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13 GSM BSS Network KPI - Network Interference - Optimization Manual
13 GSM BSS Network KPI - Network Interference - Optimization Manual
Reviewed by Date
Reviewed by Date
Approved by Date
Revision Record
Date Version Description Author
2004-12-26 0.6 The draft is completed. Chen Baolin
2008-2-22 1.0 The contents are updated, with the check methods Su Shi
for intermodulation interference added.
Contents
1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Symptoms of Network Interference............................................................................................................. 6
1.2 Classification of Interference Sources in the GSM System........................................................................... 7
1 Overview
In the GSM system, frequency reuse is required to improve the system capacity. Frequency
reuse refers to reusing the same frequency channel in different cells within a system. The
closest distance between the centers of two cells using the same frequency channel is called
the reuse distance. The ratio of the reuse distance to the cell radius is called co-channel
interference factor. For a system with a specified amount of frequency channels, the tighter
the frequency reuse is, the greater the system capacity is, and the shorter the reuse distance is,
the greater the interference is.
The preceding interference caused by frequency reuse is intra-network interference. The GSM
network may be affected by inter-network interference from other communication networks.
Interference is one of the key factors that affect the network quality. It greatly affects the
voice quality, and causes call drops, handovers, and congestion. How to reduce or eliminate
interference is one of important tasks in network planning and optimization.
− The proportion of measurement values with high level and poor quality is high in the
measurement of receive level and quality performance.
3. The following symptoms are found in the drive test (DT):
− The number of failed handovers is great.
− The signal level is high and the speech quality is poor.
4. According to the signaling traced by the signaling analyzer (MA10/K1205) on the
Abis interface, the following symptom occurs:
− The bit error rate (BER) in the cell is higher than those in other cells.
Man-made noise is one of main interference sources in a mobile communication
system. Among these man-made interference or noise sources, some interference
sources cannot be controlled, for example, engine ignition interference, electrical
interference, and industrial electrical equipment interference. Some interference
sources, however, can be controlled through network planning and system
optimization, for example, intra-equipment interference and inter-equipment
interference. This document describes the interference that can be controlled.
improperly; (2) There is no sufficient isolation between the donor antenna and the
service antenna, and thus self excitation is formed.
For a repeater that uses the wideband non-linear amplifier, its intermodulation
specifications are much greater than those required by the protocol. If the power is
large, the intermodulation component is large. In this case, adjacent BTSs are
interfered. For cascaded repeaters, as the co-channel amplification is performed for
the repeaters and it takes a certain time for the repeaters to process signals, delay
exists between signals. When the delay exceeds the time window size specified for
the GSM system, the co-channel interference occurs.
− Intermodulation interference
Generation of intermodulation signals and their impact on the GSM network must be
considered in network planning and optimization. In nature, when two RF signals are
input to a non linear component or pass through a discontinuous transmission
medium, a series of new frequency components are generated due to the non linearity.
The frequency components of new signals meet the following frequency relation.
Assume that the frequencies of the two input signals are f1 and f2 (absolute
frequencies). The formulas are as follows:
Fn = mf1 + nf2 and Fn = mf1 - nf2
As the amplitude of the third order and fifth order intermodulation products is high,
the common components are third order and fifth order intermodulation components.
Third order intermodulation is taken as an example here.
As the spectrum components of 2f1-f2 and 2f2-f1 are the closest to their own signals,
the system is interfered most possibly by these spectrum components. Figure 1-1
shows the spectrum distribution.
f1 f2
IM3
2f1-f2 2f2-f1
△f
△f △f
The amplitude of a new signal depends on the non linearity of the component or the
discontinuity of microwave transmission. The third order intermodulation index (IM3) is
used for measurement. IM3 refers to the difference between the third order
intermodulation product generated due to the non linearity of the system and the input
signals when two equal-amplitude signals with a certain level are input. Generally, as
IM3 meets the requirements, the frequencies of third order intermodulation are not
considered in frequency planning. For a dual-band network (the antenna system is shared)
or a wideband network, however, the third order intermodulation generated on the
downlink affects uplink reception. Therefore, you must consider this case when solving
interference problems.
The antenna serves as the passive component and transmission component of microwave
signals, and the possible causes of intermodulation generation are as follows:
− The input connector of the antenna is unclean or mechanically damaged, the internal
silver layer is damaged due to multiple insertions and removals, or metal filings are
left in the connector.
− The antenna connector is not installed securely.
− The antenna elements enveloped in the protection cover are corroded.
− The feeder part between the input connector of the antenna and the antenna element
is corroded.
− The receiver is interfered by the intermodulation product when the following
conditions are met:
− The intermodulation product falls off in the RX band.
− The intermodulation product must reach a certain level. According to the
requirements of the co-channel interference and BTS sensitivity –110 dBm, the
maximum signal level of the intermodulation product on the antenna port must meet
the following requirement: –110 dBm – 9 dB (suppression factor of the co-channel
interference) + 6 dB (loss of the 60 m feeder cable) = –113 dBm.
For the first condition, assume that the intermodulation product of two TX signals of
M900 falls off in the RX band.
The noise is very obvious when test calls are made for cell 2 of a BTS. The
frequencies in the cell are sequentially 109, 87, 18, and 96. The downlink absolute
frequencies of frequency 96 and frequency 18 are calculated as follows:
F1 (18) = 935 MHz + 0.2 MHz x 18 = 938.6 MHz
F2 (96) = 935 MHz + 0.2 MHz x 96 = 954.2 MHz
Figure 1-2 Distribution of third order and fifth order intermodulation signals
The signal frequency of the third order intermodulation product is calculated as follows:
2F1 - F2 = 923 MHz
The signal frequency of the fifth order intermodulation product is calculated as follows:
3F1 - 2F2 = 907.4 MHz
The fifth order intermodulation product falls off in the uplink band of M900, and the
uplink signal frequency is calculated as follows: F3 = (907.4 – 890)/0.2 = 87. Frequency
87 is just the frequency used by the cell. In this case, interference may occur.
For the second condition, this cell is also used for description.
The cell is configured with two CDUs, and the output power of the TRX is 40 W.
Assume that the power of the antenna input port is about 35 dBm when the loss of the
feeder cable is 6 dB. According to the requirement of IM3 = –150 dB, the
intermodulation product on the antenna port is roughly calculated as follows: 35 dBm –
150 dB = –115 dBm. As –115 dBm is smaller than –113 dBm, the intermodulation
interference does not occur. If the intermodulation index is decreased by 20 dB, the
intermodulation product on the antenna port is –95 dBm. In this case, the input level of
the signal that passes through the CDU is about –90 dBm, and interference band 2
(default interference band threshold) is formed.
For the division of frequency bands of China Mobile (frequency 1 to frequency 94) and
China Unicom (frequency 96 to frequency 124), the third intermodulation may not exist
according to the calculation. The fifth order and seventh order intermodulation, however,
may exist. The calculation conclusion described in Appendix 1 is for reference.
See Appendix 1 Calculation of Fifth Order and Seventh Order Intermodulation
Interference for China Mobile
If the division of frequency bands of overseas operators is complex (for example, lower
frequency bands 1 to 20 and high frequency bands 87 to 124), the third order
intermodulation must be considered in frequency planning.
3. Inter-network interference (other large-power communication equipment)
− Radar station: The frequency used by some decimeter wave radars designed in the
1970s or 1980s is the same as or similar to that of the GSM system. As their transmit
power is large (from tens of kW to hundreds of kW) and their outband spurious
emission is large, the adjacent BTSs are easily interfered.
− Simulated base station: The frequency band used by the simulated base station and
that of the GSM system overlap. According to national requirements, simulated base
stations must exit the frequency band of the GSM system. Some simulated base
stations, however, do not exit. When the GSM system selects the same frequency as
that of a simulated base station, the interference from the simulated base station
occurs. (Currently, all the simulated networks in China and their frequencies are
unavailable. In some overseas regions, however, a simulated network still coexists
with a GSM network.)
− CDMA base station: Because there are many mobile communication systems in
China, interference exists between systems or between networks of different
operators. When the CDMA network is built on the adjacent frequency band of the
TACS or GSM network, the transmission of the CDMA network interferes with the
reception of the GSM900 network and the outband leakage signals of the CDMA
network drop in the channel of the GSM receiver. In this case, the noise level of the
GSM receiver increases and the GSM uplink becomes poor.
− Cordless phone on the M900 frequency band: There are a large number of cordless
phones on the M900 frequency band in some overseas regions. The cordless phones
are categorized into analog and digital phones, and their bandwidths are 30 kHz and 2
MHz. The frequencies hop between 902 MHz and 920 MHz. If the power of an
outdoor antenna is large, the adjacent BTSs are interfered.
− Radio equipment and interference units with the same frequency band as the GSM
network: When some special radio equipment occupies the GSM frequency band,
interference occurs.
To solve interference problems and improve the speech quality, you need to find the
interference, take proper measures to locate the interference, and then eliminate or reduce the
interference.
You can find the interference in the GSM system by the approaches, such as analysis of OMC
traffic statistics, analysis of OMC alarms, DT, and analysis of subscriber complaints.
Generally, the dedicated test devices such as the signaling analyzer and spectrum analyzer are
not used in this phase because the devices are bulky and expensive.
The check result based on the preceding methods only indicates that potential interference exists. You
need to determine whether interference or other problems occur through the location process.
Compared with other counters, the interference band counter more directly reflects the
interference of a cell (the measurement value of interference signals in the range of –110 dBm
to –105 dBm is included in interference band 1). The interference band counter can only
reflect whether the uplink frequency is interfered.
If a large number of interference signal levels fall in interference band 4 and interference band
5 in a cell, co-channel interference occurs in the cell. If a large number of interference signal
levels fall in interference band 1 and interference band 2, interference may not occur. If a
large number of interference signal levels fall in interference band 3, interference may occur.
Considering different frequency reuse patterns, interference may occur in an edge network
with wide coverage even if the value exists in interference band 2.
The BTS scans uplink frequencies by idle timeslots to measure interference bands. If the
traffic volume of a cell is large and the channel usage is high, the measurement value in the
interference band is small. In this case, the interference cannot be reflected properly. To
determine whether interference occurs on a TRX, you need to view the measurement counters
related to channel allocation. The measurement object is a TRX.
the RX/TX channels (such as TRX and antenna system) and find possible co-channel
interference and adjacent-channel interference. The measurement objects related to the RX
quality and level measurement counters are TRXs.
You cannot check the potential interference from the MS or other BTSs according to the alarm
information on the alarm console.
You can find the potential interference according to subscriber complaints. The information
related to subscriber complaints includes the mobile number, mobile model, called number,
fault symptoms on the calling side, fault symptoms on the called side, and specific location
when the fault occurs. If the detailed complaint information is collected, you can easily find
network problems.
Generally, the complaint information is incomplete. This is because a subscriber may not
understand the cellular network completely or specify the interference source. When
interference occurs on a network, the subscriber generally complains about the following
conditions: (1) The noise is high; (2) The peer voice is unclear; (3) The local voice is unclear;
(4) The call drops; (5) Calls cannot be made. Therefore, when many subscribers complain
about the same problem in an area, you need to check whether interference occurs in the area.
2. Select any BT in the test cell, and then double-click Idle Timeslot Test on the right.
3. Select all basebands of the cell, set the test duration, and then click Start, as shown in
Figure 2-5.
After the command is executed, all TRXs in the cell work in idle timeslot TX mode.
Most OMC alarms are related to hardware faults, (for example, no power is transmitted due to complete
loss of the TRX) performance degrade, and self excitation. For some potential faults, for example, the
RX performance of the TRX or CDU falls, no alarm information is reported.
3.1.5 DT
The DT is an effective approach to locating interference problems. The location approach is
similar to that described in section 2.3 . The difference is that the interfered cell is tested in the
location phase.
Figure 3-7 Connection test of the local BTS through the spectrum analyzer
You can use MS/TX-Test and HL-OUT ports on the BTS CDU to locate external interference.
The two ports can be used to test RX signals of the antenna without affecting the running of
the BTS.
Ms/TX-Test port: This port is located at the front end of the CDU. You can connect the port
to the spectrum analyzer to view all signal spectrums received by the antenna. Considering the
bandwidth of the antenna, the signal spectrums distributed in the range of 800 MHz to 1000
MHz can be normally tested. As there is a coupling degree of 30 dB between the antenna and
the Ms/TX-Test port, and the background noise exists on the spectrum analyzer, small signal
spectrums cannot be tested. Generally, the test port is used when large signals and GSM RX
outband frequency scanning are tested.
The amplitude of test signals is calculated as follows: D = (A + 30) dBm.
In the formula, A indicates the signal amplitude tested on the Ms/TX-Test port and D indicates
the signal amplitude on the top RF port of the BTS cabinet.
CDU HL-OUT port: You can connect the CDU HL-OUT port to the spectrum analyzer with
a cable to locate external interference. The connection has the following advantages:
l The services on the BTS are not disrupted and the signal spectrums received by the BTS
antenna can be monitored when the BTS works.
l The received small signals can be amplified to reduce the background noise of the
spectrum analyzer.
As the gain of the tributary from the TX/RX ANT to HL-OUT port is 22 dB on the RX
frequency band, the value 22 dB is deducted from the signal amplitude tested on the CDU
HL-OUT port to obtain the signal amplitude tested on the top RF port of the BTS cabinet. The
amplitude of test signals is calculated as follows:
C = (B – 22) dBm
In the formula, B indicates the signal amplitude tested on the HL-OUT port and C indicates
the signal amplitude on the top RF port of the BTS cabinet.
If an inter-network interference signal causes noise, the interference signal and useful signals
are simultaneously received by the antenna. In this case, you can connect the spectrum
analyzer to the HL-OUT or MS/TX-TEST port of the BTS CDU to capture the interference
signal spectrum, analyze the characteristics of the interference signal, and locate the
interference source.
It is recommended that you determine the approximate direction of the interference source
according to the cell cross-connection test of the local BTS and then locate the interference
source by using the spectrum analyzer and small antenna.
1. Cell cross-connection test of the local BTS
The seriously interfered BTS must be determined first. Generally, the BTS in urban areas
has three cells. You can connect the spectrum analyzer to the test ports of the CDUs in
the three cells to capture the interference signal and record the frequency, amplitude,
spectrum graphics, and signal characteristics of the interference signal. In addition, you
can determine the cell direction of the interference source by analyzing the amplitude
and frequency of the interference signal received by the three cells.
After determining the interfered cell, you need to test its neighboring cells, especially the
neighboring cells pointing to the interfered cell. The test method is as follows: Connect
the spectrum analyzer to the test port of the CDU in the cell, and then record the
frequency, amplitude, spectrum graphics, and signal characteristics of the interference
signal. If multiple spectrum analyzers are used to simultaneously test multiple cells, the
efficiency of capturing the interference signal source is high.
After multiple tests by this method, you can analyze test records in each cell and then
find the cells where the amplitude and frequency of the interference signal are high.
After finding the overlapped area of the cells, you can determine the approximate area
where interference occurs.
2. Locating external interference sources
− Set the spectrum analyzer to work in a proper state. The parameter settings of the 900
MHz BTS are as follows: f0 = 902 MHz, SPAN = 30 MHz, ATT = 0, RBW = 30 kHz,
and VBW = 30 kHz. The parameter settings of the 1800 MHz BTS are as follows: f0
= 1715 MHz, SPAN = 10 MHz, ATT = 0, RBW = 30 kHz, and VBW = 30 kHz.
− Select the output port of the divider in the interfered cell. To ensure that the BTS
works, you must select an idle output port connected to the load (either main or
diversity is available).
− Loosen the selected connector, and then introduce the output signal of the divider to
the spectrum analyzer with a coaxial cable. You must prevent a large input power
from damaging the meter.
− Check the spectrum distribution on the spectrum analyzer, and then find the abnormal
interference signal. The level of the interference signal is calculated as follows:
Interference level on the antenna port = Interference level tested by the spectrum
analyzer – 22 dB + 3 dB of cable loss
For example: Interference level on the antenna port = –65 dBm – 15 + 3 – 7 = –84
dBm. Note: The cable loss varies with different cable lengths. You can check whether
the interference level affects the system by the following standards:
(1) When Maximum interference level on the antenna port = –108 dBm (assumed
sensitivity) – 9 dB of co-channel interference = –117 dBm, the system is not affected.
(2) When Maximum interference level on the output port of the divider = –117 dBm
+ 15 – 3 + 7 = –98 dBm, the system is not affected.
3. Searching external interference sources
You can determine the approximate direction of the interference source by the output
port of the BTS divider. To locate the interference source, you need to use a directional
antenna for search. The operation procedure is as follows:
1) Select a test point that is not blocked by buildings in the interfered cell. Set the
spectrum analyzer and install the directional antenna properly.
2) Place the antenna on a rotary platform if available with the beam of the antenna
pointing to the front direction and vertical polarization used.
7) Take the Yagi-Uda antenna and YBT250, reach the determined interference source
area, and then search unblocked buildings for the interference source.
Generally, a strong interference signal can be tested by the YBT250 near the interference
source. You need to check whether there is a school, a governmental organ, or a
confidential unit that may use interference equipment.
If interference is found, you must request the customer to eliminate the interference.
(4) the BTS jumper is connected improperly or the clock is unlocked. Then, you must check
whether intra-network co-channel or adjacent-channel interference occurs due to improper
frequency planning or data configuration. Finally, you must determine whether inter-network
interference occurs.
Analyze traffic
statistics
Perform (interference band
DT and frequency
scanning)
High level N
and large Interference
BER? band 3/4/5?
Y
Y
Co-channel Y
or adjacent- Replace
channel frequencies
interference?
Y
Third/Fifth order Replace
intermodulation? frequencies
Y
Improper data
configuration Modify data
(hopping)?
Y
The antenna is
connected Adjust the
inversely? antenna
Y
The repeater Close or replace
is faulty? the repeater
N
Y
Y
The CDU is Replace
faulty? the CDU
After checking the BTS, you must enable the functions involved in the preceding steps.
If the interference problem is solved after the operations are complete, you can go to step 8.
Otherwise, go to the next step.
Step 3 Replace the lower jumper and remake the feeder connector.
If a spectrum analyzer with the background noise lower than –90 dBm and the scanning speed
small than 0.1s is available, you can connect the spectrum analyzer to the uplink signal output
port of the DFCU and then slightly shake the lower jumper for about 0.5 minute (the location
is 20 cm to 40 cm away from the connector, the shaking amplitude is 3 cm to 5 cm, and the
frequency is 1 Hz). If the background noise of the uplink channel band fluctuates, you need to
replace the lower jumper. If you slightly shake the port between the feeder and the lower
jumper, and the background noise of the RX band fluctuates, you need to remake the feeder
connector.
If the preceding spectrum analyzer is unavailable, you need to measure the interference bands
on the BSC side to check the background noise. If the interference band changes obviously,
you need to replace the lower jumper and remake the feeder connector.
If the interference problem is solved after the operations are complete, you can go to step 8.
Otherwise, go to the next step.
Step 4 Remove the surge protector and repeater.
If a surge protector or repeater exists in the antenna system, you need to remove it.
If the interference problem is solved after the operations are complete, you can go to step 8.
Otherwise, go to the next step.
Step 5 Replace the filter in the CDMA network.
If a filter exists in the CDMA network, you need to replace it. Otherwise, skip the step.
If the interference problem is solved after the operations are complete, you can go to step 8.
Otherwise, go to the next step.
Step 6 Check whether the intermodulation of main equipment or antenna intermodulation occurs.
The main equipment of the BTS refers to the DFCU and DDPU (or DDPM for the 3006C). If
the interference occurs in channel A or channel B, you need to check whether to replace the
main equipment when the problem cannot be solved by the preceding steps.
You can check whether to replace the DFCU in the following ways:
1. If a large-power, low-intermodulation load is available, it is more accurate for you to
check whether to replace the DFCU. Connect channel A of the main equipment to the
low-intermodulation load, and then send idle bursts on all TRXs of the channel. Observe
the interference bands for two minutes. If interference band 2 or a higher level is found,
you need to replace the DFCU or DDPU in channel A. Use the same method to test
channel B. If interference band 2 or higher level is found, you need to replace the DFCU
or DDPU in channel B. If only interference band 1 exists, it indicates that the DFCU or
DDPU works.
2. If a low-intermodulation load is unavailable, you need to block all TRXs in channel B of
the cell and disconnect channel B of the main equipment from the connector of the lower
jumper. Send idle bursts on all TRXs in channel A, and then observe the cell for five
minutes. If the interference problem persists, you need to replace the DFCU or DDPU in
channel A. Use the same method to test channel B. If the interference problem persists,
you need to replace the DFCU or DDPU in channel B.
3. If a low-intermodulation load is unavailable, you can also use the following method for
checking. Remove one jumper in a normal cell and faulty cell respectively. Connect the
jumper in the normal cell to the main equipment in the faulty cell and the jumper in the
faulty cell to the main equipment in the normal cell, and then disconnect other two
jumpers. Observe the cell for five minutes. If the interference persists in the faulty cell, it
indicates that the main equipment in the channel of the cell is faulty. In this case, you
need to replace the main equipment. If the interference occurs in the normal cell, it
indicates that the antenna intermodulation occurs in the faulty cell. In this case, you need
to replace the antenna. If no interference occurs in the two cells, it indicates that the
antenna and the main equipment in the channel work properly. In this case, you need to
check the main equipment in the other channel.
If the interference symptoms in channel A and channel B are consistent, the antenna
intermodulation may occur.
After replacing the faulty main equipment, observe the interference bands for two minutes. If
the interference still occurs in the cell, you need to proceed with the next step. If the
interference problem is solved, you can go to step 8.
A low-intermodulation load is required in the first method, and two many operations are performed in
the second method. The third method is simple, but the downlink interference occurs in the adjacent
BTSs. It is recommended that you use the third method to check whether the main equipment and
antenna are faulty.
Step 7 Replace the parts on the tower (for example, the antenna).
After checking the intermodulation on the BTS side, you need to check the parts on the tower.
For a new site, you can replace the upper jumper and remake the feeder connector. For an
earlier site, you can replace the antenna and upper jumper and remake the feeder connector.
If the intermodulation problem persists after the preceding operations are complete, you need
to replace the feeder (this case seldom occurs).
If the interference problem is solved after the operations are complete, you can go to step 8.
Step 8 Determine whether the interference problem is solved.
Send idle bursts on all TRXs in the cell, and then observe the spectrum analyzer for five
minutes or interference bands for half an hour.
1. If the interference problem is solved, the check procedure is complete.
2. If the interference problem persists, you need to return to the preceding steps for further
checking.
Generally, the intermodulation occurs on the connectors in the antenna system. Therefore, you must
protect the connectors carefully in the preceding operations. After each operation is complete, you need
to check whether the connectors are connected reliably.
YES
Check whether the connectors are loose and
the interference disappears?
NO
YES
Replace the jumper and feeder connectors
and then check whether the interference
disappears?
NO
YES
Remove the surge protector and
repeater and then check whether
the interference disappears?
The
interferenc
NO e problem
is solved
YES and the
check
Replace the filter in the CDMA network and procedure
then check whether the interference is complete
disappears?
NO
YES
Replace the main equipment and then
check whether the interference
disappears?
NO
YES
Replace the antenna and upper jumper and then
check whether the interference disappears?
NO
The following sections describe how to locate and eliminate the interference in the form of
cases, and only the case code, name, and date are listed. For details on the cases, visit
http://support.huawei.com and then choose Documentation > Maintenance Experience >
Mobile Communication.
0011519 Two Cells Are Seriously Interfered Due to the Faulty 2001-11-26
RF Circuit on the TRX
3.3.8 Summary
If the TRX, CDU, feeder, antenna, jumper, TMA, or connector is faulty, the interference and
call drop may occur. For details, see the preceding cases. Therefore, when the interference
occurs, you must check BTS hardware. In addition, when the BTS clock is unblocked, the
interference and call drop may also occur.
Generally, the hardware fault can be located by board switching or traffic measurement data.
If a spectrum analyzer is available, you can fast locate the problem. When the interference
occurs in a cell where no data is modified, you must check whether the hardware is faulty.
The preceding interference related to the BTS is the uplink interference that can be reflected
in the interference band.
Figure 3-10 shows four BTSs: BTS A, BTS B, BTS C, and BTS D. If frequency N is allocated
to cell A-3, frequency N cannot be allocated to A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, or
D3, and frequency N±1 cannot be allocated to A1, A2, A3, B1, C2, D1, or D2 (frequency
hopping is disabled).
Reference case:
Fault symptom: When the interference occurs in the BTS (O2) in a suburban area, the call
drop rate is high and the voice quality is poor. The symptoms are strong discontinuity and
noise (roar).
Location procedure:
1. Frequency 64 (BCCH frequency) and frequency 92 are allocated to the BTS.
2. Use a test MS to make a call and retain the call, and then use another MS to perform a
frequency scanning test for frequency 64. When the MS is close to the urban area, the
signal strength of frequency 64 is smaller than –100 dBm and the call drops. When the
MS is in the urban area, the signal strength of frequency 64 suddenly rises to –65 dBm
and disappears after about 100 seconds. In this case, you can infer that the co-channel
interference may be from the TCH frequency of the neighboring cell.
3. The next day, use a spectrum analyzer to test the location where the signal strength of the
frequency is the strongest. Meanwhile, use another MS to perform the idle mode test.
According to the system information, frequency 64 is in the cell CA table of BCCH 45
and allocated to the TCH TRX, and the call is established on frequency 64.
4. After changing the frequency, retest the place where the co-channel interference occurs.
According to the test result, no call drop occurs and the speech quality is good (Rx_Qual
< 3), it indicates that the co-channel interference (downlink) problem is solved.
0005164 Low Handover Success Rate and High Call Drop Rate 2002-09-16
Caused by Cross Coverage
As the uplink frequencies of the GSM system are adjacent to the downlink frequencies of the
DAMPS system and some frequencies are overlapped, interference occurs between the GSM
and DAMPS systems. Generally, the downlink TX power is much larger than the uplink TX
power. Thus, the effect of GSM uplink signals on DAMPS downlink frequencies is much
smaller than the effect of DAMPS downlink signals on GSM uplink frequencies.
When handling the network interference, you can use a frequency scanner to test the signals
received by the BTS antenna through the HL-OUT port of the CDU. According to the test
result, strong DAMPS signals are received in many cells. The downlink frequency band used
by the DAMPS network is 869 MHz to 894 MHz and the uplink frequency band is 824 MHz
to 849 MHz. In the DAMPS network, the FDMA mode is used, and the bandwidth of each
bandwidth is 30 kHz, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 3-11 Distribution of Spectrums for DAMPS Downlink Signals and GSM Uplink Signals
The congestion problem can be solved easily. When the isolation between the two networks
reaches 50 dB, the DAMPS network does not affect the GSM network. The effect of spurious
emission is described as follows:
The intermediate frequency of the 900 MHz BTS receiver is 71 MHz. As the DAMPS
downlink signal is close to the GSM uplink signal, the suppression of the RX filter is limited
and more DAMPS TX signals reach the RX LNA. When the following formula is met:
2 x (FDAMPS ± Flo) = 71 MHz
The DAMPS signals and GSM RX local oscillation signals are mixed to form interference
signals in the RX band of the intermediate frequency, and interference occurs. In the formula,
FDAMPS is the frequency of DAMPS signals and Flo is the frequency of GSM RX local
oscillation signals. The Lo frequency range is as follows (the frequency unit is MHz):
Lomax = FDAMPS + 1 - 35.5
Lomin = FDAMPS - 1 - 35.5
If the bandwidth of the downlink frequency used by the DAMPS system is 2 MHz, and
FDAMPS is the central frequency of DAMPS TX signals, the frequency range for GSM
interference is as follows:
Lomin + 71 ≤ fgsm < Lomax + 71
As shown in Figure 7, FDAMPS is about 878 MHz and the range of interfered frequencies is
912.5 MHz to 914.5 MHz (that is, 11 frequencies cannot be used). Therefore, when DAMPS
BTSs exist near a GSM BTS, the frequencies of the GSM BTS cannot be the 11 frequencies.
When the intermediate frequency interference occurs, you can modify the interfered GSM
frequency to avoid interference. If the noise disappears after the frequency is modified, it
indicates that the intermediate frequency interference causes the noise. For network B in
country J, some frequencies are modified in the cells where the intermediate frequency
interference may occur. That is, the frequencies in the frequency band of 912.5 MHz to 914.5
MHz must be avoided to reduce the possibility of noise generation. If the frequencies cannot
be modified, it is recommended that you take the following measures:
l Add a signal wave trap in the antenna system to attenuate strong signals transmitted by
the interfering network. In this way, the strong signals cannot enter the CDU through the
antenna.
l Re-install the antenna to add the isolation. Generally, it is recommended that you install
the antenna of the GSM network and the antenna of the interfering network at different
layers to add the isolation.
5. The repeater is installed improperly, for example, there is no sufficient isolation between
the donor antenna and the service antenna. In this case, the self excitation is generated.
6. For a repeater that uses the wideband non-linear amplifier, its intermodulation
specifications are much greater than those required by the protocol. If the power is large,
the intermodulation component is large. In this case, adjacent BTSs are interfered.
4 Introduction to Anti-Interference
Technologies
The measures related to GSM anti-interference include FH, dynamic power control, and DTX.
In addition, you can adjust the tilt, azimuth, and height of the antenna to reduce network
interference. In this way, the actual serving range of each cell approximates to the designed
serving range and thus cross coverage can be avoided. For details on antenna adjustment, see
the Guide to Planning and Adjusting Tilt Angles of the Antenna. The anti-interference
measures apply to intra-network interference.
The following table lists some anti-interference technologies for field engineers' reference
when they communicate with the market personnel and customer.
4.2 IRC
The interference rejection combining (IRC) technology of Ericsson and the interference
cancellation (IFC) technology of Nortel are used to cancel the co-channel interference when
the frequencies are tightly reused. With the technologies, you can improve the speech quality,
increase the capacity, and improve the frequency usage. Currently, Huawei equipment does
not support the technologies. The related research, however, is started.
The YBT250 Tektronix NetTek Analyzer is a portable spectrum analyzer that runs on the
Windows CE operating system. The analyzer is equipped with a touch screen. Compared with
common spectrum analyzers, the analyzer has the following functions:
l The analyzer is portable, equipped with batteries, and applicable to field test.
l The analyzer is easy to operate. In spectrum state, the RBW is automatically set on the
basis of the span. After you click AutoLevel, the reference level is automatically set on
the basis of the tested signal.
l For continuous interference signals, you can capture the interfered spectrum in the
normal state. For transient and jumping interference signals, however, as their duration is
short, you may not capture the interfered spectrum in normal state. In this case, you need
to use the MAXHOLD function.