2G TROUBLESHOOTING
DCR (Retainability)
There are two types of call drops given below:
>Call drop over SDCCH: Indicating the call drop occurs in the
course during which BSC assigns a SDCCH to an MS but a TCH
has not been successfully assigned yet .
>Call drop over TCH: Indicating the call drop occurs after BSC
assigns a TCH to MS successfully.
The Channel currently occupied is of TCH type when BSC
sends a clear Request message to MSC.
The cause values for sending clear Request are as follows:
> Radio Interface Message Failure
>O&M Intervention
> Equipment Failure
>Protocol Error Between BSS and MSC
>Preemption
Causes of Drop Call:
>Coverage
>HO
>UPLINK /DOWNLINK CAUSED BY ANTENNA & FEEDER
SYSTEM
>Interference
>Transmission Failure
Coverage:
Discontinuous coverage (Blind area):
>Call drop is caused by isolated BTS. As the signal is of weak
strength and poor quality at the edge of an isolated BTS,
handover to other cells cannot be implemented, and thus call
drop occurs.
>If BTS lies in the place where the landform is intricate and
radio propagation environment is complicated (e.g., a
mountainous area), it may cause call drop owing to
discontinuous coverage.
Poor Indoor Coverage :
>In the place where many buildings are located, call drop
easily occurs due to high transmission attenuation, low
indoor level and great penetrate loss.
Beyond Coverage :
>Owing to some reasons, the coverage of a serving cell is
beyond the defined coverage. For example, the power in cell
A is so high that a MS still occupies the signals of cell A after it
moves out of the coverage of the adjacent cell B that has
been defined by cell A and reaches cell C.
>However, cell A has not defined cell C as an adjacent cell
yet, so at this time the MS cannot find a proper cell when it
tries to perform a handover according to the adjacent cell B
provided by cell A, thus call drop occurs.
Shortage of coverage :
It may be caused by some equipment failure in a cell. For
example, the antenna is obstructed or the carrier taking
BCCH (power amplifier) gets faulty.
Handover:
Unreasonable Parameters :
>For example, if the level of the handover candidate cell is
set to be too low and the handover threshold is set to be too
little, some MSs will be handed over to the adjacent cell
when the level of the adjacent is a little stronger than that of
the serving cell for a time.
>But after a while, if the signal of the adjacent cell faint, and
it happens no proper cell is available for handover, call drop
could occur. See example 6 for call drop resulting from
improper settings of handover parameters.
Adjacent cell undefined:
>If an adjacent cell has not been defined yet, MS will keep
communicating in the serving cell until it goes out of its
coverage. At this time, call drop shall occur since MS cannot
be handed over to a cell with stronger signals.
>Existence od adjacent cells with same BSIC and BCCH
Frequency .
Traffic Congestion :
>Unbalance of traffic may cause handover failure due to lack
of handover channel available for the destination BTS. When
reestablishment of handover channel fails too, call drop
occurs.
>BTS Clock out of synchronization and frequency offset
beyond limits ,which can cause handover failure and call drop
. by transmission problem via traffic measurement.
Interference
>There are co-channel interference, adjacent-channel
interference and inter-modulation interference. When MS
receives signals in the serving cell with strong co-channel or
adjacent-channel interference, it may aggravate BER and
make MS cannot accurately demodulate BSIC of the adjacent
cell or BTS cannot correctly receive measurement reports of
MS.
>The interference threshold is set as co-channel carrier-to-
interference ratio C/Iƒ9dB and adjacent-channel carrier-to-
interference ratio C/Aƒ9dB. When the interference index is
Accessibility/Retainability
so bad that it exceeds the threshold, conversations in
network shall be interfered, thus conversation of poor quality
and call drop might occur.
Causes UL /DL caused by Antenna & Feeder System
>Improper installation of antenna and/or feeder. For
example, the Tx antenna between two cells is installed just
reversedly, which shall make the uplink signal level is much
poorer than the downlink one, thus cause call drop, single
pass or difficult connection occurring far from the BTS.
>If single polarization antenna is adopted, a cell has two sets
of such antennas. If their azimuths are different, call drop
might occur.
• A directional cell has a main antenna and a diversity
antenna, so it is possible that BCCH and SDCCH of this
cell come from the two different antennas. Different
azimuths will cause different coverage, consequently,
although the user can receive BCCH signal, it cannot
occupy SDCCH sent by another antenna when
originating a call, thus call drop occurs.
>As there are Abis interface and A interface link, poor quality
transmission and unstable transmission link also may cause
call drop.
• Observe transmission and board alarms (e.g., FTC
failure alarm, A interface PCM out of sync alarm, LAPD
link break alarm, power amplifier alarm, HPA alarm,
TRX alarm, CUI/FPU alarm). Based on alarm data,
analyze whether transmission is intermittent or
whether there are faulty boards (e.g., the carrier board
is faulty or in poor contact).
• Check transmission paths, test BER and check whether
E1 connector or grounding of equipment is reasonable,
thus decrease call drops by ensuring stable
transmission quality.
• Observe whether there are too many call drops caused
a) in TCH performance measurement of traffic
measurement observe whether there are too many A
interface failures when TCH is occupied.
b) In TCH performance measurement observe whether
the TCH availability rate is abnormal.
c) In TCH performance measurement observe
whether there are too many call drops caused by
interruption of terrestrial link.
2G TROUBLESHOOTING Accessibility/Retainability
Drop Call Rate está relacionado con los sigs KPIs: – Interference on Uplink/Downlink A
>TCH Drop Rate – Excessive TA
High timing Check site location
>HO Success Rate – Incorrect/Not optimum Parameter settings for example advance
YES
& TALIM

power regulation NO

Check lost
TCH Drop Call (Retainability): – Missing Ncells or Congestion in Ncells handovers

– MS or MS Battery problems Most dropped YES Perform handover

Call during
The formula for measuring TCH Drop Rate (Optimi, Movistar, – Subscriber Behavior HO?
analysis

Ericsson <Ericsson uses more parameters in case of – Antenna/Hardware or Transmission faults NO

Check site
denominator who make reference to HO>) is: – Incorrect Installations position

Dragoon Remove site or change

_ _
YES
site?
Dropped Calls on TCH frequency

+ + +
= 100
NO

+ + +
Check BTS Error Log
Check locating parameters

HW YES Swap & repair

TFNDROP The total number of dropped full-rate TCH in UL fault? HW
Bad parameter YES Correct parameter NO
subcell. setting? setting Check link quality and
Synchronization
TFNDROPSUB The total number of dropped full-rate TCH in NO

OL subcell. Check radio network features

Transmission
fault?
YES Perform link
investigation

THNDROP The total number of dropped half-rate TCH in NO

UL subcell. Correct power regulation Best server NO Add site

Power regulation NO exists?
TCHNDROPSUB The total number of dropped half-rate in used properly? parameters
YES

OL subcell. YES Check Dropped Calls per TS basis

THCASSALL Number of assignement complete messages Check output power

for all MS power classes in UL subcell, half-rate. Check MS fleet
Perform site survey
THCASSALLSUB Number of assignement complete Power
NO Adjust output power Perform drive tests
balance? Check antenna
messages for all MS power classes in OL subcell, half-rate. Perform MTR/CTR
installation

TFCASSALL Number of assignement complete messages YES recordings

for all MS power classes in UL subcell, full-rate. DTX Introduce END

NO
used? DTX
TFCASSALLSUB Number of assignement complete YES
messages for all MS power classes in OL subcell, full-rate.
Frequency Activate frequency
NO
hopping hopping
used?

The TCH Drop Call reasons has the following priority order: YES

>Excessive TA Missing
YES Run NCS
neighbours?
– TA > TALIM cell parameter
NO
>Low signal strength in downlink and/or uplink
Check dropped call
– SSUL < LOWSSUL (BSC parameter) reason

– SSDL < LOWSSDL

Bad Perform interference
>Bad quality in downlink and/or uplink quality?
YES
analysis
– RxQualUL> BADQUL (BSC parameter) NO

– RxQualDL> BADQDL NO Low signal Perform low signal

YES
A
>Sudden loss of connection strength strength analysis

– None of the above

>Other
– Non radio-related
TCH Drop Call Optimization
Analyze the following issues that could be possible reasons
for poor TCH Drop performance:
– Low Signal strength on Uplink/Downlink
2G TROUBLESHOOTING Accessibility/Retainability
DCR (RETAINABILITY) HOFR (RETAINABILITY) -Hardware problems : Especially if the rates are high (around
Causas: The formula for measuring HOFR (Optimi, Movistar) is: 100%) it can be due to the radio parts of the BTS on the
>Low SS UL downlink (TRX, transmission antenna, feeders ...)
−
>Low SS DL = 100 -GSM interference : co-channel or adjacent channel
>Sudden -Radio Coverage : HO for UL Quality as well as HO for Level
>RxQual UL reasons (UL and/or DL) shall be observed on the cell.
>RxQual DL ATT= HOVERCNT sum of HO attempts
>Others SUCC=HOVERSUC sum of HO Successful >Handovers for Uplink Quality- The HO is performed
because UL conditions on the serving cell are becoming too
RxQual UL: Handover in Ericsson BSS system is controlled by what is poor, there the BSC selects the best neighboring cell as the
Causas: called as the locating algorithm in the BSC. Locating algorithm target for the HO
i
Una celda A radia e interfiere el área de cobertura de una operates on the basis of Measurement Reports (MR) sent in >Investigation
celda B. Los MS conectados a la celda B están interfiriendo a by the MS on SACCH. -Bad parameters settings
los MS conectados en la celda A. The inputs that the BSC uses for making a handover decision, -If rates are high, probably hardware problem on the radio
Checar: from the received MRs from the MS is the DL signal strength, uplink transmission part (TRX, antenna, diversity, feeders)
TA - Time in advance DL quality, and the signal strength of the six best reported -Coverage problems(if also associated to HO for uplink level)
neighbours. From the serving BTS, for the same MS the BSC -Jamming on the uplink (if confirmed by bad RACH efficiency)
RxQual DL: will use UL signal strength, UL quality and TA. -GSM interference : if there’s an equivalent rate of handovers
Causas: for downlink quality
Una BTS A radia e interfiere el área de cobertura de una celda Possible reasons for poor HO Performance:
B y la BTS A interfiere a los MS conectados a la BTS B. >Neighbor Cells impact the following radio network areas: >Handovers for Downlink Level
Checar: - Coverage -The HO is performed because DL conditions on the serving
Cobertura de BTS A y B - Interference cell are becoming too poor, there the BSC selects the best
TA – Timing Advance - Incorrect parameter settings neighboring cell as the target for the HO
Asignación de frecuencias - Unnecessary or Missing NCELL relations >Investigation
HCN - Hardware or Link/Transmission Faults -In normal cases, this should be very rare so if the rates are
Asinación de MAIO - Missing Frequencies in the Measurement list high it is probably: Bad parameters settings or Hardware
HW – Posible radio dañado - Poor Inter MSC/BSC handover performance problems on the downlink
- TCH Congestion
Low SS UL: - Frecuency plan, specifically for BCCH carriers >Handovers for Uplink Level
Checar: - The values of the hysteresis -The HO is performed because UL conditions on the serving
TA relacionado con problema en TMA. Observar gráfica de - The filter lengths cell are becoming too poor, there the BSC selects the best
SS_DL y SS_UL si se mueve un valor de 12dB por lo tanto si es - The BSIC planning neighboring cell as the target for the HO
TMA. - The length of the active mode BA list >Investigation
- The defined nieghbours -Insufficient coverage (if associated also with an equivalent
Low SS DL: - The settings of parameters controlling TA and BQ rate of uplink quality)
Checar: urgency HO -Bad handover parameters settings for the cell
HW - Antena dañada - The setting of parameters controlling Assignment to -Hardware problems (high rates) if the downlink and the
HW - VSWR con valor alto other cell uplink are not balanced
HW - TRX dañado - The values of the layer change thresholds when more -Could come from ping pong handover between two cells
than one Hierarchical layer si used (one leaves one of the cells for quality, then comes back for
Sudden: >Handovers for Downlink Quality level and so on, for example)
Checar: Problema relacionado directamente con HW -The HO is performed because DL conditions on the serving
cell are becoming too poor, there the BSC selects the best
Others: neighboring cell as the target for the HO
Checar: Investigation
Corrimientos en enlace -Too strict configuration of the Handover parameters
Transcoders de la BSC
2G TROUBLESHOOTING Accessibility/Retainability
Unsuccessful Handovers D Paging Success Rate (ACCESSIBILITY)
Check congestion Is the cell at inter-MSC YE Check inter-MSC HO The formula for measuring Paging Success Rate (Optimi,
performance S
border? performance
Movistar) is:
TCH Add TCH NO
YES
congestion? capacity

_ _
Check BTS Error Log

−
NO

= 100
Check SAE setting

+ + +
HW YE Swap & repair HW
fault? S
SW
YES Increase SAE
congestion? NO

NO
Check link quality
Check Neighbouring cell definitions
PAGPCHCONG Number of paging messages discarded due
Wrong cells Remove incorrect Transmission YE
S
Improve to full cell paging queue
YES
definitions fault? transmission
defined?
NO
NO
PAGETOOOLD Number of paging messages discarded due
Missing YES
Add missing Perform site visit to being too long in the paging queue. At the point when a
neighbours? relation
NO Check antenna
page is taken from the paging queue, its age is calculated and
Too many YES
Remove unnecessary
installation compared to the BTS parameter AGE-OF-PAGING (the
neighbours? relations
NO
Antenna connected to YE
Change feeder
parameter is set to 5seg in Ericsson BSS). If it is too old, it is
S
wrong feeder?
Too many
measurement YES
Review and correct the discarded and PAGETOOLD is incremented.
defined MBCCHNO
channels? NO
THCASSALL Number of assignement complete messages
NO
Incorrect
Check Locating parameters downtilt?
YE
S Correct tilting for all MS power classes in UL subcell, half-rate.
NO THCASSALLSUB Number of assignement complete
Strange or corrupt
YES Correct parameters
Hided YE
S
Change antenna
position
messages for all MS power classes in OL subcell, half-rate.
parameter setting? antenna?

NO
TFCASSALL Number of assignement complete messages
NO

C
for all MS power classes in UL subcell, full-rate.
Bad antenna YE
installation? S Correct installation
TFCASSALLSUB Number of assignement complete
C NO messages for all MS power classes in OL subcell, full-rate.
END

Delayed handover YES

Check handover Paging process:
parameters
decision? ACCESSIBILITY > Step-1
NO In response to an incoming call, the MSC initiates the paging
Check use of radio
features
Ability for mobiles to set up calls. process by broadcasting a “paging request” message on the
paging sub channel (IMSI or TMSI of the MS and its Paging
Are all radio
features used?
YES
Introduce unused
features
Call attempts Group) and starts timer T3113. A “paging message” consists
Start from: Successful random accesses of the mobile identity (IMSI or TMSI) of the MS being paged
NO To: successful immediate SDCCH assignements and its “paging group number”.
Check coverage Finally: Successful assignement on TCH >Step-2
The BSC receives this page and processes the paging request
Check interference
Probable causes related to accessibility: and schedules it for transmission on the PCH at appropriate
Perform drive test
- Congestion due to amount of traffic time.
- Interference (Quality of network) >Step-3
- Hardware or Transmission issues The MS on its part will analyse the paging messages sent on
· Timer Expiry After
MS is Lost - Software file congestion the paging sub channel corresponding to its paging group.
YES - Coverage (no coverage) >Step-4
Upon receipt of a page at the MS, the MS responds by
Low SS on cell
border?
YES Improve coverage Accessibility includes de following KPIs: transmitting a channel request on the RACH.
NO
- Paging Success Rate >Step-5
NO
- Location Update Success Rate BSS in response to the received “channel request”, will
Bad Reduce interference for
quality?
YES
potential candidate - Random Access Failure process it and immediately assign the MS a SDCCH
- SDCCH Time Congestion (immediate assignment / assignment reject; done over
D - TCH Assignment Failure AGCH).
>Step-6
2G TROUBLESHOOTING
MS Paging response- After receiving the immediate
assignment command, MS switches to the assigned “SDCCH”
and transmits a “Paging Response”.
>Step-7
The establishment of the main signalling link is then initiated
(E1) with information field containing the “PAGING
RESPONSE” message and the “paging response” is sent to the
MSC.
>Step-8
Upon receipt of the “Paging Response” MSC stops the timer
T3113. If the timer T3113 expires and a “Paging Response”
message has not been received, the MSC may repeat the
“Paging Request” message and start T3113 all over again. The
number of successive paging attempt is a network dependent
choice
>Paging Capacity for BTS:
MFRMS*(CCCH blocks - AGBLK) * X (X=4 when TMSI based
paging is used & X=2 when IMSI based paging is used)
Accessibility/Retainability
With “more” TRHs the paging capacity for the BSC decreases. Location Update (ACCESSIBILITY)
With “more” LACs within a BSC the paging capacity for the
BSC increases. Location Area (LA) dimensioning strategies:
>Size of a LA must not exceed the maximum paging capacity
Analyze the following issues that could be possible reasons for the BTS / BSC
for poor Paging Performance: >In a rural area, it is easy to find LA border cells. But there’s
– Insufficient coverage no reason to have a smaller LA than required
– High interference >General rule of thumb: 1 LAC per BSC
– Non-optimum Paging Strategy >If a BSC covers a large area with high traffic, consider
– Non-optimum Paging parameter settings splitting the LA. This will reduce the paging load in BTS and
– Paging Congestion in MSc, BSC or BTS BSC
– De-activated or incorrect use of Paging features >In larger cities, SDCCH load will be higher for LA border cells.
The following actions can improve Paging Congestion: If difficult is experienced to find LA border cells and the BSC
MSC Paging Congestion coverage area is small, several BSCs can share one LA
- Increase SAE >Define LA border at cells with low subscriber density
- BSC/BTS Paging Congestion
- Check Paging Strategy Low Location Updating
- Increase number of Location Areas (This will increase Success

When the rate of “paging load” at the RBS becomes higher SDCCH load)
border Yes Reallocate to another LA or MSC
than what the RBS is able to handle (paging capacity of RBS), - Set BCCHTYPE to NCOMB cell? Increase CRH
RBS will start discarding pages (check for high “page discard” - Use TMSI paging requests No

stats at the cell level). - Ensure IMSI attach/detach is activated (ATT = yes) Low CRH Yes
Increase CRH
Hysterisis?
Paging Queue Length = 14 – (Number of Paging Groups/10) - Decrease T3212/BTDM (This will increase SDCCH load)
No
Which means higher the number of paging groups in a cell
(that is higher the MFRMS settings), lower will be the Paging Low Paging Success Bad LA
Demensioning?
Yes
Re-dimensioning LA

Queue length, this will compensate for lower number of No

Paging Queue available at lower MFRMS. One “Paging Yes Check T3212 in BSC &
Yes Short perodic
Queue” per “Paging Group” is available at the cell level (that No TMSI Attach
/ Detach?
Activate registration? BTDM in MSC

means when we decrease the number of paging groups for No

No

the cell by reducing MFRMS to lower numbers, we actually Interference?

Yes Check frequency plan
Yes Correct T3212 in BSC, Activate radio feature
reduce the number of available paging queue). Wrong periodic location
BTDM & GTDM in MSC
updating setting? No

>Paging capacity in BSC: No Yes Correct settings for SAE 500 Block
Paging Bottleneck at the BSC usually is the number of RP Software File
Congestion? MLUAP, MLCAP,MLVAP,MMMLR
signals that can be sent from the CP to the RPDs in the TRHs. SDCCH Yes Increase SDCCH channel No
Congestion? Adaptive configuration feature
Calculations for number of pages per second: SDCCH Yes Increase SDCCH channel
RPSIG No Congestion? Adaptive configuration feature
NO _ PAGE=
NO _ TRH ⋅RPp (1) Yes Plan more LA No
Paging
congestion? Use TMSI paging Automatic Yes Activate automatic
TRXpTRH deregistration? de-registration
RPp=1−
1− NONO _ CELLS  (2) No

 _ TRX ⋅NO _ LA 
Yes
TMSI paging Activate END
RPSIG Maximum number of RP signals per second not use?
TRXpTRH Average number of TRXs per TRH No

NO_LA Number of Location Areas Implicit detach Yes

NO_TRH Number of TRHs belonging to the BSC after not periodic Activate
registration not use?
NO_TRX Number of TRXs belonging to the BSC No
NO_CELLS Number of cells
RPp Probability that an RP signal is sent to an TRH END

NO_PAGE Number of pages per second

2G TROUBLESHOOTING Accessibility/Retainability
SDCCH Congestion(Accessibility) SDCCH Congestion Optimization:
SDCCH Activities: SDCCH Congestion
>Mobility Management >Analyze the following issues that could be possible reasons
– Normal Location update for SDCCH Congestion: Check HW availabilty

– Periodic Registration – SDCCH Dimensioning

Low See TCH & SDCCH
– IMSI Attach / Detach – Incorrect use of SDCCH capacity features such as availability?
YES
Availability

– Connection Management Adaptive Configuration of Logical channels NO

– Call setup – TCH Congestion Check site position

– SMS Point to Point – Location Areas not optimized Check and increase
CRH
YES

– Fax Setup – SMS usage and Cell Broadcast channel Location area
border? YES

– SDCCH Availability Change Location

Area Border
NO

SDCCH Channel Allocation:

Check TCH traffic
>Channel Configuration can be done as follow >The following recommendations will have a positive impact
– Combined BCCH/SDCCH on 1 TS (SDCCH/4) on SDCCH congestion TCH
YES
Add TCH
Congestion? capacity
– Non-Combined BCCH and SDCCH on 2 TS (SDCCH/8) – Try not to use combined BCCH/SDCCH (SDCCH/4)
NO

– Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH) – Use the optional SDCCH capacity features such as the
Check SMS activity
– The Cell Broadcast service provides the transmission of Adaptive Configuration of Logical Channel feature when
an SMS from a message-handling centre to all MSs in available. Many SMS YES
Redimension
messages? SDCCH
the serving area of the BTS. – Use Immediate Assignment on TCH, SDCCH first.
NO

– If the Cell Broadcast service is active in a cell, one – For manual dimensioning, use STS cell statistics Check periodic
registration
signaling sub-channel is replaced by one CBCH resulting – Configure one SDCCH on the BCCH carrier and the
in a SDCCH/7 others on the hopping layer (Non-BCCH)
Too frequent Change registration
– Use the Ericsson SDCCH Dimensioning guideline. registration?
YES
interval timers

SDCCH Channel Allocation Profile (CHAP)

>SDCCH Channel Allocation Profile (CHAP) >The following issues are worth taking into account when NO

– Channel Allocation is the feature that selects and analyzing SDCCH Congestion: E
E

allocates suitable channels when one or more channels – Use LAPD STS statistics to evaluate LAPD congestion Check channel configuration
are required and optimize the LAPD Concentration factor
– Channel Allocation Profile (CHAP) is the parameter that – Analyze border cells with a large amount of random Combined
SDCCH?
YES
Make channel
non-combined
provides different channel allocation strategies access attempts resulting in SDCCH congestion. NO

– For SDCCH assignments, CHAP 8 prioritize new Avoid cell broadcast if

Is cell broadcast YES
assignments as follows: >Use Random Access optimization to solve the SDCCH used? possible

1) OL/SDCCH congestion NO

2) UL/SDCCH (if OL/SDCCH is congested) – Take into account Timeslot priority when deciding Check traffic trend

where to configure SDC

Short term
SDCCH Dimensioning Strategy: traffic growth? YES No activity

>GOS Approach: NO

– SDCCH should be dimensioned for better GOS compare Check SDCCH mean holding time

to TCH. Typical range is 0.5% - 1%.

– Immediate Assignment of TCH with “TCH as last option Long mean holding
time?
YES
Check HW and number
of False Accesses
strategy” is recommended. NO

– It is recommended to add SDCCH when 0.5 Erlang of Check SDCCH dimensioning

signaling traffic is carried by TCH.

Underdimensioned Redimension
– Half Rate penetration, usage of Extended Range cell SDCCH?
YES
SDCCH

and HSCSD should be taken into consideration. Check Adaptive configuration of

logical channel and parameters
>STS Approach:
Accurate dimensioning is achieved by using STS cell statistics ACSTATE off? YES Switch on

NO

END
2G TROUBLESHOOTING Accessibility/Retainability
SDCCH Drops(Accessibility):
Check SDCCH Dropped Per Cell
RANDOM ACCESS SUCCESS RATE (Accessibility):
The formula for measuring SDCCH Drop Rate(Ericsson,
Optimi) is: Check drop The formula for measuring SDCCH Drop Rate(Ericsson) is:
reason

− −
_ _ = 100 = 1− 100
• Check ICM

+ +
Bad YES • Check frequency Plan
quality? • Run MRR & FAS
• Frequency scan
NO
CNDROP The total number of dropped SDCCH channels in RAACCFA Number of Failed Random Accesses. This
a cell Low
YES
• Refer to Low SS counter is incremented for a Random access received with
SS? analysis flowchart.
CNRELCONG Total number dropped (released connections too high TA, values that are not used or in case of "software
on SDCCH due to TCH or Transcoder congestion in UL subcell. NO
file congestion" (i.e. when the internal storage area in the
YES
CNRELCONGSUB The subset d for OL subcell High
• Check site location
BSC is full which is a very rare case only occurring at very high
TA?
CMSESTAB Total number of successful MS channel & TALIM loads
establishment on SDCCH. NO CNROCNT Number of Failed Random Accesses. This
YES • Check S_DR-S_NTC counter is incremented for a Random access received with
TCH
•
SDCCH Drops are classified into one of the following Congestion ? Increase TCH or using
Radio Features, CLS, HCS
too high TA, values that are not used or in case of "software
categories: NO file congestion" (i.e. when the internal storage area in the
>SDCCH Drops because of Timing Advance Check BTS error
BSC is full which is a very rare case only occurring at very high
>SDCCH Drops because of Low Signal Strength log loads.
>SDCCH Drops because of Bad Quality PDRAC The counter value is incremented when a 44.058
>SDCCH Drops due to Other Reasons HW
YES
• Swap & CHANNEL REQUIRED containing 44.018 CHANNEL REQUEST
fault? Repair HW
NO
with establishment cause "One Phase Packet Access" or
SDCCH Drop Optimization "Single Block Packet Access" is received on RACH.
B
>Analyze the following issues that could be possible reasons
for SDCCH Drops: B The measurements are done per cell for random access
– Low signal strength channels.
Check Link Quality
– Interference For every cell there are counters registering the number of
– Pathloss Imbalance between UL/DL random access attempts received in the BSC.
– High Timing Advance YES • Perform link Random Accesses can be distributed into the following types:
Transmission fault? investigation
– MS error or Subscriber behavior >MS Originated RA
– TCH Congestion NO >Call Re-establishment
– Transmission Congestion (LAPD Concentration) >Emergency Calls
Check MS fleet
– Hardware or Transmission failures >Answer to Paging
>All Other Cases
>The following issues are worth taking into account when Perform Drive Test – IMSI Attach/Detach
analyzing SDCCH Drops: – Location Updates
SDCCH Drops and TCH Drops often drop because of the same – Period Registration
Perform MTR/CTR/MRR
RF reasons, such as for example insufficient coverage
– Only use SDCCH power regulation and SDCCH HO when >Analyze the following issues that could be possible reasons
the network has good coverage Perform site survey for high Random Access failure rate:
– BSC and transmission problems can impact SDCCH -High interference
drops so investigate Transcoders, A-interface and LAPD -Lack of Coverage
Check antenna installation
– SDCCH Drops on the hopping layer are normally -High Timing Advance
showing worse values than SDCCH on the BCCH -Handover access burst mistaken as random access burst
END
-Non-optimized parameter settings
-Software Congestion (SAE)
2G TROUBLESHOOTING Accessibility/Retainability
Not Approved Random Accesses
SUMEIABSUCC Sum of Successful External Assignment - Overlaid/Underlaid subcells
Handovers to Better Cell (Incoming Handover) - Cell Load Sharing (CLS)
Check BSIC allocation SUMEIAWSUCC Sum of Successful External Assignment - AMR Half-rate (AHR)
Check frequency plan
Handovers to Worse Cell (Incoming Handover) - Assignment to Worse Cell
SUMIABSUCC Sum of Successful Internal Assignment - Hierarchical Cell Structures (HCS)
Access burst from
another co-channel YES
Change BSIC or Handovers to Better Cell (Incoming Handover)
frequency plan
cell
SUMIAWSUCC Sum of Successful Internal Assignment Analyze the following issues that could be possible reasons
NO

Check cell parameter setting

Handovers to Worse Cell (Incoming Handover) for TCH Assignment failures:
- Low Signal strength or no dominant serving cell
MAXTA too
low?
YES
Increase
MAXTA The TCH assignment success rate measures how often a call - Interference
NO
set-up, ordered by the MSC, has been successful - Congestion on TCH
Check site location
>The major issues impacting TCH assignment failures are: - Incorrect use of Capacity features
High located YES
Consider tilting or
lowering site
-TCH congestion - Faulty Hardware or transmission
site?
NO -Radio reasons such as coverage and interference - Incorrect Output power
Check SAE (COFLP,
DBTSP:TAP=SAACTION;) -Hardware or transmission problems
Software file
-Congestion can be defined as follow: It is worth taking into account the following issues when
YES Increase SAE
congestion?
-The probability that a call attempt cannot be handled optimizing TCH Assignment failures:
NO

Check interference
successfully, because of not enough free circuits and other - Make sure that problems with network availability are
switching equipments not the cause of congestion
Check if unknown access code
-The Congestion (Blocking) Probability represented by B (n, A) - Often congestion problems are caused by network
High noise
floor?
YES Reduce interference is determined by Offered traffic A and the number of design issues such as cells covering a large area
NO available circuits n - Try to make sure that as far as possible calls are made
END
on the best serving cell to reduce the negative impact
Congestion Improvement on Retainability and Voice Quality
TCH Assignment Failure (Accessibility): >Congestion can be improved by short, medium and long - Radio capacity features such as for example CLS should
term actions preferably be only used as short or medium term
The formula for measuring TCH Assignment Failure (Ericsson) >Medium and Long term: solutions for congestion.
is: – Expansions: Add capacity to existing cells Low TCH Assignment Success Rate
Sectorize omni cells
+ !" + #$ − %&'" + #$$
–
= ( 100 Indoor and capacity microcells
+ " + #$ − %&'" + #$$
– Check TCH congestion

– Additional macro sites Congestion YES Add tranceivers or BTS

>Short term: on TCH?
NO
Correct parameters

outg(AB+AW)=SUMEOABSUCC+SUMEOAWSUCC+SUMOABSU – Optimization of access parameters Check output power YES

CC+SUMOAWSUCC – Activation and optimization of capacity features

Low output Check output power
inc(AB+AW)=SUMEIABSUCC+SUMIAWSUCC+SUMIABSUCC+S power?
YES
parameters
Corrupt parameter
setting?

UMIAWSUCC Congestion Improvement – Expansions NO

NO
Check BTS Error Log
Check Signal Strength of
- Expansions need to be planned in advance – Before NO
BCCH and TCH

SUMEOABSUCC Sum of Successful External Assignment capacity is needed HW YES

Swap & repair
fault? HW Low SS for call
Handovers to Better Cell (Outgoing Handover) - Important for operators to have an expansion NO
access?

SUMEOAWSUCC Sum of Successful External Assignment procedure in place Check coverage plots
YES

Adjust TCH output

Handovers to Worse Cell (Outgoing Handover) - Expansions can be limited by a variety of issues, for Perform drive tests
power

SUMOABSUCC Sum of Successful Internal Assignment example available spectrum

Handovers to Better Cell (Outgoing Handover) - The following presentation take a more detailed look at Dominant NO
Add
server exists? BTS
SUMOAWSUCC Sum of Successful Internal Assignment traffic and capacity management
Handovers to Worse YES

Check Interference
Cell (Outgoing Handover) Congestion Improvement – Short Term
>The following features can be used to ensure efficient use of Disturbance
on SDCCH or YES
Improve & adjust
frequency plan
installed capacity and to reduce congestion: target TCH?

NO

END