3G Optimization Interview Topics

1. Important parts of Benchmarking Report

a. RSCP Coverage
b. Ec/Io Coverage
c. CSSR
d. DCR
e. Retainability
f. Handover (Mobility)
g. Call Setup Time
h. ASU Type
i. 3G-2G Serving percentage
j. IRAT Handover
k. BLER and Quality statistics
2. UMTS Channels
a. CPICH
b. SCH
c. AICH
d. BCH BCCH
e. FACH CCCH
f. RACH CCCH
g. DCH DCCH
3. HSDPA Channels
a. HS-DPCCH (uplink signaling)
b. HS-SCCH (downlink signaling)
c. HS-PDSCH or HS-DSCH (data channel)
4. HSUPA Channels
a. E-DPDCH
b. E-DPCCH
c. E-DCH
d. E-AGCH
e. E-RGCH
f. E-HICH
5. Dropped Call Types
a. Missing Neighbor
b. Poor Coverage
c. Pilot Pollution
d. Congestion
e. Not Radio Reasons
f. Equipment Fault
6. Blocked Call Types
a. Security and Authentication Mode Failure
b. UE Issues
c. Disconnect on RAB Setup
d. Unavailable Resource
e. UE Sensitivity Fault
f. Unanswered RRC requests
g. Barred Network
7. Major Network Problems
a. Poor Coverage
b. Poor Cell Dominance
c. Pilot Pollution
d. Missing Neighbors

e. Corner Effects
8. Important Events in PS Call
a. Attach and Detach
b. PDP Context Activation
c. Download and Upload
d. Dual Mode
9. HSDPA Categories
a. 3.6 Mbps Cat 5 & 6 (5 HS-DSCH Codes)
b. 7.2 Mbps Cat 8
(10 HS-DSCH Codes)
c. 14.4 Mbps Cat 10
(15 HS-DSCH Codes)
d. 21.1 Mbps Cat 14
(15 HS-DSCH Codes, MIMO and 64 QAM)
10. Number of CE for PS 384 = 10
11. Number of Users for PS 384 = 3
12. HSDPA Factors
a. Number of HSDPA Codes
b. Number of HS-SCCH Codes
c. Max HS-PDSCH Codes per Users
d. Algorithm and Scheduling
e. Number of HARQ Process
13. HSDPA Parameters
a. HS-SCCH Power Offset
b. Measurement Power Offset
c. CQI Feedback Cycle, Power Offset
d. ACK-NACK Power Offset
e. Number of HARQ Process
f. MAC-hs window size
g. Tx- Rx Window size
14. HSUPA Parameters
a. E-DPCCH to DPCCH Power Offset
b. Happy Bit delay
c. E-TFCI Power offset
d. E-AGCH Channelization Code
e. E-AGCH Power Offset
15. Reasons of Low Throughput in HSDPA:
a. Poor RF Conditions (Low CQI)
b. Frequent Serving Cell Change (Low CQI)
c. Signaling Delay
d. E1d setting issues
e. TCP segment loss outside air interface
f. TCP Tx/Rx window setting
g. Iub Flow Control
h. FTP server issues
16. HSDPA Scheduler Type
a. Max C/I
b. Round Robin
c. Proportional Fair
(mostly used)
17. Timers and Counters
a. T300, N300
(2sec)
RRC Connection Retransmission
b. T312, N312
(1 sec)
In Sync establishment
c. T313, N313
(5 sec)
Out of Sync Failure
d. T314
(12 sec)
Cell Update (CS)
e. T315
(180 sec)
Cell Update (PS)
f. T302, N302
(1.2 sec)
Cell Update Confirm
18. Resources for Each Call Type
a. AMR
SF 128
CE
1 (UL) 1(DL)
b. VP
SF 32
CE
3 (UL) 2 (DL)

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c. PS 128
SF 16
CE
5 (UL) 4 (DL)
d. PS 384
SF 8
CE
10 (UL) 8 (DL)
Event Thresholds
a. E1a
3dB
b. E1b
6dB
c. E2d
-12dB and -101 dBm
d. E2f
-10dB and -99dBm
NASTAR
a. Network performance and monitoring tool
b. SQL Based
c. Collect data from M2000
d. Data storage up to 3 months
e. Supports 5 RNC and 6000 Cells
NASTAR Inputs:
a. RNC performance data
M2000 / BAM
b. Project Parameters
Manual
c. Configuration Parameters
M2000
d. CHR Data
M2000 / BAM
e. Interference data
M2000 / BAM
f. Coverage Data
LMT client
g. NodeB performance data
M2000
NASTAR Analysis:
a. Performance Analysis
b. Neighbor Cell Analysis
c. Call Drop Analysis
d. Pilot Pollution Analysis
e. Interference Analysis
f. Resource Monitoring
i. CPU Utilization
ii. Iub Utilization
iii. Traffic Load
iv. Cell Load
Monitoring Levels
a. Level 1 Statistics, Alarm Logs (M2000)
b. Level 2 Sample tracing, CHR (M2000 and NASTAR)
c. Level 3 DT Data, Single UE Tracing
NASTAR Performance Data:
a. RAN Counters
(KPI)
b. Call History Records
(CHR)
CDR Analysis
c. System History Records
(SHR)
Cell Status
d. Real-Time User Monitor
(RUM)
IMSI Tracing
e. Real-Time System Monitor
(RSM)
Load, Inference, etc
NASTAR Counters:
a. For calculating Call Drop Rate
b. For calculating Handover Success Rate
LMT Trace Message Levels:
a. To or From NodeB
NBAP
b. To or From CN
RANAP
c. To or From UE
RRC
Throughput Types in Actix
a. Payload L1
with CRC blocks
b. Throughput L1
without CRC blocks
c. PDU throughput
MAC/RLC Interface
d. SDU throughput
RLC/RRC Interface or RLC/PDCP Interface
L1 Throughput > PDU Throughput > SDU Throughput

28. Signal Flow (R99 MO)

a. RRC Connection Request (UL-CCH)
i. TMSI and LAI info
ii. LAC
iii. PSC info including Ec/Io and RSCP level
iv. Establishment cause (CS, PS, VP)
b. RRC Connection Setup (DL-CCH)
i. S-RNTI
ii. RLC Mode (AM, UM, TM)
iii. Transport Channel Type
iv. Timers and Parameters
c.

RRC Connection Setup Complete (UL-DCCH)

i. Domain Identity (CS or PS)
ii. Security Parameter supported

d. Initial Direct Transfer (UL-DCCH)

i. Notification and Capabilities of UE
ii. Mobile TMSI
e. Downlink Direct Transfer (DL-DCCH)
i. RAND Value, Authentication
f.

Uplink Direct Transfer (UL-DCCH)

i. Authentication Response

g. Security Mode Command (DL-DCCH)

i. Ciphering and Integrity
h. Security Mode Complete (UL-DCCH)
i. Response from UE
i.

Uplink Direct Transfer (UL-DCCH)

i. Authentication Code

j.

Downlink Direct Transfer (DL-DCCH)

i. CC Call Proceeding

k.

Radio Bearer Setup (DL-DCCH)

i. Transport Channel Info

l.

Radio Bearer Setup Complete (UL-DCCH)

i. Response from UE

m. Downlink Direct Transfer (DL-DCCH)

i. Alerting
n. Downlink Direct Transfer (DL-DCCH)
i. CC Connect
o. Uplink Direct Transfer (UL-DCCH)
i. Connect Acknowledgement
29. Load Control

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a. Load Monitoring (LDM)

b. Load Reshuffling (LDR)
c. Overload Congestion Control (OCL)
Load Reshuffling Actions:
a. First Action Code Tree Reshuffling
b. Second Action Inter Frequency HO
c. Third Action BE Service Rate reduction
d. Fourth Action Renegotiation of QoS real time services
Scanner vs UE Data
Scanner is used to scan all carriers and DL Scrambling codes, while UE measures only
codes of informed cells (through BCH and measurement control Neighbor List)
INTER RAT Types:
a. IRAT Handover (CS)
b. IRAT Cell Change Order (PS)
Call Flow for IRAT Handover:
a. RRC Measurement Report
UL
b. Physical Channel Reconfiguration
DL
c. Physical Channel Reconfiguration Complete
UL
d. Handover from UTRAN Command GSM
DL
e. Handover Complete
Call Flow IRAT Cell Change Order
a. RRC Measurement Report
UL
b. Physical Channel Reconfiguration
DL
c. Physical Channel Reconfiguration Complete
UL
d. Cell Change Order from UTRAN
DL
e. Immediate Assignment
DL
f. Authentication Response
UL
g. TMSI Relocation Complete
UL
Compressed Mode Methods
a. SF/2 (CS, PS)
Code Compression
b. HLS
(PS only)
Higher Layer Scheduling
IRAT HO due to Overload event 3A
Physical Channel Reconfiguration Message details
a. gsm-Carrier RSSI Measurement
b. gsm-Initial BSIC Identification
c. gsm-BSIC Reconfirmation
Huawei Tools :
a. Genex U-Net
(Planning and Simulation)
b. Genex WCDMA Probe
(Drive Testing and Logging)
c. Genex Assistant
(Post Processing)
Huawei NodeB Type
a. BTS3812
(GSM BTS upgradable to WCDMA)
b. BTS3900 A
(Macro Indoor)
c. BTS3900 E
(Macro Outdoor)
d. BTS3900 C
(Indoor Compact Micro)
e. DBS3900
(Distributed NodeB with BBU and RRU)

1. The output of coverage planning is needed for which one of the following processes?
A. Code planning.
B. Transmission planning.
C. Propagation model tuning.
D. Loading field measurements.
Answer: A
2. If the cell range of 12.2 kbps voice service with 141.9 dB path loss is 2.3 km, what is the size of the cell
area with omni-directional site (k factor for site area is 2.6)?
A. 12.2 km?
B. 13.8 km?
C. 15.9 km?
D. 16.6 km?NP
Answer: B
3. Which one of the following services has the HIGHEST processing gain?
A. 12.2 kbps AMR voice.
B. 64 kbps RT data.
C. 64 kbps NRT data.
D. 384 kbps NRT data.
Answer: A
4. Which one of the following parameters can be measured with a UE connected measurement system
but NOT with a scanner measurement system?
A. P-CPICH Ec/No.
B. BLER.
C. SIR.
D. Scrambling code.
Answer: B
5. The possible pilot pollution area can be detected from which one of the following?
A. Ec/No lower than target and low number of scrambling codes seen.
B. Ec/No lower than target and high number of scrambling codes seen.
C. Ec/No higher than target and low number of scrambling codes seen.
D. Ec/No higher than target and high number of scrambling codes seen.
Answer: B
6. How can capacity (interference) be improved?
A. Usage of transmission diversity.
B. Increasing transmission power of UEs.
C. Decreasing speed of UEs.
D. Increasing SHO.
Answer: A
7. For the use of a shared antenna line between GSM and WCDMA, what is needed?
A. Coupler or splitter.
B. One shared BTS for GSM and WCDMA.
C. Same output power both GSM and WCDMA.
D. Diplexer or triplexer.
Answer: D
8. Which one of the following is NOT a method to decrease inter-system interference?
A. Tighter filtering for the Tx signal of GSM BTS.
B. Proper frequency planning in GSM.
C. Usage of shared antenna line.
D. Careful antenna selection and placing.

Answer: C
9. The most appropriate reason for Power control headroom is to:
A. improve the downlink reception.
B. maintain the fast power control at the cell edge.
C. compensate slow fading.
D. increase the transmitting power of user equipment (Ue).
Answer: B
10. What is the MAXIMUM number of P-CPICH signals, of similar strength, that the UE should measure?
A. 1 WBTS cell.
B. 2 WBTS cells.
C. 3 WBTS cells.
D. 4 WBTS cells.
Answer: C
11. Considering 1 site (3 cells) with 1 only one carrier per cell, how many traffic hardware channels are
needed if in the site the active users are: 1.8 voice, 0.7 CS64, 0.7 PS64 and 1 PS384 and knowing that
for each connection the following hardware channels apply: 1 for voice, 4 for CS64, 4 for PS64 and 16 for
PS384 are needed?
A. 4
B. 13
C. 24
D. 37
Answer: C
12. Considering 1 site (3 cells) with 1 only one carrier per cell, what is the downlink throughput (in Kb/s)
PER CELL if in the site the active users are: 1.8 voice, 0.7 CS64, 0.7 PS64 and 1 PS384?
A. 64.94.
B. 165.19.
C. 194.82.
D. 514.76.
Answer: B
13. For what reason should the power control strategy be changed?
A. UE location.
B. UE type.
C. UE service.
D. UE speed.
Answer: D
14. Which one of the following network planning tasks is NOT normally performed with a radio network
planning tool?
A. Coverage planning.
B. Traffic calculation.
C. Hardware channel calculation.
D. Monte Carlo Simulation.
Answer: C
15. The Node B antenna gain is 17 dB and receiver sensitivity 112 dBm, radiated power (EIRP) of user
equipment (Ue) is 18 dBm and feeder cable loss is 3 dB. What is the MAXIMUM path loss?
A. 114 dB
B. 116 dB
C. 144 dB
D. 147 dB
Answer: C

16. If the cell radius is 2 km and the required service area is 100 km2,how many 3-sector sites (in
coverage-limited case) are needed to provide the service for the area (k factor for site area is 1.95)?
A. 5
B. 8
C. 13
D. 19
Answer: C
17. What is the interference margin for 50% and 90% network loads?
A. 3.0 dB and 10.0 dB.
B. 5.0 dB and 1.5 dB.
C. 3.0 dB and 7.0 dB.
D. 4.0 dB and 10.0 dB.
Answer: A
18. When applying the free space propagation loss formula both for GSM 1800 and WCDMA, what
APPROXIMATELY is the propagation loss difference between the systems, if the distance from the BTS is
1500 meters? (Use frequency
2100 MHz for WCDMA.)
A. 5.5 dB.
B. 1.3 dB.
C. 7.4 dB.
D. 13.4 dB.
Answer: B
19. Which one of the following does NOT make the UL adjacent channel interference worse?
A. UE transmitting with maximum power.
B. UE uses hard handover.
C. Other operator BTS in a bad location.
D. Own BTS transmitting with high power.
Answer: D
20. The required Eb/No value is dependent on which one of the following factors?
A. Base station antenna gain.
B. Speed of the user equipment (Ue).
C. Fast fading margin.
D. Body loss.
Answer: B

1- What are the main KPI to measure the performance of 3G cell

- Accessibility ( RRC , RAB , CSSR)
- Retainability (speech , Video , PS DCR)
- Mobility (SHO , IRAT HO success rate)
2- What resources affect HSDPA throughput in 3G system
- (DL power, DL code and transport capacity)
3- What parameter tuning can be done to improve HSDPA throughput in any 3G cell
- increase the DL channelization codes for HSDPA
- changing the scheduling algorisms
4- How can we reach 21 Mbps in P7
- 15 codes in DL and 64 QAM
5- what is the usage of the following signaling messages in RRC protocol
- Actives setup updates (ADD/Remove/Replace RL in SHO)
- RB reconfiguration (channel switching between Cell_DCH and Cell_FACH RRC stats)
- Physical channel reconfiguration (IF HO)
6- what is the use of GPEH tool in Ericsson system
- tool used to record RAN and internal events in Ericsson system and the tracing files can be
analyzed by TEMS visualization
7- what types of congestion can affect the services accessibility in any 3G cell
- DL power ( AMR - Directed retry - reducing High R.99 RAB users SFxx parameters)
- UL/DL CE ( reducing High R.99 RAB users SFxx parameters)
- DL code (reducing static codes for HSDPA AMR-Directed retry)
- Transport capacity
8- what is the difference between RSCP and EC/No measures for pilot channel
- RSCP is received signal code power for CPICH channel
- Ec/No is The received energy per chip divided by the power density in the band . it reflects the
quality of CPICH channel
9- what is the difference of using 2nd carrier and high power amplifier in expanding the capacity for
any 3G cell
- 2nd carrier gives capacity in DL power and DL codes

- High power Amplifier gives capacity in DL power only

10- what is the max bit rate that can be achieved in UL when using 10ms EUL and 2 ms EUL
- 1.5 Mbps for 10 ms EUL
- 5.76 for 2 ms EUL
11- how many HSSCCH channel can be configured in HSDPA cell (
- Four that allows four users per TTI