Mobile Wimax- RF planning

A good RF plan should address the coverage and capacity requirement of

the area considered, but also be sufficiently flexible to allow network expansion
without major change of the existing sites.
As with any communication network, the
cornerstones of the RF planning process are:
• Balancing coverage, quality,
and capacity
• Minimizing costs and
complexity

To design a network that successfully addresses these basic

tenets of network planning, we need to create an accurate
model of the radio propagation and of the subscriber traffic.
The accuracy of the network model is highly dependent on
the accuracy of the data we use as the foundation of the
project are given below.

• Up-to-date geodata (Clutters, Heights & Vectors files)

• Accurate and up-to-date survey data (BTS latitude &
Longitude, heights and etc)
• Tuned propagation models that are
appropriate for the environment and data
• Accurate and up-to-date site
configuration information( Orientations ,tilt,
Power, CPE and etc
• Model tuning (CWR Test analysis)

Mobile Wimax RF
Optimization

Network optimization can initially be seen as a very involving task as a large

number of variable are available for tuning impacting different aspect of the
network performance
Even after careful RF planning, the first step of optimization should concentrate on
RF. This is necessary as RF propagation is affected by so many factors (e.g.,
buildings, terrain, vegetation…) that propagation models are never fully accurate.

RF optimization thus takes into account any difference between predicted and
actual coverage, both in terms of received signal (RSCP) and quality of the
received signal (Ec/No). In addition, the same qualitative metrics defined for
planning should be considered: cell overlap, cell transition, and coverage
containment of each cell. At the same time, assuming that a UE(User equipment) is
used to measure the RF condition in parallel with a pilot scanner, reselection
parameters can be estimated considering the dynamics introduced by the mobility
testing.

• During network planning dynamics cannot be considered, as network

planning tools are static by nature, only simulating at one given
location at a time, irrespectively of the surrounding. In addition, once
the RF conditions are known, dynamic simulation can be used to
estimate the handover parameters, even before placing any calls on
the network.

Service optimization is needed to refine the parameter settings (reselection,

access, and handover). Because the same basic processes are used for all
types of services, it is best to set the parameters while performing the simpler
and best understood of all services.

This is fully justified when the call flow difference for the different services are
considered. Either for access or for handover, the main difference
between data and other service is the resource availability.

Different set of parameters are likely to be tried to achieve the best possible trade-
offs:
• Coverage vs. capacity,
• Data access (Mobile Originated and Mobile Terminated)
• Reliability vs. call setup latency,
 • Data retention vs. Active Set size... to name only a few.

The selection of the set of parameter to leave on the network will directly depend
on the achieved performance and the operator priority (coverage, capacity,
access performance, call retention performance…)

RF planning and optimization:

•By focusing on both qualitative and quantitative

metrics, the main RF issues (cell overshoot, lack of
dominant server, frequent change of best server) are
minimized.
• Parameter setting: by isolated parameters in groups
(reselection,
access, handover …) that can be isolated, the
tuning process is
simplified.

Mobile Wimax drive test

This is the way to confirm mobile WiMAX coverage and
provide basic troubleshooting tasks to assess signal quality.
Tools that help them quickly establish and maintain the planned
coverage and quality of your network. Multiple technology and
multi-band measurement support in a single receiver unit.

The purpose of the drive test activity is to capture actual data of

the current wireless network and to show the condition of the RF
environment thereby improving the performance of the wireless
system to the optimal level

Every wireless system (CDMA, GSM & Wimax) has its own
parameters to determine its performance. Drive test will record all
the parameters by going around the intended RF environment
and logged data will be analyzed in the “post processing” (In
house) using tools like Agilant, Actix and ZXPOS-CNA1 and
necessary optimization proposals will be made. Normally these
proposals related to but not limited to Antenna height, tilting &
orientation of antenna.

Generally the receiving power and transmitting power are the

indicators of the coverage signal. Other system specific
parameters will be used to reduce interference from other RF
sources.

The drive test is also used to record call statistics like call
success, call fail and call drops so that after the rectification the
end user will enjoy continuous conversation without any
interference or interruption. The logs will be made for both
continuous call (Long call) and short call.

Since all the wireless system now used for data transfer apart
from voice call throughput of data service on forward and reverse
link also logged using drive test.