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ZTE UMTS Pilot Pollution Guide 2013
ZTE UMTS Pilot Pollution Guide 2013
Guide
R1.0
UMTS Pilot Pollution Analyzing Guide Internal Use Only▲
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Revision History
Author
Summary
Chapter Description
1 Overview Overview of WCDMA Pilot Pollution
2 Pilot Pollution Definition Definition of WCDMA Pilot Pollution
3 Cause of Pilot Pollution Cause of WCDMA Pilot Pollution
4 Pilot Pollution’s Impact on the Network Impact of WCDMA Pilot Pollution
5 Optimizing Methods of Pilot Pollution Optimizing Methods of WCDMA Pilot Pollution
6 Analyzing Process of Pilot Pollution Analyzing Process of Pilot Pollution
7 Pilot Pollution Optimization Case Study Optimization Case Study of Pilot Pollution
ZTE Confidential Proprietary © 2013 ZTE CORPORATION. All rights reserved. III
UMTS Pilot Pollution Analyzing Guide Internal Use Only▲
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Overview 1
FIGURES
TABLES
1 Overview
Network optimization is the key link in the network construction and development.
Theoretical planning, practical network construction, and network optimization are the
three important components of the network construction. Network optimization is an
important method to improve network KPIs, an import link of network maintenance, and
an important components in future network capacity expansion or reconstruction. In
WCDMA network optimization process, pilot pollution is a key issue needs to be
handled because it is important for network quality enhancement.
The document makes detailed a research into the troubleshooting of pilot pollution and
gives a case study based on ZTE corporation network planning and optimization
experiences.
Different algorithm can be used when judging pilot pollution. Definitions given to pilot
pollution are different, and judgment threshold parameters differ too, analyzing result will
therefore diverge. Simulation software Asset3g® developed by Aircom company defines
the pilot pollution as follows: pilot pollution refers to the pilots that exceed the threshold
yet are not included in the active set. In network analyzing software ZXPOS® CNA, ZTE
Corporation defines pilot pollution based on various analysis algorithms, In one project
of China Unicom, the pilot pollution is defined as the spot satisfying: cell number with
“Ec/Io of the pilot > Ec/Io_for_BestServingCell -5” is more than 3; cell RSCP is more
than -100dBm.
Currently there are three algorithms used in ZXPOS CNA, applying the definition in
China Unicom project. Adopt pilot pollution algorithm when analyzing pilot pollution. This
algorithm is targeting at UE testing data, and parameters are:
The above parameters can use the default value in China Unicom projects.
Pilot pollution is usually the interactive result caused by multiple sites and occurs mainly
in site-dense urban environment. The typical areas with frequent occurrences of pilot
pollution are high buildings, wide streets, overhead roads, crossroads and waterside
areas.
High buildings or mountains block the signals, then the target area may receive
weak signals from the planned site, and pilot pollution may occur due to signals
from other sites.
When the coverage direction of the antenna parallels to the streets, the coverage
range will be great and pilot pollution may result.
When there are high buildings around the site, the signals of the site may be
diffracted to other areas, thus pilot pollution occurs.
To enhance the coverage of some areas made by the pilot, make the antenna face the
area by adjusting the antenna azimuth; To reduce the coverage of the pilot, make the
coverage direction of the antenna away from the area by adjusting the antenna azimuth.
The downtilt adjustment is similar: cell coverage range can be adjusted by the downtilt
adjustment.
There are limitations as to the adjustment of antenna downtilt: too small downtilt will
enhance the coverage but may result in overshooting; too big downtilt will weaken the
coverage but may result in the deformation of antenna pattern.
In figure 5-1, pilot polluted area circled by the black line is caused by the inappropriate
antenna azimuth setting of the sector with scrambling code 100. The area is designed to
be covered by the sector with scrambling code 100, but because the antenna azimuth is
set to be 90 degree, pilot signal is inadequate and pilot pollution occurs.
We adjust the antenna azimuth from 90 degree to 170 degree to enhance the signal
power of the primary pilot in this area and to eliminate the pilot pollution.
In figure 5-2, pilot polluted area circled by the dark link is cause by the inappropriate
antenna downtilt of the sector with scrambling code 360. The antenna downtilt of 360
cell 360 is 2 degree, the coverage range is relatively great and overshooting is hard to
be controlled.
Adjust the antenna downtilt with cell 360 from 2 degree to 7 degree to reduce
overshooting phenomena.
Some polluted area is hard to be perfected, and measures shall be adopted based on
the condition such as the change of the antenna model, the installation of reflection
devices or isolation devices, the change of antenna installation location or site location
etc.
When antenna downtilt is increased to a certain degree, antenna pattern will deform. To
reduce the coverage area of the pilot, pilot power shall be deduced; when antenna
downtilt is decreased to a certain degree, overshooting may result. To expand the
coverage range, pilot power shall be increased. Power adjustment and antenna
calibration shall be combined to achieve the target.
In figure 5-3, unreasonable cell layout leads to pilot pollution. Site spacing of site A, B
and C are 2.82km, 2.36km and 1.26km, and unbalanced site spacing will make pilot
pollution hard to be resolved. When performing optimization, to ensure continuous
coverage, keep the transmission power of cell 20 and cell 30 unchanged; to reduce the
pilot power of cell 10, cell 40 and cell 50 by 3dB. Reduce the power of weak pilot to
optimize pilot pollution.
In RF optimization phase, try avoiding pilot power adjustment unless feeder adjustment
is inconvenient.
The principle is: path loss of the pilot of the newly constructed site is much less than that
of the pilot of the previous sites, therefore its power will be greater that that of other
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pilots, and new sites become the donor cell. Owing to the introduction of new sites, Io of
this area will increase obviously and Ec/Io will reduce accordingly, thus pilot pollution
problem is solved.
But this method will waste resources, add to the investment, and make scrambling
codes planning even more complicated, which may result in the capacity waste.
In figure 5-4, pilot polluted spot circled by the dark line is mainly caused by the
surrounding environment. This area is planned to be covered by cell 60 of site A, cell
110 of site B, and cell 130 of site C, but because there is mountains blocking the signal
from site A, buildings blocking the signal from site B, and buildings blocking the signal
from site C, the signals designated are weak. However, cell 24 and cell 25 of site D has
favorable coverage of this area, thus pilot pollution occurs.
Owing to the blockage of high buildings or mountains around the cells, there is no
strong pilot in this area. In this situation, adjustment of antenna downtilt has no obvious
effect. New sites shall be employed.
Regard the areas which are indicated by “pilot pollution Analysis 1” using Scanner
and are also the candidate areas at the same time as the key areas.
Find out which cells bring the pilot pollution to key areas.
Combine Best SC By RSCP to determine whether the pilot pollution in this area is
caused by multiple strong pilots or lack of a strong pilot. Weaken other strong pilots
or enhance a pilot based on the actual condition.
Analyze the distribution of RSCP and Ec/Io in pilot polluted cells, and determine
which cell shall eliminate the coverage of the area, which cell shall enhance the
coverage of the area. Based on practical condition, find out the causes and give the
solution. When optimizing the pilot pollution in some area, pay attention to the
impact on other areas, because the elimination of pilot pollution in some parts may
result in pilot pollution or coverage holes in other parts.
Make tests after the adjustment and then make analysis of RSCP, Ec/Io and pilot
In the trial phase of Shenzhen network in 2008, there is only one site constructed along
the airport roads connecting Guangzhou-to-Shenzhen expressway and the terminal
buildings: Anfu site. In the commercial network phase, 6 sites are constructed along the
airport, but owing to the ring-shaped site distribution, pilot pollution occurs which results
in weak signal and bad quality leading to call drops. In view of the problem, add new
sites among the airport roads to enhance the coverage of the primary pilot and at the
same time resolve the overshooting problem from surrounding sites to eliminate the pilot
pollution problem.
Let's give one example: the overshooting problem of the fourth sector of Huangtian site
solved by antenna adjustment, as shown in the following table
Huangtian
Huangtian 34614441 310 310 6 9 2 4
-outdoor4
RF result analysis: the site is 32 meters high, and after adding 5 degree to its downtilt,
the overshooting problem over the airport roads is basically removed. Thus the
continuous coverage of the primary signal is guaranteed and handover times are
reduces, which contributes to the deduction of call drops.
7.5 Conclusion
As to the pilot pollution problem in Shenzhen WCDMA commercialized network airport
roads, it’s caused by lack of the primary pilot leading to frequency handover and call
drops. To solve the problem, first in the middle of the airport roads, install a new site for
primary coverage of the roads, then solve the overshooting problem caused by
surrounding sites through RF adjustment. After the above operations, pilot pollution
problem of the airport roads is finally resolved.