Drive Test (DT) performing and analysis

1. Test preparation
Test preparations include the following four aspects:

 Deciding optimization goal

 Dividing clusters
 Deciding DT route
 Preparing tools and data
1.1 Deciding Optimization Goal

Index Reference Remarks

1.2 Dividing Clusters

The following factors must be considered upon dividing clusters:

 According to experiences, the number of BTS in a cluster depends on the actual situation. 15–25 BTSs
in a cluster is recommended. Too many or few BTSs in a cluster is improper.
 A cluster must not cover different areas of test (planning) full coverage services.
 Landforms affect signal propagation. Mountains block signal propagation, so they are natural borders
for dividing clusters. Rivers causes a longer propagation distance, so they affect dividing clusters in
various aspects. If a river is narrow, the signals along two banks will interact. If the transportation
between two banks allows, divide sites along the two banks in the same cluster. If a river is wide, the
upstream and downstream will interact. In this situation, the transportation between two banks is
inconvenient, dividing clusters by the bank according to actual situation.
 A cell-like cluster is much usual than a strip-like cluster.
 When the coverage area involves several administrative areas, divide clusters according to
administrative areas.
 DT workload The DT must be performed within a day for a cluster. A DT takes about four hours.
1.3 Deciding Test Route
The KPI DT acceptance route is the core route of RF optimization test routes. The KPI DT acceptance route must
cover major streets, important location, VIP, and VIC. The DT route should cover all cells as possible. The initial
test and final test must cover all cells. If time is enough, cover all streets in the planned area. Use the same DT
route in every test to compare performances more accurately. Round-trip DT is performed if possible.

Consider actual factors like lanes and left-turn restriction while deciding test route.

2. Data Collection
During RF optimization stage, the key is the optimization of radio signals distribution, with the major means of
DT and indoor test. Before test, confirm the following aspects:

 Whether the target BTS, BSC, and related CN are abnormal due to being disabled, blocked, congested,
and transmission alarms.
 Whether the alarms have negative impact on the validity of test result data. If the alarms exist, solve
the problems before test.

DT is a major test. Collect scanner and UE data of radio signals by DT test. The data is applicable in analyzing
coverage, handover, and pilot pollution problems.

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Indoor test involves the following areas:

 Indoor coverage areas: include inside buildings, department stores, and subways.
 Inside areas of important facilities: include gymnasiums and government offices.
 VIC and VIP areas.

Test the previous areas to locate, analyze, and solve the RF problems.

Indoor test also involves in optimizing handover of indoor and outdoor.

3. Drive Test
3.1 Test plan according to KPIs
According to different full coverage services in the planned areas and the required KPIs for testing DT might be
one of the following:

4. Coverage Problem Analysis

Coverage problem analysis is key to RF optimization. It involves signal distribution.

4.1.1 Introduction
4.1.1.1 Discontinuous coverage (blind area)

Due to the various geographic topography (like mountainous roads, rolling hills and mountains) and complex
radio propagation environment, signals are obstructed, or edge of an isolated site, so the coverage is
discontinuous. And call drop will happen.
4.1.1.2 Poor indoor coverage

For dense buildings, fading of signals are very heavy and thick wall also cause serious penetration loss. Low
indoor signal strength will lead to call drop.
4.1.1.3 Crosscell coverage (isolated island)

As shown in Figure below, coverage of Serving cell A is much bigger than that in designing. MS still uses the
signal of original serving Cell A, though it passed defined neighbor cell B, and moved to coverage of Cell C. But
Cell C is not a defined neighbor cell of cell A. Now when the MS wants to conduct handover according to
neighbor cell B of original serving cell A, it fails to find the appropriate cell, and call drop will occur.

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 Figure 1; Call drop due to coverage too large
4.1.1.4 Coverage too small

Some problem can cause coverage too small, such as, antenna is shadowed or TRX of BCCH is faulty (power
amplification part).
4.1.2 Analysis
If the coverage area becomes smaller after the BTS starts services, check the following items:

 Check the ambient environment of the BTS antennas.

 Check the changes in the propagation environment.
 Check whether there are VSWR alarms and main and diversity receive alarms on the Site
Maintenance Terminal System.
 Check whether the VSWR is less than 1.5.
 Check whether the TMA is operational.
 Check the engineering parameters such as the antenna tilt and azimuth.
 Check the BTS transmit power.
 Check whether the BTS receiver sensitivity is normal.
 Check whether the parameters associated with coverage are set properly.
 Check whether the noise floor is high due to interference and poor electromagnetic environment.

If the coverage problems are caused by the expansion of the BTS capacity, check the following items:

 Check whether the configuration of combiners changes after capacity expansion.

 Check whether appropriate antennas are selected.
 Check whether the new antennas are installed in accordance with the requirements.
 Check the location of the BCCH transmit antenna of the omnidirectional double transmit
antennas.
 For the directional double transmit antennas, check whether the pitch and the azimuth of the
antennas are consistent.
 Check the output power on top of the cabinet for different TRXs when the maximum coverage
configuration is used.

The common problems that affect coverage are as follows:

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  Water running into the antennas
 Passive intermodulation antennas
 Inappropriate antenna type: Select the antennas that meet the network performance
requirements and ensure there are signals under the antenna tower.
 Tower influences on the omnidirectional antennas: The tower has great influences on the signal
strength and the coverage area of the antennas. The influences depend on the distance between
the MS and the tower.
 Inappropriate installation of the directional antennas: The antennas may be connected inversely
or wrongly. The azimuth and pitch of the transmit antennas and the receive antennas are not
consistent. The diversity spacing, the isolation from the tower, and the shadows of the directional
cells in the neighbor coverage areas are not set appropriately.
 Inappropriate installation of the omnidirectional antennas: The radiator of the omnidirectional
antenna is blocked by the post. The diversity spacing and the isolation from the tower are not set
appropriately. The installation is not perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
 Problems associated with the connection of the antenna system, combiner and divider, and CDU
 Water leaks into the connectors and the feeders in the antenna system. The connectors are not
tightened. The connection of the jumpers is not consistent with data configuration, which causes
inverse connection of the transmit antennas and the receive antennas. The jumpers and the
feeders are not properly connected, which causes signal loss, excessive VSWR, passive cross-
modulation, and interference.
 TMA problems: Water leaks into the TMA. The lower noise amplifier (LNA) is damaged. The TMA
is connected inversely.
 BTS front-end module fault: The isolator, duplexer, or other filters break down. The false VSWR
alarm, faulty LNA, and small output power of the TRX or the amplifier affect the coverage.

The parameters that affect coverage areas are as follows:

 TRX power level

 TMA power attenuation factor
 MS maximum transmit power control level
 MS minimum receive signal level
 RACH minimum access level.
4.1.3 Solution
4.1.3.1 Find poor coverage area

Drive test can find poor coverage area. For discontinuous coverage of isolated sites or mountains area, can add
BTS to solve, or use other ways to improve coverage, like rising static power of the BTS, changing the antenna's
azimuth, downtilt and height. In addition, If call drop is caused by the geographic topography. Such as tunnel,
large department store, entrance to the subway station, and underground parking lot, microcell is a well
solution.
4.1.3.2 Indoor coverage

To guarantee the indoor network performance, it is necessary to make outdoor signal sufficiently strong by
such ways as improving the BTS' output power, changing the antenna’s azimuth, downtilt and height. If these
ways fail to improve indoor network performance markedly can consider adding BTS. To improve indoor
coverage in some major public places like office building and hotel, can consider indoor distribution system.
4.1.3.3 Cross coverage

For cross-cell coverage, should append adjacent cell relation, so as to reduce call drop. Or reduce downtilt to
control coverage.

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4.1.3.4 Troubleshooting of hardware

Check if hardware failures cause coverage too small by drive test. If the call drop rate increases suddenly, but
the other indices are normal, should check if handover working normally (fault with downlink is possible, such
as faults with TRX, diversity unit or antenna. uplink failure will cause high outgoing-cell handover failure rate).
4.2 Analysis of Interference Problems
4.2.1 Introduction
Interference is a key factor that influences network operation. It greatly affects the speech quality and
handover. Call drops or congestion may be caused. The interference analysis involves uplink interference
analysis and downlink interference analysis.
There are three main types of interference: co-channel interference, adjacent-channel interference and
intermodulation interference. The co-channel interference threshold is C/I 9dB, and adjacent-channel
interference threshold is C/A -9dB. When the interference index deteriorates to exceed the threshold, voice
quality will be bad and call drop will occurs.
4.2.2 Analysis
 Analysis of uplink interference problems: If the traffic volume is low compared with the
interference band, then the uplink interference exists.
 Analysis of downlink interference problems: If the Received Signal Quality (RXQUAL) is lower than
the predefined threshold and the Received Signal Level (RXLEV) is higher than the predefined
threshold, then the downlink interference exists. If Both RXQUAL and RXLEV are lower than the
predefined thresholds, then the coverage problem exists.

The interference sources of the GSM network are as follows:

 Intra-network interference
 Interference from repeaters
 Interference from other high-power communications equipment
 Hardware faults

The location and troubleshooting are as follows:

1. Determine the cells that have interference on the basis of KPIs.

2. Check the OMC alarms.
3. Check the frequency planning.
4. Check the cell parameter setting.
5. Perform the drive test.
6. Eliminate the interference based on the check results.
4.2.3 Solution
Different solutions take to external interference and intra-system interference. The illegal external interference
can be solved through reporting to Radio Management Committee, and intra-system interference is solved
through network adjustment.
1. Take a drive test to check the road segment with interference and distribution of signal level, voice
quality, and analyze to find out the cells where interference is caused by crossed coverage. Adjust
power of the cell’s RF power, antenna downtilt, or adjust the frequency planning to avoid
interference.
2. Use DTX, frequency hopping, power control, and diversity

These techniques can be used to reduce system noise and improve the anti-interference capability. DTX
included uplink DTX and downlink DTX, DTX helps reduce the valid transmitting time and so as to reduce the
interference level in the system. But DTX must be adjusted according to the radio environment and adjacent

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relation. The receiving signal of the MS is poor, and DTX may lead to call drop. For downlink DTX function, the
RF power of the BTS will be decreased in speech pauses. In this way, the interference can be reduced for the
others BTS. However, if there are interference near the BTS, downlink DTX will deteriorate voice quality. When
the power decreases, voice quality will be bad likely, even drop if receiving level is relatively low but
interference signal is strong.
3. Solve the interference caused by the equipment itself (for example, self-excitation of TRX board, and
intermodulation interference of the antenna).
4.3 Analysis of Imbalance problems
4.3.1 Analysis of Cause
1. The feeders of the cell antenna are connected reversely for engineering mistake. For example, the TX
antennas between two cells are connected reversely, making uplink signal level of the cell much worse
than downlink signal level. In this case, call drop, monologue and difficult call will occur far from the
BTS.
2. For monopoles antenna, directional cell has both the main TRX antenna and diversity RX antenna,
when they have different downtilt angles or azimuth angles, they will have different coverage.
Consequently, MS may receive the SDCCH, but once it is assigned the TCH from another antenna, call
drop will occur.
3. Call drop occurs due to the reason of antenna or feeder faults

Any of damage, flooding, bending or folding of antenna or feeder, and poor contact in the connector, will cause
reducing of output power and receive sensitivity. Hence, it can bring on serious call drop. This can be ensured
through measure VSWR.
4.3.2 Problem location and Handling
1. Check whether there is any alarm of the combiner, CDU, tower amplification, standing wave ratio, etc.
2. Check from the remote maintenance terminal whether the BTS boards are normal, and analyze the
traffic statistics to see whether there is imbalance between the uplink and downlink.
3. Trace Abis signaling massage by OMC or MA10 (Signaling Analyzer); analyze the messages in MRs to
see whether the uplink and downlink are balanced.
4. Take a drive test and Call Test. In a drive test, check whether BCCH is consistent with the frequency
planning, that is, if the TX antenna has been correctly installed.
5. After sufficient remote analysis, check the directional angle and downtilt angle of the antenna at BTS
to see whether they have been installed in line with design specification, and whether the feeder and
jumper cable are correctly connected. And check whether the antenna connectors are in good contact
and whether feeders are damaged. Finally, find out the causes related with antenna.
6. Decide whether call drop is caused by the uplink/downlink imbalance due to hardware fault of BTS. In
this case, may replace the suspicious parts, or turn off the other TRX in the cell, and take a call test on
the suspicious TRX to locate the failure points. Once a faulty hardware is discovered, it must be
replaced in time, If no available spare part, block this faulty board first so as to avoid call drop and
affection to network performance.

Some traffic statistics are listed below to analyze the uplink/downlink balance:
1. Register "Uplink/Downlink Balance Measurement Function" to analyze whether the uplink/downlink
imbalance exists.
2. Register "Call Drop Measurement Function “to analyze the uplink/downlink level and uplink/downlink
quality of call drop.
3. Register "Power Control Measurement Function" to analyze average receiving uplink/downlink level.
4.4 Analysis of Hardware Faults
Hardware faults affect the normal operation of the network or disrupt the network. Also, the network
performance deteriorates. Hardware faults consist of the network element faults and transmission link faults.

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You can determine the type of the faults by checking the hardware alarms and analyzing the traffic
measurement results. If the network performance deteriorates due to poor transmission quality and unstable
operation of boards and transmission links on the Abis and A interfaces, analyze as follows:

1. Check the transmission alarms and board alarms to see whether there is intermittent transmission or
faulty boards.
2. Check whether the transmission paths, bit error rate, and 2M connectors are normal. Also, check
whether the equipment is properly grounded.
4.5 Analysis of End-To-End Network Elements Interoperation
The end-to-end network elements refer to the nodes on the mobile communications network. The proper
operation of the network elements, including the BTS, BSC, and MSC, is the prerequisite for the normal
operation of the network.

The interoperation problems of the network elements refer to the problems in interface protocols, version
matching, A and Abis interface data configuration, and interface signaling compatibility.

All the problems affect the network performance.

5. Implementation of RF Optimization
The implementation of RF optimization involves the adjustment of the cell engineering parameters and cell
parameters based on the data analysis so that they meet the KPI requirements. Antenna adjustment is a part of
the RF optimization. You should consider the optimization cost when replacing the antennas, adding TMAs, and
adding BTSs.

You can solve most RF problems by adjusting the following engineering parameters:

 Antenna tilt
 Antenna azimuth
 Antenna height
 Antenna location
 Antenna type
 Adding TMAs
 Replacing site type, for example, replacing a site that supports 20 W power amplification with a site
that supports 40 W power amplification
 Adjusting the site location
 Adding sites
6. GPRS/EDGE analysis and tests
6.1 GPRS/EDGE attach
6.1.1 GRPS/EDGE attach success rate
GPRS attach success rate = times of GPRS success attach/times of GPRS attach attempt * 100%. The GPRS
attach success means that the MS receives the GPRS attach accept message within 15 seconds after sending the
Attach Request message.

6.1.2 Average attach time

Average attach time = the sum of each GPRS attach success time/times of GPRS attach success. After sending
the first Attach Request message, the MS will receive the GPRS attach message, and the delay between the two
messages is defined as the GPRS attach success time.

6.2 WAP Test

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The WAP test includes the WAP website login test and page update test. During WAP website login test, the
buffers must be cleared from the MS. During the page update test, multiple pages must be visited. The indexes
related to the WAP test are introduced as follows.

6.2.1 PDP activation success rate

PDP activation success rate = times of PDP activation success/total times of PDP activation attempt * 100%. The
PDP activation success means that the MS receives the Activate PDP Context Accept message within 15 seconds
after sending the Activate PDP Context Request message.

6.2.2 Average PDP activation time

Average PDP activation time = the sum of each PDP activation success time/times of PDP activation success.
After sending the first Activate PDP Context Request message, the MS will receive the Activate PDP Context
Accept message, and the delay between the two messages is defined as the PDP activation success time.

6.2.3 WAP website login success rate

WAP website login success rate = times of success login/times of login attempt. The WAP website login success
rate means that the web page displays completely within 60 seconds after the MS applies to visit the WAP
website. If the MS fails to log in to the system, you must record the login failure messages of the MS and divide
them into certain types.

6.2.4 Average WAP first page display time

Average WAP first page display time = the sum of each WAP first page display time/times of WAP first page
display success. After the MS request to visit the WAP website, it takes a time for the first page of the website
to completely display, and this time is defined as the average WAP first page display time.

6.2.5 WAP page update success rate

WAP page update success rate = times of WAP update success/times of WAP update attempt. The successfully
updated WAP pages refer to the pages to be browsed are completely and correctly displays in 60 seconds.

6.3 Ping Test

According to the ping test, the tailored length of the data packet is used to ping the sites in the GGSN local area
network. The indexes related to the ping test are introduced as follows.

6.3.1 Ping success rate

Ping success rate = times of ping success/times of ping attempts *100%.

6.3.2 Ping average delay

Ping average delay = the sum of each ping success/times of ping success.

6.4 FTP tests

6.4.1 FTP Application Layer Download Rate Test
According to this test, the files with the tailored length are downloaded from the designated server. The main
test indexes are introduced as follows.

6.4.2 FTP application layer download rate test

PTF application layer download rate = actual downloaded quantity (byte)/actual downloaded time (s).

6.4.3 Average throughout of FTP download RLC layer

This index is recorded by dedicated test software.

6.4.4 Average BLER of FTP download RLC layer

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This index is recorded by dedicated test software.

6.5 RAU (Routing Area Update) Test

6.5.1 Average RAU interval
Average RAU interval time = total test time (s)/total RAU times.

6.5.2 Average RAU distance

Average RAU distance = total test distance (km)/total RAU times.

6.6 Cell Reselection Test

6.6.1 Average interval for cell reselection
Average interval for cell reselection = total test time (s)/total times of cell reselection.

6.6.2 Average distance for cell reselection

Average distance for cell reselection = total test distance (Km)/total times of cell reselection.

6.7 Coverage Test

This index is measured by coverage ratio per kilometer, which is equal to the ratio of the total test distance
(Km) to the times for the MS not within the GPRS coverage. No GPRS coverage occurs in the following
situations:

 During the coverage test, the MS transits from READY state or STANDBY state to IDLE state.
 The MS stays in READY STATE or STANDBY state, but its level stays lower than -94dBm in 5 seconds or
more.
 The MS receives the out-of-service message.
6.8 Call Drop Test
It is measured according to the call drop rate per kilometer (kilometer/time), which is equal to the rate of the
total test distance/total times of download call drop. The call drop is defined as follows:

 The PPP connection between the computer and the MS is interrupted. That is, the computer prompts
that the dialing connection is interrupted.
 The PPP connection is normal, but the data cannot be transmitted for 3 minutes or more when the
signals in the network are normal.
7. Diagrams
Make sure that this check list is all OK before beginning DT

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 Item n° Item name Status
1 Cluster is defined OK NOK
2 NodeB/Cells involved in DT defined OK NOK
3 Alarms Status OK NOK
4 Cell configuration data updated OK NOK
5 Drive test route fixed OK NOK
6 Optimization target fixed OK NOK
7 Test methodology fixed OK NOK
8 Tools list OK NOK
Numbe
r Name OK NOK
……………………………………………………………
8-1 1 … OK NOK
……………………………………………………………
8-2 2 … OK NOK
……………………………………………………………
8-3 3 … OK NOK
……………………………………………………………
8-4 4 … OK NOK
……………………………………………………………
8-5 5 … OK NOK
9 Test plan prepared OK NOK

Start

Is False False Are tools False

False False Is Drive test Is DT route Is test plan
Optimizatio ready and
area prepared? configured
n goal tested?
defined? ?
fixed?

True True True True True

Make needed preparation

Go to drive test

Drive test
False Make corrective actions.
objectives
reached?

True

End

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 Start

Check other RF actions

Low
Coverage False
problem Solve hardware alarm cause. Neighboring check (check
detected? related document)

False False
True

Check if abnormal hardware True Check handover algorithm,

Is OK? Is OK?
behavior or alarmed parameters and configuration

True

TCH
interference External Coverage
Co-BCCH False
due to MA/ interference problem
problem
HSN ? due to low
conflict RxLev?

True

Make MA/HSN check and Make BCCH check and change Solve external interference
change (relate to PF chec) (relate to PF check document) (check related document)

False Is TA
Redesign Check if TA can be reduce be True
excessive?
change redesign.
possible?

True
Change cell tilt and/or azimuth Change TRX power
value

Is coverage
Change TRX power Add site void or dead True
zone or week
coverage?

Change handover algorithm

parameters to make easier outgoing
HO from cell

Check indoor coverage and/or

Add site. Is True
hardware fault and/or topcabinet
UL/DLbalanc
power.
e problem?

Coverage
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solved?