Troubleshooting Handover Problems Due to Hardware Faults

This section describes how to troubleshoot handover problems due to hardware faults.

Symptom
When a hardware fault occurs in a cell, the alarm system reports correlated alarms such as transmission
alarms and TRX alarms.
If a handover problem occurred but data configurations are not modified for the problem cell and its
neighboring cells, check for BTS hardware faults.

Background Information
The alarms related to hardware faults are as follows:
ALM-21807 OML Fault
Link access procedure on the D channel (LAPD) links are required for communication over the
data link layer between the BSC and a BTS. Links used for receiving and transmitting operation
and maintenance (O&M) messages are called operation and maintenance links (OMLs), or
LAPD_OMLs. ALM-21807 OML Fault is reported when the BSC detects that the LAPD_OML to
a BTS is interrupted, or that the handshake between the BSC and a BTS expired.
BTS LAPD alarms

ALM-4102 TRX LAPD Link Interrupt Alarm

ALM-2114 TRX LAPD Link Interrupt Alarm

ALM-3052 LAPD alarm

ALM-3572 LAPD alarm

These alarms are reported when a LAPD link is interrupted and the related TRX cannot
communicate with the BSC. As a result, the TRX cannot provide services and shuts down the
power amplifier. If this TRX is a BCCH TRX, the cells served by the TRX cannot provide
services.
ALM-2204 TRX Communication Alarm
This alarm is reported when the communication between a TRX and the TMU failed. When this
alarm is reported, the TRX cannot operate properly.
TRX standing wave alarms

ALM-2156 TRX VSWR Alarm

ALM-4144 TRX VSWR alarm

ALM-26529 RF Unit VSWR Threshold Crossed

These alarms are reported when the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) detected over a TRX
power output port exceeds 3 or when the cable is not properly connected to a DTRU power
output port (TX1, TX2, or TCOM). When this alarm is reported, the services processed by the
TRX are interrupted.
ALM-28008 Radio Link Failure
This alarm is reported when a BTS detects a radio link exception.
Clock source exception alarms

ALM-2208 Clock Reference Abnormal Alarm

ALM-3146 Clock Reference Abnormal alarm

ALM-3666 Clock Reference Abnormal alarm

ALM-4708 Clock Reference Abnormal Alarm

ALM-26262 External Clock Reference Problem

If a BTS clock is unstable, it may deviate from the other BTS clocks. As a result, handover
failures and call drops may occur.

Location Procedure
Figure 1 shows the procedure for locating handover problems due to hardware faults.
Figure 1 Procedure for locating handover problems due to hardware faults

Troubleshooting Procedure
1. Check whether any of the hardware alarms listed in Background Information have been
reported.

If yes, go to Step 2.

If no, go to Step 3.

2. Clear hardware alarms.

If the alarms persist, go to Step 3.

If the alarms are cleared, check whether the handover problem is resolved.

If yes, no further action is required.

If no, go to Step 3.

3. Go to Procedure for Locating Handover Problems.

Typical Case
Symptom

The success rate for handovers between all the cells under a BTS and their neighboring cells under
another BTS is 10.7%, whereas normally the success rate should be at least 98%. The success rate for
handovers between the cells under the same BTS is 99.2% during peak hours.
Cause Analysis
Possible causes for this problem are: hardware faults, cell channel congestion, incorrect neighboring cell
configurations, and clock source exceptions.
Troubleshooting Procedure
1. Check whether neighboring cells are configured properly using a network optimization tool.
Then, check whether any neighboring relationships are missing or redundant on the LMT.
Ensure that no neighboring cells are missing or redundant.
2. Check all the TRX boards. All the TRX boards operate normally, and none of the TRX alarms
listed in Background Information are reported.
3. Check the TMU. A clock source exception alarm listed in Background Information is reported.
4. Replace the TMU. The alarm is cleared, and the success rate for handovers is at least 99.5%
between all the cells under a BTS and their neighboring cells.
Parent topic: Handover Problems
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