TYPICAL RADIO PROBLEMS AND THIER OPTIMIZATION

Posted on April 30, 2013 by telnetwork

TYPICAL RADIO PROBLEMS

Several sources of information for optimization: QoS indicators, Coverage predictions,

Customer complaints, Drive tests, Abis/A traces, Other teams information (NSS statistics).

I. Coverage Problem (Rx Lev)

Bad coverage :

A network facing coverage problems has bad RxLev. RxQual can be bad at the same time.

Sometimes the RxLev can look OK on the street (i.e. from drivetest) but coverage inside the

buildings can be poor due to building losses. Building losses can range from 10 to 30 dB or

more.

Indications :

Customers complain about dropped calls and/or No Network

OMC QoS indicators

TCH failure rate

Call drop rate

Low proportion of better cell HO

High rate of DL & UL Level HO (possibly also DL/UL quality HO)

A interface indicators

High rate of Clear Request message, cause radio interface failure

Drive Test

Poor RxLev ( < -95 dBm)

Investigation and Optimization :

 If actual coverage OK compared to predicted ones

Improve coverage by adding Macro site, Microcell site (Border or Shadow areas), or IBC

site (In-building coverage).

Use parameter setting ex. Bi-layer Handover.

If actual coverage is not the one predicted by planning tool

Check antenna system (azimuth, crossed sector?)

Check prediction in the tool (EIRP, Clutter Type, Obstructing building?). Most of the time

the prediction will be incorrect, as it is only a computer simulation

Increase or decrease antenna down-tilt

Check BTS output power set in the OMC-R (BS_TXPWR_MAX: should always be set at 0)

From Drive test or Abis Interface

RxLev < -95 dBm and

RxQual > 4
 S statistics).

II. Interference Problem

Interference:

e same time. A network facing interferences problems presents good Rx

rage inside the on some areas.

10 to 30 dB or Indications:

Customers complain about bad speech quality (noisy cal

OMC QoS indicators

SDCCH/TCH Drop

Low proportion of better cell HO

High rate of DL/UL quality HO and interference HO

Low HO success rate

A interface indicators

High rate of Clear Request message, cause radio interfac

Drive Test

RxQual > 4 with RxLev > -85 dBm

Typical causes:

GSM interferences: Co-channel, adjacent.

Non GSM Interference: Other Mobile Network, Other RF s

 Co-channel interference:

eas), or IBC C/I = Carrier-to-interference ratio

+12 dB is taken into account for Alcatel ( +9 dB accordin

interference can be 9 12 dB weaker than serving cell to

Indications: Downlink and/or Uplink Interference, High ra

drop, and call setup failure.

of the time Investigation: Drive test analysis, Lumpini: Co-channel ch

verify which cell could be causing the interference, Freque

Optimization: Antenna optimization, Change frequency, R

be set at 0) TA Orange network), Concentric cell.

Adjacent channel interference:

C/A = Carrier-to-adjacent ratio

-6 dB is taken into account for Alcatel ( -9 dB according t

Indications : Downlink and/or Uplink Interference, High ra

drop, and call failure

Investigation: Adjacent HO statistics (if they are defined

handover, then adjacent channel interference could be a p

Lumpini: Adjacent channel checking ; Cell coverage predic

Optimization : Antenna optimization, Change frequency,

TA Orange network), use Concentric cell

Non GSM interference :

Other mobile network : Inter-modulation with GSM BTS/M

Other RF interferers
 Radar

Shop anti-theft mechanism

Medical devices

Other man-made radio transmission

Illegal usage of GSM frequencies (e.g. illegal imported de

organization, )
oblems presents good RxLev and bad RxQual in the same time

speech quality (noisy calls) and/or call drops

nd interference HO

age, cause radio interface failure

adjacent.

obile Network, Other RF sources.

 Alcatel ( +9 dB according to GSM standard) (i.e.

aker than serving cell to cause poor RxQual).

ink Interference, High rate of quality handover, call

s, Lumpini: Co-channel checking, Check prediction to

the interference, Frequency plan C/I < 12 dB.

tion, Change frequency, Reduce BTS power (not an option in

lcatel ( -9 dB according to GSM standard).

link Interference, High rate of quality handover, call

stics (if they are defined as neighbors). If they often

nterference could be a problem. Drive test analysis ;

ng ; Cell coverage prediction; Frequency plan C/I < -6 dB.

tion, Change frequency, Reduce BTS power (not an option in

dulation with GSM BTS/MS receiver

s (e.g. illegal imported devices, illegal usage of other
III. Unbalance power budget Problem

A cell facing unbalanced power budget problems presents a too high path-loss difference

between UL and DL (often DL>UL)

Lower Rx diversity gain of cross polarized antenna in rural area compared to dense area

Crossed feeders

Traffic not directly in boresight of antenna, where cross-polar discrimination is lower

Loose connectors

Faulty antenna, feeder, TMA

Rule : try to have delta as small as possible to avoid access network possible only in 1

direction (usually BTS->MS : OK and MS->BTS : NOK), i.e. uplink limited

Indicators:

OMC QoS indicators

High ratio of Uplink level Handover cause

Low incoming HO success rate

DL level looks OK for HO, but UL is too weak when HO is attempted

Degradation of TCH failures and OC call drop indicators

A interface indicators

High rate of Clear Request message, cause radio interface failure

 O&M Alarms

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)

TMA

Investigation :

Abis monitoring: ABS(delta Path loss) > 10Check if problem is occurring for 1 TRX or all.

ABS(delta path loss) = ABS(UL Path loss DL Path loss)

UL Path loss = MS transmitted power measured received UL level

DL Path loss = BTS transmitted power combiner loss measured received DL level

Large difference between uplink and downlink level triggered HO.

Use PM observation counter (in OMC-R)

RT11

Optimization : This equipment should be checked

TRX types (MP, HP)

Antennas or common RF components, TMA (common to all TRX of the BTS)

TRX RF cables, LNA

 IV. TCH congestion Problem

oss difference TCH Congestion :

TCH Congestion rate (TCH Assignment Phase) is too high

o dense area Rule : try to meet the offered traffic (asked by users) by

resources (TRX extension)

Indications:

Customers complain about Network busy

OMC QoS indicators: High TCH Congestion rate, RTCH

e only in 1 incoming Intra/Inter BSC HO success rate (no TCH availa

Congestion Relief (Motorola) if activated, A interface indic

in OC(High rate of Assignment Failure message, No radio

Drive Test : Handover to better cell is slow, or never occu

Optimization:

Special events :

Foreseeable: (footballs match, important meeting, Exhibit

Add special mobile BTSs (Cell on Wheel), Activate HR (may

capacity limitations)

Not foreseeable: car crash on the highway

 Daily periodic problems : At busy hour:

Hardware solution: Add TRX(s), concentric cell, new site, O

antenna optimization) to share traffic with surrounding cel

Software solution: Directed Retry, Traffic Handover, Half Ra

1 TRX or all. (Motorola) Flow control (Motorola).

Problems and responsible parties

Coverage problem :

If the measured RxLev does not match the prediction:

Check the prediction, check panoramic pictures for obstr

Field Operation team to check physical configuration (tilt

Also check for faults in the antenna system (VSWR, sweep

If Field Operation find no problem, antenna optimization

If the field realities match the prediction:

RF team to add new sites (tri-sector, micro cellular, indoor

coverage area (Optimizer requests for some new sites to R

result).

Interference problem :

Optimization team to identify the interference source and

to correct it in case of internal source (new frequency plan

Unbalanced power budget problem :

Field Operation team to check the impacted BTS (Antenna

system) according to request from Optimizer.

TCH Congestion problem :

Regional RF to request TRX expansion.
nment Phase) is too high (more than 2%)

affic (asked by users) by providing the right number of

work busy

Congestion rate, RTCH Assignment fail-Congestion, Low

cess rate (no TCH available), High Directed Retry rate or

tivated, A interface indicators: BSS Congestion failure

ailure message, No radio resource available)

ell is slow, or never occurs

portant meeting, Exhibition, etc): Add some extra TRXs,

Wheel), Activate HR (may not always be possible due to BSC

 ncentric cell, new site, Optimize cell boundaries (i.e.

affic with surrounding cells.

Traffic Handover, Half Rate (Alcatel), Congestion Relief

match the prediction:

oramic pictures for obstructions

hysical configuration (tilt, azimuth, antenna height).

a system (VSWR, sweep antennas, DTF test, etc.)

m, antenna optimization may be required (if necessary)

or, micro cellular, indoor cells) to improve poor/no

s for some new sites to RF team regarding to the drive test

interference source and request Spectrum Management team

rce (new frequency planning)

impacted BTS (Antenna, TMA, RF cables, LNA, diversity

om Optimizer.
Improve HOSR

there is direct relation between DL qual and HOSR So if you will be able to improve your DL qual than
To improve DL qual you can refer

How to improve DL RX Quality?

One more to improve HOSR is to increase Handover timer T3103 in BSC.Make sure it should be less tim
You can also change thresold values of PbgtMargin,LevelMargin and Qualmargin to have some improv
Also check if there are lot of intracell HO failures are there.Then check for the hardware issues or intra

You can do following things to improve HOSR.

1.HOSR is directly related to DL qual so improve network DL qual.

please refer to How to improve DL RX Quality?

2. You can also increase timer T3103 in BSC.Make sure it should be less than T10 atlease by 2 sec.
3. Also check if there are lot of Intracell HO failures.Then check for Hardware issues or inracell HO ther
4. Try to change PBGT,Qual and Level Margin and see any effect.
5. Check if MSC controlled HO's are getting failed.
6. Remove Co-BCCH,BSIC combination in neighbour.
7. Remove hardware alarms
o improve your DL qual than your HOSR will automaticaly improve.

Make sure it should be less timer T10 atleast by 2 sec.

margin to have some improvement.
r the hardware issues or intracell HO thresolds.

han T10 atlease by 2 sec.

are issues or inracell HO theresolds.
From Boss Glenn ( VIVA MAPUA )

GCELLBASICPARA
parameter RXMIN(access) default value 8 computation -110 + 8
if 12 computation -110 +12

pag tumataas nalilimit mo ung coverage

GCELLIDLEBASIC
parameter CRO 5 actual value 10dBm
10 actual value 20dBm

Cell Reselect Offset CRO

Value range: 0~63, the corresponding level value: 0~126dB, stepped every 2dB.
Unit: None
Content: Cell Reselect Offset. It is a parameter in C2 calculation to give a manual modification in MS c
Recommendation: 0

After cell selection, MS will reselect another better cell in idle mode. It is C2 parameter that determine
C2=C1+CRO-TO*H(PT-T)(PT <31)
C2=C1-CRO (PT = 31)
H(x)=0 if PT-T<0
H(x)=1 if PT-T>0
As shown above, C1 indicates the quality of radio channel. The larger C1 is, the better the channel is.
CRO is a manual modification on C2. Reasonable setting of this parameter can reduce handover times

Radio Link Timeout

Value range: 4~64, the step size is 4 HT Default Value 32

Unit: SACCH period (480ms)
Content: This parameter is used for MS to decide down-link disconnection in case of SACCH decoding
Recommendation: 20~56
Once assigned with a dedicated channel, MS will start counter S. From then on, S will decrease by 1 w
For area with little traffic (remote area), it is recommended to be between 52~62.
For area with light traffic and large coverage(suburb or countryside), it is recommended to be between
For area with heavy traffic (urban), it is recommended to be between 20~32.
For the area with very heavy traffic (area covered by microcell), it is recommended to be between 4~1
For the cell with obvious coverage hole or the area where the call drops is serious during movement, t
Note: Radio link timeout is the parameter used to judge the downlink failure. Likewise, the uplink will

T3212
Timer kung kelan ka mag lolocation update (sineset)
Kalimitan DEFAULT

T3101
Immidiate assignment ng SDCCH
Default 1.5s Inaadjust pag mataas ung SDDrop
Pag tinaasan tatagal ung timer para mag SDDrop
nual modification in MS cell reselection.

arameter that determines cell reselection. The principle for MS reselection is: select the cell with the maximum

he better the channel is. C2 value is based on C1, through CRO, C2 of various cells can be adjusted. Thus C2 val
n reduce handover times and realize assignment to a better cell. Usually it is not set as larger than 25dB. Gener

ase of SACCH decoding failures.

n, S will decrease by 1 when a SACCH message fails to be decoded, and will increase by 2 when decoded correc

mmended to be between 36~48.

nded to be between 4~16.

ious during movement, this parameter can be increased appropriately in order to increase the possibility to resu
Likewise, the uplink will be monitored at BTS, either based on the uplink SACCH error or based on the receiving
 cell with the maximum C2 as the serving cell. C2 is determined by the following factors:

be adjusted. Thus C2 value can be calculated according to CRO, TO and PT in order to prefer selecting the cell in
larger than 25dB. Generally the cells with the same priority in the network have basically the same CRO. Settin

y 2 when decoded correctly. When S decreases to 0, there will be a radio link failure. This allows either re-establi

ase the possibility to resume the conversation.

r based on the receiving level and quality of the uplink.
prefer selecting the cell in reselection process. That is, in dual-band network,several parameters that influence C
lly the same CRO. Setting of this parameter only affects MS of GSM Phase II.

is allows either re-establishment or release of the connection. If the value of this parameter is too small, the rad
ameters that influence C2 value can be set to make C2 value of GSM1800 larger than that of GSM900. Therefor

eter is too small, the radio link will easily get failed which will result in call drops. If it is too large, MS will not re
hat of GSM900. Therefore, even though the signal strength of GSM1800 cell is weaker than that of GSM900 cell

too large, MS will not release for a long time which will lower the availability of resources (this parameter funct
than that of GSM900 cell, MS can still reside in GSM1800 by the aid of these parameters. Besides CRO, there ar

es (this parameter functions for the downlink).

rs. Besides CRO, there are another two parameters influencing C2:TEMPORARY_OFFSET(TO) and PENALTY_TIME(
(TO) and PENALTY_TIME(PT).
Search at PRS
* "ian" or "ta" for TIMING ADVANCE * For handover overshooting use
* "delay" for PROPAGATION DELAY Check for target BCCH and check
*esi gcell_gcell good for 1 week a

Parameters to be checked in
ver overshooting use G2G cell stats of site.
rget BCCH and check what has the largest failure rate. Recomment to retune BCCH etc etc
cell good for 1 week at busy hour

to be checked in
SDCCH usage:-

User Requests (Mobile Originated Call, SMS, Supplementary Services)

Answer To paging (Mobile Terminated Call)
Call - Re Establishment
Location Update Procedure
IMSI detach indication

Signalling Analysis:-

First of all the channel request message is sent from the MS on RACCH Channel to the BTS and
This is always the first step for accessing the network. This part of signalling is performed for every

This CR message consists of 8 bits 3 bits are reserved for the establishment cause and 5 bits for th
the other 3 combinations are not valid and then refused by the network.

The usage of random reference is when two MSs access the network exactly the same time; they c
by using the random reference.

After the BSC received the channel required message if the establishment cause is valid (5 valid ca
mentioned above) the BSC starts searching for a SDCCH channel.if the channel is available in the c
if the establishment cause is not valid (3 cases out of 8 cases mentioned above) the BSC doesn't p

Three events may happen:

1. A successful case is acknowledged by the BTS with channel activation acknowledgement messa

2. The BTS refuses to activate the new channel, it sends the channel activation not acknowledgem

3. The GSM timer T9103 is used for supervising the channel activation procedure. If the BSC does n

After a successful SDCCH channel activation, the BSC sends the immediate assignment comma

This message is an order from the network to the MS to move to the SDCCH channel defined before

When the mobile has sent the channel request message on the RACH channel, it expects an answe

If the MS doesn't receive the answer within the time limit defined by the timer T3120, the MS make

This phenomenon leads to a big value of a counter related to SDCCH failures in Abis interface that

Now When the MS has performed the radio access phase (i.e. it received the immediate assignmen
After receiving the immediate assignment message, the MS tunes to the assigned SDCCH and sta

The service request message includes one of the following informations:

 header
CM service type: mobile originated call, short message service, supplementary services, emerg
Ciphering key sequence number
MS classmark 2
mobile identity

The BTS forwards the MS service request to the BSC in the establish indication message with follow

message discriminator - radio link layer management

message type - establishment indication
channel number - SDCCH + AGCH
link identifier - main signalling channel SDCCH
L3 Information - complete L3 service request as received from the MS.

This message indicates to the BSC that MS is now on the SDCCH channel. If this message is not rec
The BSC decodes the cause of the service request from the content of the establish indication mes

REASON FOR SDCCH Failures

1. Poor RF Condition:-

The MS is in poor coverage area is sending RACCH to access the cell.After receiving RACCH request

2. Path imbalance or sensitivity difference between MS and BTS

It is observed that path imbalance between uplink and downlink is poor as in most of the cases upl

3. Co-BCCH & BSIC problem

The MS is sending RACCH request to serving BTS that have the same BCCH and BSIC with another
The request will be received by both of the BTS and will reserve the SDCCH and both BTS's will sen

4. Ghost random RACCH

The BTS is continuously monitoring the UL Random Access Channel slots in order to find whether o
limited, thus it is possible the BTS detects a random access from background noise. This kind of a "

There will always be a certain number of ghost accesses in the network. If the number of SDCCH se
The rejection is based on the Establishment Cause. Since the Establishment Cause is random, in so

5.Bursts of random accesses (HO access)

The handover access burst is exactly like a random access burst (as electromagnetic shape); the fi
6. channel activation not acknowledgement message failure

After the BSC has sent the channel activation message to the BTS, it waits for the answer; three diff

The BTS sends the channel activation acknowledgement,successful case

The BTS sends the channel activation not acknowledgement because of a failure
The BSC doesn't receive any signal from the BTS; in this case (after the timer T9103 expires

Download to find out solutions/recommendation to reduce the SDCCH drop.

hannel to the BTS and the BTS sends the channel required message to the BSC.
s performed for every MS accessing a service, independently on the kind of service required, meaning that it

cause and 5 bits for the random reference. Among the 8 possible combinations of establishment cause's 3 b

he same time; they can be separated

use is valid (5 valid cases out of 8 cases

el is available in the cell where the original access came from, it is reserved otherwise the MS cannot access
ve) the BSC doesn't proceed with the signalling and RACH will be considered as Ghost RACHH.

nowledgement message (#4). The BTS will starts the transmission and reception on the associated SACCH us

on not acknowledgement message to the BSC with the reason of the failure. Possible failure causes are like ra

dure. If the BSC does not receive the channel activation ack/nack message within the time limit of the timer T

assignment command message to the BTS on AGCH channel containing data like SDCCH channel number,

channel defined before.The GSM timer T3101 is used to supervise the immediate assign procedure. If the S

l, it expects an answer from the network within a certain period. The MS starts the timer T3120 and waits f

r T3120, the MS makes a new attempt(Automatically - not by pressing dial button on MS) and sends a

in Abis interface that are not perceived by the subscriber.

mmediate assignment from the BTS), the signalling proceeds with the establishment phase, the authenticat
gned SDCCH and starts to establish the signalling link across the network. The MS sends the layer 2 SABM
ntary services, emergency call

n message with following data:

his message is not received by the BSC, the counter of abis failure will be incremented and the setup of the
ablish indication message.

eiving RACCH request BTS is reserving SDCCH for that request and send immediate assignment message to

most of the cases uplink diversity gain is not expected due to installation limitations.At the same time sensit

nd BSIC with another BTS so far.

nd both BTS's will send immediate assignment to MS.But MS will accept the command only from the domina

rder to find whether or not there has been a random access from a mobile. The information contents of a ran
noise. This kind of a "ghost random access" contains a random Establishment Cause, and it is detected with

e number of SDCCH seizures per site is very small, then it is possible that the majority of the accesses are gh
Cause is random, in some cases the Establishment Causes in the ghost random accesses will not be valid.

agnetic shape); the fields in the handover access burst may be interpreted as the Establishment Cause and
 the answer; three different events may happen:

mer T9103 expires

uired, meaning that it is valid also for all the other services (not call) the MS can ask: SMS, Location Update,

blishment cause's 3 bits, 5 are valid as establishment causes.

the MS cannot access the service, the immediate assignment rejected message will be sent to the MS (if SDC

associated SACCH using the power levels and the timing advance received in the channel activation messag

lure causes are like radio resource not available, radio channel already activated/allocated, protocol error an

me limit of the timer T9103, the timer expires and it releases the allocated channel by sending the procedure

CCH channel number, page mode: normal paging, channel description of the SDCCH allocated and the assoc

gn procedure. If the SDCCH channel reservation or activation has failed, the BSC sends the immediate assign

er T3120 and waits for the answer (immediate assignment or immediate assignment reject).

n on MS) and sends another channel request message with a new random reference on the next time slot. A

hase, the authentication procedure, the ciphering and encryption reported.

nds the layer 2 SABM to the BTS on the SDCCH. The SABM contains the layer 3 CM service request message
d and the setup of the service will be interrupted.

signment message to MS.But due to bad coverage area MS will not receive assignment command.The BTS wi

the same time sensitivity difference between the BTS (-110 dbm) and MS ( typically -102 dbm) is also high.

only from the dominant BTS so far BTS will not receive any ack from MS.So far BTS will drop the reserved SDC

tion contents of a random access burst are rather

nd it is detected with a random timing advance.

of the accesses are ghost accesses. If this is the case, then the result will be a high failure rate, and nothing c
s will not be valid.

blishment Cause and the random reference of the Random Access burst.So the MS will receive the assignmen
MS, Location Update, IMSI detach, Supplementary Service.

sent to the MS (if SDCCH dynamic allocation and/or FACCH call setup are not active)

nnel activation message.

ted, protocol error and subclause, such as mandatory information error, O&M failure reasons, ciphering algor

sending the procedure of assignment failure to the MSC.

ocated and the associated SACCH and hopping frequency, mobile allocation if frequency hopping is used, in

the immediate assignment reject message to the MS.

n the next time slot. A new value of timer T3120 is computed and used. The MS repeats this process either u

rvice request message in which the MS specifies the service type required to the network.
command.The BTS will release the SDCCH upon expiry of Timer T3101 _x0008__x0013_which will counted

02 dbm) is also high.

drop the reserved SDCCH after timer expiry of T3101.

re rate, and nothing can really be done except to ignore the SDCCH Abis fail on sites where there is very littl

receive the assignment command from far BTS but will not respond and finally far BTS will release the reserv
asons, ciphering algorithm not supported, Service or option not available.

cy hopping is used, initial timing advance.

s this process either until it is granted access or until the maximum number of repetitions is reached; the net
3_which will counted as SDCCH abis failure.Then MS will re transmit the RACCH upto parameter Max No. Of R

here there is very little traffic.

will release the reserved SDCCH and considered as SDDCH drop.

ns is reached; the network broadcasts the maximum repetition number.
arameter Max No. Of Retrasmission defined in the BTS.If RF conditions improve within this period then call se
his period then call set up will be successful otherwise user will have to redial the call.So incase of poor cove
o incase of poor coverage condition there might be cumulative SDCCH failure and hence it show high SDCCH
ce it show high SDCCH drop in statastics but the end user wont perceive the same at that level. The only effe
at level. The only effect will be long call set up time.
1. Collate 1 month drop call & accessibility drops and put it in a map, from here you will see the con
2. Overlay this with the ff:
a. DT plots (quality / coverage)
b. Bad spots boxes
c. Worst cell list
d. Congestion
e. Utilization
f. Interference

3. From all these factors, you will clearly see where are the areas that really needs attention and ma
4. Some of the recos are:
a. New sites (macro/micro/hotel bts)
b. Antenna height lowering
c. Antenna height increment
d. Change antenna gain (add/decrease)
e. Additional or split sectors
f. Increased/decreased capacity HW
g. Clear interference (internal/external)
h. Others you might think of
here you will see the concentrations of these.

y needs attention and make the necessary recommendations.