GSM UL-DL Unbalance &

Solutions
Training goals

 To know definition of link balance

 To master calculation process of link balance
 To understand the factors influencing link balance
and the checking process of link balance
Contents

 Definition of link balance

 Theoretical calculation of link balance
 Test method of link balance
 Analysis and elimination of link unbalance
 Practical cases
 Definition of link balance

 What is link balance?

 In radio communications, UL and
DL, they each have their own
transmitting power, equipment
loss, pathloss and receiving
sensitivity. Strictly speaking, link
balance means that the UL-DL
radio pathloss difference is “0”.
 For each network, link balance is
one of the key factors to setting
up network and ensuring
network performance.
 UL-DL unbalance may result in
network problems, such as
failure in starting a call, handover
failure and silent call, etc..

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 Deviation range of link balance

 link balance judgment actually refers to judging the deviation

range. In UL-DL calculation, a deviation within ±10dB is allowed.
 If this range is exceeded, we can say that the link is in unbalanced
status, hence some network optimizations or engineering
checking procedures should be considered so as to solve the
problem.

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 Explanations on engineering margin

 Origin of the engineering margin±10dB:

 UL/DL power control

Since we set it according to the more conservative threshold, the cell marginal
power control won’t take effect. So we don’t need to consider it here.
 BTS UL measurement calibration deviation --±3dB
 Difference in carrier output power --±1dB
 Measurement difference value under DTX --±0.5dB
 Difference in combiner loss --±0.5dB

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 Explanations on engineering margin

 The difference between MS actual power and the reported power

class--±2dB;
 As for power control process, the difference between MS actual
power and power control class can reach to ±5db.;
 Take these factors into consideration, we set the MS actual power
deviation range to be ±3dB .

GSM900 Nominal DCS1800 Nominal Tolerance (dB) for

Power class Maximum output Maximum output conditions
power power
normal extreme
1 ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ 1 W (30 dBm) ±2 ±2.5
2 8 W (39 dBm) 0.25 W (24 dBm) ±2 ±2.5
3 5 W (37 dBm) 4 W (36 dBm) ±2 ±2.5
4 2 W (33 dBm) ±2 ±2.5
5 0.8 W (29 dBm) ±2 ±2.5

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 Explanations on engineering margin

 Influence from radio

environment--±2 dB
 In practice, call quality is affected by
environment and many other factors,
such as fluctuation in signal level,
which can be very big sometimes, so
we accept a deviation of ±2dB in
engineering.

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Contents

 Definition of link balance

 Theoretical calculation of link balance
 Test method of link balance
 Analysis and elimination of link unbalance
 Practical cases
 Calculation formula of link balance

PB(link balance value) ＝ RxLevDL-RxLevUL=BtsTxPwrMax-

MsTxPwrMax

RxLevDL ： DL level of MS receiving BTS signal BtsTxPwrMax ： rack-top output

RxLevDL=BtsTxPwrMax-RadioPathLossDL power
RxLevUL ： UL level of BTS receiving MS signal RadioPathLoss ： radio pathloss,
RxLevUL=MsTxPwrMax-RadioPathLossUL UL and DL are the
same

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 Equipment parameters —Transmitting power

Product
Max transmitting power
transmitting Product series
power GMSK modulation 8PSK modulation

BTS V3_DTRU
60W 47.8 dBm 40W 46 dBm
BTS V2_ETRM

BTS V2_TRM 40W 46 dBm -- --

Terminal
transmitting Power
GSM 900 Nominal DCS 1800 PCS 1900
power Maximum output Nominal Maximum Nominal Maximum
class
power output power output power
1 ------ 1 W (30 dBm) 1 W (30 dBm)

2 8 W (39 dBm) 0.25 W (24 dBm) 0.25 W (24 dBm)

3 5 W (37 dBm) 4 W (36 dBm) 2 W (33 dBm)

4 2 W (33 dBm)

5 0.8 W (29 dBm)

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 Equipment parameters—typical values for
combiner loss
Combiner loss
Module Condition Combining loss (dB)(typical value)
CDUG Jump combiner 0.8
2 in 1 4.2
CEUG 2 in 1 3.4
3 in 1 5.5
CENG 6 in 1 5.3
CDUD Jump combiner 0.8
2 in 1 4.4
CEUD 2 in 1 3.6
3 in 1 5.5
CEND 6 in 1 5.5
CDUP Jump combiner 0.8

2 in 1 4.4
CEUP 2 in 1 3.6
3 in 1 5.5

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 Standard value for link balance

 Adopt BTS V3 product series

 8PSK modulation method
 BTS static power class=0
 common BTS type (PA output port is directly connected with CDU
combiner input port)
 common antenna system (excl. TA, repeater and indoor distribution
system)
 Exclude various kinds of coverage enhancement techniques

Frequency band PB standard

900M 46-4.4-33 ︽ 9dB

1800M 46-4.2-30 ︽ 12dB

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 Normal deviation range of link balance

 Taking into consideration the engineer margin of ±10dB, the

normal deviation range of link balance should be:

Frequency band Normal PB deviation range

900M -1~19dB

1800M 2~22dB

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Contents

 Definition of link balance

 Theoretical calculation of link balance
 Test method of link balance
 Analysis and elimination of link unbalance
 Practical cases
 Measurement method of link balance—
measurement task at OMCR
Counter name BTS_V2 BTS_V3
Total value of uplink signal C10710 C901120010
strength of wireless channels
Number of received uplink C10707 C901120007
signal strength samples of
wireless channels
Total value of downlink signal C10714 C901120014
strength of wireless channels
Number of received downlink C10711 C901120011
signal strength samples of
wireless channels
UL level statistical average C10710/ C901120010/ C901120007
C10707
DL level statistical average C10714/ C901120014/ C901120011
C10711
 UL/DL power control is counted into the statistics at OMCR; the
statistics gathered are about cells but not carriers.

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 PB calculation formula

 Influence from dynamic power control

 10dB shall be deducted in the PB calculation formula for 900M cells

 Influence from UL channel grain

 BTS V2_TRM shall deduct UL channel gain of 14dB

Frequency Product series

band
BTS V3(dB)/ BTS V2_ETRM(dB) BTS V2_TRM(dB)

DL level statistical average –(UL DL level statistical average –(UL

900M level statistical average -10 ) level statistical average -10 -14)

DL level statistical average –UL DL level statistical average –(UL

level statistical average level statistical average -14)
1800M

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 Influencing factors in link-balance calculation

 In order to obtain precise PB value, the following factors shall be

taken into consideration in calculation:
Influencing factors
Frequency band of existing
network
Model of BTS products used
& modulation method
adopted
Combining method adopted
If external TA installed?
If coverage enhancement
technique adopted?
Explanations
There is a difference of 3dB in judgment criteria due
to different frequency bands;
Judgment criteria for different BTS products are
different for the BtsTxPwrMax is different.
Combiner level 1 is adopted in the judgment criteria.
CduLoss difference caused by other combining
methods shall be eliminated.
In the judgment criteria, default is NO TA; if external
TA is installed, its influence on UL-DL shall be
eliminated.
The gain produced by coverage enhancement
technique shall also be eliminated.

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 Measurement method of link balance—RMA
signaling analysis
 Record Abis signaling for th
problem cells, choose
“measurement report”;
 import signaling data to RMS, then
use “TRX equation” to
automatically generate the
scattergram of link balance vs TA ;
 The benefits of using “TRX
equation” are as follows:
 When RMA calculates UL-DL difference,
it considers influence from UL-DL power
control;
 investigate carriers, which is good for
locating problem carriers in the cell.
 Note: When RMA signaling
analysis tool is adopted, we need
to choose the cell’s frequency
band according to actual
situations.
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Contents

 Definition of link balance

 Theoretical calculation of link balance
 Test method of link balance
 Analysis and elimination of link unbalance
 Practical cases
 Performance analysis-link balance analysis

Filter out cells with link No improvement

unbalance

Adjust
No
parameters
improvement
No
Static
improvement
power Yes
control
Investigate
No
repeater system
Yes
Indoor distribution
System &repeater
No

Investigate system
equipment

Antenna Abnormal CDU Abnormal Abnormal

system installation of problem carrier carrier UL
problem antenna output calibration

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 Analysis of link-unbalance causes
 Link unbalance caused by external TA connecting to antenna, repeater or
indoor distribution system
 The UL-DL of these external devices can be unbalanced, which can cause the whole BTS
system link to be unbalanced.
 Cable connection problem
 If the cable connection between feeder, jumper or antenna and RF equipment is not
tight, increase UL-DL level loss and UL-DL level difference can be caused, thus resulting
in link unbalance.
 Carrier hardware problem
 Carrier output power deviates from normal value;
 If the gain of carrier UL receive channel is small, it causes UL-DL level difference to
increase.
 CDU problem
 The increased insertion loss in DL channel will cause DL level to decrease and reduce UL-
DL level difference, thus coverage will be smaller;
 Problem with UL receive channel will cause DL level to decrease, and reduce UL-DL level
difference, thus silent call or call drop will be resulted.

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Contents

 Definition of link balance

 Theoretical calculation of link balance
 Test method of link balance
 Analysis and elimination of link unbalance
 Practical cases
 Case 1: Link unbalance caused by repeater

 Subscribers complained about frequent call drops.

 The problem cell was located after call tests were made; traffic statistics
Problem analysis showed in this 900M cell, (DL-UL) level difference was 25dB,
description which was far beyond the normal link balance range .
 while the daily average of DL-UL level difference in Cell 2 (under the
same BTS) was 2dB.

 checked CDU and carrier, but no fault was found.

Handling  connected the problem cell’s antenna (its antenna is connected with
process
repeater) to the normal Cell2.
 PB value in cell2 increased due to change on antenna .

Thereceive
The receivetributary
tributarywith
withrepeater
repeaterhas
hascaused
causedUL-DL
UL-DLlevel
leveldifference.
difference.

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 Case 2: Cable connection problem
 Customers complained that MS displayed signal available, but calls couldn’t
be established.
Problem  After call tests were made, problem cell was located. We discovered from
description
traffic analysis that the UL-DL level difference in the cell was 30dB, which
exceeded the normal range.
 On-site checking was needed.

 Changed carrier first.

 During changing the carrier, we found the cable connector was not tightened.
Handling  Checked statistical result the next day, UL-DL level difference dropped to 6dB,
process which was within the normal range.
 After test, we found that UL-DL level difference of carrier was improved by
about 1dB, which could not be the main cause for the improvement.
Considering the loose connector, we could confirm that poor cable
connection was the main cause for link unbalance.

Loosecable
Loose cableconnection
connectioncould
couldresult
resultin
inPB
PBunbalance.
unbalance.

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 Equipment maintenance

 Bad PB statistical result may be caused by broken connector or

cable, bad antenna VSWR or drop of equipment.
 Regular maintenance schedule is recommended, in order to
locate the parts with problem before the situation grows worse.

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 Case 3: Carrier problem

 Problem description:
 Subscribers complained that
handover happened frequently when
they made calls around a cell. Test
was made at the site being
complained about. Sectional drawing
of the test is shown bellow:

 Test phenomena
 Handover from 1800M to 900M cells
happened after MS occupied a
1800M cell;
 Handover from 900M to 1800M cells
happened after MS occupied a 900M
cell;
 Handover between 900M and 1800M
cells happened frequently.

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 Case 3: Carrier problem

 Problem analysis
 Handover cause analysis

1800M900M handover cause: UL level handover

900M1800M handover cause: PBGT handover

Number of UL level handover in 1800M cells takes 90% of total.
 PB unbalance may exist;
 After traffic statistics analayis, we found UL-DL level difference of the 1800M
cells was all above 25dB.
 It’s confirmed to be UL-DL unbalance.

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 Case 3: Carrier problem

 Handling process
 After KPI analysis, voice service in 1800M cells was confirmed normal.
 Checked power control settings, no errors found.
 Checked cable connections, no loose connectors, no damaged heads.
 Changed carrier, PB value decreased to 10dB.
 Result of retest displayed frequent handover problem was sloved.

Carrierproblem
Carrier problemresulted
resultedin
inPB
PBunbalance.
unbalance.

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 Questions for thinking

 When we calculate link balance, what factors need to be taken

into consideration? Why?
 As for link unbalance caused by too low UL level, what methods
can be employed to make adjustment?

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