AIR INTERFACE

By:
Eng\ WALEED ELSAFOURY

AIR INTERFACE

GSM bands
GSM 900

0.8

0.9

GSM 1800

1.0

1.1

Carrier n

Carrier (n+1)

f
200 kHz

1.6

1.7

1.8

GSM 1900

1.9

2.0 GHz

AIR INTERFACE
Uplink and downlink

Train Coverage (Intrain)

Intrain Air Interface

Radiating Cable

AIR INTERFACE
GSM Frequency Bands
GSM(DCS)
1800

System

P-GSM 900

E-GSM 900

GSM(PCS) 1900

Uplink (MS BS)

Downlink(BS MS)

890 915 MHz

935 960 MHz

880 915 MHz

925 - 960 MHz

1710 1785 MHz

1805 - 1880 MHz

1850 1910 MHz

1930 - 1990 MHz

Wavelength

33 cm

33 cm

17 cm

16 cm

Bandwidth

25 MHz

35 MHz

75 MHz

60 MHz

Duplex distance

45 MHz

45 MHz

95 MHz

80 MHz

Carrier separation

200 kHz

200 kHz

200 kHz

200 kHz

No. of carriers

124

174

374

299

Channel rate

270.8 kbps

270.8 kbps

270.8 kbps

270.8 kbps

AIR INTERFACE
- TDMA in GSM

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TDMA frame

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TDMA frame structure

57

26

57

AIR INTERFACE
TDMA frame structure
-Bit rate of the radio carrier is 270.833 Kbps
-Bit duration =1/270.833=3.69 sec
-One time slot =148 bits+8.25 guard bits=156.25 bits
-Time slot duration =156.25x3.69 sec= 0.577 msec
-Frame duration=0.577x8= 4.615 msec

AIR INTERFACE

Guard band is used for :

- burst alignment errors
- time dispersion on the propagation path
- Time required for smooth switch on-off in transmitter

The numbering scheme of the time slots is staggered

by 3 time slots to remove necessity for MS to send
and receive in the same time
0

AIR INTERFACE

Types of channels
1. Physical channels
2. Logic channels

AIR INTERFACE

Types of logic channels

1. Traffic channels
2. Control channels

AIR INTERFACE

Types of Traffic channels

1. Full rate
- 13 Kbps data rate

22.8 Kbps
13 Kbps

9.8 Kbps

2. Enhanced full rate

- 12.2 Kbps data rate

12.2 Kbps

10.6 Kbps

3. Half rate
- increase network capacity

5.6 Kbps 5.8 Kbps

11.4 Kbps
Data
Redundancy

AIR INTERFACE
COW BTS

AIR INTERFACE

Types of control channels

Broadcast control channel

Common control channel

Dedicated control channel

AIR INTERFACE
Common Control Channels (CCCHs)
Transfer control information between all MSs and BTS.
Necessary for call origination and paging.
Logical ch.

Function

BTS

MS

Transmits
paging Listens
to
PCH
Paging CHannel
Alert the MS of an message to indicate regularly.
(PCH)
an incoming call
When identifies its
incoming call
Downlink
The paging message identity, it responds.
contains MS identity.
Answers
paging
Random Access Used by MS to Receives
request
message on RACH by
CHannel (RACH) request access to from
MS
for
a
requesting signaling
Uplink
the network.
signaling channel.
channel.
Access Grant
CHannel
(AGCH)
Downlink

Used by BS to
inform MS about
the channel to use.

Assigns a SDCCH
signaling channel to
MS.

Receives a signaling
channel assignment
SDCCH.

AIR INTERFACE
Dedicated Control Channels (DCCHs)

Carry messages between MS and network.

SDCCH is used for call setup, update, authentication
Logical ch.

Function

BTS

MS

Stand-alone
Dedicated Control
Channel (SDCCH)
UL+DL

Exchange
signaling
information in uplink
and downlink.

Switches to SDCCH.
Call
set-up
is
performed
in
idle
mode.
BSC assigns a TCH.

Switches to SDCCH.
Call set up is performed.
MS
receives
TCH
assignment [carrier +
time slot]

Slow Associated
Control Channel
(SACCH)
UL+DL

Conveys power control

and timing information
in downlink.
Conveys link quality
reports in uplink.

Instructs MS about:
Transmit power
Time advance.

Sends measurements of
its BTS and neighboring
BTSs during a call.

Fast Associated
Control Channel
(FACCH)
UL+DL

Steals TCH to carry

handover and channel
reassignment.

Transmits handover
information.

Transmits handover
request..

AIR INTERFACE

The Broadcast Channels (BCHs)

Is transmitted by BS all the time.
Monitored by MSs periodically (every 30 sec).
All BCHs are downlink.
Logical channel

Function

BTS

MS

Frequency
Correction
Channel
(FCCH)

Supply MS with
reference freq.

Transmits a carrier
frequency.

Identifies
BCCH
carrier
synchronizes with
the frequency.

Synch. Channel
(SCH)

For TDMA frame

synchronization .

Transmits
frame
number and BSIC.

Synchronizes with
frame structure.

Broadcast
Control
Channel
(BCCH)

Carries parameters
needed to identify
and access network.
It is transmitted at
constant power at all
times and checked
by all MSs.

Broadcasts
cell
information such
as
LAI,
maximum output
power needed

Receives LAI
May update
MS sets its output
power level.

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Adaptive Frame Alignment
The BS-MS delay depends on distance.
If BSMS separation= 10km, Propagation delay=33 sec.
Long guard interval is inefficient.
GSM uses adaptive time alignment system whereby BS
transmits timing advance at the MS.
This instructs the mis-aligned MS to transmit earlier

TDMA frame

TS0

TS1

TS2

B
A

Propagation delay
A: Close to BS

B: Far away from BS

AIR INTERFACE

Slow Frequency Hopping

Rayleigh fading is frequency-selective.
BS&MS hop from one frequency to other.
Frequency hopping is optional.
Rate of hopping =1/4.615msec=217 hop/sec.

AIR INTERFACE
TDMA
frame
0

Frame 1
Carrier 1
slot 3

Frame 2
Carrier 3
slot 3

Frame 3
Carrier 2
slot 3