Optimization using

TEMS Investigation

Prepared by Mirza Baig

 Understanding The Network Strategy
 900/1800 Dual Band Network

 Two layers 900 and 1800 using SIEMENS Hierarchical Cell

Structure (HCS) Feature

 1800 is the priority layer for Cell Reselection and for

handovers.

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 Cell Selection & Re-Selection
 CBQ
Cell bar qualify
is used to assign a priority to a cell for the cell
selection process. A suitable cell with low priority is only selected if
no suitable cell of normal priority can be found. The assignment of
CBQ is useful in hierarchical cell structures
 CELLRESH
Cell reselect hysteresis, indicates the value of the receiver RF
power level hysteresis required for cell reselection (MS in idle mode)
on the basis of the path loss criterion C1.

C1 = (A - Max(B,0))
where,
A = <receive level average> - RXLEV_ACCESS_MIN
= RLA_P - RXLEVAMI

B = MS_TXPWR_MAX_CCH - P
= MSTXPMAXCH - P

P = Maximum RF output power of the MS

Max (B,0)= MSTXPMAXCH - P if MSTXPMAXCH > P

Max (B,0)= 0 if MSTXPMAXCH < P

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 The MS calculates the path loss criterion for the serving and the nonserving
cell at least every 5 seconds

 The calculation result determines the priority of these cells within the list of the six
strongest neighbour cells which is dynamically managed in the MS in idle mode.

The path loss criterion is satisfied if

(A) C1 > 0 (If C1 has been < 0 for a period of 5 s the path to
the cell is regarded as lost).

(b) If C1 of the non-serving cell is higher than C1 of the serving cell for a period of 5
s then the MS performs a cell reselection

 Exception: If the current cell and the new cell belong to different location areas the
new cell shall only be selected if the path loss criterion C1 on the new cell exceeds
C1 on the old serving cell by at least CELLRESH for a period of 5 seconds. This
 mechanism is used to avoid unnecessary location update procedures

Note: The value of CELLRESH is sent on the BCCH (SYSTEM

INFORMATION Type3 and Type 4

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 Cell Reselection C2

 The criterion C2 is an optional feature that can be enabled on a cell basis. It is an

enhancement of the cell selection C1. C2, however, is useful for microcell
configurations since it prevents fast moving MSs from performing
unnecessary cell reselections

CRESPARI
Cell reselection parameter indicator
Indicates the presence of C2 cell reselection parameters

CRESOFF
Cell reselection offset
It applies an offset to the cell reselection criterion C2

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General Principle of the C2 algorithm:

If the MS places a non-serving cell on the list of six strongest carriers it

starts a timer the value of which has been broadcast on the BCCH

Equation A: C2 = C1 + CRESOFF - TEMPOFF

As long as the timer runs C2 is increased by a permanent offset (see parameter
CRESOFF) and decreased by a temporary offset (see parameter TEMPOFF). By this
temporary offset the C2 of the non-serving cell is artificially made worse and the cell
reselection is not executed

Equation B: C2 = C1 + CRESOFF
On expiry of the timer the temporary offset is disregarded and thus - if the C2 of a
non-serving cell still exceeds the one of the serving cell for a period of 5 s the MS
performs a cell reselection
For 1800 CRESOFF=10; FOR 900: CRESOFF=0

Equation C: C2 = C1 – CRESOFF ;if PENTIME = 31

If the penalty time is set to 31 (i.e. 260s) the permanent
offset (CRESOFF) is not added to but subtracted, i.e. setting
PENTIME to 31 results in a permanent decrease of priority

Exception:
If the current cell and the new cell belong to different location areas the new cell shall
only be selected if the C2 of the new cell exceeds C2 of the old serving cell
by at least the cell reselect hysteresis (see parameter CELLRESH) for a period of 5
seconds. This mechanism is used to avoid unnecessary location update procedures.
Prepared by Mirza
 Handover Parameter Setting
Parameter Unit Default Urban Highway Name Definition

Minimum received level 
Minimum received at the MS
RXLEVAMI 1dB 8(­102dB) 8(G900),12(G1800) 6(G900),10(G1800) Level  required for access to 
(Idle Mode) the network
on the RACH

G9=15(­95 dBm), The minimum received 
G9=12(­98 dBm),
G18=25(­85 dBm) signal level
G18=20(­90 dBm)
 Source cell is G9 the adjacent cell must 
Rxlevel minimum
RXLEVMIN 1dB 12(­98dBm) provide to
(Dedicated Mode)
G9=15(­95 dBm), be regarded as a 
G9=12(­98 dBm), suitable target
G18=20(­90 dBm)
G18=15(­95 dBm)  cell for handover.
Source cell is G18

 Power Budget Handover:

From 900 to 900: Handover Margin= 5 dBm
From 900 to 1800: Handover Margin= -20 dBm
From 1800 to 1800: Handover Margin= 5 dBm
From 1800 to 900: Handover Margin= 20 dBm
A Power budget (Better Cell) handover is triggered if:

PBGT(n) > HO_MARGIN(n)

Where:
PBGT(n) = RXLEV_NCELL(n) - (RXLEV_DL + PWR_C_D) + Min (MS_TXPWR_MAX, P) - Min
(MS_TXPWR_MAX(n), P)

Prepared by Mirza
 PBGT (n) = power budget of the neighbor cell (n)

 HO_MARGIN(n) = HOM (CREATE ADJC) = handover margin of the neighbour cell (n) in [dB]

 RXLEV_NCELL(n) = received level average of the neighbour cell (n)

(the averaging is done according to the setting of HOAVPWRB (SET HAND))

 RXLEV_DL = received level average downlink of the serving cell

 PWR_C_D = BS_TXPWR_MAX - BS_TXPWR

= averaged difference between the maximum downlink RF power and
 the actual downlink due to Power Control

 MS_TXPWR_MAX = MSTXPMAXGSM or MSTXPMAXDCS or MSTXPMAXPCS value in [dBm]

= max. allowed transmit power of serving cell (n)

 MS_TXPWR_MAX(n) = MSTXPMAXGSM/DCS/PCS [dBm]

= max. allowed transmit power of neighbour cell (n)

 P = power capability of the mobile in [dBm]

 Min(MS_TXPWR_MAX,P) = MS_TXPWR_MAX if MS_TXPWR_MAX < P

 Min(MS_TXPWR_MAX,P) = P if MS_TXPWR_MAX > P

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Imperative Handover:
1. Bad up- and downlink quality
2. Bad up- and downlink level
3. Exceeding maximum distance

Uni
Parameter Default Urban Highway Name Definition
t
HO  This parameter defines the max 
threshold  interference level from BTS to MS 
HOTDLINT 1 dB 35(­75 dBm) 35(­75 dBm) 35(­75 dBm) level  direction for the quality 
downlink  intracell handover decision.
intra Cell (Interference HO)

HO  This parameter defines the max 
threshold  interference level from MS to BTS 
HOTULINT 1 dB 35(­75 dBm) 35(­75 dBm) 35(­75 dBm) level  direction for the quality 
uplink  intracell handover decision.
intra Cell (Interference HO)

13(­97 dBm)  10(­100 dBm)  HO lower  defines the receive signal level 

G900,        G900,        threshold  threshold on the downlink for 
HOLTHLVDL 1 dB 10(­100 dBm)
15 (­95 dBm)  15 (­95 dBm)  level  inter­cell level handover 
G1800 G1800 downlink decision.

HO lower 
10(­ 100 dBm)  10(­ 100 dBm)  defines the receive signal level 
threshold 
HOLTHLVUL 1 dB 8(­102 dBm) G900, 12(­98  G900, 12(­98  threshold on the uplink for inter­
level 
dBm)g1800 dBm)g1800 cell level handover decision.
uplink

HO lower  defines the receive signal quality 
threshold  threshold on the downlink for 
HOLTHQUDL   5 5  
quality  inter­cell quality handover 
downlink decision.

HO lower 
defines the receive signal quality 
threshold 
HOLTHQUUL   5 5   threshold on the uplink for inter­
quality 
cell quality handover decision.
uplink

the threshold for the maximum 
Handover 
permitted distance between MS and 
threshold 
Prepared1kmby Mirza
HOTMSRM 34 34  
MS range 
the BTS in 1km step size which is 
used for intercell handover due to 
maximum
distance.
 Tracing out Issues during Drive Test
Hardware Related

Antenna System:
1- Sector Swap (Rx / Tx Line)
2- Loose or Open Connector Connection at BTS/Line/Antenna Port

Observations: Bad Up/Dl, Drop Calls, Handover Failures

Troubleshooting: Drive Test; Path Loss/Path Balance (Up/Dl Losses) [RF Loopback]

BTS Cabinet:
1- Faulty Radio/TS (Drop Calls/Handover Failure)
2- Other Hardware like Coupling System, Band Pass Filter

Observations: Bad Up/Dl, Drop Calls, Handover Failures

Troubleshooting: Drive Test; Path Loss/Path Balance (Up/Dl Losses) [RF Loopback]

Prepared by Mirza
 Tracing out Issues during Drive Test
RF Related

DATABASE Related:

1- Missing/Wrong Neighbor definition

2- Co-Channel Neighbor (Handover Failure)

RF Related:

1- Co-Channel Interference (Overshoot)

2- Adjacent Channel Interference
3- Logical Server and Handover Boundary (TA, Obstacle, Antenna Tilt)
4- Interference on Hopping

Prepared by Mirza
 Case Studies
Interference
The carrier-over-interference ratio is the ratio between the signal strength
of the current serving cell and the signal strength of undesired (interfering) signal
components

 In dedicated mode, average C/I (-5 dB to 25 dB)is presented twice a second,

which is equal to the ordinary measurement interval. If frequency hopping is
employed, the average C/I for each frequency is presented
 C/I is not the measure of Speech Quality. Although it’s of course generally true
that severe interference problem tends to degrade speech quality

C/I Worst(0): 0 gives the C/I of the worst channel

Co- Channel Interference: (C/I >= 9dB)

Co-Channel interference is meant interference from other network cells using

the same transmission frequency

How to reduce Co-Channel Interference:

i- Improvement of Cell Planning

ii-Shrinking the interfering cell, for example by lowing it’s output power or
tilting the antennas of that particular cell
iii- Activating DL DTX on the Traffic Channels

iV- Activating DL Power Control on Traffic Channels

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 Case Studies
Interference
Adjacent Channel Interference: (C/A >= -9 dB)

Adjacent Channel interference is always originates from other carriers than the one
mobile is transmitting on.

C/A-1 >= -9 dB at +/- 200 kHz

C/A-2 >= -41 dB at +/- 400 kHz

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 Definitions

Full vs. SUB Values:

In GSM, there are two types of values presented for RXQual and RXLev i.e.
RXQual Full, RxQual Sub, RxLev Full, RxLev Sub.

The Full values are based upon all frames on the SACCH multiframe,
whether they have been transmitted from the base station or not. This
means that if DTX DL has been used, the Full values will be invalid for that
period since they include Bit Error Measurements at periods where nothing
has been sent resulting in very high BER.

In Total, 100 bursts (i.e. 25 blocks) will be used for the Full values

The Sub Values are based on the mandatory frames on the SACCH multiframe
i.e. frames that always must be transmitted.

In Total, 12 busrts (i.e. 2 blocks) will be used for Sub Values

Prepared by Mirza
 Definitions

Why SQI?
Traditionally, speech quality in GSM networks is measured by means of the RxQual
parameter (which is also available in TEMS Investigation). RxQual, however, suffers
from a number of drawbacks which make it an unreliable indicator of speech quality.
SQI is a more sophisticated measure which is dedicated to reflecting the quality of
the speech (as opposed to radio environment conditions). This means that when
optimizing the speech quality in your network, SQI is the best criterion to use.

RxQual and Its Limitations:

RxQual is obtained by transforming the bit error rate (BER) into a scale from 0 to 7.
In other words, RxQual is a very basic measure: it simply reflects the average BER
over a certain period of time (0.5 s). By contrast, a listener's assessment of speech
quality is a complex process which is influenced by many factors. Some of these, all
of which RxQual fails to take into account, are the following:
(A)The distribution of bit errors over time
For a given BER, if the BER fluctuates very much, the perceived quality is lower than
if the BER remains rather constant most of the time. Different channel conditions
give rise to radically different BER distributions. However, since RxQual just
measures the average BER, it cannot capture this. (In fact, the logarithmic scale of
RxQual gives rise to the opposite effect: a high BER variance gives a better RxQual
than a low variance does. This is completely misleading from a speech quality point
of view.)
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 Definitions

(B) Frame erasures

When entire speech frames are lost, this affects the perceived quality in a very
negative way
(C) Handovers
Handovers always cause some frames to be lost, which generally gives rise to
audible disturbances. This does not show at all in RxQual, however, since during
handovers BER measurements are suppressed.
(D) The choice of speech codec
The general quality level and the highest attainable quality vary widely between
speech codecs. Moreover, each codec has its own strengths and weaknesses as
regards types of input and channel conditions

In short, RxQual fails to capture many phenomena that have a decisive

influence on a listener's judgment of speech quality. Using RxQual for
optimization of speech quality in the network thus leads to suboptimal
results

Prepared by Mirza
 Definitions

Design of SQI:
SQI has been designed to take into consideration all the phenomena
discussed in the preceding section. This ensures that it will produce an
unbiased prediction of the speech quality, independently of channel
conditions and other circumstances. Somewhat roughly, the computation of
SQI involves :
i- The bit error rate (BER)
ii- The frame erasure rate (FER)
iii- Data on handover events
iv- Statistics on the distributions of each of these parameters

Furthermore, for each speech codec, SQI is computed by a separate

algorithm which is tuned to the characteristics of that codec.
Like RxQual, SQI is updated at 0.5 s intervals.

FR (Full Rate): -19 ... 22 dBQ

EFR (Enhanced Full Rate): -20 ... 30 dBQ

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 Definitions

FER Frame Erasure Rate:

The FER rate is the value between 0 and 100%, and it’s calculated and represented in
TEMS one each SACCH multiframe.

The FER value presented in the TEMS is based on the number of blocks that has been
discarded due to error in the CRC, i.e.

FER(%)= (No. of blocks with incorrect CRC / total no. of blocks)*100

FER Full:
The Total number of Blocks on a full rate TCH is 24 TCH + 1 SACCH=25 blocks.

FER Full= (No. of blocks with incorrect CRC / 25)*100

FER SUB (FER Actual):

The Total number of mandatory Blocks on a full rate TCH is 1 TCH + 1 SACCH=2 blocks.

FER SUB (FER Actual)= (No. of blocks with incorrect CRC / 2)*100

Note: The Actual FER Sub values are limited to three values : 0, 50, 100%

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 Definitions

DTX Downlink Rate (0 to 96%):

The Information Element DTX Downlink Rate indicates in % that how many TCH frames
that were not sent to the Mobile station during the last SACCH Multiframe.

DTX DL Rate (%)= (number of silent blocks/total number of blocks)*100

Each SACCH multiframe hold 24 TCH frames, therefore, total number of blocks=24

• DTX Downlink Rate is not the measure of the Quality, instead it’s an indication
whether DTX DL is used in the GSM Network.

• If DTX DL Rate is very high for a whole period of time during a call where there
should have been speech, you could suspect a Silent Call problem in the Network.

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