MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

RF PLANNING

MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

INTRODUCTION TO RF
PLANNING
Designing a cellular system - particularly one that incorporates both
Macrocellular and
Microcellular networks is a delicate balancing exercise.
The goal is to achieve optimum use of resources and maximum
revenue potential whilst maintaining a high level of system quality.
Full consideration must also be given to cost and spectrum allocation
limitations.
A properly planned system should allow capacity to be added
economically when traffic demand increases.
As every urban environment is different, so is every macrocell and
microcell network. Hence informed and accurate planning is essential in
order to ensure that the system will provide both the increased capacity
and the improvement in network quality where required, especially when
deploying Microcellular systems.

MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

RF planning plays a critical role in the Cellular design process.

By doing a proper RF Planning by keeping the future growth plan in
mind we can reduce a lot of problems that we may encounter in the
future and also reduce substantially the cost of optimization.
On the other hand a poorly planned network not only leads to
many Network problems , it also increases the optimization costs
and still may not ensure the desired quality.

MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

TOOLS USED FOR RF PLANNING

Network Planning Tool
CW Propagation Tool
Traffic Modeling Tool
Project Management Tool

MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

Network Planning Tool

Planning tool is used to assist engineers in designing and optimizing
wireless networks by providing an accurate and reliable prediction of
coverage, doing frequency planning automatically, creating neighbor
lists etc.
With a database that takes into account data such as terrain, clutter,
and antenna radiation patterns, as well as an intuitive graphical
interface, the Planning tool gives RF engineers a stateof-the-art tool to:
Design wireless networks
Plan network expansions
Optimize network performance
Diagnose system problems
The major tools available in the market are Planet, Pegasos, Cell Cad.
Also many vendors have developed Planning tools of their own like
Netplan by Motorola, TEMS by Ericsson and so on.

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Propagaton Test Kit

The propagation test kit consists of
Test transmitter.
Antenna (generallyOmni).
Receiver to scan the RSS (Received signal levels). The receiver
scanning rate should be settable so that it satisfies Lees law.
A laptop to collect data.
A GPS to get latitude and longitude.
Cables and accessories.
Wattmeter to check VSWR.
A single frequency is transmitted a predetermined power level from
the canditate site.
These transmitted power levels are then measured and collected by
the Drive test kit. This data is then loaded on the Planning tool and
used for tuning models.
Commonly Graysons or CHASE prop test kits are used.

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Traffic Modeling Tool

Traffic modelling tool is used by the planning engineer for Network
modelling and
dimensioning.
It helps the planning engineer to calculate the number of network
elements needed to fulfil coverage, capacity and quality needs.
Netdim by Nokia is an example of a Traffic modelling tool.

MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

Project Management Tool

Though not directly linked to RF Design Planning, it helps in
scheduling the RF Design process and also to know the status of the
project
Site database : This includes RF data, site acquisition, power, civil
,etc.
Inventory Control
Fault tracking
Finance Managemen

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CHAPTER 2

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RF PLANNING PROCEDURES
PRELIMINARY WORK
Propagation tool setup
Set up the planning tool hardware. This includes the server and or
clients which may be UNIX based.
Setup the plotter and printer to be used.
Terrain, Clutter, Vector data acquisition and setup.
Procure the terrain, clutter and vector data in the required resolution.
Setup these data on the planning tool.
Test to see if they are displayed properly and printed correctly on the
plotter.

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Setup site tracking database

This is done using Project management or site management databases.

This is the central database which is used by all relevant department,

viz. RF, Site acquisition, Power, Civil engineering etc, and avoids data
mismatch.

Load master lease site locations in database

If predetermined friendly sites that can be used are available, then load
this data into the site database.

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Marketing Analysis and GOS determination

Marketing analysis is mostly done by the customer.
Growth plan is provided which lists the projected subscriber growth in
phases.
GOS is determined in agreement with the customer (generally the GOS
is taken as 2%)
Based on the marketing analysis, GOS and number of carriers as inputs,
the network design is carried out.

Zoning Analysis
This involves studying the height restrictions for antenna heights in the
design area.

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Set Initial Link Budget

Link Budget Analysis is the process of analyzing all major gains and
losses in the forward and reverse link radio paths.
Inputs
Base station & mobile receiver sensitivity parameters
Antenna gain at the base station & mobile station.
Hardware losses(Cable, connector, combiners etc).
Target coverage reliabilty.
Fade margins.
Output
Maximum allowable path loss.

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Initial cell radius calculation

Using link budget calculation, the maximum allowable path loss is
calculated.
Using Okumura hata emprical formula, the initial cell radius can be
calculated.

Initial cell count estimates

Once the cell radius is known, the area covered by one site can be easily
calculated.
By dividing the total area to be covered by the area of each cell, a initial
estimate of the number of cells can be made.

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Morphology Definition
INITIALSURVEY

Morphology describes the density and height of man made or natural

obstructions.
Morphology is used to more accurately predict the path loss.
Some morphology area definitions are Urban, Suburban, rural, open
etc.
Density also applies to morphology definitions like dense urban, light
suburban, commercial etc.
This basically leads to a number of sub-area formation where the link
Morphology
Drive
budget will differ
andTest
hence the cell radius and cell count will differ.
This drive test is done to prepare generic models for network design.
Drive test is done to characterize the propagation and fading effects.
The objective is to collect field data to optimize or adjust the prediction
model for preliminary simulations.
A test transmitter and a receiver is used for this purpose.
The received signals are typically sampled ( around 50 samples in
40 ).

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Propagation Tool Adjustment

The data collected by drive testing is used to prepare generic models.
For a given network design there may be more than one model like
dense-urban, urban, suburban, rural, highway etc.
The predicted and measured signal strengths are compared and the
model adjusted to produce minimum error.
These models are then used for initial design of the network

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INITIAL DESIGN

Complete Initial Cell Placement

Planning of cell sites sub-area depending on clutter type and traffic
required.

Run Propagation Analysis

Using generic models prepared by drive testing & prop test, run
predictions for each cell depending on morphology type to predict the
coverage in the given sub-areas.
Planning tool calculates the path loss and received signal strength using
Co-ordinates of the site location, Ground elevation above mean sea
level, Antenna height above ground, Antenna radiation pattern (vertical
& horizontal) & antenna orientation, Power radiated from the antenna.

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Reset Cell Placement( Ideal Sites )

According to the predictions change the cell placements to design the
network for contigious coverage and appropriate traffic.

System Coverage Maps

Prepare presentations as follows

Background on paper showing area MAP which include highways, main road
etc.
Phase 1 sites layout on transparency.
Phase 1 sites composite coverage prediction.
Phase 2 sites layout transparency.
Phase 2 composite coverage prediction on transparency.
If more phases follow the same procedure.

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Design Review With The Client

Initial design review has to be carried out with the client so that he
agrees to the basic design of the network.
During design review, first put only the background map which is on
paper. Then step by step put the site layout and coverage prediction.
Display may show some coverage holes in phase 1 which should get
solved in phase 2 .

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SELECTION OF SITES
Prepare Initial Search Ring
Note the latitude and longitude from planning tool.
Get the address of the area from mapping software.
Release the search ring with details like radius of search ring, height of
antenna etc.

Release search rings to project management

Visit friendly site locations

If there are friendly sites available that can be used (infrastructure sharing),
then these sites are to be given preference.
If these sites suite the design requirements, then visit these sites first.

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Select Initial Anchor Sites

Initial anchor sites are the sites which are very important for the network
buildup, Eg - Sites that will also work as a BSC.

Enter Data In Propagation Tool

Enter the sites exact location in the planning tool.

Perform Propagation Analysis

Now since the site has been selected and the lat/lon of the actual site
( which will be different from the designed site) is known, put this site in
the planning tool and predict coverage.
Check to see that the coverage objectives are met as per prediction.

Reset / Review Search Rings

If the prediction shows a coverage hole ( as the actual site may be shifted
from the designed site), the surrounding search rings can be resetted and
reviewed.

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Candidate site Visit( Average 3 per ring)

For each proposed location, surveys should carried out and at least 3
suitable site candidates identified.
Details of each candidate should be recorded on a copy of the Site
Proposal Form for that site. Details must include:
Site name and option letter Site location (Lat./Long)
Building Height
Site address and contact number
Height of surrounding clutter
Details of potential coverage effecting obstructions or other
comments(A, B, C,...)

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Drive Test And Review Best Candidate

In order to verify that a candidate site, selected based on its predicted
coverage area, is actually covering all objective areas, drive test has to
be performed.
Drive test also points to potential interference problems or handover
problems for the site.
The test transmitter has to be placed at the selected location with all
parameters that have been determined based on simulations.
Drive test all major roads and critical areas like convention centers,
major business areas, roads etc.
Take a plot of the data and check for sufficient signal strength, sufficient
overlaps and splashes( least inteference to other cells).

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Drive Test Integration

The data obtained from the drive test has to be loaded on the planning
tool and overlapped with the prediction. This gives a idea of how close
the prediction and actual drive test data match.
If they do not match ( say 80 to 90 %) then for that site the model may
need tuning.

Visit Site With All Disciplines( SA, Power, Civil etc )

A meeting at the selected site takes place in which all concerned
departments like RF Engineering, Site acquisition, Power, Civil Engineer,
Civil contractor and the site owner is present.
Any objections are taken care off at this point itself.

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Select Equipment Type For Site

Select equipment for the cell depending on channel requirements
Selection of antenna type and accessories.

Locate Equipment On Site For Construction Drawing

Plan of the building ( if site located on the building) to be made
showing equipment placement, cable runs, battery backup placement
and antenna mounting positions.
Antenna mounting positions to be shown separately and clearly.
Drawings to be checked and signed by the Planner, site acquisition,
power planner and project manager.

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Perform Link Balance Calculations

Link balance calculation per cell to be done to balance the uplink and
the downlink path.
Basically link balance calculation is the same as power budget
calculation. The only difference is that on a per cell basis the transmit
power of the BTS may be increased or decreased depending on the
pathloss on uplink and downlink.

EMI Studies
Study of RF Radiation exposure to ensure that it is within limits and
control of hazardous areas.
Data sheet to be prepared per cell signed by RF Planner and project
manager to be submitted to the appropriate authority.

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Radio Frequency Plan/ PN Plan

Frequency planning has to be carried out on the planning tool based on
required C/I and C/A and interference probabilities.
In 2G planning BCCH and TCH planning is done by using Frequency
reuse pattern. (BSIC Planning)
In CDMA Pseudo Codes are planned.

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Thank You