External Clock Reference Alarm

Handling
Alarm Description
This alarm is reported when a BTS fails to perform clock synchronization because
external reference clock signals are lost, when the reference clock is unavailable,
or when there is a large frequency offset between the reference clock and the
local oscillator.

Alarm
ALM-26262 External Clock Reference Problem, Specific Problem= Excessive
Frequency Difference between Clock Reference and Local Crystal Oscillator

Possible Cause
1. Transmission quality unstable. Transmission instability is the major cause
of this alarm.
2. Clock Source Lost.
3. WMPT/GTMU board is faulty; the frequency output of the crystal oscillator
cant trace and lock the upper level reference clock which leads to clock
reference alarm.

4. Configuration issue.

Handling Procedure
3G SITE
Step 1. Check clock status. The PLL status should be equal to LOCKED to clear
the alarm which means that the local oscillator is getting its clock from the source.
From the result below, the clock is in Free running instead of Locked.
%%DSP CLKSTAT: SN=7;%%
Display System Clock Status
--------------------------Cabinet No. = 0
Subrack No. = 0
Slot No. = 7
Current Clock Source = Line Clock
Current Clock Source State = Frequency Deviation
Clock Working Mode = Manual
PLL Status = Free running
(Number of results = 1)
---

END

NOTE: Please check PLL status reference on the last pag.

Step 2. Check the clock resource. Check other sites of the RNC if also
experiencing clock problem. If majority of sites are normal, clock resource is

working without any problem, if not check the RNC interface board and clock
source.

Step 3. Check if there is fault or sync issue in the transmission network.

Step 4. Modify the value of the Current DA to adjust the value of the frequency
offset to zero. Theoretically we can only adjust the frequency offset from -19 to
19.
1. Open the Maintenance Client for the NodeB. Click on the MAINTENANCE
and expand the REALTIME SPECIFIC MONITORING Tree to get on the CLOCK
TEST.
2. Double click on the CLOCK TEST. A window will prompt up. Set Cabinet No
= 0, Subrack No = 0, Slot No = 7 (WMPT board) and then click OK. This will
show the current frequency offset/difference of the internal oscillator to the
source clock. You can choose the chart graph to see how the frequency
offset move when you adjust the current DA value. You should adjust the
current DA to make the difference as close to zero.

3. Display the CLOCK DA and take note of the Current DA value.

%%DSP CLKDA: SN=7;%%
Display Clock DA
---------------Cabinet No. = 0
Subrack No. = 0
Slot No. = 7

Initial DA = 32316
Center DA = 32029
Current DA = 32029
(Number of results = 1)
---

END

4. Use the formula below to calculate for the value of the new current DA to
adjust the Frequency difference to 0.

New Current DA Value = Current DA (65535/40 Hz) * Ave.

Frequency Offset
5. Modify the value of the current DA with the result from the formula. You
can change further the DA value until the difference is almost 0.
%%MOD CURRDA: SN=7, DA=37760;%%
---

END

%%MOD CURRDA: SN=7, DA=37595;%%

---

END

6. When the difference is almost 0, modify the Center DA according to the

Current DA. List the clock record to check on the PLL status. It takes time
before the clock will locked to the source (about 2 3 hours), the alarm will
clear after this time. (The PLL status will be changed from Free Running
Capture Fast Tracking Locked, see reference on the last page)
%%MOD CENTERDA: SN=7, DA=37595;%%
---

END

%%LST CLKRECORD: SN=7;%%

List Clock Record
----------------Time

PLL Status

Current DA Center DA

2012-07-06 10:42:25 DST Fast tracking 37595

37595

2012-07-06 10:30:53 DST Free running 37760

32029

2012-07-06 10:30:19 DST Free running 38582

32029

2012-07-06 10:29:29 DST Free running 36945

32029

2012-05-27 03:26:39 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 03:26:39 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:56:44 DST Fast tracking 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:51:43 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:51:43 DST Free running 0

32029

(Number of results = 18)

---

END

7. We can forced the clock to Fast track the source by setting the clock
working mode to Free Running then setting back to Manual.
%%LST CLKMODE:;%%

List Clock Working Mode

----------------------Clock Working Mode = Manual
Selected Clock Source = Line Clock
Clock Source No. = 0
(Number of results = 1)
---

END

%%SET CLKMODE: MODE=FREE;%%

---

END

%%SET CLKMODE: MODE=MANUAL, CLKSRC=LINECLK;%%

---

END

%%LST CLKRECORD: SN=7;%%

List Clock Record
----------------Time

PLL Status

Current DA Center DA

2012-07-06 10:55:56 DST Fast tracking 37595

37595

2012-07-06 10:54:51 DST Fast tracking 37432

32029

2012-07-06 10:54:08 DST Fast tracking 36940

32029

2012-07-06 10:42:25 DST Fast tracking 37760

32029

2012-07-06 10:30:53 DST Free running 37760

32029

2012-07-06 10:30:19 DST Free running 38582

32029

2012-07-06 10:29:29 DST Free running 36945

32029

2012-05-27 03:26:39 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 03:26:39 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:56:44 DST Fast tracking 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:51:43 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:51:43 DST Free running 0

32029

(Number of results = 18)

---

END

8. We can see that the alarm will clear in few minutes but the clock working
state will stay to Fast Tracking until it is locked to the source. If after
sometime and the clock cannot locked to the external source the clock
state will come back to the Free running state and the alarm will reappear.

%%LST CLKRECORD: SN=7;%%

List Clock Record
----------------Time

PLL Status

Current DA Center DA

2012-07-06 13:28:27 DST Locked

37616

37595

2012-07-06 12:58:17 DST Locked

37615

37595

2012-07-06 12:58:17 DST Locked

37595

37595

2012-07-06 10:55:56 DST Fast tracking 37595

37595

2012-07-06 10:54:51 DST Fast tracking 37432

32029

2012-07-06 10:54:08 DST Fast tracking 36940

32029

2012-07-06 10:42:25 DST Fast tracking 37760

32029

2012-07-06 10:30:53 DST Free running 37760

32029

2012-07-06 10:30:19 DST Free running 38582

32029

2012-07-06 10:29:29 DST Free running 36945

32029

2012-05-27 03:26:39 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 03:26:39 DST Free running 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:56:44 DST Fast tracking 32029

32029

2012-05-27 01:51:43 DST Free running 32029

2012-05-27 01:51:43 DST Free running 0

32029
32029

(Number of results = 21)

---

END

Step 5. Reset/ replace the WMPT board.

2G SITE

Same principle works with 2G but the alarm handling is slightly different.

Step 1. Modify the value of the Current DA to locked the BTS clock to the
external source.
1. Open the BSC LMT. On the BTS Device Panel, right click on the GTMU and
select QUERY BOARD INFORMATION. We can see that the Clock is free
oscillating (same with Free running in 3G). Clock Source is TRACE BSC
CLOCK which means that the BTS gets its clocking from the BSC through
Abis Link.

2. Right click again on the GTMU then select MAINTAIN CLOCK. Take note of
the Clock Factory Value and the Current DA value.

3. Modify the Current DA value by running the command below. Set the
Calibration Value to the Clock Factory Value.

%%SET BTSCLKPARA: IDTYPE=BYID, BTSID=187, CN=0, SRN=0, SN=6, CLKMOD=BSCCLK,

TRCRNGLMT=DISABLE, CALVAL=1901;%%
RETCODE = 0 Execution succeeded.
---

END

4. Then save the BTS clock by running the command below.

%%SAV BTSCLKPARA: IDTYPE=BYID, BTSID=187;%%
---

END

5. Wait until the alarm clears and check on the clock working state to change
to Locked. It will be changed from Free Oscillation Capture Locked.

6. If the clock working state changed to Locked then we can enable back the
Clock Source to the BSC clock and setting the calibration value to the
current DA value.
%%SET BTSCLKPARA: IDTYPE=BYID, BTSID=187, CN=0, SRN=0, SN=6, CLKMOD=BSCCLK,
TRCRNGLMT=ENABLE, CALVAL=2285;%%
---

END

7. Save again the BTS clock by running the command below.

%%SAV BTSCLKPARA: IDTYPE=BYID, BTSID=187;%%
---

END

PLL State Mode

1. Free Running

If no reference clock source is configured of the reference clock sources are

unavailable, the PLL works in free running state.

If theres an available reference clock source, the BSC judges the reference
clock source for 260 seconds. If the source remains stable for more than
260 seconds, the PLL shifts to quick capture state. Otherwise, the PLL still
works in free running state.

2. Quick Capture

If the reference clock source is available and remains stable for a period
(longer than 400 seconds for a GPS source or 200 seconds for any source
other than the GPS source), the PLL shifts to tracking state.

If the reference clock is lost, the PLL shifts back to free running state.

3. Fast Tracking
4. Locked

Difference between CENTER and CURRENT DA

When the NE clock works in Free running mode, the current DA will be changed
according to the Center DA. If the NE uses a clock source, the current DA changes
with the frequency of the clock source. If the external clock source stays locked
for seven consecutive days, this shows that the clock source is very stable. In this
case the clock module overwrites the center DA with the current DA.