Site Troubleshooting Guide

LTE
 RBS 6000 Series

RBS 6102 RBS 6101 RBS 6201 RBS 6601 RBS 6301 RRU

• MetroPCS primarily uses RBS 6201 inside a weatherized cabinet

• MetroPCS primarily uses SIMO
• Some sites will use RBS 6601 with RRUs, but not currently available
Weatherized Cabinet
• Majority of
MetroPCS sites are
outdoors
Cabinet – Back
 RBS 6201 Hardware
DUL – Digital RU – Radio
Unit LTE Unit

SIMO

Tx/Rx1

Rx2
Cabinet Diagram
Fans

Radio

RUs

DUL

CC Power

SIU
C Transmission
 Cabinet – No Jumpers

Power

RUs
DULs

SIU
 Cabinet – Jumpers

Antenna
Jumpers

Power

DUL
RUs
 Diplexer Site

Diplexer
LTE

CDMA

Output
Input
 Diplexer Detail

Output
Input

Diplexers
 Visit Preparation
• Printed Materials
– RFDS Sheet with all plumbing diagrams
– Notes about site access
– Directions
– Satellite image
– Site Shakedown report
• Equipment
– Cabinet key
– Dummy load set
– Sitemaster
– Laptop setup to run TEMS Investigation with UE
 Equipment

Sitemaster

Laptop with UE
Cabinet Key
 First Steps
• Best Practices
– Take photos!
– Be prepared
– Ensure E-UTRAN support is available
– Notify relevant parties based on customer procedures
• Visual Inspection
– Make sure nothing immediately looks incorrect
– Trace the RU-DUL cables to ensure there are no swaps
– Ensure the RU-DUL cables have a good connection
– Check small QMA wave guide for damage and ensure connection
 Photos
• Take a photo of the site label to identify pictures
 RU to DUL Jumper check
• Ensure the RU-DUL jumpers are correct

DUL
RU

RU-DUL
Jumpers
 RUL QMA Wave Guide Check
• Check small QMA wave guide for damage and
ensure connection

Bent

Correct
RUL QMA Wave Guide Check
Bent Connector Disconnected Connector
 Common Issues
• Sector Swaps
• DL or UL throughput low
• Bad or no coverage
• Azimuth incorrect
 Sector Swaps
• Causes
– RU-DUL cables
– Jumpers from cabinet to diplexer
– Jumpers from diplexer to antenna feeders
– Antenna feeders to antennas
– CDMA incorrect
– Do not trust colors on cables
• Troubleshooting Steps
– E-UTRAN lock test
– Cable tracing
 E-UTRAN Lock Test
• Procedure
– Have E-UTRAN lock a single sector
– Verify the reference signal transmit light stops
blinking
– Repeat for each sector
• Conclusion
– Ensures that the DUL is configured correctly
– Verifies there is no RU-DUL cable swap
 E-UTRAN Lock Test
• Blinking
– Transmitting
reference
signals
• No Light
– Locked
 Antenna Jumper check
• Verify all cables match colors in plumbing diagrams
• Non-diplex site
– Trace the antenna jumpers from the RUL to the back of the
cabinet
– Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to the antenna
feeders
• Diplex site
– Trace the antenna jumpers from the RUL to the back of the
cabinet
– Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to the diplexer
– Trace the antenna jumpers from the diplexer to the antenna
feeders
 Antenna Jumper Check
• Verify all cables match colors in plumbing diagrams

Sector 4

Sector 5

Sector 6
 Antenna Jumper Check
• Trace the antenna jumpers from the RUL to the
back of the cabinet
Jumpers exit cabinet

Jumpers at RUL
View – Cabinet Back

Jumpers exit cabinet

 Antenna Jumper Check
• Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to the antenna
feeders

Jumpers from cabinet

Antenna feeders
 Antenna Jumper Check – Diplex
• Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to the diplexer

Jumpers from
cabinet

Jumpers
enter
Diplexer
 Antenna Jumper Check – Diplex
• Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to
the diplexer
Jumpers from
cabinet

Jumpers
enter
Diplexer
 DL or UL throughput low
• Causes
– Backhaul
– Antenna system and jumpers
– Hardware problems with RU-DUL
• Troubleshooting Steps
– Dummy Load Test
– Feeder Sweeps
– E-UTRAN support
 Dummy Load test
• Procedure
– Trace the power connector to the RUL and turn it off
– Detach the antenna jumpers from the RUL
– Connect the attenuators to the RUL
– Connect the dummy antennas to the attenuators
– Power on the RUL
– Have EUTRAN unlock the target sector and lock all other sectors
– Place the UE near the dummy antennas
– Upload and download a file and record a TEMS log
• Conclusion
– Eliminates or identifies antenna system cause of problem
 Dummy Load Test
• Trace the power connector to the RUL and turn
it off Power light off
 Dummy Load Test
• Detach the antenna jumpers from the RUL

Disconnected
Jumpers
 Dummy Load Test
• Connect the attenuators to the RUL Use high power
attenuators

Adapters

Attenuators

Ensure attenuators are connected

to both Tx/Rx2 and Rx2
 Dummy Load Test
• Connect the dummy antennas to the
attenuators
Attenuators

Dummy
antennas
 Dummy Load test
• Power on the RUL
Power light on

Power Button

Power
Connector
 Dummy Load Test
• Have EUTRAN unlock the target sector and lock
all other sectors

Ensure blinking
 Dummy Load Test
• Place the UE near the dummy antennas

Dummy
antennas

UE
 Dummy Load Test
• Upload and download a file and record a TEMS
log
 Feeder Sweeps
• Tests
– Voltage Standing Wave Ratio
– Return Loss
– Distance to Fault
– Covered in a different guide
• Conclusion
– Determines if there are problems in the antenna system
 E-UTRAN support
• Procedure
– Connect to the cell (dummy load or otherwise)
– Download or upload a file
– Have E-UTRAN monitor the node
• Conclusion
– Determines if there is a configuration problem or a
problem in the backhaul
 Bad or No Coverage
• Causes
– Antenna System
– Jumpers not connected
– Hardware problems with RU-DUL (damaged
connectors)
• Troubleshooting Steps
– Ensure all connectors are tightly secured
– Dummy Load Test
– Feeder Sweeps
 Incorrect Azimuth
Troubleshooting Steps
– Drive Test
– Visual inspection of antenna direction
THANK YOU