RF Optimization: GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, CDMA, 1xRTT, EVDO
- Defining, Measuring, Troubleshooting, and Optimizing RF System Performance
- RF engineering principles
- Performance characteristics
- Testing and measurement
- Drive testing
- Performance counters and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Collection and post-processing of data
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
- Spectrum utilization
- Dropped calls
- Poor coverage
- Hard handover failures
- Soft handover failures
- Overview of optimization process for FFR modulation technologies
- Overview of optimization process for CDMA modulation technologies
- RF Operating Environment
- RF propagation models
- Link budget analysis
- Path loss
- Reflection
- Okamura/HATA
- Noise and interference
- Polarization distortion
- Diversity
- Rayleigh effect
- Detection of co-channel interference
- Coverage maps
- RF site acquisition process
- Cell splitting process
- Antennas in the Context of RF Systems Optimization
- Antenna properties, elements and performance characteristics
- Impedance
- Radiation
- Polarization
- Gain
- Diversity
- Antenna noise temperature
- Dipole definition
- Bandwidth
- Radiation patterns
- Antenna materials
- Isotropic radiation theory
- Effect of ground
- Mutual impedance
- Angle of incidence
- Refractive index
- Azimuth & downtilt
- Types of antennas
- Yagi
- Slot
- Omnidirectoinal
- Monopoles and dipoles
- Microstrip
- Periodic/resonant
- Reflector
- Loop, slot, spiral, and horn
- Microstrip patch, or patch antenna
- Half-wave dipole
- Folded dipole
- Crossed dipole
- Quadrifilar helix
- Antenna arrays
- What is an array?
- How can arrays help in capacity and performance?
- What are the tradeoffs of using antenna arrays?
- Antenna array types: Log periodic dipole array, phased array coliner, Yagi-Uda, Broadside
- Smart antennas
- Operation
- Basic components
- Smart antennas tradeoffs
- Beamforming
- MIMO
- Direction of arrival (DOA)
- Switched beam
- Adaptive array
- FFR Modulation Technologies
- Frequency planning
- Interference matrices
- Neighbor planning
- GSM logical channels (BCCH, FCH, SCH, SACCH, TCH, RACH)
- Cell tiering
- Frequency hopping
- Congestion
- RF parameter datafills
- Picocells
- Femtocells
- Cell on wheels (COW)
- In-building coverage
- Towertop Mounted Amplifiers (TMA)
- GPRS/EGRS overview and interfaces
- GPRS attach process
- PDP context activation process
- Throughput measurements
- Impact of retransmissions on throughput
- LAC/RAC boundaries
- CDMA Modulation Technologies
- PN planning
- Soft handover border planning
- FER
- Mobile assisted power control
- Ec/Io
- SIR
- Self generated system interference
- System parameter optimization
- Neighbor analysis and search window
- ERP changes
- Multicarrier optimization
- Multiband optimization
- Reverse link interference
- Orientation changes
- 1xRTT/1xEV-DO overview and interfaces
- Measurement of data throughput
- Towertop Mounted Amplifiers (TMA)
- Picocells
- Femtocells
- In-building coverage
- RF parameter datafills
- RF Optimization Process
- Setting the optimization criteria
- Optimization in CDMA networks (including W-CDMA)
- Sources of information
- Parameter investigation
- Analysis of the existing RF plan
- Performance of cell site audit
- Multicarrier and multimode optimization
- Post-processing and analysis of data
- Corrective actions
- Optimization in fractional frequency reuse networks
- Sources of information
- Interference matrices
- Frequency reuse plan
- Parameter investigation
- Analysis of the existing RF plan
- Cell tiering
- Performance of cell site audit
- Post-processing and analysis of data
- Corrective actions
- Correlation of customer complaints to possible root cause (RCA)
- Capacity and loading examples
- Dropped call, poor coverage
- Dropped call, system resources
- Dropped call, other
- Mobile drive testing and data collection
- Tools available
- Post processing, what does it mean
- Root cause analysis
- Tracking and benchmarking
- PN scanners and their capabilities
- Exercises: GSM/GPRS Optimization
- Performance analysis
- Optimization process
- BCCH parameter optimization
- Cell selection & reselection
- Interference analysis
- GPRS Attach
- Routing area updates
- Measuring throughput
- Root cause analysis (RCA)
- Final recommendations
- Exercises: CDMA2000 and 1xEV-DO Optimization
- Performance analysis
- Dropped calls
- Poor coverage
- Forward/reverse link interference
- Specific neighbor list, search window and congestion
- Managing excessive soft handoff
- Multicarrier optimization
- Intercarrier and intersystem troubleshooting
- 1xRTT and 1xEV-DO throughput measurement
- Overview of 1xRTT and 1xEV-DO
- Optimization principles of 1xRTT data and 1xEV-DO
- Conclusion
- Directions for advanced study
- Course recap, Q/A, and Evaluations
