GSM P&O TCH Call Drop & Solutions

---- Special Subject Training V2.0

Suitable for staff with junior P&O skill certificates (lower than certificate III)
Issued by GSM Network Planning & Optimization Dept.
 Internal Use Only▲

Version introduction

Version Date Writer Assessor Amendment records

V1.0 2007-07-01 Ma Junhua Zheng Hao None

V2.0 2009-03-20 Hu Yixiao Fei Aiping Call drop formula,

relevant counters and
traffic statistics of call
drop were added.
 Internal Use Only▲

Training goals

To master definitions of call drop

indicators and relevant counters
To master causes of the three types of
call drop and the corresponding
solutions
To know analysis of call drop and
location of call drop problem with traffic
statistics
Contents

Indicator definition
Call drop due to radio link fault
Call drop due to handover failure
Call drop due to LAPD link failure
Handling of call drop problem
Typical cases
 Internal Use Only▲

Indicator definition
 TCH call drop rate (incl. HO)
 TCH call drop rate (incl. HO)=total of TCH call
drops/total of TCH occupancy times (incl. HO)×100%
 Counter formula:
V2:C11615*100/(C11611-C11698-
(C11612+C11656+C11658+C11617-C11618-C11699-
C116103-C116133))

V3:(C900060054+C900060055)*100%/
(C900060028+C900060036+C900060199+C90006021
0+C900060098+C900060102+C900060120)
 Internal Use Only▲

Indicator definition
 TCH call drop rate (excl. HO)
 TCH call drop rate (excl. HO) = total of TCH call
drops/total of TCH occupancy times (excl. HO) ×100%
 Counter formula:
V2:C11615*100%/(C11609 -(C11610+C11654+C11658))

V3:(C900060054+C900060055)*100%/
(C900060028+C900060036+C900060199+C90006021
0)
 Internal Use Only▲

Indicator definition
 Total of TCH call drops
 Connotation: TCH call drops in BSS caused by all kinds of r
easons, including those resulted from TCH loss and variou
s kinds of handover failure (incl. half-rate).
 Computing formula= number of TCH/F call drops+ number
of TCH/H call drops
 Trigger point: count message CLEAR REQUEST, which foll
ows message ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE, and count CLE
AR REQUEST, which follows HANDOVER COM Ｍ AND
 Internal Use Only▲

Indicator definition
 Traffic call drop rate
 Indicator definition: traffic volume/number of TCH call dr
ops*60
 Counter formula:
V2:(C11616/3600)*60/C11615

V3:((C900060129+C900060127)/3600)*60/(C900060054+C9000
60055)
 Internal Use Only▲

Indicator definition
 Call drop counter

C900060054

Number of TCH/F call drops

（ V2 ： C10644 ）
C900060055
Number of TCH/H drops

（ V2 ： C10645 ）
Contents

Indicator definition
Call drop due to radio link fault
Call drop due to handover failure
Call drop due to LAPD link failure
Handling of call drop problem
Typical cases
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to radio link failure

UL failure

？？？

DL failure

？？？
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to radio link failure

 Relevant counters

C900060244
Number of radio link failures
（ On TCH/F speech ）
(V2 ： C11622)
C901070037
Number of radio link failures （
On TCH/H speech ）
（ V2:C11911 ）
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to radio link failure

MS BTS BSC MSC

Measurement report(SACCH)

Measurement report(SACCH)

Measurement report(SACCH) Connection Failure

Indication
Radio link timeout
Start T3109
Clear request
Stop T3109
F1 Clear Command
RF Channel Release
RF Channel Release
ACK
Clear Complete
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to radio link failure

 Causes for call drop due to radio link failure & handling procedures
Main causes Handling procedures

 Weak coverage, poor radio signal;

Check radio parameters. Adjust

 Interference; unreasonable settings of radio
 Unreasonable settings of radio p parameters;
arameter;
Check indicators like BER and level

 Incomplete or wrong adjacent
of idle interference band, reduce or
cell data ; eliminate radio interference ;
 Unreasonable settings of handov
Check if coverage problem exists

er parameters;
through DT;
 Congestion in adjacent cell;
Check and eliminate equipment fault

 Equipment hardware fault;
;
 Antenna system fault;
Check antenna system.

 Subscriber’s fault.
Contents

Indicator definitions
Call drop due to radio link fault
Call drop due to handover failure
Call drop due to LAPD link failure
Handling of call drop problem
Typical cases
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to handover failure

Classification of Handover control
Principle
原理 timer in BSC

After the original cell received Handover

Command or Assignment (corresponding
handover control timer is started by BSC), MS
hasn’t accessed into the target cell, nor has it
returned to the original cell. i.e. MS not only
T8 expires (inter-BSC ha
failed to occupy TCH in target cell and send
Handover Complete or Assignment Complete, ndover)
but also failed to return to TCH in original cell
and send Handover Failure or Assignment
T3103 expires (inter-cell
Failure, thus it is disconnected with network. At handover under one BS
the same time, the BSC-controlled handover
control timer expires, and MSC will be notified
C)
to clear the release, and it will count this
abnormal call as call drop due to handover T3107 expires (intra-cell
failure.

handover).
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to handover failure

 Relevant counters

C900060220
Number of handover failures （
On TCH/F speech ） C900060151
(V2:C10648) Number of handover failures
（ On TCH/H speech ）
（ V2:C10651 )
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to handover failure

 Call drop due to intra-cell handover failure

MS BTS:TRX BSC MSC

CHANNEL ACTIVATE

CHANNEL ACTIVATE ACK

ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
SET T3107

T3107 Timeout

Clear Request

G1
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to handover failure

 Call drop due to intra-BSC handover failure

MS Old BTS: New BTS BSC MSC

CHANNEL ACT

CHANNEL ACT ACK

HO_Command HO_Command
SET T3103

T3103 Timeout

Clear request

H1
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to handover failure

 Call drop due to inter-BSC handover failure

MS Old BTS Old BSC MSC New BSC New BTS

HANDOVER REQUIRED

CHL_ACT

CHL_ACT_ACK
HO_REQ_ACK
HANDOVER COMMAND HANDOVER COMMAND HANDOVER COMMAND

SET T8

T8 Timeout

Clear request

I1
 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to handover failure

 Main causes for call drop due to handover failure & handling procedures

Main causes Handling procedures

 Interference;  Check radio parameters, adjust

 Hardware fault; the unreasonable settings, and add
 Unreasonable settings of radio p necessary neighbor relations;
arameters ;
 Check indicators like BER and
 Inappropriate adjacent cell relatio
level of idle interference band,
n or wrong adjacent cell data;
reduce or eliminate radio
 Unreasonable settings of handov
interference;
er parameters ,which results in Pi
ng-Pong handover.  Check equipment hardware,

change panels with problems.

 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to LAPD link failure

 Call drop due to LAPD link failure
 Principle:

When LAPD link breaks, calls on carriers will be interrupted. BSC
counts after it receives message showing that LAPD link is broken.

 Main causes for call drop due to LAPD link failure & handling procedures

Main causes Handling procedures

 Investigate & eliminate BTS

 BTS hardware fault
 BTS transmission
problem
hardware fault;
Investigate & eliminate BTS
transmission problem;
Investigate & eliminate BSC

 BSC hardware fault hardware fault

 Internal Use Only▲

Call drop due to LAPD link failure

 Relevant counters

C901070017
Number of LAPD link failures （ C901070038
On TCH/F speech ）
Number of LAPD link failu
（ V2:C10615 )
res （ On TCH/F speec
h）

(V2:C10633)
Contents

Indicator definitions
Call drop due to radio link fault
Call drop due to handover failure
Call drop due to LAPD link failure
Handling of call drop problem
Typical cases
 Internal Use Only▲

Flow of handling call drops A cell suffers from

high TCH call drop
rate

Analysis of call
drop types

Call drop of
Call drop of RF loss Call drop of LAPD
handover failure

If radio No Adjust No If radio Eliminate Yes Any hardware

parameters set radio parameters set hardware
reasonably? parameters reasonably? fault at BSC?
fault

Yes Check& Yes Eliminate Any fault with

If interference If interference Yes
eliminate transmission BTS
exists? exists?
interference fault transmission?

Yes Eliminate Yes

Any coverage Improve Any hardware
hardware
problem? coverage fault at BTS?
fault

Yes Eliminate Yes

Any equipment An equipment
equipment
hardware fault? hardware fault?
fault

Yes Eliminate
Any antenna
antenna
system fault?
fault

Complete
 Internal Use Only▲

Locate & analyze call drop with traffic statistics

Analytical framework

1 2 3 4 5
Locate cell with Confirm call Confirm call drops Analyze casue Problem solved
high call drop rate drop type on carrier

 performance report  Performance report of  BTS measurement  Analysis of common  Analysis of Traffic
of BSC level cell level CS basic problem statistics
 Cell
radio
 performance
measurement
report measurement  Analysis of specific  Signaling analysis
of cell level  Warning statistics problem
 Othernetwork
 Warning analysis optimization
methods

 Frommacro to  Convenient for  Count call drops on  form common to  Execution&

micro view problem location carrier specific problem solution
and analysis
 Internal Use Only▲

Locate & analyze call drop with traffic statistics

 Common causes for call drops

Unreasonable setting
of handover
parameters
Equipment hardware
UL/DL unbalance
fault

result in call drop

Unreasonable settings of
Interference
other parameters

Coverage problem
Common problem is
analyzed
 Internal Use Only▲

Locate & analyze call drop with traffic statistics

 Unreasonable settings of handover parameters

Analysis of traffic statistics Solutions
Check handover parameters: see if any unre Add adjacent cells accordingly;
asonable settings exist;
Common
Adjust handover parameters.
handover measurement: check out
going handover failure;
Handover cause measurement: investigate h
andover causes and percentage of different c 导致掉话
auses;
Measurement of adjacent cell handover stati
stics: for low outgoing handover success rate
(a certain cell), find out the target cell with low
handover success rate, and investigate failure
cause with the target cell;
CS basic measurement: number of HO times
is out of proportion to number of TCH occupan
cy success times. （ HO/TCH ＞ 3 ）
 Internal Use Only▲

Locate & analyze call drop with traffic statistics

 UL & DL unbalance (tower amplifier 、 power amplifier 、 antenna direction)

Analysis of traffic statistics Solutions

 CS basic measurement: analy
ze UL/DL level average;
 Abis interface signaling trace:
analyze UL/DL receive level;导致掉话 Eliminate antenna system pro
 Cell radio measurement: analy
ze UL/DL level distribution.
 Investigate TA 、 CDU 、 RDU 、
BTS single board and RF conn
ection lines;
blems: check installation of ant
enna azimuth and pitch angle,
connection of feeder and jump
er cable, feeder head, feeder d
amage, VSWR.
 Internal Use Only▲

Locate & analyze call drop with traffic statistics

 Unreasonable settings of other parameters

Analysis of traffic statistics Solutions
 Adjust unreasonable settings
 Check radio parameters:
adjust unreasonable settings; of the parameters mentioned
on left.
 Unreasonable setting of RLT
and minimum receive level; 导致掉话
Contents

Indicator definitions
Call drop due to radio link fault
Call drop due to handover failure
Call drop due to LAPD link failure
Handling of call drop problem
Typical cases
 Internal Use Only▲

Typical cases
 Case 1- Internal interference
 Problem description:

Performance indicators at OMCR show high call drop rate at Cell A-1,
A-3.

 Problem analysis:

Investigate call drop cause, it’s found that the main cause is radio link
failure. Check radio parameter settings, it’s found that Cell A-1, A-3 c
o-channel, and it’s confirmed that co-channel interference exists, thu
s high call drop rate is resulted. 。

 Problem solution:

Adjust frequency, eliminate interference. Number of call drops is obvi
ously reduced.
 Internal Use Only▲

Typical cases
 Case 2- External interference
 Problem description:

Performance indicators at OMCR show high call drop rate at Cell B-3.

No. of
No. of TCH call
Cell location TCH
TCH call drop rate
Date Site area occupancy
(incl. HO)
(LAC-CI) drops times
(%)
(incl. HO)

2005-05-23 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 19 608 3.12

2005-05-24 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 22 542 4.05

2005-05-25 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 39 790 4.93

 Internal Use Only▲

Typical cases
 Case 2- External interference
 Problem analysis:
Get detailed performance statistics, investigate call drop cause, it’s found that the main
reason is handover failure. Check data of cell frequency and adjacent cells, no problem is found.
Trace signaling, it’s discovered that UL level is stronger, but UL quality is rather poor, interference
level of idle TCH indicated in RF resource is 5, as shown in the following figure. Therefore, it’s
confirmed that external interference exists in the cell.
 Internal Use Only▲

Typical cases
 Case 2- External interference
 Problem solution:

Try to apply out-of-band frequency (usable frequency given by operator according
to the external interference at the region). After frequency adjustment, number of
call drops reduced greatly, indicators display normal, and the problem is solved.

No. of No. of TCH TCH call

Cell location TCH call occupancy drop rate
Date Site name
area (LAC-CI) times (incl. HO)
drops
(incl. HO) (%)

2005-05-26 Region X_B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 2 703 0.28

2005-05-27 Region X_B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 1 826 0.12

2005-05-28 Region X_B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 1 495 0.2

 Internal Use Only▲

Typical cases
 Case 3- Unreasonable setting of SCCP timer
 Problem description:

After a new BSC is set up at a region, subscribers complain that call drop occu
rs 4mins after call establishment.
 Problem analysis:

Timer TMIAR is set 2400 ， which is the default value, but not 6000.
 Principle analysis:

During a call, a SCCP link is established between BSC and MSC. When the lin
k is set up successfully, the MSC and the BSC will continuously send and rece
ive SCCP test signaling from and to each other; there is a send timer and a rec
eive timer at both the BSC and the MSC. If no message is received from the c
ounterpart within the time set on receive timer, the BSC or the MSC will suppo
se SCCP link is broken, then a call clear will be started to release the call.

ZTE BSC receiving timer TMIAR=2400, which is shorter than the MSC sending
timer. Therefore, when ZTE BSC timer expires (in 4mins), it hasn’t received S
CCP message from MSC, thus it clears the call, presuming SCCP link is broke
n, and call drop is therefore resulted.
 Internal Use Only▲

Questions for thinking

 Which timers will affect call drop indicators?
 Please simply explain the flow of call drop due to ha
ndover failure.