information on traffic
and control channels, except RACH, SCH and FCCH. It contains
116 encrypted bits, 114 of which are of encrypted speech or data, the
two other bits being used to indicate the burst is in "steal" mode for
FACCH. It also includes a guard time of 8.25 bit (30.46 us) duration
during which the transmitter is powered down. Training sequence is
a fixed bit pattern which the receiver uses to create a model of the
air interface. The three tailbits are used to reset the convolutional
coder and also act as a start and stop bit pattern.
TB TRAINING ENCRYPTED BITS TB GP

ENCRYPTED BITS
SEQUENCE
3 58 26 58 3 8.25
3.2 Frequency Correction Burst

(FB, see below) This burst is used for synchronization of the mobile.
It is equivalent to an unmodulated carrier = pure sine wave, the bits
being fixed at all "0"s. The repetition of FBs is also named
frequency correction channel (FCCH).
TB FIXED BITS TB GP
3 142 3 8.25

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Timeslots and Bursts
3.3 Synchronization Burst

(SB, see below) This burst is used for time synchronization of the
mobile. It contains a long training sequence and carries the
information of the TDMA frame number and base station identity
code BSIC. The TDMA frame number is required as one of the
parameters for ciphering. The BSIC is used by the mobile to check
the identities of BTS when it makes signal strength measurements,
and to indicate a change of PLMN operator. It is broadcast together
with the FB in TDMA timeslot 0. The repetition of synchronization
bursts is also called synchronization channel (SCH).
TB ENCRYPTED SYNCHRONISATION ENCRYPTED TB GP

BITS SEQUENCE BITS
3 39 64 39 3 8.25
3.4 Access Burst

(AB, see below) This burst is used for random access and is
characterised by a long guard period (68.25 bit duration or 252 us) to
cater for burst transmission from a mobile, which does not know the
timing advance at the first access or after handover. The mobile does
not know the distance to BTS. Therefore it does not know how much
it should advance the transmission. Due to the inherent propogation
delay the maximum theoretical size for a cell is about 35km and
minimum size is 100 metres (GSM). However, the range in both
GSM and DCS 1800 may be limited by the output power of the MS
and therefore cell planning has to take this factor into consideration.
TB SYNCHRONISATION TB GP
SEQUENCE
8 41 36 3 68.25

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GSM BSS
3.5 Dummy Burst

This is broadcast when no other information is, i.e. as a fill in certain
circumstances. It contains no information, but is of the same format
as a normal burst.
1 hyperframe = 2048 superframes = 2 715 648 TDMA frames (3 H 28 mn 53 s 760 ms)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 2042 2043 2044 2045 2046 2047
1 superframe = 1326 TDMA frames (6.12 s)
(= 51 (26 frame) multiframes or 26 (51 frame) multiframes)
0 1 2 3 47 48 49 50
0 1 24 25
1 (26 frame) multiframe = 26 TDMA frames (120 ms) 1 (51 frame) multiframe = 51 TDMA frames (3060/13 ms)
0 1 2 3 4 22 23 24 25 0 1 2 3 46 47 48 49 50
TDMA frame = 8 time slots (120/26 4.615 ms)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 time slot = 156.25 bit durations (15/26 0.577 ms)

(1 bit duration 48/13 3.69 us)
TB Encrypted bits Train.seq. Encrypted bits TB GP TB: Tail bits

Normal burst (NB)
3 58 26 58 3 8.25 GP: guard period
Frequency correction TB Fixed bits TB GP
burst (FB) 3 142 3 8.25
Synchronization TB Encrypted bits Synchronization seq. Encrypted bits TB GP
burst (SB)
3 39 64 39 3 8.25
Access burst (AB)

TB Synchronization Encrypted bits TB GP
3 sequence (41) 36 3 G8.25
Fig. 3.1 GSM/DCS 1800 Frame Structure

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Modulation
4 Modulation
The modulation method used in GSM/DCS 1800 is GMSK =
Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying
It is a phase modulation that converts serial bit stream into phase
shift of a carrier wave. The function of the modulation is to convert
incoming serial bit stream to analogue signals which are modulating
the carrier of the transmitter. Duration of one bit is 3.69 us bit rate
270.833 kHz.
In Gaussian MSK the outgoing phase shift is filtered. The Gaussian
function acts as a filter, removing the sharp edges of the digital
pulses. If this is not done then the required bandwidth to transmit the
signal would be too great.

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
Digital signal results in usual sinx/x spectrum Gaussian filter maintains constant envelope
This must be filtered Sometimes called data filter
t t
Fig. 4.1 GMSK, Gaussian Minimum Shift Key.
Channel coding
SPEECH CONVOL-
SPEECH BLOCK INTER-
SEGMEN- TUTIONAL
CODING CODING LEAVING
TATION CODING
20 ms 13 Kbits/sec 22.8 Kbits

= 260 bits = 456 bits
BURST TRX
CIPHERING FORMAT- MODULA-
TING TION 900 MHz
33.8 Kbits
Fig. 4.2 Reference Configuration, MS and BTS.

Issue 3.0
Synchronization
5 Synchronization
The BTS transmits signals on the BCH to enable MS to synchronize
itself to the BTS and, if necessary, its frequency standard to be in
line with that of the BTS. The signals sent by BTS for these purpose
are:
a) Frequency correction bursts
b) Synchronization bursts
Under initial alignment, i.e. when the MS switches on, or handovers
to a new cell, the BTs calculates its distance from the MS. BTS
sends to each mobile a timing advance parameter according to the
perceived round trip propagation delay BTS - MS - BTS. MS
advances its timing by this amount with the result that signals
arriving from different MS's arrive at the BTS, the propagation delay
having been accounted for. This process is called adaptive frame
alignment.
When the BTS detects a mobile trying to contact the network via
RACH, it measures the delay of signal relative to the expected signal
from MS at zero distance under static channel conditions. This
delay, called the timing advance, shall be rounded to the nearest bit
period and included in a response from the BTS.

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
In order to allow the mobile time to calculate responses to signalling

information, the MS transmits back to the BTS three TSLs after the
reception of the signal from the BTS. This gives the mobile 468.75
bit times calculation time. When replying the MS takes into account
the frame alignment time (propagation delay MS to BTS). The
tolerance on these timings shall be + 1 bit period. MS shall signal
the used TA to the BTS.

Issue 3.0
Measurements on Air Interface
6 Measurements on Air Interface

Both MS and BTS measure signal strength and quality (bit error
ratio). In addition, MS measures adjacent BCCH – frequencies
signal strength
F1
Rx Rx
F2 MEAS
F3
Tx Tx
F1 = MS receiving frequency
F2 = Adjacent cell frequency (MS monitoring)
F3 = MS transmitting frequency ( F1 minus 45 Mhz)
Fig. 6.1 MS Measurements

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
During one TDMA frame (4.615 ms ) a MS measures one signal

strength from one neighbouring BTS. These results are averaged
over 480 ms and sent via the BTS to the BSC using SACCH. BSC
calculates if a handover is required and instructs the BTS to send the
handover command.
When making measurement on surrounding cell signal strengths, the
MS needs to identify the surrounding cells by means of the BSIC to
be sure that it is listening to a neighbouring cell and not another cell
broadcasting on the same frequency. This identification information
is on SCH, broadcast every tenth frame, in a series of fifty-one
frames.
6.1 Signal Strength Measurement

When making signal strength measurements either on its own cell or
surrounding cell there is a measurement window in the range -103
dBm...- 40 dBm
The MS measures signal strength on its own connection and
adjacent BTSs' on BCCH frequency during each frame (except idle-
frame). Samples are taken from each BCH carrier at least on 100 ms
intervals. Measurement results are averaged during 1 SACCH block
(480 ms) and results are transmitted to BTS in the next SACCH
block. If the next SACCH block is reserved the results can be
averaged over 960 ms intervals.
The level of received signal (- 103 dBm ...- 40 dBm) is converted to
RXLEV-value 0...63. In this way a discrete value can be given to
each of the levels.
6.2 Signal Quality Measurement

This is used for power control and handover. Measurement results
are handled and transmitted the same way as the signal strength
measurement results, the difference being that RXQUAL has eight
levels RXQUAL 0...7 instead of 64. Receiver quality is only
measured on that cell the mobile is currently within.

Issue 3.0
Measurements on Air Interface
6.3 Distance Measurement

Since the size of a cell is variable it is possible that the BTS can be
defined in terms of maximum distance using a parameter called
(MAX_MS_RANGE) by the operator for each cell. In this way
signals arriving outside the window of this parameter will be
ignored. The relative accuracy of such a setting is approximately 550
meters, there being 64 discrete values for this parameter ( 0-63 )
6.4 Delivery of Results

The averaged results from MS to BTS on SACCH are periodically
(480/960 mS) sent to the BSC. The results from the BTS signal
strength and quality are combined, and using a location algorithm
the BSC makes a decision of whether or not a handover should be
attempted. The BSC also has to make the decision of not only which
cell it should attempt the handover to but also when it should take
place. If the handover is to a cell whose control is outside the
serving MSC then the network needs to involve the respective MSC.

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
7 Camping on a Cell
There are three possible states for a mobile to be in:
1. Off,
2. On and idle;
3. On and engaged in a call.
The first of these is known as detached. The subscriber has powered
down or is absent from the GSM/DCS 1800 network. If a subscriber
does power his mobile off the last thing a mobile does is to send an
unacknowledged message to the network informing it of its intended
departure.
Periodically every mobile will try to contact the network. The
purpose of this is to establish that the mobile is still active and
requiring the services of the network. If for any reason the mobile
fails to communicate with the system it will be marked as possibly
detached. The time between these attempts, known as periodic
update, is set by the network operator at between six minutes and
twenty-five hours. If after a number of attempts the mobile has not
responded it will be marked as detached.
The mobile will only be marked as detached in the VLR since the
majority of mobiles will be switched on again within the same
location area.

Issue 3.0
Camping on a Cell
When a mobile switches on after being absent, or for the first time,
the first thing it does is to try to camp on to a cell. This process
involves going to idle mode. It may then proceed to setting up and
being engaged in a call. This is known as busy mode.
7.1 General Description of Idle Mode

The MS attempts to make contact with a public land mobile network
(PLMN). The particular PLMN to be contacted may be selected
either automatically, if the mobile is within the country of its own
PLMN, or manually if it is in a visiting country. Initially the mobile
tunes to all the frequency channels (currently 124/374 in GSM/DCS
1800) and picks the strongest signal by listening to the FCCH which
is a pure sinewave. It then tunes to the SCCH to get further
information about the cell. The mobile then tries to do a location
update to the VLR to indicate its presence. If for any reason the
mobile cannot use this cell it will try again on the cell with the next
strongest signal strength.
Once registered within a location area, the mobile may move freely
within the location area without the need to update the VLR. If it
moves from one cell to another and detects stronger signal strength it
tunes to that. It is important to note that in the idle mode it is the
mobile that makes the decision to change cell, location area, MSC
service area or PLMN. As it moves through the network, however, it
must update the VLR that currently is serving the location area it is
moving to, and if it moves inter MSC service area that location
needs to be updated in the HLR. In this state the mobile is said to be
attached, idle, roaming and location updating. The mobile may now
be accessed or access the system itself in order to set up a telephone
call, i.e. it will go to busy mode.

Issue 3.0
GSM BSS
7.2 General Description of Busy Mode

In this mode the mobile is attached and engaged in a call. The
mobile is said to be attached, busy locating and potentially involved
in handover.
In this state the mobile has a traffic channel assigned to it and as it
moves through the network it must be able to tune to new traffic
channels in the cells it visits.
If the mobile moves from one cell to another within the same
location area, the BSC currently serving, the BTS makes a decision
based on signal strength and quality measurements sent to it by both
the mobile and BTS. In order to carry out its signalling there are
signalling channels mapped in with traffic channels. It is the BSC
that makes the decision to which cell and when a handover should
take place. In this case there is no update to the VLR required.
If the mobile moves from one cell to another and it involves going to
a new location area but is still served by the same BSC, a similar
procedure takes place except that the VLR has to be updated with
the new location area.
If the mobile moves from cell to cell and a new BSC is involved the
procedure is the same, the BSC that was initially controlling the call
having the responsibility of the handover. In this case there may or
may not be a location update since location areas can cover more
than one BSC area.
In the final case the mobile moves from cell to cell and a handover is
required but the cells are in areas controlled by different MSCs. This
is the most complicated case and again involves the BSC initially
serving the mobile controlling the handover. In this case there will
not only be a location update to the new VLR, but the HLR will
have to be updated with the new MSC/VLR address.
The purpose of making updates to the HLR and VLR is to ensure
that incoming calls can be routed correctly, and the mobile paged.

Issue 3.0

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NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 1 (36)

2 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

1 Properties of Radio Path 4

3 Timeslots and Bursts 23

6 Measurements on Air Interface 31

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 3 (36)

1 Properties of Radio Path

1.1 Fast Fading (Rayleigh Fading)

4 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

1.1.1 Selective Fading (Time Dispersion )

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 5 (36)

Even with very powerful processors to carry out every single

1.1.2 Flat Fading

6 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

Fig. 1.1 Flat Fading

In order to overcome the problem of flat fading the following

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 7 (36)

SPEECH SPEECH BLOCK CONVOL- INTER-

20 ms 13 Kbits/sec 22.8 Kbits

Fig. 1.2 Reference Configuration.

1.1.2.1 Frequency Hopping

8 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 9 (36)

10 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

57 BITS per HALF BURST

Fig. 1.3 Speech Coding (See pages 8&9)

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 11 (36)

Signalling Channel Coding

Fig. 1.4 Signalling Coding

12 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

1, 9, 17, 25 ... 449 2, 10 ... 450

3, 11 ... 451 4, 12 ... 452

5, 13 ... 453 6, 14 ... 454

7, 15 ... 455 8, 16 ... 456

Fig. 1.5 First Level of Interleaving

If we were to lose a burst of information, say 5mS, we would lose

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 13 (36)

1/2 BURST PREVIOUS BURST

1/2 BURST PREVIOUS BURST

1/2 BURST PREVIOUS BURST

1/2 BURST PREVIOUS BURST

NEXT BURST 1/2 BURST

NEXT BURST 1/2 BURST

NEXT BURST 1/2 BURST

NEXT BURST 1/2 BURST

Fig. 1.6 Second Level of Interleaving

14 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

1.1.2.4 Antenna/Receiver Diversity

Fig. 1.7 Rx/Antenna Diversity

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 15 (36)

1.2 Slow Fading (Log-normal Fading)

Fig. 1.8 Log-normal Fading

16 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

2.1 Logical Channels

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 17 (36)

18 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

BCCH contains general information about the BTS:

The Common Control Channels also contain three logical

NTC CTXX1169en © Nokia Telecommunications Oy 19 (36)

exchange information in a much quicker timescale than what

20 (36) © Nokia Telecommunications Oy NTC CTXX1169en

A: TDMA frame for SACCH/C