RF Planning Criteria

RF Engineering
Continuing Education & Training

RF Planning Criteria
For Wireless System Designs
Prepared by:
SAFCO Technologies, Inc.
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elbo!rne, F" #$%0& 'SA
Phone: (&0)* %+$,-#00
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Copyright

2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc.
All rights reser3ed. 4o part o0 this boo5 shall be
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recording, or other/ise, /itho!t /ritten per1ission
0ro1 SAFCO Technologies, Inc.
RF 6ngineering Contin!ing 6d!cation 7 Training
RF Planning Criteria for Wireless System Designs
Approximate Unit engt!" #$% !ours
This !nit pro3ides an o3er3ie/ o0 RF engineering proced!res !sed to design and b!ild,o!t a
radio net/or5. The e1phasis is placed on the engineering proced!re. 8y 0oc!sing on the
engineering proced!re, the 1aterial is applicable to a 1!ltit!de o0 RF net/or5 design /or5:
e.isting cell!lar net/or5s, ne/ PCS syste1s, 9ireless "ocal "oop design, etc. At the
co1pletion o0 the !nit, the st!dent sho!ld !nderstand the 0ollo/ing concepts:
2. The three stages o0 net/or5 design
$. The /ay a lin5 b!dget, and its ass!1ptions, can a00ect the design.
#. The technical in0or1ation needed 0ro1 the ser3ice pro3ider and e:!ip1ent
3endor 0or a RF design.
&. The reasons and ob;ecti3es o0 the 1ar5et analysis.
+. The preli1inary design is an iterati3e process allo/ing the engineer to 1a5e
changes to the design, chec5 these changes, and 1aintain the b!ild,o!t
sched!le.
6. A co3erage plot !sing co3erage bands de3eloped 0ro1 the lin5 b!dget.
). A Final <esign is a contin!ation o0 the design process and is ne3er really
0inished.
-. =o/ to generate and interpret inter0erence plots /ithin the propagation 1odel.
%. The deli3erables re:!ired at the co1pletion o0 the 4o1inal <esign,
Preli1inary <esign, and Final <esign Stages.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A i
Ta&le of Contents
Appro.i1ate 'nit "ength: -.0 ho!rs.............................................................................................................................. i
' ()TR*DUCT(*)$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'
2.2 9=> =A?6 A4 RF <6SI@4 PROC6SSA.................................................................................................................2
2.$ OR@A4IBI4@ T=6 <6SI@4 PROC6SS.....................................................................................................................$
2.# T=6 4OI4A" <6SI@4 STA@6.............................................................................................................................#
2.& T=6 PR6"II4AR> <6SI@4 STA@6......................................................................................................................#
2.+ T=6 FI4A" <6SI@4 A4< S>ST6 OPTIIBATIO4 STA@6.....................................................................................&
+ T,E )*-()A DES(.) STA.E$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$/
$.2 C"ASSIF>I4@ ARC6TI4@ A4< <6SI@4 O8D6CTI?6S..........................................................................................+
2.1.1 Defining Market Boundaries........................................................................................................................5
2.1.2 Defining Coverage Objectives.....................................................................................................................6
2.1.3 Determining Traffic e!uirements............................................................................................................."
$.$ <6CI<I4@ O4 A T6C=4O"O@> A4< S6"6CTI4@ A ?64<OR...............................................................................20
2.2.1 #enera$ Tec%no$og& T&'es ........................................................................................................................11
2.2.2 (endor )e$ection........................................................................................................................................12
$.# <6T6RI4I4@ T=6 T6C=4ICA" PARA6T6RS FOR T=6 "I4C 8'<@6T..............................................................2#
2.3.1 Tec%nica$ *arameters e$ated to t%e +!ui'ment ......................................................................................13
2.3.2 Tec%nica$ *arameters e$ated to , +nvironmenta$ ,actors...................................................................15
2.3.3 e$iabi$it& Margin Ca$cu$ation..................................................................................................................16
2.3.- Ot%er Tec%nica$ *arameters......................................................................................................................16
$.& 6?A"'ATI4@ T=6 "I4C 8'<@6T........................................................................................................................26
Base )tation +!ui'ment.....................................................................................................................................1"
Mobi$e +!ui'ment..............................................................................................................................................1"
+nvironmenta$ .osses........................................................................................................................................1"
$.+ CA"C'"ATI4@ T=6 C6"" RA<I'S A4< <6T6RI4I4@ C6"" P"AC664T.........................................................2-
2.5.1 Ce$$ .a&out )trategies................................................................................................................................1/
$.6 CR6ATI4@ T=6 PROD6CT I4 A PROPA@ATIO4 PR6<ICTIO4 TOO".......................................................................$#
2.6.1 Data e!uired for Coverage *redictions..................................................................................................23
2.6.2 Data )uggested for t%e *roject..................................................................................................................23
$.) A4A">BI4@ 4OI4A" C6"" CO?6RA@6...........................................................................................................$+
$.- <6T6RI4I4@ T=6 <6SI@4 CAPACIT>...............................................................................................................$6
$.% <6T6RI4I4@ 4OI4A" SIT6 CO'4T A4< 8'<@6T.........................................................................................$)
0 T,E PRE(-()AR1 DES(.) STA.E$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+2
#.2 T=6 ARC6T A4A">SIS.....................................................................................................................................$%
3.1.1 *re'aring for t%e Market (isit...................................................................................................................2/
3.1.2 T%e Market (isit.........................................................................................................................................31
#.$ PROPA@ATIO4 O<6" ?A"I<ATIO4..................................................................................................................#$
3.2.1 Co$$ecting Drive Test Data for t%e *ro'agation )tud&..............................................................................32
#.$.2.2 <ata Post Processing........................................................................................................................................... ##
3.2.2 *erforming Data 0na$&sis to Obtain O'timi1ed )$o'e and 2nterce't........................................................3-
#.# <6?6"OP T=6 PR6"II4AR> <6SI@4.................................................................................................................#6
#.& SIT6 ACE'ISITIO4...............................................................................................................................................#)
3.-.1 2ssuing )earc% 0rea Ma's 3)0Ms4............................................................................................................35
3.-.2 Candidate )ite +va$uation..........................................................................................................................3"
3.-.3 Obtaining *ro'ert& or )ite .ease..............................................................................................................-6
#.+ FI4A" CO4SI<6RATIO4S PRIOR TO 8'I"<,O'T.................................................................................................&0
#.+.2.2 Inter0erence Analysis.......................................................................................................................................... &2
3 T,E F()A DES(.) STA.E$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$30
&.2 I4ITIA" SIT6 I4T6@RATIO4 (SIT6 COISSIO4I4@*..........................................................................................&#
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A ii
-.1.1 )ite ,unctiona$it& Testing..........................................................................................................................-3
-.1.2 2nitia$ )ite O'timi1ation.............................................................................................................................--
&.$ OPTIIBI4@ S>ST6 P6RFORA4C6..................................................................................................................&6
-.2.1 )7itc% Data................................................................................................................................................-6
-.2.2 *eriodic Drive Tests...................................................................................................................................-5
-.2.3 Customer Com'$aints.................................................................................................................................-5
&.# CO4TI4'6< PROPA@ATIO4 O<6" OPTIIBATIO4...........................................................................................&-
&.& 'P<ATI4@ FR6E'64C> P"A4.............................................................................................................................&-
&.+ P"A44I4@ FOR F'T'R6 @RO9T=......................................................................................................................&-
/ C*)CUS(*)$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$/+
ist of Figures
F(.URE '" *)E E4A-PE *F A )*-()A DES(.) F*W C,ART$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$0
F(.URE +" *)E E4A-PE *F A PRE(-()AR1 DES(.) F*W C,ART$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$3
F(.URE 0" *)E E4A-PE *F A F()A DES(.) F*W C,ART$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$3
F(.URE 3" P*PUAT(*) DE)S(T1 F*R A TEST -AR5ET$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$6
F(.URE /" A7ERA.E FA-(1 ()C*-E D(STR(8UT(*) F*R A TEST -AR5ET$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$2
F(.URE 9 " A) E4A-PE *F A C*R)ER SP(T :A; A)D A S(DE SP(T :8;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+'
F(.URE 6" T,REE D(FFERE)T RE<USE PATTER)S= ) > 6 :A;= ) > 3 :8;= ) > 0 :C;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$++
F(.URE #" A) E4A-PE *F T,E FRE?UE)C1 PA))(). PR*8E-S ASS*C(ATED W(T, ) > 3
S(DE SP(T$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$++
F(.URE 2" A) E4A-PE *F .E*.RAP,(C *7ERA1S $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+/
F(.URE '%" T,E )*-()A DES(.) C*7ERA.E$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+9
F(.URE ''" A C*-PAR(S*) *F DES(.) CAPAC(T1 A)D PR*@ECTED ERA). DE-A)D
:1EARS ' A 9;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+6
F(.URE '+" A T*P*.RAP,(C -AP *F A SA-PE -AR5ET :)*TE T,E TERRA() () T,E
S*UT,;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$0%
F(.URE '0" A7ERA.E DR(7E TEST DATA W(T,() A 8()$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$03
F(.URE '3" P*T *F T,E -EASURED DATA 7S$ PRED(CTED :U)<*PT(-(BED -*DE;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$0/
F(.URE '/" P*T *F T,E -EASURED DATA 7S$ PRED(CTED :*PT(-(BED -*DE;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$0/
F(.URE '9" *PT(-(BED A)D U)<*PT(-(BED C*7ERA.E PRED(CT(*)S$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$09
F(.URE '6" A SA-PE SEARC, AREA -AP$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$02
F(.URE '#" A) E4A-PE *F A) ()(T(A FRE?UE)C1 PA) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$3+
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A iii
F(.URE '2" T1P(CA DA(1 TRAFF(C () A W(REESS )ETW*R5 :)*TE T,E 8US1 ,*UR;$$$$$$32
F(.URE +%" A) E4A-PE *F ,(ST*R(CA TRAFF(C DATA USED T* PR*@ECT DE-A)D$$$$$$$$$$$$/%
ist of Ta&les
TA8E ' " DESCR(PT(*) *F -*RP,**.(CA AREA T1PES$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$6
TA8E +" E)7(R*)-E)TA FACT*RS T,AT ATTE)UATE RF S(.)AS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'/
TA8E 0" T1P(CA S*PE A)D ()TERCEPT 7AUES PER -*RP,**.1$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'9
TA8E 3" SA-PE A-PS ()5 8UD.ET F*R SU8UR8A) ()<8U(D(). C*7ERA.E$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'#
TA8E /" )*-()A CE RAD(US CACUAT(*)S$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'2
TA8E 9" ()TERFERE)CE T,RES,*DS F*R 7AR(*US TEC,)**.(ES$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+%
TA8E 6" T,E*RET(CA CC( RAT(* F*R 7AR(*US RE<USE SC,E-ES$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+'
TA8E #" -*D(F(CAT(*)S T* T,E )*-()A CE RAD(US DUE T* CE SP(TT().$$$$$$$$$$$$$+'
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A i3
ist of EDuations
E?UAT(*) '" A7ERA.E 8US1 ,*UR TRAFF(C PER SU8SCR(8ER$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$#
E?UAT(*) +" T,E RE?U(RED *FFERED *AD :R*;$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$#
E?UAT(*) 0" E?UAT(*) F*R CACUAT(). RECE(7ER SE)S(T(7(T1$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'3
E?UAT(*) 3" W$C$1$ EE -*DE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$'2
E?UAT(*) /" T,E*RET(CA ()TERFERE)CE RAT(*$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$+%
E?UAT(*) 9" FREE SPACE *SS E?UAT(*)$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$00
E?UAT(*) 6" E?UAT(*) F*R T,E )*(SE F**R *F A RECE(7ER$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$03
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 3
' (ntroduction
The goal o0 this co!rse is to gi3e the st!dent a de0ined process, /hich is applicable to any type o0
/ireless net/or5. Follo/ing a de0ined process /ith help to organiFe the tas5s re:!ired by the
RF engineer. The co!rse identi0ies 1any o0 the steps in the design process, b!t concentrates on
the 1a;or topics that ha3e the greatest a00ect. Technology speci0ic iss!es are 1entioned only in
s!11ary.
RF engineering re:!ires a good !nderstanding o0 1any di3erse tas5s. <!ring the design phase o0
net/or5 deploy1ent, an engineer 1ay be as5ed to collect dri3e test data, process the data, and
analyFe it. Other days are spent e3al!ating lin5 b!dgets, preparing b!dgetary esti1ates,
e3al!ating cell site place1ent, and attending Foning hearings. Once the net/or5 beco1es
co11ercially a3ailable, the engineer re0oc!ses e00orts to/ards analyFing tra00ic data and
opti1iFing the syste1Gs per0or1ance. This gro!p o0 e3ents all tie together into a coherent
process that consists o0 inter,related action ite1s. All o0 these steps are necessary to the
s!ccess0!l design, deploy1ent, and operation o0 a /ireless net/or5.
'$' W!y ,aEe an RF Design ProcessF
The RF design process assists the engineer by organiFing 3ario!s tas5s into 1anageable design
phases. It is easy to lose 0oc!s /hile 0re:!ency planning, dri3e testing, and analyFing tra00ic in
one 1ar5et and b!ilding a brand ne/ net/or5 in a di00erent 1ar5et.
A design process also helps a co1pany 1aintain a s1ooth transition d!ring personnel changes.
9itho!t a s1ooth transition o0 personnel, the potential 0or !nin0or1ed decisions greatly
increases. F!rther, the design process incl!des stages 0or doc!1entation and re3ie/.
<oc!1enting changes lea3es a clear trail o0 the steps ta5en and the reasoning behind the1. A
re3ie/ o0 s!ggested changes pre3ents i1ple1entation o0 changes that /o!ld degrade
per0or1ance. The re3ie/ can also ser3e to ed!cate the engineer in the design process.
Finally, an established design process can help the engineer 0orecast proble1s be0ore net/or5
:!ality is a00ected. The design process /ill incorporate reg!lar analysis o0 s/itch data to
deter1ine tra00ic de1and and pro;ect 0!t!re de1and. E!arterly dri3e testing can !nco3er
inter0erence proble1s be0ore the s!bscriber.
It sho!ld be apparent no/ that it is critical to ha3e a clearly de0ined design process. To a3oid
any proble1s, the RF design process sho!ld:
2. <e0ine a consistent 1ethodology
$. Pro3ide an indication o0 i1portant technical para1eters
#. Pro3ide a design chec5list
'$+ *rganiGing t!e Design Process
The design process is co1posed se3eral tas5s. The 1aterial presented in this class introd!ces
one 1ethod o0 organiFing the tas5s. Circ!1stances and personal pre0erences /ill change the
order in /hich these steps are 0ollo/ed. All the ite1s identi0ied are i1portant to the design
process and sho!ld be incl!ded, regardless o0 the order.
The engineering proced!re 1ay be bro5en do/n into three design phases: the 4o1inal <esign,
Preli1inary <esign and Final <esign Stages. 6ach design phase represents a gro!p o0 related
tas5s. The end o0 each design phase can be !sed as a Hstopping pointI /here ass!1ptions are
chec5ed and design para1eters are re3ie/ed be0ore proceeding to the ne.t design phase.
T!e )ominal Design Stage
Classi0y 1ar5eting and design ob;ecti3es
<ecide on a technology and select a 3endor
<eter1ine no1inal technical para1eters 0or de0ining the e:!ip1ent speci0ications
and RF propagation en3iron1ent
63al!ate the lin5 b!dget(s*
Calc!late no1inal cell radii and deter1ine cell layo!t
<eter1ine syste1 capacity !sing 6rlang calc!lations
AnalyFe the no1inal cell co3erage !sing a propagation 1odel
<eter1ine no1inal cell and radio co!nt 0or b!dgetary p!rposes
T!e Preliminary Design Stage
?eri0y 1ar5et en3iron1ental para1eters thro!gh 1ar5et analysis
?alidate the propagation 1odel thro!gh RF testing
<e3elop a preli1inary design and iss!e search area 1aps
AnalyFe candidate cell sites and ac:!ire site leases
<eter1ine 0inal cell and radio co!nt 0or syste1 deploy1ent
T!e Final Design Stage
<e3elop site con0ig!ration incl!ding 0re:!ency plan, neighbor lists, de0a!lt hando00
control settings, and po/er b!dget
Per0or1 inter0erence analysis !sing the propagation 1odel and interpret the analysis
res!lts
Opti1iFe cell site para1eters a0ter initial t!rn on
Opti1iFe co3erage based on dri3e testing and cons!1er 0eed bac5
'pdate the 0re:!ency plan
Plan 0or 0!t!re gro/th.
This list incl!des all the ;obs that an RF engineer 1!st per0or1 d!ring each stage o0 the design.
The details o0 each phase are gi3en in Chapter $. A general de0inition is gi3en belo/.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $
'$0 T!e )ominal Design Stage
The 4o1inal <esign is the application o0 a b!siness plan to a theoretical RF design. The goal is
to arri3e at a pro;ect b!dget based on technical and 1ar5eting ass!1ptions, co3erage
re:!ire1ents, and no1inal cell site co!nts. Since the design is largely theoretical, so1e
esti1ates 1!st be 1ade. A 1a;ority o0 the technical /or5 is per0or1ed d!ring this stage to
ens!re that these esti1ates are as acc!rate as possible. It is i1portant that the engineering design
tea1, the syste1 operator, and the e:!ip1ent 3endor be in agree1ent /ith the technical
speci0ications be0ore the no1inal design begins. Fig!re 2 gi3es one 1ethod o0 organiFing the
steps in3ol3ed in this stage o0 de3elop1ent.
Technology Decision &
Vendor Selection
Grids / Cell
Splits
Nominal
Cell Radius
Link
Budget
Technical
arameters
!arketing
"#$ecti%es
Co%erage
rediction
De%elop ro$ect in
ropagation !odel
&rlang
Calculation
Figure '" *ne Example of a )ominal Design FloH C!art
'$3 T!e Preliminary Design Stage
The Preli1inary <esign is the application o0 1ar5et speci0ic para1eters and conditions to the
4o1inal <esign. The goal is to re0ine the 4o1inal <esign !sing 1ar5et and technology speci0ic
para1eters prior to deploying the net/or5. The Preli1inary design in3ol3es 3eri0ying
1orphologies, collecting data 0or propagation 1odel 3alidation, in3estigating Foning iss!es, and
site ac:!isition. ost o0 these tas5s re:!ire the engineer to be present in the 1ar5et. The
process 1!st be 0le.ible, allo/ing 1any tas5s to proceed in parallel. Typically, an iterati3e
process is e1ployed to allo/ 0le.ibility.
The 0lo/ chart belo/ (Fig!re $* is an atte1pt to organiFe a set o0 processes that occ!r
conc!rrently. Initially, the engineer needs to proceed /ith propagation 1odel 3alidation and the
1ar5et 3isit be0ore iss!ing search area 1aps. Ti1e constraints o0ten pre3ent the engineer 0ro1
0ollo/ing the e.act order o0 e3ents ill!strated. F!rther, the processes are per0or1ed in a
repeating se:!ence. As site ac:!isition ret!rns /ith candidate site locations, the RF engineer
needs to e3al!ate and accepted or re;ected the proposed site location.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #
're(uency
lan
&%aluate
Candidates
)d$ust Site
Locations
Co%erage &
*nter+erence
Cell & Radio
Count
Site
)c(uisition
Search
)rea !aps
rop !odel
Validation
Re,&%aluate
Design
Co%erage
!arket
)nalysis
Figure +: *ne Example of a Preliminary Design FloH C!art
'$/ T!e Final Design and System *ptimiGation Stage
The Final <esign in3ol3es both the deploy1ent o0 ne/ sites (/hether gro/th sites in an e.isting
syste1 or sites 0or a ne/ net/or5* and the 1aintenance o0 a co11ercially operating RF
net/or5. The goal is to achie3e a gi3en le3el o0 net/or5 per0or1ance. <eploying ne/ sites
re:!ires the engineer to establish a de0a!lt site con0ig!ration, co11ission the site, and integrate
it into the e.isting syste1. Syste1 1aintenance in3ol3es opti1iFing co3erage, 0re:!ency
planning, and pro;ecting 0!t!re gro/th. Fig!re # ill!strates one 1ethod o0 organiFing these
steps.
lan 'uture
Gro-th
"ptimi.e
System
/pdate
're(0 lan
Commission &
*ntegrate Ne- Sites

Figure 0" *ne Example of a Final Design FloH C!art
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &
+ T!e )ominal Design Stage
The 4o1inal <esign Stage is per0or1ed so that 1ar5eting ass!1ptions, co3erage ob;ecti3es, and
technical para1eters can be established and translated into a site co!nt. The site co!nt is !sed to
arri3e at a no1inal pro;ect b!dget. The ass!1ptions also ser3e as engineering g!idelines 0or the
net/or5 design. The list o0 design considerations /as presented in Chapter 2 and is repeated
belo/ in detail.
Classi0y 1ar5eting and design ob;ecti3es
<ecide on a technology and select a 3endor
<eter1ine no1inal technical para1eters 0or de0ining the e:!ip1ent speci0ications
and RF propagation en3iron1ent
63al!ate the lin5 b!dget(s*
Calc!late no1inal cell radii and deter1ine cell layo!t
<eter1ine syste1 capacity !sing 6rlang calc!lations
AnalyFe the no1inal cell co3erage !sing a propagation 1odel
<eter1ine no1inal cell and radio co!nt 0or b!dgetary p!rposes
6.isting syste1s /ill periodically re,3isit tas5s that are associated /ith the no1inal design stage.
9hen 6rlang de1and e.ceeds the net/or5 capacity, the engineer 1!st design ne/ sites to
increase the capacity. The engineer /ill !se the design process to doc!1ent technical
ass!1ptions. This doc!1entation also pro3ides a 1eans o0 trac5ing the progress o0 pro;ect (;!st
in case the boss as5s ho/ it is going*.
The 4o1inal <esign considerations listed abo3e are i1portant to designing ne/ sites, regardless
o0 /hether the operator has an e.isting syste1 or not. For a ne/ net/or5 design, the ite1s listed
1!st be care0!lly de0ined and agreed to by all parties in3ol3ed in the process (the design tea1,
ser3ice pro3ider, and e:!ip1ent 3endor*. Certain ass!1ptions /ill ha3e to be 1ade regarding
the RF en3iron1ent, s!bscriber de1and, and site con0ig!ration.
+$' Classifying -arIeting and Design *&JectiEes
The 0irst tas5 d!ring the 4o1inal <esign Stage is to translate the 1ar5eting ob;ecti3e into so!nd
engineering g!idelines. This incl!des de0ining the 1ar5et bo!ndaries, clearly stating co3erage
ob;ecti3es, and esti1ating the re:!ired 6rlang capacity per co3erage area.
+$'$' Defining -arIet 8oundaries
The FCC license re:!ire1ents and 1ar5et borders can ha3e a dra1atic a00ect on the design
ob;ecti3es. The FCC license granted to each pro3ider de0ines the 1ar5et borders !sing
geographic bo!ndaries de3eloped by the Rand,c4ally Corporation. Rand,c4ally has di3ided
the co!ntry, based on geography and econo1ic statistics, into ser3ice areas and trading areas.
These geographic borders help the engineer de0ine the cities and 1a;or high/ays that need to be
co3ered. The FCC licensing re:!ire1ents also set standards 0or 1ar5et co3erage.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A +
The FCC licenses in the -+0 =F band are di3ided into etropolitan Statistical Areas (SAs*
and R!ral Ser3ice Areas (RSAs*. These areas are co1prised o0 one or 1ore co!nties. Co!nties
/ith 1a;or cities, li5e Chicago or Pittsb!rgh, are designated as SAs. RSAs are co1prised o0
ad;acent r!ral co!nties /ith 0e/ 1a;or cities /ithin the 1ar5et borders. Capacity iss!es /ill
dri3e the design 0or an SA net/or5. An RSA net/or5 design, ho/e3er, /ill re:!ire taller sites
/ith large co3erage areas. RSAs 1ay incl!de a 0e/ sites to co3er s!b!rban areas, ho/e3er
co3erage, not capacity, is the pri1ary 0oc!s in these designs.
The FCC license re:!ire1ents 0or cell!lar operator (-+0 =F* states that the net/or5 1!st
pro3ide the licensed territory /ith RF co3erage o!t to the #$ d8! conto!r (de0ined by the FCC*.
This 1eans that the design tea1 has to protect the geographic area /ith RF co3erage, regardless
o0 pop!lation. This legal re:!ire1ent res!lts in a design that incl!des tall sites trans1itting o3er
large areas near the less inhabited 1ar5et borders. These border sites do not necessarily enhance
the net/or5 per0or1ance or capacity.
The FCC licenses in the 2%00 =F PCS bands are di3ided into a;or Trading Areas (TAs*
and 8asic Trading Areas (8TAs*. TAs are larger than 8TAs, /ith 0o!r to ten 8TAs 1a5ing
!p a single TA. These areas stretch across state lines so the engineer 1!st loo5 !p the 1ar5et
borders to deter1ine the high/ays and cities that /o!ld be considered 1a;or co3erage
ob;ecti3es.
The FCC r!les go3erning the PCS 1ar5et co3erage are based on pop!lation. The PCS ser3ice
pro3ider is re:!ired to o00er co3erage to %0J o0 the pop!lation in the 1ar5et /ithin + or 20 years
(depending on the PCS 0re:!ency bloc5*. The design, there0ore, concentrates co3erage aro!nd
the 1a;or pop!lation centers and connecting high/ays. The PCS net/or5s do not need to
pro3ide RF co3erage to re1ote areas o0 the 1ar5et, there0ore the design /ill not incl!de
Kboo1erG sites as seen in Cell!lar.
+$'$+ Defining CoEerage *&JectiEes
The design tea1 needs to arri3e at so1e clear co3erage ob;ecti3es incl!ding identi0ying the
1a;or cities and high/ays and :!ality o0 co3erage. For e.a1ple, a co3erage ob;ecti3e 1ay
re:!ire H%0J area reliability 0or in,b!ilding s!b!rban co3erageI.
The 0irst step in de0ining co3erage ob;ecti3es is to de0ine the 1orphology /ithin the targeted
cities. orphology is a ter1 !sed to characteriFe the RF en3iron1ent o0 a region. For e.a1ple,
the city o0 Philadelphia is not ho1ogeneo!s. The do/nto/n /ill contain di00erent types o0
b!ildings than the s!b!rbs. As s!ch, the radio en3iron1ent 0or each /ill be di00erent.
One e00icient /ay o0 de0ining 1orphology in the initial stages o0 the design is to rely on
pop!lation statistics 0ro1 cens!s data. Progra1s s!ch as apIn0o are !sed to geographically
represent the pop!lation statistics. The statistics are then di3ided into pop!lation density bands,
/ith each band de0ining a 1orphology. An e.a1ple o0 one set o0 land classi0ication para1eters
is pro3ided in Table 2.
Ta&le ' " Description of -orp!ological Area Types
-orp!ological
Type Area Description
Population
Density Ranges
Dense Ur&an
The central b!siness district consisting o0 1any 3ery closely gro!ped
concrete, glass, and steel rein0orced high rise b!ildings. The b!ildings
typically e.ceed 2$ stories.
$0,000L
(personsMs:. 1ile*
Ur&an
A b!siness and residential district consisting o0 1any closely gro!ped
concrete and rein0orced steel b!ildings. 8!ildings in the area range
0ro1 & to 2$ stories.
%,000 , $0,000
(personsMs:. 1ile*
Su&ur&an
A decentraliFed b!siness district 1i.ed /ith residential ho!sing.
8!ildings are closely spaced $ to + stories 1ade o0 /ood, concrete
bloc5, or bric5.
+00,%,000
(personsMs:. 1ile*
Rural
A s1all residential and b!siness pop!lation a1ongst open terrain,
hea3y 0oliage and s1all 1an,1ade str!ct!res.
0 , +00
(personsMs:. 1ile*
Pop. Density
Population per Square Mile
0 - 500
500 - 9,000
20,000 +
9,000 - 20,000
Suburban
Dense Urban
Urban
Rural
0 2
Miles
4
Figure 3" Population Density for a Test -arIet
There is one li1itation to !sing pop!lation statistics. Areas, s!ch as city par5s and central
b!siness districts, /ill appear as ha3ing a lo/ pop!lation density (i.e. r!ral propagation
characteristics*. The engineer /ill need to interpret the res!lts 0ro1 the pop!lation density
statistics.
The targeted co3erage areas ha3e no/ been de0ined to proceed /ith the design. The :!ality o0
the co3erage no/ needs to be de0ined. Area reliability is !sed to assign a :!ality 1etric to the
co3erage predictions. An accepted ind!stry standard 0or Cell!lar M PCS is %0J area reliability.
The e.act proced!re 0or calc!lating the reliability is beyond the scope o0 this class.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A )
+$'$0 Determining Traffic ReDuirements
The co3erage ob;ecti3es and tra00ic re:!ire1ents are interrelated. The capacity ob;ecti3es shape
the design by re:!iring 1ore sites in high tra00ic areas. The re:!ired capacity 0or the design 1!st
be calc!lated to properly e3al!ate the no1inal design.
For a ne/ 1ar5et, the re:!ired capacity 0or the design is typically calc!lated !sing pro;ected
s!bscriber rates. This in0or1ation can be obtained 0ro1 the b!siness plan. The operatorGs
b!siness plan 0or the 1ar5et /ill ha3e stated ob;ecti3es 0or 1ar5et penetration. The engineer has
to translate these n!1bers into an 6rlang de1and.
AEerage 8usy ,our Traffic per Su&scri&er :T
su&
;
The a3erage b!sy ho!r tra00ic per s!bscriber (T
s!b
* is de0ined as the a3erage call holding ti1e
d!ring the b!sy ho!r di3ided by one ho!r, ti1es the a3erage b!sy ho!r call atte1pts per
s!bscriber. 6:!ation 2 gi3es the 0or1al de0inition o0 the concept.
( ) T
8
One8our
0
sub sub
(in 6rlangs per s!bscriber*
EDuation '" AEerage 8usy ,our Traffic per Su&scri&er
The a3erage call holding ti1e, =, co!ld be esti1ated or assigned as a distrib!tion (either a
Poisson or @a!ssian distrib!tion*. The a3erage call atte1pts per s!bscriber, A
s!b
, is deri3ed 0ro1
statistics (i.e. a3erage call atte1pt are gi3en as a percentage o0 acti3e !sers*. 4ote that the
ans/er to 6:!ation 2 is gi3en in 6rlangs per s!bscriber. This 0ig!re /ill ha3e to be con3erted to
and 6rlang de1and.
ReDuired *ffered oad :R*;
The re:!ired o00ered load (RO"* is de0ined as the a3erage b!sy ho!r tra00ic that a partic!lar cell,
or cells, 1!st carry. The RO" is co1p!ted by 1!ltiplying the n!1ber o0 s!bscribers (Ns!bs* by
the percent o0 s!bscribers that are acti3e d!ring the b!sy ho!r, ti1es the a3erage b!sy ho!r
tra00ic per s!bscriber (T
s!b
*. The ans/er is e.pressed in 6rlangs.
( ) ( ) ( ) O. subs 0ctiveDuringBus&8our T
sub
N J (in 6rlangs*
EDuation +" T!e ReDuired *ffered oad :R*;
The n!1ber o0 s!bscribers can be deri3ed 0ro1 act!al s!bscriber rates. The percentage o0
s!bscribers acti3e at the b!sy ho!r is esti1ated or deri3ed 0ro1 the s/itch data. 4ote that the
res!lts o0 6:!ation $ can be stated as the 6rlang re:!ire1ent on a site,by,site basis or calc!lated
0or a gro!p o0 sites in a region.
The engineer con3erts the 1ar5et penetration 0ig!res into an 6rlang re:!ire1ent in the 0ollo/ing
1anner. The engineer starts by ass!1ing a 3al!e 0or tra00ic de1and per s!bscriber, T
s!b
, based
on e.perience or standard engineering practice (generally ranges 0ro1 2+ to #+ 16rl M s!b*. The
total pop!lation 0or a targeted area is then 1!ltiplied by the s!bscriber penetration rate, obtained
0ro1 the b!siness plan. This /ill pro3ide the engineer /ith an esti1ate o0 the n!1ber o0
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A -
s!bscribers to be e.pected in a gi3en region. The 6rlangs per s!bscriber, T
s!b
, 1!ltiplied by the
n!1ber o0 s!bcribers /ill res!lt in an esti1ate o0 the 6rlang re:!ire1ent 0or the area. An
e.a1ple is pro3ided belo/ to ill!strate this process.
Example" The b!siness plan 0or a ne/ 1ar5et esti1ates that the pro3ider /ill ha3e a +J 1ar5et
penetration by the 0i0th year o0 operation. I0 there are 200,000 people in the 1ar5et, /hat is the
esti1ated capacity ob;ecti3e 0or the no1inal designA
6sti1ate the 6rlang de1and per s!bscriber:
2+ 16rl M s!b (typical 0or an area /here ser3ice is not !sed o0ten*
6sti1ate the pro;ected n!1ber o0 s!bscribers in year 0i3e:
200,000 (total pop!lation* . +J (pro;ected 1ar5et penetration*
O +,000 s!bscribers in year 0i3e
6sti1ate the total 6rlang de1and on the syste1:
+,000 (s!bscribers* . 0.02+ 6rl M s!b O )+ 6rlangs
The 4o1inal <esign, there0ore, sho!ld pro3ide at least )+ 6rlangs total /ith all
sites.
There are se3eral techni:!es to help the engineer re0ine these esti1ates. 6ach techni:!e atte1pts
to distrib!te the 6rlang de1and 1ore realistically across the 1ar5et. A!to1obile tra00ic
statistics, obtained 0ro1 the State <epart1ent o0 Transportation, can be !sed to 1odel b!sy
thoro!gh0ares. A3erage 0a1ily inco1e statistics, deri3ed 0ro1 cens!s data, allo/s the engineer
to 0oc!s capacity in high inco1e neighborhoods (see Fig!re +*. These areas o0 high inco1e 1ay
be assigned a higher 6rlang per s!b since a higher percentage o0 people in the area /ill li5ely
s!bscribe to the net/or5 ser3ices. The tra00ic distrib!tion can also be 1odeled by assigning
di00erent 6rlang per s!bscriber 3al!es to di00erent 1orphologies. In this 1anner, a higher tra00ic
de1and can be assigned to !rban areas, and a lo/er tra00ic de1and assigned the r!ral areas.
Average Family
Income
$20,000 - $40,000
$0 - $20,000
$60,000 - $80,000
$40,000 - $60,000
$100,000 +
$80,000 - $100,000
0 2
Miles
4
Figure /" AEerage Family (ncome Distri&ution for a Test -arIet
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A %
Calc!lating the capacity re:!ired 0or ne/ sites in an e.isting net/or5 re:!ire 0e/er ass!1ptions.
<ata do/nloaded 0ro1 the s/itch can be analyFed to arri3e at a 3ariety o0 tra00ic 3ariables.
These 3ariables can be e3al!ated 0or the syste1 as a /hole, a s1all area o0 the net/or5, or on a
sector by sector basis. 8y co1piling tra00ic data in this /ay, the engineer can pro;ect 0!t!re
de1and and deter1ine the capacity that /ill ha3e to be o00loaded to the ne/ site(s*. The design
engineer sho!ld !se the s/itch data /hene3er it is a3ailable.
Finally, the 6rlang re:!ire1ent can be con3erted into the n!1ber o0 tra00ic channels per sector
!sing the 6rlang tables.
+$+ Deciding on a Tec!nology and Selecting a 7endor
<eciding on a technology and selecting a 3endor is one o0 the 1ost i1portant steps in the
no1inal design process. The technology !sed /ill establish basic technical para1eters that /ill
be incl!ded in the lin5 b!dget. 9itho!t these para1eters, it is i1possible to arri3e at an acc!rate
lin5 b!dget.
An e.isting net/or5 has an established 3endor and technology. There0ore, technical para1eters
0or the base station and 1obiles are already a3ailable. =o/e3er, e.isting APS 1ar5ets are
s/itching to ne/er digital technologies.
The process o0 choosing a technology can incl!de a Re:!est For In0or1ation (RFI*. This RFI is
a doc!1ent sent to 3ario!s e:!ip1ent 3endors re:!esting in0or1ation on their radio syste1s.
The responses gathered 0ro1 the RFI are then re3ie/ed to deter1ine /hich 3endor can pro3ide
the best e:!ip1ent to 1eet the b!siness ob;ecti3es. There /ill al/ays be a co1pro1ise bet/een
the cost o0 the e:!ip1ent, speed o0 i1ple1entation, and the :!ality o0 the /or5. The decision
concerning /hich technology to !se is shaped by a n!1ber o0 0actors s!ch as:
The p!rpose o0 the design: Is the design to 0ill,in co3erage holes in an e.isting 1ar5et or
is it a brand ne/ 1ar5et designA
The 0re:!ency bloc5 being !sed: Can the !ser roa1 in neighboring 1ar5etsA
The a1o!nt o0 tra00ic e.pected: Is the technology to s!pport a large n!1ber o0
s!bscribers /ith a 1ini1!1 a1o!nt o0 sites (i.e. channel re,!se*A
The c!rrent net/or5 hierarchy: 9ill the technology s!pport operations 0ro1 the present
s/itch or is a separate s/itch re:!iredA
The s!bscriber options desired in the 1ar5et: Can the costs o0 paging, 3oice 1ail, and
data trans0er options on the e:!ip1ent be ;!sti0ied by a higher 1ar5et shareA
This is not an e.ha!sti3e list o0 0actors shaping the technology decision. This list is pro3ided to
help the engineer !nderstand so1e o0 the concerns that need to be addressed /hen choosing the
technology.
+$+$' .eneral Tec!nology Types
9ireless hard/areMso0t/are e.ists to s!pport a 3ariety o0 air inter0aces. Analog technology,
co11only re0erred to as APS, relies on a Fre:!ency <i3ision !ltiple Access (F<A* air
inter0ace. <igital technologies digitally encode the 3oice or data be0ore trans1ission. <igital
syste1s !se either a Ti1e <i3ision !ltiple Access (T<A* or Code <i3ision !ltiple Access
(C<A* air inter0ace. The details o0 each technology are beyond the scope o0 this class. The
1aterial belo/ si1ply gi3es a general o3er3ie/ o0 the technologies that are co11only in !se
today.
A-PS Tec!nology :Analog= (nterim Standard //0;
Ad3anced obile Phone Syste1 (APS* is the 1ost co11on syste1 in the 'nited States and
!ses F<A technology. APS !ses analog signals prod!ced by standard F 1od!lation o0 the
3oice or data in0or1ation onto the carrier 0re:!ency. The allocated RF spectr!1 is di3ided into
#0 5=F bloc5s. 6ach #0 5=F bloc5 s!pports control channel o3erhead and one s!bscriber /ith
:!ality ser3ice. The syste1s operate e00ecti3ely i0 the carrier,to,inter0erence (CMI* ratio is 5ept
abo3e 2) d8.
This technology is grad!ally being phased o!t 0or a 0e/ reasons. The pri1ary reason is that
APS syste1s are reaching the li1its o0 their design capacity. There are also proble1s /ith
sec!rity. The ne/ digital technologies o00er 1ore !ser 0eat!res that can only be acco1plished in
APS /ith e.pensi3e add,on hard/are.
)A-PS Tec!nology :Analog= (nterim Standard ##= #2= and 2%;
4arro/band Ad3anced obile Phone Syste1 (4APS* is a otorola prod!ct, /hich red!ced
the RF spectr!1 re:!ire1ents to s!pport a s!bscriber. 'sing an F<A air inter0ace, the
technology integrates /ell /ith APS. Thro!gh hard/are and so0t/are i1ple1entations,
4APS can s!pport a s!bscriber in one 20 5=F band. In other /ords, the net/or5 pro3ider can
triple the capacity o0 a single APS channel. The syste1 does re:!ire a higher CMI ratio,
typically 2% to $2 d8.
4APS technology is especially !se0!l /here the net/or5 design calls 0or a phased b!ild o!t
d!e to increased tra00ic re:!ire1ents. 6.isting sites can be con0ig!red /ith this technology to
triple the capacity, th!s eli1inating the need 0or ne/ to/ers and site leasing. obile !nits /ere
phased in /hich can co1plete a lin5 on both 4APS and APS technology. 9hen planning
0or this integrated APSM4APS net/or5, so1e ad;!st1ents ha3e to be 1ade to the 0re:!ency
plan.
DA-PS Tec!nology :Digital= (nterim Standard /3C;
<igital Ad3anced obile Phone Syste1 (<APS* !ses APS air inter0acing 0or the set,!p
channel. =o/e3er, <APS digitally encodes the 3oice and !ses a T<A air inter0ace 0or the
3oice channels. This digital data is 1ore sec!re than the F<A syste1s, o00ering so1e degree
o0 !ser pri3acy.
6ach o0 the #0 5=F channels are split into three ti1e slots (!sers*. 9hen !pgrading an APS
syste1 /ith <APS capability, the 0re:!ency plan needs to be ad;!sted to handle the ne/
technology. <igital processing gains allo/ the technology to operate e00ecti3ely /ith a CMI ratio
bet/een 2) d8 and $0 d8. The pro3ider /o!ld also be re:!ired to phase,in ne/ 1obile !nits
that are co1patible /ith both <APS and APS.
.S- Tec!nology :Digital= PCS '2%% & European Standard;
@lobal Syste1 0or obile Co11!nications (@S* /as de3eloped in 6!rope 0or the %00 =F
band and has been translated in the 'nited States to @S PCS 2%00 (2%00 =F band*. The
allocated RF spectr!1 is bro5en into $00 5=F bloc5s. 6ach o0 the bloc5s are di3ided into - ti1e
slots (a T<A sche1e* allo/ing 0or one control channel and se3en 3oice channels. This
technology is 1ore e00icient than reg!lar APS beca!se o0 the tighter 0re:!ency re!se. The
technology can operate e00ecti3ely /ith a CMI ratio o0 2$ to 2+ d8.
@S is being be i1ple1ented in the design o0 ne/ 1ar5ets. The technology is not co1patible
/ith APS or any o0 its deri3ati3es, so it is !nli5ely that an operator /ith an e.isting APS
syste1 /o!ld choose @S. @S is a digital technology that pro3ides good 3oice :!ality and
o00ers s!bscriber options li5e te.t 1essaging, paging, call /aiting, and FAPMdata trans1ission.
S!bscriber in0or1ation is contained on integrated circ!its printed on QSI cardsMchipsQ
(S!bscriber Identity od!le*. This card allo/s the s!bscriber to tra3el into other @S 1ar5ets
carrying their billing in0or1ation on the encoded chip. The digital encoding e1ployed in
trans1issions also ser3es to sec!re the syste1 against HcloningI.
CD-A Tec!nology :Digital= (nterim Standard 2/ & 2/A;
C<A !ses a digital spread spectr!1 trans1ission sche1e, !tiliFing a 3ery large RF spectr!1
bloc5 o0 2.$+ =F. Instead o0 s!b,di3iding this bloc5 or allocating speci0ic ti1e slots, C<A
can !se this one 0re:!ency bloc5 0or a 1!ltit!de o0 !sers by assigning a !ni:!e code to each
!ser. In this /ay, 1any calls are handled on the sa1e carrier /a3e. Cno/ledge o0 the code
allo/s the 1obile to pic5 o!t and decode its intended trans1ission. Since e3ery !ser is on the
sa1e 0re:!ency, there is a 1a.i1!1 n!1ber o0 !sers that can access a cell beca!se o0
inter0erence iss!es.
C<A technology can be e1ployed in the design o0 a ne/ 1ar5et (generally in the PCS band*
or as an o3erlay to an e.isting APS syste1 (hand,o00s 0ro1 C<A to APS can be
i1ple1ented*. A syste1 designed /ith C<A technology /ill ha3e good digital 3oice :!ality
and /ill be sec!re against cloning.
+$+$+ 7endor Selection
Once a technology has been chosen 0or the pro;ect, it is necessary to decide on the e:!ip1ent
3endor(s*. The technical speci0ications sho!ld 1eet the design re:!ire1ents and sho!ld be
incorporated into the lin5 b!dget. The engineer sho!ld re3ie/ the 3endor speci0ications paying
special attention to the technical speci0ications.
The Interi1 Standards are a 1ini1!1 standard 0or de0ining the air inter0ace and hard/are
re:!ired 0or each technology. As a res!lt, there are di00erences bet/een 1an!0act!rers /ithin
the sa1e technology. So1e 3endors o00er add,on 0eat!res that /ill enable the net/or5 to
pro3ide 1ore ser3ices to the s!bscriber.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2$
Ser3ice and rep!tation 1ay deter1ine /hich 3endor recei3es the contract. The design engineer
/ill loo5 0or a good /arranty on the e:!ip1ent. There 1ay be a ser3ice contract that /ill
obligate the 1an!0act!rer to 0i. e:!ip1ent 1al0!nctions once they are installed. ?endors o0ten
incl!de engineering ser3ices along /ith the contract 0or their e:!ip1ent.
Site co,location is beco1ing a necessity in the design process. The engineer can li1it the
proble1s associated /ith co,location by care0!lly selecting a 3endor /hose e:!ip1ent 1eets the
needs. 8ase station e:!ip1ent that is sel0,contained and has a s1all pro0ile is desirable. This
li1its the need to share space in a shelter. Antennas /ith lo/ /ind loading also help. To/ers
are rated 0or a 1a.i1!1 /ind loading and by choosing s1aller antennas, the design can be
deployed on e.isting to/ers /itho!t e.ceeding the to/erGs 1a.i1!1 loading.
A general contractor can coordinate the syste1 b!ild,o!t and coordinate hard/are p!rchases at
this stage o0 the design process. So1e e:!ip1ent 3endors /ill incl!de installation contracts /ith
the p!rchase o0 the e:!ip1ent. This is appealing since their personnel are inti1ately 0a1iliar
/ith the e:!ip1ent being installed. O0ten, they can help at this stage by s!ggesting co1patible
hard/are.
An ad3isory gro!p o0 design engineers is also s!ggested d!ring the 3endor selection, ser3ing as
an i1partial third party. The ad3isory gro!p generally acts as a re3ie/ board. They can re3ie/
the Re:!est For Proposals (RFPs* 0or technical iss!es. The gro!p can re3ie/ the no1inal design
and ens!re the lin5 b!dget and e:!ip1ent speci0ications are ade:!ate.
+$0 Determining t!e Tec!nical Parameters for t!e inI 8udget
The lin5 b!dget is the 1ost i1portant aspect o0 the 4o1inal <esign. The technical para1eters
that are entered into the lin5 b!dget 1!st be researched thoro!ghly. The engineer 1!st arri3e at
lin5 b!dget 3al!es 0or the e:!ip1ent, en3iron1ental 0actors, and calc!late a reliability 1argin.
The design tea1, ser3ice pro3ider, and e:!ip1ent 3endor sho!ld agree to these 3al!es. ost o0
the no1inal design re3ie/ /ill be spent e3al!ating the 3alidity o0 the technical para1eters in the
lin5 b!dget, so it is i1portant to care0!lly de0ine these 3al!es at this stage o0 de3elop1ent.
+$0$' Tec!nical Parameters Related to t!e EDuipment
Technical para1eters relating to the e:!ip1ent is a broad category that incl!des technical
speci0ications 0or:
The base station (8S* and 1obile 1a.i1!1 trans1it po/er
8S and 1obile recei3er sensiti3ity
8S and 1obile antenna gain
Cable and connectors losses
Other e:!ip1ent speci0ications
Trans1it 0ilter
A1pli0ier
<!ple.er
Co1biner
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2#
The 3endor is an i1portant so!rce o0 in0or1ation /hen assigning 3al!es to the di00erent
technical para1eters. The base station e:!ip1ent 3endor has technical speci0ications 0or the
recei3er sensiti3ity and 1a.i1!1 trans1it po/er. They also ha3e a pre0erred e:!ip1ent
con0ig!ration.
The recei3er sensiti3ity can be calc!lated i0 the 3endor pro3ides the noise 0ig!re 0or the recei3er.
The calc!lation is gi3en in 6:!ation # belo/. 4otice that the recei3er sensiti3ity is a 0!nction o0
the 3endor speci0ied noise 0ig!re, the ther1al noise (the 5T9 ter1*, and the CMI re:!ire1ents 0or
the gi3en technology. The technology also a00ects the ther1al noise entering the recei3er. 6ach
technology de0ines the 3oice channel band/idth, 9. As the band/idth increases, the ther1al
noise also increases, th!s red!cing the recei3er sensiti3ity.
( ) * M ( log 20 R 2 C 9, kT: )ens ; + +
EDuation 0" EDuation for Calculating ReceiEer SensitiEity
9here:
5 O 8oltF1annGs constant (S2.## . 20
,$#
9 M =F C*
T O Air te1perat!re in degrees Cel3in
9 O Channel band/idth in =F
5T9 O Ther1al 4oise in the channel (in d81*
4F O 4oise Fig!re 0or the 3endor recei3er (in d8*
CMI O Carrier to Inter0erence re:!ire1ent 0or the technology (in d8*

Example" 9hat is the recei3er sensiti3ity 0or an APS base station recei3er /ith a noise 0ig!re
o0 + d8A
APS technology has a CMI re:!ire1ent o0 2) d8.
The 3oice channel has a band/idth o0 #0 5=F (#0,000 =F*
Typical air te1perat!re is #00 C
The recei3er sensiti3ity is calc!lated:
( )( ) dBm
:att
m:att
<
sec :att
81 ; =
=
<
kTB 06 . 2$%
2
2000
2
2
20 #0 #00 20 . #-2 . 2 log 20 * log( 20
# $#

1
]
1
,
_
,
_
,
_

dBm )en ; 06 . 20) 2) + 06 . 2$% R + +
The 3endor 1ay also ha3e a pre0erred base station con0ig!ration that incl!des other pieces o0
e:!ip1ent. This list o0 other e:!ip1ent is i1portant since it /ill a00ect the lin5 b!dget. The
base station e:!ip1ent typically /ill incl!de a trans1it 0ilter /hich introd!ces a loss to the lin5
b!dget. <!ple.ers and co1biners also are re:!ired at the base station.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2&
The base station e:!ip1ent 3endor o0ten e1ploys a to/er 1o!nted a1pli0ier (TA*. The
engineer 1!st identi0y the technical speci0ications and typical con0ig!ration 0or the TA.
Typically, a TA is !sed on the re3erse lin5 to o3erco1e cable losses.
Cable losses incl!de the loss associated /ith s1all dia1eter ;!1pers at the top and botto1 o0 the
to/er, the larger dia1eter coa.ial cable, and the connectors !sed to p!t the cable syste1
together. The engineer can !se 3endor catalogs to collect in0or1ation regarding cable losses.
These losses are gi3en in d8 o0 loss per 200G o0 cable. The 3al!e 0or d8M200G is dependent on
the dia1eter o0 the cable and the trans1it 0re:!ency. The engineer 1!st acco!nt 0or this /hen
deter1ining the cable losses.
The speci0ications 0or the 1obile !nit are deter1ined in the sa1e 1anner as that !sed to speci0y
the base station e:!ip1ent. A recei3er sensiti3ity is calc!lated !sing 6:!ation # and the
1a.i1!1 trans1it po/er 1!st be obtained 0ro1 the 3endor. The antenna gain sho!ld be
speci0ied by the 3endor as /ell.
The engineer 1!st 1a5e s!re that the antenna gain speci0ied 0or the 1obile is consistent /ith the
other ite1s in the lin5 b!dget. An antenna gain speci0ied in d8i re:!ires the trans1it po/er 0or
the 1obile and base stations to be entered as 6iRP. I0 antenna gains are gi3en in d8d, the
trans1it po/ers are entered as 6RP 3al!es. The engineer also 1!st acco!nt 0or the di00erent
1obile classi0ication (1a.i1!1 trans1it po/er rating* to be !sed in the 1ar5et.
+$0$+ Tec!nical Parameters Related to RF EnEironmental Factors
The lin5 b!dget incl!des ite1s that a00ect the balanced path, b!t are not part o0 the e:!ip1ent
speci0ication. These additional 0actors relate to the RF path bet/een the base station antenna and
1obile antenna. The 1ost co11on 0actors incl!ded in the lin5 b!dget are list in Table $ along
/ith so1e typical 3al!es assigned to the para1eter.
Ta&le +" EnEironmental Factors t!at Attenuate RF Signals
EnEironmental
Factor
Typical Attenuation :d8;
8!ilding Penetration $0 T 2+ d8 (!rban en3iron1ent*
2+ T 20 d8 (s!b!rban en3iron1ent*
?ehicle Penetration & T 20 d8 (all en3iron1ents*
Foliage Penetration # T 6 d8 (r!ral en3iron1ents*
=ead "oss 0.+ T $ d8 (all en3iron1ents*
<i3iding the 1ar5et into 1orphologies 0or the p!rpose o0 classi0ying the RF en3iron1ent
beco1es i1portant 0or assigning no1inal propagation characteristics in the propagation 1odel.
Typical 3al!es 0or the slope and intercept in each 1orphology are gi3en in Table # belo/ to
re0resh the st!dents 1e1ory. The st!dent sho!ld !nderstand that the 3al!es o0 slope and
intercept are dependent on the act!al en3iron1ent and the 0re:!ency range being trans1itted.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2+
Ta&le 0" Typical Slope and (ntercept 7alues per -orp!ology
-orp!ology Slope (ntercept
'rban ,&+ d8 M decade ,)% d81
S!b!rban ,#- d8 M decade ,6% d81
R!ral ,&0 d8 M decade ,6& d81
+$0$0 Relia&ility -argin Calculation
The reliability 1argin is a statistically deri3ed loss 0actor that essentially pro3ides a 1argin o0
error in the lin5 b!dget calc!lations. Since reliability 1argin is statistically deri3ed, it pro3ides
the engineer /ith a :!antitati3e 1ethod o0 deter1ining the con0idence o0 co3erage predictions.
The higher the target reliability, the larger the 1argin o0 error. For e.a1ple, a design that has
targeted %0J area co3erage reliability /ill ha3e a s1aller 1argin than a design targeting %+J
area co3erage.
+$0$3 *t!er Tec!nical Parameters
The di3ersity gain is a gain entered into the re3erse lin5 b!dget to acco!nt 0or t/o recei3e
antennas. It is /ell doc!1ented that t/o recei3e antennas placed a set distance apart /ill res!lt
in an o3erall gain. The act!al gain at any point in ti1e /ill 3ary, b!t the a3erage a00ect can be
incorporated into the lin5 b!dget (typically $ to & d8*. This gain can apply to any technology
that e1ploys di3ersity recei3e antennas at the base station.
@S has a 0eat!re called 0re:!ency hopping, /hich red!ces the re:!ired CMI 0ro1 2$d8 to %d8.
The techni:!e allo/s a single call to hop bet/een 0re:!encies on a sector, th!s li1iting the
chance that the call /ill e.perience co,channel inter0erence.
C<A handsets ha3e the ability to process !p to three signals 0ro1 three di00erent base stations.
8y co1bining signals in this /ay, the lin5 b!dget can incl!de a gain, called a so0t hando00 gain
(typically $ to & d8*.
+$3 EEaluating t!e inI 8udget
The goal o0 e3al!ating the lin5 b!dget is to arri3e at a Kbalanced pathG 0or each o0 the di00erent
base station con0ig!rations and en3iron1ental conditions. The balanced path deter1ines the
1a.i1al s!stainable path loss 0or a gi3en con0ig!ration. The 3al!e calc!lated is !sed to
deter1ine the no1inal cell radi!s and calc!late co3erage bands !sed to interpret the co3erage
predictions. The st!dent can begin to !nderstand /hy it is i1portant to thoro!ghly de0ine the
technical para1eters be0ore reaching this phase.
The signal tra3eling 0ro1 the base station (8S* to the 1obile station (S* is ter1ed the do/nlin5
(<"* or the 0or/ard lin5 (F"*. The signal tra3eling in the re3erse direction (the S to 8S* is
ter1ed the !plin5 ('"* or the re3erse lin5 (R"*. Typically, the lin5 b!dget /ill sho/ that the
re3erse lin5 is the li1iting 0actor. The 8S trans1it po/er then need to be decreased by an
a1o!nt s!00icient to balance the path to ens!re the sa1e :!ality on both lin5s.
The lin5 b!dget is an RF Kacco!ntingG ledger. The base station con0ig!ration is considered 0irst
on the 0or/ard lin5. Co11only, this /ill incl!de the antenna gain, base station trans1it po/er,
e:!ip1ent losses, reliability 1argin, and any en3iron1ental 0actors chosen by the design tea1.
The gains are added to the total /hile the losses are s!btracted. The res!lting 3al!e is a 1eas!re
o0 the 1a.i1al s!stainable path loss in the 0or/ard lin5. The re3erse lin5 path loss is e3al!ated
in the sa1e 1anner. The re3erse lin5 path loss is co1pared to the 0or/ard lin5 path loss and
ad;!st1ents are 1ade to balance the path.
An e.a1ple o0 a lin5 b!dget 0or a APS syste1 is pro3ided in Table &. AnalyFing the entries,
the st!dent can deter1ine the no1inal con0ig!ration.
The base station in this lin5 b!dget is 2+0 0eet tall s!ggesting that the lin5 b!dget is calc!lated
0or a s!b!rban site. The 3endor e1ploys a lo/ noise a1pli0ier in the re3erse lin5 that
co1pensates 0or the cable and e:!ip1ent loss. A d!ple.er, co1biner, and trans1it 0ilter are
!sed at the base station. The base station has t/o recei3e antennas pro3iding a di3ersity gain.
The 1ar5et is !sing Class # type 1obiles based on the 1obile trans1it po/er. The goal o0 the
design is %0J area reliability 0or in,b!ilding s!b!rban co3erage based on the reliability 1argin
and b!ilding atten!ation. It sho!ld also be noted that the path is balanced in the 0or/ard and
re3erse lin5s.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2)
Ta&le 3" Sample A-PS inI 8udget for Su&ur&an (n<8uilding CoEerage
inI 8udget Parameters DoHn inI Up inI
8ase Station EDuipment
Antenna @ain (in d8d* 2&.00 2&.00
Recei3er Sensiti3ity (in d81* ,200.00
"o/ 4oise A1pli0ier @ain (in d8* #.)-
a.i1!1 Trans1it Po/er (in d81* &$.00
ain Feeder "oss (2+0 0t. /ith 2.&+ d8 o0 loss per 200G* ,$.2- ,$.2-
D!1per "oss (## 0t. /ith #.00 d8 o0 loss per 200G* ,2.00 ,2.00
<!ple.er "oss ,0.60 ,0.60
Trans1it 0ilter "oss (in d8* ,$.00
<i3ersity @ain (in d8* #.00
Co1biner Insertion "oss (in d8* ,#.+0
4o1inal 6RP (d81* &6.)$
-o&ile EDuipment
Antenna @ain (in d8d* 0.00 0.00
Recei3er Sensiti3ity (in d81* ,%+.00
Trans1it Po/er (in d81* $#.0
Feeder "oss (in d8* ,0.+0 ,0.+0
EnEironmental osses
In,?ehicle Penetration (in d8* 0.00 0.00
In,8!ilding Penetration (in d8* ,-.00 ,-.00
=!1an "oss (in d8* 0.00 0.00
Reliability argin based on %0J area reliability (in d8* ,-.&0 ,-.&0
-aximum AlloHa&le Pat! oss :in d8; '+3$#+ '+3$'%
+$/ Calculating t!e Cell Radius and Determining Cell Placement
The lin5 b!dget res!lts in a 1a.i1al allo/able path loss 0or the lin5. This in0or1ation is !sed to
calc!late the no1inal cell radi!s. The no1inal cell radi!s de0ines the region o0 co3erage 0or
indi3id!al sites in the design. As s!ch, the calc!lation o0 the no1inal radi!s deter1ines ho/
1any sites are needed to 1eet the co3erage ob;ecti3es.
The calc!lation is based on the propagation 1odel !sed 0or the design. The 1ost co11on
1odels !se the 9.C.>. "ee, the =ata,O5a1!ra or COST,$#2 e:!ations. The process o0
calc!lating the no1inal cell radi!s, o!tlined belo/, is identical, regardless o0 /hich 1odel is
!sed. Recall that this e00ort is 1ade only to arri3e at a no1inal cell co!nt, /hich sho!ld be
/ithin 20J o0 the 0inal cell co!nt. The e.a1ple belo/ !sed the "ee e:!ation.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2-
( )
,
_
+
,
_
,
_
+

20
log U 20
2+0
log U 2+ log log 20
2
m b
ref
t
mi$e
% %
m
*
*
* ).
EDuation 3" W$C$1$ ee -odel
9here,
RS" O The 1edian signal le3el, in d81. In this case, it represents the recei3ed signal
at the edge o0 the cell
P21ile O The 2,ile Intercept !sed in the propagation 1odel (in d81*
Pt O The o!tp!t po/er at the antenna, calc!lated by the lin5 b!dget to pro3ide a
balanced path (6RP in /atts*
P
re0
O The re0erence trans1it 6RP (in 9atts*
1 O The slope, the rate o0 decay in signal strength (in d8 per decade*
R O The distance to a partic!lar point. In this case, it represents the edge o0 the cell
h
b
O The act!al height o0 the base station antenna in 0eet
h
m
O The act!al height o0 the 1obile antenna in 0eet
This e:!ation is 1anip!lated to sol3e 0or the distance 0ro1 the site, R. 8y s!btracting the
1a.i1al path loss 0ro1 the total base station 6RP (trans1it po/er less e:!ip1ent and cable
losses pl!s the antenna gain*, the engineer can esti1ate the recei3ed signal le3el at the cell edge.
This 3al!e is !sed in the e:!ation 0or radi!s to deter1ine the no1inal cell radi!s.
Ta&le /" )ominal Cell Radius Calculations
7aria&le 7aria&le Ur&an Su&ur&an Rural C
,ig!Hay
!& 8S Antenna =eight (0t.* 2$0V 2+0V $&0V
Pt 8S Trans1it Po/er to 6ns!re
8alanced Path (/atts*
#+
(#.$9*
#+
(#.$9*
#+
(#.$9*
RS Calc!lated 8alanced RS" (d81*
(Pt , 1a.. allo/able path loss*
,-).& ,%#.2 ,%6.-
!t obile Antenna =eight (0t.* 20V 20V 20V
n Slope (d8Mdecade* &0 #- #+
P'<mile 2,ile Intercept RS" (d81* ,6- ,+% ,+)
R )ominal Cell Radius :mi$; '$'2 0$+ 9$+2
The tas5 is no/ to 1atch the no1inal cell radii 0ro1 this calc!lation /ith a cell splitting sche1e.
The engineer 1!st 0irst deter1ine the CMI re:!ire1ents 0or the design technology. The CMI
re:!ire1ent /ill dictate the 0re:!ency re,!se sche1e and s!ggest a cell splitting strategy.
+$/$' Cell ayout Strategies
6ach technology has a speci0ied CMI re:!ire1ent to 1aintain ade:!ate good call :!ality. Table 6
gi3es typical 3al!es 0or the 3ario!s technologies.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A 2%
Ta&le 9" (nterference T!res!olds for 7arious Tec!nologies
Technology CMI Re:!ire1ent
APS 2) d8
4APS $$ d8
T<A M <APS 2) to $0 d8
@S % to 2$ d8
C<A ,2+ d8
The engineer 1!st select a 0re:!ency re,!se sche1e that, theoretically, /ill pro3ide the re:!ired
d8 separation bet/een co,channel sites. The engineer has se3eral re,!se plans to choose, each
designated by a re,!se n!1ber, 4. A 0re:!ency re,!se o0 2, #, &, ), and 2$ are all !sed by
ser3ice pro3iders. The 1ost co11on re,!se sche1es are 4 O ) or 4 O 2$. The engineer can
calc!late the inter0erence separation pro3ided by each !sing 6:!ation +. 4ote that the cell
radi!s, R, and distance to the 0irst tier re,!ser, <, change depending on the re,!se sche1e.
F!rther, /hen sol3ing 0or the CMI, it is con3enient to de0ine the distance, <, in ter1s o0 the cell
radi!s, R. This e:!ation is 3alid i0 it is ass!1ed that all base stations are trans1itting at e:!al
po/er and their radiation centerlines are the sa1e.
( )
C
2

D
n
i
n
i
i
o
2
EDuation /" T!eoretical (nterference Ratio
9here,
CMI O The carrier to inter0erence ratio seen at the 1obile (in d8*
R O The a00ecti3e co3erage radi!s o0 the cell (in 1iles*
n O The path loss e.ponent (in d8 M decade*
i
o
O The n!1ber o0 co,channel inter0ering cells
< O The distance o0 the i
th
inter0ering cell (in 1iles*
Table ) gi3es the res!lts o0 sol3ing the e:!ation abo3e 0or the 3ario!s re,!se sche1es. Fro1 this
table, it sho!ld be apparent that certain re,!se sche1es o00er logical grid layo!ts 0or the design o0
each technology. For e.a1ple, APS net/or5s re:!ire a CMI ratio o0 2) d8 /hich s!ggests a re,
!se o0 4 O ), /hile 4 O & pro3ides eno!gh separation 0or @S.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $0
Ta&le 6" T!eoretical CC( Ratio for 7arious Re<Use Sc!emes
Re,!se Sche1e, 4 Theoretical CMI Ratio
2 ,#.&2 d8
# -.&- d8
& 22.&# d8
) 2).+0 d8
2$ $2.#+ d8
The engineer no/ has a 1ethod o0 placing sites in an ordered 0ashion. 'n0ort!nately, the design
re:!ires cells o0 di00erent siFesW one radi!s 0or !rban, another 0or s!b!rban, etc. There is a
1ethod 0or 1erging di00erent siFed grids, called cell splitting.
Cell splitting pro3ides a 1athe1atical transition 0ro1 one 1orphological region to another.
Splitting is acco1plished by centering the ne.t s1aller grid on the corner or the side o0 the ne.t
larger he.agon. Fig!re 6 de1onstrates ho/ the side,split and corner,split are acco1plished.
The cell splits also help the engineer 1aintain the CMI ratio re:!ired by di00erent technologies.
:A; :8;
Figure 9 " An Example of a Corner Split :A; and a Side Split :8;
The splits also pro3ide a 1athe1atical scale bet/een the larger and s1aller grid siFes. A side,
split /ill generate a he. that is one hal0 the siFe o0 the original /hile a corner,split /ill res!lt in a
he. that has a radi!s 2 # M s1aller than the original. This 1athe1atical relationship allo/s the
engineer to 1odi0y the original no1inal cell radii so that there is a s1ooth transition bet/een
areas (see Table -*.
Ta&le #" -odifications to t!e nominal cell radius due to cell splitting
.rid
Type
Calculated
)ominal Radius
Corner<Split
:Rur& K # ;
Side<Split
:Rur& K +;
Rural 6.$% #.+) &.)6
Su&ur&an #.$0 $.06 $.#-
Ur&an 2.2% 2.2% 2.2%
Cell splitting and he. grids anticipate the need to re,!se 0re:!encies and plan their distrib!tion
thro!gho!t the net/or5. The no1inal design does not re:!ire a 0re:!ency plan. It is i1portant,
tho!gh, to design the net/or5 so that spacing bet/een the sites allo/s 0or easy 0re:!ency re,!se
(see Fig!re )*.
2
$
)
&
6
#
+
2
)
&
6
+
2
$
)
&
6
#
+
2
$
)
&
6
#
+
$
)
&
6
#
+
2
$
)
&
6
#
+
2
)
&
6
#
+
:A;
&
#
2
$
&
#
2
$
&
#
2
$
&
#
2
$
&
#
2
$
&
#
2
&
#
$
:8;
#
2
$
#
2
$
2
$
#
2
$
#
2
$
#
2
$
#
2
$
:C;
Figure 6" T!ree different re<use patterns= ) > 6 :A;= ) > 3 :8;= ) > 0 :C;
So1e ca!tion 1!st be practiced /hen choosing a re,!se sche1e and cell splitting techni:!e. For
e.a1ple, li1its do e.ist regarding the cell splits allo/ed by each 4,0actor re,!se pattern. The 4
O ) pattern allo/s both side,splitting and corner,splitting. =o/e3er, the engineer can only !se
corner,splits /hen !sing an 4 O & (note the proble1 /ith 0re:!ency planning presented in Fig!re
-*. The 4 O # re,!se pattern does not allo/ 0or any 0!rther splitting, so it sho!ld be reser3ed 0or
special circ!1stances.
2
$
#
&
Figure #" An Example of t!e FreDuency Planning Pro&lems Associated Hit! ) > 3 Side Split
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $$
+$9 Creating t!e ProJect in a Propagation Prediction Tool
The propagation 1odel !sed 0or co3erage predictions is 1ore than an RF tool. The 1odel allo/s
the engineer to de3elop sophisticated graphical displays that aid in the place1ent o0 sites and aid
in e3al!ating the design co3erage. It is i1portant that the pro;ect ha3e the necessary data and
para1eters set!p to acc!rately r!n predictions. It is e:!ally i1portant the pro;ect incl!des
geographic and data base re0erences to aid in the place1ent o0 sites.
+$9$' Data ReDuired for CoEerage Predictions
The propagation prediction tools are terrain,based 1odels. The 1odel re:!ires a database o0
terrain ele3ations 0or the 1ar5et. These databases can be obtained 0ro1 the 'nited States
@eological Ser3ice ('S@S*.
RF energy can be di00racted by obstr!ctions that lie bet/een the 1obile and base station.
<i00erent tools 1odel this sit!ation in 3ario!s /ays. WIZARD
X
1odels the terrain obstr!ctionGs
a00ect by i1ple1enting Cni0e 6dge <i00raction (C6<*.
Cl!tter data can be !sed to 1odel bo!ndaries bet/een di00erent propagation en3iron1ents. For
e.a1ple, a cl!tter 0ile 1ay be created to de0ine di00erent atten!ations 0or !rban, s!b!rban, and
r!ral 1orphologies. As 1ore in0or1ation is gathered abo!t the 1ar5et, sophisticated cl!tter 0iles
can 0!rther di3ide the 1ar5et into regions o0 hea3y 0oliage and open 0ields.
'rban areas o0ten present proble1s /hen atte1pting to r!n acc!rate co3erage predictions. This
is d!e to the s!rro!nding b!ildings that can re0lect, re0ract, and g!ide the RF energy in a
1!ltit!de o0 /ays. It is help0!l to incorporate a b!ilding database in these areas.
+$9$+ Data Suggested for t!e ProJect
So1e ite1s are not i1portant to the operation and predicti3e capability o0 the 1odel. =o/e3er,
so1e pict!res and graphic o3erlays bro!ght into the 1odel help the engineer by o00ering a 0ra1e
o0 re0erence.
O3erlays /ithin the propagation 1odel are 1ore than cos1eticW they o00er a re0erence to the
engineer. 4o1inal cell sites need to be placed in the 1ar5et at speci0ic geographic locations
re0erenced to the co3erage ob;ecti3es (city bo!ndaries or high/ays*. Se3eral general o3erlays
sho!ld be incl!ded in e3ery pro;ect to pro3ide a 3is!al re0erence. These o3erlays pro3ide
bo!ndaries 0or the pro;ect and in0or1ation on s!bscriber locations. The 1ost 3al!able o3erlays
to incl!de /hen deciding /here to place sites are:
ar5et bo!ndaries
City bo!ndaries
Interstates and 'S high/ays
Pop!lation density or so1e other s!bscriber,oriented 1ap
=e.agonal grids 0or site place1ent (one grid 0or each area type*
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $#
This list o0 o3erlays aid in cell site place in 1any /ays. The 1ar5et bo!ndaries, city bo!ndaries
and high/ay 1aps are help0!l re0erences in identi0ying targeted cities and high/ays. The
pop!lation density o3erlay, de3eloped /hile de0ining the co3erage ob;ecti3es, pro3ides a 1ore
detailed re0erence o0 /here s!bscribers are located in the 1ar5et. Finally, the he.agonal grid
gi3es the engineer a re0erence to the theoretical distance that sho!ld be 1aintained bet/een sites.
<e3eloping one 0or each 1orphological region allo/s the engineer to clearly see /here the cell
splits need to occ!r.
The ne.t set o0 o3erlays ser3e as i1portant re0erences in deter1ining /here sites sho!ld not be
placed. These o3erlays incl!de:
8odies o0 /ater
icro/a3e path database (especially 0or PCS bands*
Airports database
9itho!t the /ater o3erlay, it is di00ic!lt to deter1ine i0 the cell site is being placed on a ri3er or
s1all la5e. The PCS bands !se spectr!1 c!rrently occ!pied by inc!1bent 1icro/a3e !sers.
These 1icro/a3e lin5s 1!st be re,located to the 6 @=F band be0ore a 1ar5et is b!ilt,o!t. An
o3erlay o0 licensed 1icro/a3e !sers can aid in 0inding and clearing the spectr!1. Finally, FAA
r!les li1it the height o0 to/ers near airports. The engineer sho!ld incl!de a database o0 1a;or
and 1inor airports located /ithin the 1ar5et to a3oid proble1s /ith to/er location.
any 1ar5ets are being designed !sing a large percentage o0 e.isting to/ers. Indeed, so1e PCS
pro3iders set a goal that &0J to )0J o0 the design sites be co,located /ith e.isting str!ct!res.
The 0ollo/ing data bases can aid the engineer in 1eeting these ob;ecti3es.
8!ilding database
FAA M FCC To/er database
ost o0 this in0or1ation can be p!rchased co11ercially or created by the design tea1. SAFCO
Technologies, Inc.Gs WIZARD
X
propagation tool s!pports a database o0 FAA and FCC to/ers.
WIZARD
X
also allo/s the engineer to i1port .IF 0iles generated in apIn0o
X
. There are
literally doFens o0 databases 0or1atted 0or display in apIn0o
X
/hich allo/s the engineer to
generate any type o0 o3erlay needed 0or the pro;ect. I0 a database is not a3ailable, digitiFed 1aps
generated /ith a CalCo1p digitiFing board can be !sed. This pro3ides the engineer e3en 1ore
0le.ibility in b!ilding rele3ant databases.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $&
Figure 2" An example of geograp!ic oEerlays
+$6 AnalyGing )ominal Cell CoEerage
The goal o0 the no1inal design is to arri3e at a no1inal site co!nt. The n!1ber o0 sites re:!ired
to 1eet the design ob;ecti3es is deter1ined by e3al!ating the theoretical co3erage. The engineer
needs to con0ir1 that the 1ar5eting ob;ecti3es earlier de0ined are being 1et. These incl!ded:
Targeted cities and high/ays
<e0ined 1orphological regions /ithin the targeted areas
In,b!ilding, in,3ehicle, or o!tdoor co3erage per region
Area co3erage reliability
Typically, the co3erage prediction is based on a strongest ser3er type analysis. The strongest
ser3er analysis does not re:!ire a 0re:!ency planW it is si1ply an e3al!ation o0 the RF signal
strength. The engineer !ses this prediction to deter1ine i0 any co3erage holes e.ist /ithin the
targeted regions. Co3erage holes /ill occ!r at di00erent RS" 3al!es 0or each o0 the co3erage
conditions. The path loss and trans1it po/ers 0or the !rban, s!b!rban, and r!ral /ill res!lt in
di00erent RS"s at the cell edge.
I0 holes are identi0ied, the engineer 1ay ha3e to 1o3e or add 1ore sites to the design. The holes
1ay be the res!lt o0 hilly terrain. The co3erage sho!ld be 5ept /ithin the 1ar5et region, as /ell.
The /hole process o0 ad;!sting site locations, adding sites, and e3al!ating co3erage /ill !ndergo
se3eral iterations !ntil the design 1eets the co3erage ob;ecti3es.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $+
The design tea1 1!st be allo/ed so1e latit!de to 1a5e these ad;!st1ents. The ser3ice pro3ider
sho!ld be prepared to set so1e priorities 0or the co3erage ob;ecti3es. This 1ay be a set o0 high
priority targeted cities and interstates. Co3erage ob;ecti3es e.cl!ded 0ro1 the priority list need
to be co3ered, ho/e3er the criteria 1ay be rela.ed. The pro3ider /ill typically 1a5e allo/ances
o0 this sort by designating so1e areas as re:!iring contig!o!s co3erage and other lo/ priority
areas as non,contig!o!s co3erage. Another 1ethod that can be !sed is to ad;!st the atten!ation
re:!ire1ents 0or 3ario!s en3iron1ents. For e.a1ple, the design 1ay only ha3e to pro3ide in,
3ehicle co3erage 0or s!b!rban areas o!tside 1a;or 1etropolitan areas instead o0 the typical in,
b!ilding co3erage.
The no1inal design is generated to arri3e at a b!dgetary esti1ate 0or the pro;ect. It does not
res!lt in a per0ect design, ready 0or co11ercial deploy1ent. The lin5 b!dget /as e3al!ated
!sing certain ass!1ptions. The propagation 1odel !sed to predict the co3erage is !n,opti1iFed.
There are !ncertainties associated /ith the design. 8y care0!lly establishing the lin5 b!dget
para1eters, tho!gh, the engineer sho!ld be able to arri3e at a no1inal site co!nt that /ill be
/ithin 20J o0 the 0inal design co!nt. An e.a1ple o0 one s!ch no1inal design is gi3en in Fig!re
20.
Figure '%" T!e nominal design coEerage
+$# Determining t!e Design Capacity
The design has reached a stage /here the no1inal sites are placed and the co3erage is dee1ed to
1eet the design ob;ecti3es. The design tea1 1!st no/ deter1ine i0 the design has the capacity
to 1eet the pro;ected s!bscriber de1and.
One o0 the 0irst steps ta5en in the no1inal design /as to translate the s!bscriber rates into an
6rlang de1and. To e3al!ate the 6rlang capacity, the engineer starts /ith the n!1ber o0 sites
(sectors* !sed to pro3ide co3erage o0 the 1ar5et. Fro1 the cell site co!nt, the n!1ber o0 tra00ic
channels a3ailable 0or each sector can be deter1ined. The technology !sed in the design is also a
0actor in deter1ining the tra00ic channels per sector. =o/e3er, a capacity co1parison bet/een
the di00erent technologies is beyond the scope o0 this class.
Once the tra00ic channels per sector has been deter1ined, the engineer !ses one o0 the 6rlang
tables (6rlang 8, 6rlang C, or Poisson* to con3ert the n!1ber o0 channels into an o00ered load
0or each sectors. !ltiplying the o00ered load by the n!1ber o0 sectors in the syste1 res!lts in
the syste1 6rlang capacity. The designGs capacity is co1pared to the 1ar5eting pro;ections to
deter1ine i0 the design 1eets the capacity re:!ire1ents o0 the design.
+62
)$%
ar5et 2
ar5et $
2st >r 6rlang Pro;. $nd >r 6rlang Pro;. #rd >r 6rlang Pro;.
&th >r 6rlang Pro;. +th >r 6rlang Pro;. 6th >r 6rlang Pro;.
<esign Capacity (6rlang*
Figure ''" A Comparison of Design Capacity and ProJected Erlang Demand :1ears ' A 9;
It is clear that both ar5et 2 and ar5et $ 1eet the capacity ob;ecti3es o!t to the si.th year.
This capacity is pro3ided !sing cells designed to 1eet the co3erage ob;ecti3es. =ad the
pro;ected de1and e.ceeded the design capacity, the engineer /o!ld be 0orced to add additional
sites to the co3erage design to 1eet the de1and.
+$2 Determining )ominal Site Count and 8udget
It is i1portant 0or the design tea1 to generate a report o!tlining the res!lts o0 the no1inal design.
The report /ill incl!de all the in0or1ation necessary to assess the design. This in0or1ation
sho!ld clearly state the ass!1ptions that /ere incl!ded in the design. These ass!1ptions are
typically s!11ariFed in the no1inal lin5 b!dget. The report /ill incl!de plots and tables that
s!11ariFe the co3erage ob;ecti3es !sed to g!ide the design e00orts. Plots indicating the no1inal
co3erage, generated by the propagation 1odel, /ill also be incl!ded. These plots sho!ld indicate
the RS" 0or each co3erage band. The slope and intercept 3al!es !sed 0or each en3iron1ent are
also necessary to interpret the co3erage predictions.
This stage o0 the design is a good point 0or a design re3ie/. The design ass!1ptions and res!lts
are the critical iss!es that 1!st be disc!ssed in the re3ie/. ?ery o0ten, the lin5 b!dget is the
1ain topic since it s!11ariFes all the design ass!1ptions. I0 agree1ent can be reached on the
lin5 b!dget, the design is generally accepted as 3alid. The co3erage is disc!ssed to ens!re that
the co3erage is ade:!ate (i.e. the targeted cities and high/ays are co3ered and co3erage holes, i0
any, are e.plained*.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $)
All the participants in3ol3ed in the syste1 b!ild o!t need to be present at this re3ie/ 1eeting.
The design tea1 e.plains the design and ans/er :!estions abo!t the 1ethodology. The ser3ice
pro3ider (or boss* /ill also be present d!ring the re3ie/ to ens!re that all the co3erage and
1ar5eting ob;ecti3es are 1et. It is strongly s!ggested that the 1eeting incl!de the e:!ip1ent
3endor and any contractors (site ac:!isition, site constr!ction, etc.*. Personnel 0ro1 these
organiFations can pro3ide 3al!able inp!t. They can point o!t iss!es in3ol3ed in the constr!ction
and b!ild o!t that ha3e not been addressed yet.
The no1inal design report /ill also aid in de3eloping a b!dget 0or the rest o0 the pro;ect. The
design tea1 de3eloped the net/or5 based on 1ar5eting and engineering g!idelines. Pro;ect cost
/as a secondary concern. The ser3ice pro3ider /ill 1ost certainly 3ie/ the b!dget as a pri1ary
concern and o0ten re:!est changes to the site co!nt in an atte1pt to contain costs. The goal o0
the design engineer is to clearly e.plain the tradeo00s in3ol3ed in red!cing the site co!nt.
Co3erage 1ay be sacri0iced to 5eep the cost in line /ith the c!sto1erGs de1and. The engineer
can help by s!ggesting changes to the design that /ill ha3e a lo/ i1pact on the o3erall 1ar5et
co3erage. "i1iting high/ay co3erage is one s!ggestion. Rela.ing co3erage re:!ire1ents in
o!tlying areas to pro3iding in,3ehicle co3erage, instead o0 in,b!ilding co3erage, /ill also help
red!ce site co!nt.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $-
0 T!e Preliminary Design Stage
The Preli1inary <esign is the application o0 1ar5et speci0ic para1eters and conditions to the
4o1inal <esign. The goal is to re0ine the 4o1inal <esign !sing 1ar5et and technology speci0ic
para1eters prior to deploying the net/or5. This stage o0 de3elop1ent in3ol3es a lot o0
0ield/or5 to address iss!es s!ch as 3eri0ying 1orphologies, collecting data 0or propagation
1odel 3alidation, in3estigating Foning iss!es, and site ac:!isition.
The preli1inary design re:!ires coordination and good co11!nication bet/een se3eral parties.
The pro;ect /ill in3ol3e the design tea1, the ser3ice pro3ider, a site ac:!isition tea1, and the
e:!ip1ent 3endor. The design /ill change as Foning and site ac:!isition 0orce site locations to
be ad;!sted. Ti1e lines /ill be 1o3ed as e:!ip1ent and bac5ha!l delay installation. In the end,
a good preli1inary design /ill ha3e contingency plans that allo/ /or5 to contin!e despite these
delays. A list o0 considerations, presented in Chapter 2, is gi3en belo/ to re3ie/ the steps ta5en
d!ring the Preli1inary <esign Stage.
?eri0y 1ar5et en3iron1ental para1eters thro!gh 1ar5et analysis
?alidate the propagation 1odel thro!gh RF testing
<e3elop a preli1inary design and iss!e search area 1aps
AnalyFe candidate cell sites and ac:!ire site leases
<eter1ine 0inal cell and radio co!nt 0or syste1 deploy1ent
0$' T!e -arIet Analysis
The 1ar5et analysis ser3es as a bridge bet/een the no1inal design and the preli1inary design.
<!ring the 1ar5et analysis the engineer /ill 3alidate the 1orphology o0 each targeted area and
note 1an,1ade str!ct!res or terrain 0eat!res that /ill present proble1s. The engineer can
pro3ide 3al!able in0or1ation on 1ar5et speci0ic co3erage ob;ecti3es not acco!nted 0or in the
no1inal design (ball par5s, 1a;or airports, con3ention centers, etc.*.
The only /ay to 3eri0y all these ass!1ptions is 0or the engineer to 3isit the 1ar5et. The 1ar5et
analysis /ill assist in the ne.t step (P?* by ac:!iring test sites.
0$'$' Preparing for t!e -arIet 7isit
ar5ets generally co3er large geographic areas. It /o!ld be i1possible to in3estigate the entire
region in detail. There0ore, it is /ise to narro/ the scope o0 the trip be0ore e3er lea3ing the
o00ice. The trip sho!ld concentrate on areas /here the s!bscribers are located and the
identi0ication o0 proble1 areas.
The pop!lation density 1aps, de3eloped d!ring the no1inal design, pro3ide 1aterial 0or
0oc!sing on partic!lar regions. The pop!lation density splits the targeted cities into 0o!r general
1orphological types: dense !rban, !rban, s!b!rban, and r!ral. 8y di3iding the 1ar5et in this
1anner, the engineer has an idea o0 /hich cities are a priority 0or the 1ar5et 3isit. The engineer
can 0!rther re0ine the scope o0 the 3isit by loo5ing at the a3erage 0a1ily inco1e 0or gi3en
regions. Concentrations o0 high pop!lation and high inco1e /ill be in3estigated 0irst.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A $%
Se3eral other so!rces o0 in0or1ation e.ist to aid in planning the 1ar5et 3isit. a;or
thoro!gh0ares into the targeted cities can be identi0ied !sing road 1aps. Co3erage 0or
co11!ters along these roads /ill be a priority. The State <OT /ill o0ten ha3e statistics on
3ehic!lar tra00ic to help identi0y 5ey roads. The Cha1ber o0 Co11erce can help identi0y
congested roads and the appro.i1ate ti1es o0 r!sh ho!r, as /ell.
The local Cha1ber o0 Co11erce can also assist in planning the 3isit by pro3iding in0or1ation
abo!t local e3ents and 0acilities. The Cha1ber o0ten has broch!res and in0or1ation pac5ages
that identi0y area airports, con3ention centers, and stadi!1s.
Identi0ying areas o0 ro!gh terrain can also be !sed to 0oc!s the 1ar5et 3isit on i1portant iss!es
applicable to the design. The co3erage predictions de3eloped d!ring the no1inal design /ill
typically direct the engineerGs attention to proble1 areas. Topographic 1aps can be !sed to
identi0y areas /here dra1atic ele3ation changes or rolling hills /ill a00ect the RF propagation.
The topographic 1ap in Fig!re 2$, 0or e.a1ple, indicates a region o0 interest that sho!ld be
targeted d!ring the 3isit. 4otice that the terrain appears 1ost r!gged in the so!thern part o0 the
1ar5et. Co3erage areas in this region sho!ld be a priority o0 the 3isit.
Figure '+" A Topograp!ic -ap of a Sample -arIet :note t!e terrain in t!e sout!;
Speci0ic e:!ip1ent sho!ld be pac5ed 0or the 1ar5et 3isit. A hand,held @PS !nit is !se0!l 0or
pinpointing the coordinates o0 sites identi0ied in the 1ar5et. These sites can be added to a to/er
database as a co,location candidate. The sites can also be !sed as test sites 0or the propagation
1odel 3alidation. It is i1portant to doc!1ent the 1ar5et !sing an a!dio tape recorder, a ca1era
/ith plenty o0 0il1, and a laptop. A cell!lar phone can be !sed as a si1ple 1eas!re1ent de3ice.
The engineer can do cr!de 1eas!re1ents o0 the co1petitorVs co3erage, noting /here co3er is
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #0
poor. At ti1es, it is !se0!l to ha3e a co1pass and binoc!lars. This list o0 e:!ip1ent /ill allo/
the engineer to 0!lly doc!1ent the 1ar5et 0or 0!t!re re0erence bac5 at the o00ice.
Finally, the engineer /ill /ant to dra/ on the in0or1ation gathered d!ring the no1inal design
stage. It is !se0!l to pac5 1aps and plots generated by the design tea1. These ite1s ser3e as a
re0erence /hen trying to identi0y co3erage proble1s seen in the no1inal design or deter1ine
/here di00erent 1orphologies lie. A list o0 co11on re0erences 0ro1 the no1inal design is listed
belo/.
A plot o0 the 4o1inal <esign co3erage predictions
A plot o0 the Pop!lation <ensity (0or identi0ying 1orphologies*
A plot o0 the A3erage Fa1ily Inco1e
Topographic 1aps
Care0!l preparation is essential. 8y preparing 0or the 3isit, the engineer ens!res that the 1ar5et
/ill be properly classi0ied. The in0or1ation gathered /ill be acc!rate and the ti1e spent in the
0ield /ill be !sed e00iciently.
0$'$+ T!e -arIet 7isit
A 1a;or ob;ecti3e o0 the 1ar5et analysis is to 3isit each 1orphological area to con0ir1 the
classi0ications 1ade d!ring the no1inal design. 8ased on the 1orphology, the engineer can then
esti1ate the b!ilding atten!ation and propagation losses. Co3erage plots 0ro1 the no1inal
design /ill direct the engineer to areas /here the co3erage 1ay be poor.
As the engineer tra3els thro!gh the 1ar5et, notes sho!ld be ta5en on the tra00ic, 0oliage and
terrain along the road. Co3erage holes indicated along the high/ay in the no1inal design 1ay
not be a concern i0 the road/ay is ele3ated. Co11on obstr!ctions sho!ld also be identi0ied.
Tra00ic in0or1ation can also be !sed to eli1inate or add roads to the co3erage ob;ecti3es. For
instance, tra00ic statistics 1ay indicate that high/ay P carries a 1a;ority o0 tra00ic into the city.
The 1ar5et 3isit 1ay re3eal that a ne/ 0o!r lane high/ay has been b!ilt to alle3iate congestion.
The 1ar5et 3isit is also a good chance to s!r3ey the co1petitors co3erage in the 1ar5et and
obtain pricing rates 0or their ser3ices. The engineer can !se a standard cell!lar phone to
deter1ine /here each ser3ice pro3ider has good co3erage or poor co3erage. ?isiting the local
retail o!tlets allo/s the engineer to gather in0or1ation abo!t the co1petitorGs rates and ser3ice.
O0ten, the sales representati3es /ill o00er in0or1ation abo!t to/er locations in the ser3ice area.
The other goal o0 the 1ar5et 3isit is to obtain per1ission to r!n propagation tests. The test sites
are chosen based on the no1inal design and areas o0 interest /ithin the 1ar5et. The engineer
needs to identi0y sites that are representati3e o0 each RF en3iron1ent (!rban, s!b!rban, and
r!ral*. The total n!1ber o0 test sites sho!ld e:!al 20J , 2+J o0 the no1inal site co!nt. These
test sites /ill be !sed to obtain 1ar5et speci0ic propagation para1eters 0or each o0 the
1orphologies. There0ore, it is i1portant that the sites are distrib!ted e3en across each
1orphology.
So1e test sites /ill also be chosen based on area speci0ic challenges. The engineer 1ay choose
to test a do/nto/n site in order to in3estigate 1!lti,path inter0erence, 0or instance. Another test
site 1ay be chosen based on the ro!gh terrain in the area.
'lti1ately, the engineer sho!ld identi0y test sites and obtain /ritten per1ission to !se the
3ario!s locations. The engineer sho!ld ha3e a standardiFed "etter o0 Intent ("OI*. The "OI is a
legal doc!1ent that o!tlines the !se o0 the property 0or a gi3en period 0or the p!rpose o0 RF
testing. The "OI sho!ld incl!de the 0ollo/ing in0or1ation:
"atit!de and "ongit!de o0 the site
Type o0 test site (Ra/ land or 6.isting str!ct!re*
Appro.i1ate ele3ation o0 e.isting test site str!ct!res (i0 there are any*
Points o0 contact and phone n!1bers
<irections to the site
Pict!res o0 the test site area
Site Address
Obtaining test sites is critical to the s!ccess o0 the propagation st!dies. A site ac:!isition
contractor can help in this endea3or by sched!ling the tests and arranging 0or pay1ents i0
necessary.
0$+ Propagation -odel 7alidation
The 3alidation st!dies are 3ital to the preli1inary design. These st!dies allo/ the engineer to
opti1iFe the propagation 1odel 0or each o0 the 1orphologies. The 3alidation st!dies res!lt in
hard data (decay slope, 2,1ile intercept, and a 1eas!rable degree o0 certainty in the predicted
1odel*. This data beco1es part o0 the pro;ect and ser3es as the 0o!ndation 0or 0!t!re
propagation predictions.
0$+$' Collecting DriEe Test Data for t!e Propagation Study
A lot o0 attention sho!ld be paid to the preparation and organiFation o0 a test site tea1. The test
tea1 sho!ld be ad3ised on the testing para1eters be0ore heading o!t to the 1ar5et. These
para1eters are listed belo/:
Test site locations, directions to the site, contact na1es and phone n!1bers, (deri3ed
0ro1 the co1pleted "OIs*.
The site str!ct!re (e.isting to/er, b!ilding or crane*.
Sched!ling
Sites (a!thoriFation, dates, access*
6:!ip1ent (test tea1 e:!ip1ent and rental 3ehicles*
Contractors (dri3ers, cranes, sec!rity*
<ri3e Test Tea1s (0lights, hotels, personnel*
Prepare dri3e ro!tes
<ri3e ro!te can be speci0ied as bo!nd areas or as speci0ic roads to be dri3en
Pro3ide dri3e test speci0ication sheet to dri3e test tea1 0or each site.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #$
Speci0y site con0ig!ration (6RP, height, antenna type, orientation, test
0re:!ency*
<ri3e ro!tes need to be de0ined so that there are an e:!al a1o!nt o0 data collected on roads that
radiate o!t 0ro1 the site and roads that cross perpendic!lar to the line,o0,sight. The ro!tes
sho!ld also be designed to stay /ithin a 1orphological region since the ob;ecti3e is to test
1orphologies separately. The engineer sho!ld be care0!l to collect a s!00icient a1o!nt o0 data
0or each test site. There 1!st be a large n!1ber o0 data points (generally +00 data points or
1ore* in order to deri3e 1eaning0!l statistics. For the data to be 3alid, the "ee sa1pling criteria
has to be 1et. This criteria states that the e:!ip1ent 1!st be able to collect data +0 ti1es in
e3ery &0 /a3elengths. This is not di00ic!lt to achie3e and !s!ally is not a concern in this type o0
testing.
0$+$'$' Data Post Processing
There /ill generally be so1e processing o0 the data in the 0ield. It is a good habit to re3ie/ the
dayGs 0iles that e3ening to ens!re that the data is good. The 0ield tea1 1!st be able to recogniFe
/hen a 0ile is corr!pt or the data is !seless. 8y detecting a corr!pt 0ile /hile still in the 0ield, the
engineer has the opport!nity to re,sched!le the dri3e test. 8ad data detected at the o00ice re:!ires
a second trip to the 1ar5et and hence additional incon3enience and e.penses.
The propagation 1odel opti1iFation is per0or1ed in the o00ice a0ter all testing has been
co1pleted. The goal is to arri3e at 1ar5et speci0ic slope and intercept 0or each o0 the
en3iron1ents. =o/e3er, the data 1!st be 0iltered 0irst to re1o3e any biases that occ!r in the
data.
For 3alidating the propagation 1odel, data collected /ithin one 1ile o0 the site 1!st be 0iltered
o!t. <ata collected /ithin one 1ile o0 the test site /ill be highly dependent on the i11ediate
en3iron1ent, incl!ding 1an 1ade str!ct!res. Signal statistics /ithin one 1ile ha3e been sho/n
to 0ollo/ a Rician distrib!tion (a single strong co1ponent /ith /ea5er spectral co1ponents*.
This data can not be !sed in the opti1iFation o0 the propagation 1odel since 1ost 1odels ass!1e
log nor1al distrib!tion 0or the RF signal.
The la/s o0 physics state that a recei3ed signal cannot be greater than the 0ree space path loss.
This li1it is stated in 6:!ation 6. This e:!ation res!lts in an !pper li1it to the data that can be
!sed. The engineer 1!st 0ilter o!t any data that is stronger than this !pper li1it. I0 a larger
a1o!nt o0 data is abo3e this li1it, an inter0ering so!rce is ass!1ed to be present and the entire
data set 1ay be corr!pt.
FS > +%K*.:R; L +%K*.:f; L 09$/#
EDuation 9" Free Space oss EDuation
9here:
FS" O Free Space "oss in d8
R O The distance 0ro1 the trans1itting antenna in 1iles
f O The 0re:!ency o0 operation in =F
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A ##
A lo/er li1it is also applied to the data. It is reasonable to ass!1e dat!1 that is recorded belo/
the recei3erGs noise 0loor is in3alid. There0ore, the engineer 1!st 0ilter o!t any 1eas!re1ent
belo/ this 3al!e. The noise 0loor o0 a recei3er can be calc!lated !sing 6:!ation ).
)F > '%K*.:IT8; L 0%
EDuation 6" EDuation for t!e )oise Floor of a ReceiEer
9here:
5 O 8oltF1anGs constant (2.#-2.20
,$#
DMC*
T O Te1perat!re in degrees Cel3in
8 O The recei3erGs band/idth (=F*
The dri3e test data consists o0 "ocal eans, 1eas!re1ents o0 s1all, localiFed points. In
WIZARD
X
, these local 1eans are p!t into bins according to the pro;ect terrain grid. The data are
a3eraged to deri3e the local area 1ean ("A* 0or the speci0ic terrain bin, i0 1ore than one dat!1
lies inside o0 a bin (see Fig!re 2#*. The dri3e test data is no/ in a 0or1at that allo/s WIZARD
X
to co1pare it to the RS"s predicted by the 1odel.
Figure '0" AEerage DriEe Test Data Wit!in a 8in
0$+$+ Performing Data Analysis to *&tain *ptimiGed Slope and (ntercept
Regardless o0 /hich propagation 1odel is !sed by the design tea1, the progra1 /ill ha3e so1e
process to i1port the 1eas!red data, r!n predictions, and co1pare the res!lts /ith the data. The
res!lt o0 this analysis /ill be a set o0 opti1iFed propagation para1eters. These opti1iFed
para1eters /ill be !sed to per0or1 1ore acc!rate predictions. The 3al!es deri3ed /ill be
speci0ic to the 1ar5et and speci0ic to the di00erent 1orphologies. A plot o0 the 1eas!red data,
the predicted RS", and the delta help e.plain the propagation 1odel opti1iFation (see Fig!re
2&*.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A
Terrain
8in
"ocal
eans
"ocal Area
eans
#&
-125
-100
-75
-50
-25
0
25
50
0 0.5 1 1.5
Log1distance +rom transimtter in miles2
R
e
c
e
i
%
e
d

S
i
g
n
a
l

L
e
%
e
l

1
d
B
m
2
Meas Pred Dela
Figure '3" Plot of t!e -easured Data Es$ Predicted :Un<*ptimiGed -odel;
The st!dent sho!ld note that the predictions do not line !p /ith the 1eas!re1ents ta5en in the
0ield. The delta plot, at the top, is not centered on the Fero a.is /hich also points to an !n,
opti1iFed 1odel. An e.a1ple o0 the co1parison 0or an opti1iFed slope and intercept is gi3en in
Fig!re 2+.
-125
-100
-75
-50
-25
0
25
50
0 0.5 1 1.5
Log1distance +rom transmitter in miles2
R
e
c
e
i
%
e
d

S
i
g
n
a
l

L
e
%
e
l

1
d
B
m
2
Meas Pred Dela
Figure '/" Plot of t!e -easured Data Es$ Predicted :*ptimiGed -odel;
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #+
4ote that the predicted 3al!es line !p /ell /ith the 1eas!red data. 9hile not per0ect, the delta
bet/een the 1eas!red and predicted 3al!es a3erages to Fero. This indicates that the slope and
intercept 3al!es 0or this prediction prod!ce the best 0it.
The engineer per0or1s this analysis 0or all sites tested. These opti1iFed 3al!es are separated
based on the 1orphology. A3eraging the slopes and intercepts 0or all the !rban tests /ill gi3e
the engineer the opti1iFed 3al!es 0or the !rban en3iron1ent. This a3erage is calc!lated 0or each
1orphology. The a3erages are !sed 0or all 0!t!re co3erage prediction. As can be seen in Fig!re
26, the ne/ slope and intercept can ha3e a dra1atic a00ect on the predicted co3erage areas.
Using Nominal Parameters
Slope = 38. !"#!eca!e
One $ile Intercept = %&' !"m
Using Optimi(e! Parameters
Slope = )8.)8 !"#!eca!e
One $ile Intercept = %8*.3* !"m
Figure '9" *ptimiGed and Un<*ptimiGed CoEerage Predictions
0$0 DeEelop t!e Preliminary Design
The preli1inary net/or5 design can no/ be de3eloped. The proced!re is the sa1e as that
0ollo/ed 0or the no1inal design. A ne/ lin5 b!dget 1!st be de3eloped based on the ne/ slope
and intercepts and any ne/ in0or1ation pro3ided by the e:!ip1ent 3endor. Sites place1ent /ill
ha3e to be ad;!sted and ne/ sites 1ay be added. The co3erage predictions /ill be r!n !sing the
ne/ slope and intercept 3al!es. The co3erage is e3al!ated and ad;!st1ents are 1ade. The
design tea1 has 1ore in0or1ation, ho/e3er, abo!t the 1ar5et en3iron1ent and co3erage
ob;ecti3e. This in0or1ation sho!ld be !sed /hen e3al!ating the co3erage.
The sites placed in the no1inal design ser3e as a starting point 0or the design. They /ill not
pro3ide the sa1e co3erage as pre3io!sly tho!ght, ho/e3er. The 1ar5et speci0ic slope and
intercept 3al!es /ill ca!se co3erage to shrin5 0or so1e sites /hile others 1ay e.pand. Site
locations 1ay ha3e to be changed as a res!lt. 'sing e.isting site locations /ill also 1odi0y the
design.
For e.a1ple, The 4o1inal <esign criteria 1ay ha3e been to pro3ide contig!o!s in,3ehicle
co3erage along all State high/ays and in,b!ilding co3erage in all s!b!rban areas. The site co!nt
0or these conditions /as to high 0or the ser3ice pro3iders b!dget. As a res!lt, it /as agreed that
criteria 0or the Preli1inary <esign can be rela.ed to pro3ide 0or non,contig!o!s in,3ehicle
co3erage along the State high/ays and only in,3ehicle co3erage in the s!b!rbs. This 1eans that
co3erage holes along State high/ays are not a priority and the s!b!rban sites /ill ha3e larger
co3erage areas.
Once all the sites ha3e been placed and co3erage is dee1ed ade:!ate to 1eet the engineering
ob;ecti3es, the 0irst preli1inary design is co1plete. =o/e3er, this 0irst design is strictly a
KpaperG design. The design has not been ad;!sted 0or the reality o0 site ac:!isition. There /ill be
0!rther 1odi0ications to the preli1inary design as site ac:!isition proceeds.
0$3 Site AcDuisition
Site ac:!isition is the process o0 ac:!iring property or arranging leases 0or site locations. The
process starts by iss!ing search areas 1aps (SAs* 0or proposed site locations based on the
preli1inary RF design. A site ac:!isition 0ir1 is typically !sed to in3estigate and negotiate
leases 0or each site. This gro!p /ill !ses the SAs to 0ind t/o or three candidates. The
engineering tea1 is responsible 0or assessing the candidates and 1a5ing s!ggestions as to /hich
one /ill best 0it the design ob;ecti3es. As sites are accepted, re;ected, 1o3ed, and 1odi0ied, the
preli1inary design e3ol3es into the 0inal design.
0$3$' (ssuing Searc! Area -aps :SA-s;
Search area 1aps (SAs* are generated based on the 0irst preli1inary design. SAs are
i1portant to the design in t/o /ays. They pro3ide the necessary in0or1ation 0or the site
ac:!isition tea1 to do their ;ob properly. The search 1aps set o!t de0inite ob;ecti3es and area
locations 0or each site. A SA can also pro3ide a record o0 the site selection process. Candidate
locations proposed by the ac:!isition tea1 can be accepted or re;ected by the design tea1.
Ceeping a record o0 these assess1ents is !se0!l in doc!1enting the progress o0 the preli1inary
design.
Search area 1aps 1!st contain eno!gh in0or1ation 0or the ac:!isition tea1 to do their ;ob
properly. SAs are generally copies o0 topographic 1aps /ith search area rings indicating the
desired area 0or cell site place1ent. The search ring is a circle, centered on the preli1inary site
location, /ith a radi!s that e.tends o!t/ard 0ro1 20J to $0J o0 the preli1inary co3erage radi!s
0or that cell. In areas /here terrain is an iss!e, the search 1ap ring sho!ld 0ollo/ terrain
conto!rs to indicate the 1ini1!1 allo/able gro!nd ele3ation re:!ired 0or the site.
SAs sho!ld be pro3ided /ith t/o 1ap scales. One scale sho!ld pro3ide a /ide angle 3ie/ to
gi3e a general location o0 the area o0 interest /ith recogniFable land1ar5s s!ch as residential
de3elop1ent na1es, par5s, 1a;or high/ays and streets. A second scale sho!ld be prod!ced to
pro3ide a close,!p 3ie/ o0 search area (generally, co3ering only a 20 or $0 s:!are bloc5 area*.
SAs sho!ld contain additional in0or1ation (listed belo/* to aid the ac:!isition tea1. An
e.a1ple o0 one SA is ill!strated in Fig!re 2).
A 1ap indicating preli1inary site location, search ring, and 1ap scale
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #)
The na1e o0 the ) YK :!adrangle(s* !sed and co!nty na1e
Appro.i1ate "ocation to Rele3ant "and1ar5s
Cell Identi0ication 4!1ber
<esired str!ct!re height
"atit!de and "ongit!de 0or the preli1inary site indicating /hether 4A<-# or 4A< $)
Site ob;ecti3e indicating the 1a;or co3erage ob;ecti3e o0 the partic!lar site
0$3$+ Candidate Site EEaluation
The site ac:!isition tea1 !ses the SAs to locate prospecti3e sites. The ac:!isition tea1 /ill
identi0y t/o to three sites per SA /hich 1eet the 1ini1!1 RF criteria o!tlined in the
doc!1ent. The RF engineer needs to re3ie/ each candidate 0or its s!itability to the preli1inary
design. The candidate site assess1ent /ill in3ol3e iss!es s!ch as the RF characteristics o0 the
site, constr!ction, and the legal re:!ire1ents o0 obtaining the site.
The engineer e3al!ates the candidate based on its RF characteristics. The opti1iFed propagation
1odel is !sed to Kb!ildG the site in the pro;ect. A strongest ser3er analysis is r!n to deter1ine the
co3erage area pro3ided by the candidate. This co3erage 1ay be inade:!ate d!e to the height o0
the to/er or b!ilding. The location 1ay also be too close to other sites in the design, /hich
/o!ld ca!se inter0erence. Recall that the SA incl!des a search ring. A candidate location in
the /estern portion o0 one search ring 1ay bring the site too close to an established site that /as
placed in the eastern portion o0 its search ring.
The engineer 1ay /ant to per0or1 0!rther RF testing at the site. This process is co11only
re0erred to as site 3alidation. A test trans1itter it placed at the site in the e.act con0ig!ration as
the preli1inary design speci0ications. An engineering tea1 dri3es the area collecting RS"
1eas!re1ents. These 1eas!re1ents are !sed to deter1ine the co3erage o0 the proposed site.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #-
Search Area $ap
Site: AT7T Anderson
To/er (Cell &0* Serial N %+260
Appro.i1ate "ocation: Anderson To/er:
@rat Co11ission School
Demo -TA
Co!nty: adison
) 2M$ 1in!te
1aps !sed: Anderson So!th, I4
<esired =eight: 200 , $00 0t. A@"
Site Ob;ecti3e: S!b!rban In,8!ilding co3erage 0or 6l1h!rst.
Center Coordinates: $-,0&,&-
4A< $) -0,#),&#
Ring Radi!s: 0.)+ 1ile(s*
ini1!1 @6: 26$ 0t. AS"
Prepare! +, T-C C-..U.A/, Inc.
00#)0#'&
Figure '6" A Sample Searc! Area -ap
The candidates that pass the initial RF assess1ent sho!ld be 3isited by a 1e1ber o0 the design
tea1. It is also reco11ended that so1e one in3ol3ed in site constr!ction 3isit the site. The
p!rpose o0 the site 3isit is to deter1ine i0 there are any ob3io!s 0la/s /ith the site. Ite1s that
/o!ld ha1per constr!ction sho!ld also be noted. The engineer sho!ld 1a5e s!re that there is
access to the area aro!nd the site. Special arrange1ents /ill ha3e to be 1ade i0 the site is to be
b!ilt on a b!ilding top. @enerally, the /or5 cre/s /ill not be allo/ed 0ree access to the roo0 top
in these sit!ations.
I0 a candidate location passes all these considerations, there is still one 1ore criteria that the site
1!st pass be0ore p!rchasing or leasing the site. An assess1ent sho!ld be 1ade as to ho/
:!ic5ly a candidate can be ac:!ired. This 1eans the site ac:!isition tea1 sho!ld research
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A #%
Foning iss!es in the area and deter1ine i0 there are any special per1itting iss!es. A list o0 the
legal h!rdles that can be enco!ntered is gi3en belo/:
The site location is not Foned 0or co11ercial !se
The city, co!nty, or state has a to/er 1oratori!1 in a00ect
The site re:!ires special b!ilding per1its (@eo,technical andMor 6n3iron1ental
assess1ents*
Co11!nity iss!es s!ch as Keye,soreG reg!lations or p!blic health concerns
Those SAs that do not res!lt in a s!itable candidate /ill ha3e to be re,iss!ed /ith ne/ search
rings.
0$3$0 *&taining Property or Site ease
Proposed site locations that pass the candidate analysis /ill be gi3en to the site ac:!isition tea1.
These indi3id!als ha3e the real estate e.pertise to negotiate p!rchases and site leases. The o/ner
or 1anager o0 the prospecti3e site /ill be contacted to deter1ine the o/nerGs interest in lease or
sale o0 the property. I0 interested, a standard lease or p!rchase contract /ill be iss!ed. The
engineer can speed this process by contracting /ith a to/er 1anage1ent 0ir1. These co1panies
/ill typically ha3e one contract to lease to/er space at 1!ltiple locations.
0$/ Final Considerations Prior to 8uild<*ut
The Preli1inary <esign Stage does not co1e to a con3enient endpoint. Instead, it begins to
1erge /ith aspects o0 the Final <esign Stage. The sched!le 0or co11ercial release o0 net/or5
ser3ices 1ay 0orce the engineering tea1 to begin constr!ction o0 sites /hile SAs are still being
e3al!ated. Se3eral ite1s 1!st be addressed at this point be0ore the site can go on,air.
The 0irst preli1inary design /ill establish the baseline 0or the 0inal cell co!nt. Since site
ac:!isition has not started at that stage, the act!al 0inal site co!nt 1ay not be a3ailable. This 0irst
preli1inary design, ho/e3er, can be !sed to 1a5e the initial orders 0or e:!ip1ent. The 3endor
and ser3ice pro3ider sho!ld !nderstand that circ!1stances co!ld add to the 0inal total. It is
i1portant to place this initial e:!ip1ent order so that the e:!ip1ent is ready /hen the 0irst sites
are being installed.
Initial syste1 para1eters need to be deter1ined. The engineer has to cra0t a neighbor list 0or
each site as they are ac:!ired. The 0inal design stage 1ay re:!ire ad;!st1ents to the neighbor
list. Po/er setting 0or the base stations ha3e to be deter1ined. The lin5 b!dgets can be !sed to
calc!late the re:!ired po/er initially. 'nderstand, ho/e3er, that antenna s/eeps, per0or1ed
a0ter site constr!ction, 1ay dictate a change in the po/er. <e0a!lt control para1eters s!ch as
hando00 thresholds 1!st be established. These 3al!es sho!ld initially be set on a global basis or
applied based on 1orphology. The 0inal design /ill certainly re:!ire changes in these
para1eters.
Spectr!1 clearing sho!ld be per0or1ed prior to la!nching a syste1 or integrating ne/ sites.
<esigns 0or gro/th sites added to an e.isting syste1 /ill re:!ire a 0re:!ency re,t!ne o0 the
net/or5 to pro3ide channel 0or the ne/ sites. In this case, spectr!1 clearing is per0or1ed to
ens!re that the channels reser3ed 0or the ne/ sites are not being broadcast into the region 0ro1
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &0
sa1e,net/or5 re,!se sites. PCS net/or5s are located in spectr!1 pre3io!sly occ!pied by
licensed 1icro/a3e !sers. Spectr!1 clearing, in this instance, in3ol3es dri3e entire 1ar5ets,
scanning the licensed spectr!1 0or 1icro/a3e !sers. The siFe o0 the territory and nat!re o0 the
inter0erers 1a5es this a di00ic!lt tas5.
Fre:!ency planning is re:!ired 0or operational net/or5s. The engineer can anticipate
inter0erence proble1s i0 the 0re:!ency plan is de3eloped prior to site ac:!isition. The engineer
can assess candidate sites 0or potential inter0erence proble1s, in addition to co3erage, !sing the
propagation 1odel loaded /ith the channel plan.
0$/$'$' (nterference Analysis
Inter0erence analysis introd!ces real /orld proble1s into the theoretical co3erage established in
the initial preli1inary design. Co3ering an area /ith RF energy is easy /hile co3ering the sa1e
area /ith !sable signal is a bit 1ore di00ic!lt. The inter0erence analysis /ill deter1ine i0 the
proposed channel plan /ill 0!nction /ithin the tolerances o0 the technology.
Inter0erence is typically re0erenced as a CMI ratio (carrier to inter0erer*. The CMI re:!ire1ent is
dependent on the technology e1ployed in the design. <!ring the 4o1inal <esign Stage, a
he.agonal grid /as de3eloped to aid in the 0re:!ency planning. The grid and re,!se sche1e /as
chosen based on the t%eoretica$ CMI ratio pro3ided. Fig!re 2- gi3es an e.a1ple o0 a 0re:!ency
plan 0or a syste1 deploy1ent. 4otice that the 0re:!ency gro!ps are assigned based on the he.
grid layo!t.
In reality, terrain /ill re0lect and di00ract RF /a3es, ca!sing the signal to tra3el 0arther than the
theoretical bo!ndaries. As sites are ac:!ired, the engineer can deter1ine i0 the site location is
1eets co3erage ob;ecti3e and deter1ine i0 the location presents inter0erence proble1s. Changes
to the 0re:!ency plan can be 1ade easily at this point. Changes to the plan a0ter co11ercial
release is 1!ch 1ore di00ic!lt.
Figure '#" An Example of an (nitial FreDuency Plan
The inter0erence analysis sho!ld be per0or1ed on both co,channel and ad;acent channel
inter0erence. Co,channel inter0erence occ!rs /hen t/o radio lin5s !sing the sa1e channel
e.ceed the technology speci0ic CMI threshold. This is !ndesirable since it can res!lt in cross,tal5
or a dropped call. Ad;acent channel inter0erence occ!rs /hen t/o radio lin5s !sing ad;acent
channels, li5e channel ##& and ##+, e.ceed the ability o0 the phone to 0ilter the other signal. The
res!lt /ill be a noisy call or possibly a dropped call.
The engineer can 0acilitate the net/or5 deploy1ent by anticipating these iss!es d!ring the
preli1inary design. Ta5ing steps to deter1ine the initial base station con0ig!ration /ill allo/
the e:!ip1ent to be installed as soon as sites are ready. Once the s/itch is installed, a data 0ill
can be per0or1ed based on the initial syste1 control para1eters.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &$
3 T!e Final Design Stage
The Final <esign Stage is a bit o0 a 1isno1er since the net/or5 con0ig!ration is ne3er
K0inishedG. The syste1 /ill constantly be !pdated /ith ne/ cells, s/itch para1eter ad;!st1ents,
and co3erage opti1iFation. The engineering goal d!ring this stage o0 de3elop1ent is to pro3ide
the end !ser /ith a syste1 that pro3ides :!ality co3erage o3er the targeted areas. A list o0
design considerations is gi3en belo/.
Opti1iFing cell site para1eters a0ter initial t!rn on
Opti1iFing the syste1Gs per0or1ance
Contin!ed propagation 1odel opti1iFation
'pdating the 0re:!ency plan
Planning 0or 0!t!re gro/th
Si1ilar to the Preli1inary <esign, the Final <esign is an iterati3e process. The engineer needs
to chec5 the syste1Gs operation and capacity constantly. A good engineer /ill be able to
anticipate /hen the syste1 /ill need increased capacity. <ri3e test data, s/itch data and
c!sto1er co1plaints can also g!ide the engineer /hen identi0ying proble1 areas.
The design can reach the Final <esign Stage o0 de3elop1ent in one o0 t/o /ays. 8ringing a
ne/ site(s* on line is one /ay that the process reaches the 0inal design stage. A 1a;ority o0 the
e00ort is spent 1a5ing s!re the e:!ip1ent is operating properly and integrating the site(s* into the
e.isting net/or5.
An e.isting net/or5 is also in the 0inal design stage, regardless o0 /hether ne/ sites are being
added. The 0inal design process is concentrating on 1aintaining a gi3en le3el o0 per0or1ance.
9hether 1aintaining a net/or5 or installing a ne/ site, each presents the engineer /ith
challenges and re:!ires detailed attention to di00erent steps in the 0inal design process.
3$' (nitial Site (ntegration :Site Commissioning;
The c!l1ination o0 the 4o1inal and Preli1inary <esign Stages is /hen the initial site(s* is (are*
t!rned on,air. 8e0ore a site can be !sed in the net/or5, it needs to go thro!gh an initial
opti1iFation.
3$'$' Site Functionality Testing
Testing the 0!nctionality o0 a site is the 0irst step in this process. 8asic con0ig!ration and
operation 1!st be tested be0ore the site is integrated into the syste1. The goal is to identi0y any
e:!ip1ent or co11!nication proble1s at the site. The ite1s disc!ssed belo/ 1ay see1
ob3io!s to the e.perienced engineer. =o/e3er, i0 these preca!tions are not ta5en, 1any ho!rs
can be lost atte1pting to 0i. apparent proble1s that can be traced to the e:!ip1ent.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &#
The e:!ip1ent at the base station needs to be chec5ed. A list o0 the 1ost 0re:!ently chec5ed
ite1s is pro3ided belo/:
<e0a!lt control para1eters are do/nloaded to the 8SC
Antenna orientations are correct
Antenna and coa.ial cables ha3e been 1eas!red 0or ?S9R
S/itch has the proper operational para1eters 0or the site (i.e. neighbor list, hando00
para1eters, etc.*
Site and syste1 I<s are correct
Fre:!ency assign1ents are correct
8ase station e:!ip1ent is operating as e.pected
8ac5!p syste1s are on line
Co11!nications bet/een the s/itch and base station sho!ld be 3eri0ied. Proble1s in the s/itch
or base station so0t/are, or T2 connections co!ld pre3ent an operational base station 0ro1
handling calls. A si1ple test can be per0or1ed to 3eri0y that the air inter0ace is operational. The
installation cre/ sho!ld, as part o0 the site co11issioning, tra3el a short distance 0ro1 the site,
say $00 yards, and place a call on each o0 the sectors.
A test o0 each indi3id!al tra00ic ele1ent (radios, ti1e slots, or TC6 depending on the technology*
is s!ggested be0ore integrating the ne/ site into the syste1. This test /ill identi0y any proble1s
/ith the e:!ip1ent. It has been SAFCOGs e.perience that so1e dropped calls can be traced bac5
to a speci0ic radio card, and not the res!lt o0 RF co3erage or inter0erence.
It is also ad3isable to lea3e the site r!nning 0or a period o0 ti1e be0ore integrating the site into
the net/or5. This preca!tion is ta5en so that the stability o0 the site can be 1onitored. Again,
SAFC* has e.perienced tro!ble /ith the s/itch reporting base station 0a!lts d!ring the
opti1iFation dri3e testing. This can be traced bac5 to an e:!ip1ent proble1 and basically
in3alidates any res!lts gathered 0ro1 the dri3e test. <eploy1ent sched!les typically do not
allo/ a site to sit idle prior to being integrated.
3$'$+ (nitial Site *ptimiGation
Once the site is dee1ed operational, the engineer 1!st con0ir1 that it is pro3iding the co3erage
that is e.pected. The site is able to pass calls on to other sites in the net/or5, initiate calls, and
pro3ide the e.pected co3erage. This step in the process generally in3ol3es dri3e testing. The
dri3e test can be bro5en do/n into t/o categories: an initial de0a!lt dri3e test and a dri3e test to
3eri0y i1ple1ented changes.
The initial de0a!lt dri3e test is per0or1ed to !nco3er any RF proble1s associated /ith the site.
The site /ill generally ha3e de0a!lt settings loaded into the base station controller. The goal is to
see i0 these de0a!lt settings are ade:!ate or /hether ad;!st1ents need to be 1ade.
<ri3e testing is per0or1ed on pre,deter1ined ro!tes. It is i1portant to cond!ct the dri3e test in a
0or/ard and re3erse direction along these ro!tes to collect in0or1ation on /here hando00s occ!r
and i0 they are occ!rring in the sa1e general area. The dri3e test can be cond!cted /ith test
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:!ality recei3ers or a 1obile !nit connected to a collection de3ice. I0 a 1obile !nit is !sed, the
dri3e test proced!re sho!ld identi0y the n!1ber o0 calls to be placed d!ring the ro!te. An
alternati3e 1ethod is to collect data /hile the phone is in idle 1ode. This is not the s!ggested
1ethod beca!se call processing statistics are not gathered. 9hen analyFing the data 0ro1 this
series o0 initial dri3e tests, the engineer is loo5ing 0or:
Ade:!ate co3erage
A high le3el o0 call :!ality
Inter0erence (co, or ad;acent channel*
4!1ber o0 dropped calls and access 0ail!res
=ando00s are occ!rring bet/een all sectors and sites, as e.pected
The engineer sho!ld ha3e g!idelines 0or analyFing the data. These g!idelines are de3eloped
/hen the design tea1 creates a list o0 1ini1!1 acceptable criteria 0or certi0ying the site as
operational. Co3erage 1ay be rated based on a 1ini1!1 ser3ing signal. For digital net/or5s,
so1e type o0 digital error rate 1eas!re1ent (8it 6rror Rate or Fra1e 6ras!re Rate* can be !sed
to deter1ine call :!ality. 's!ally, a 1a.i1!1 86R or F6R is established by the design tea1 to
rate the calls 3oice :!ality. The dropped call and access 0ail!re statistics sho!ld ob3io!sly be
5ept to a 1ini1!1.
AnalyFing hando00s can be 1ore di00ic!lt. All syste1s, regardless o0 technology, /ill ha3e to
ens!re that hando00s occ!r bet/een the di00erent neighbor cells. F!rther, the hando00s sho!ld
occ!r at appro.i1ately the sa1e geographic point in the 0or/ard and re3erse directions o0 the
dri3e ro!te (!nless designed other/ise*. Areas o0 e.cessi3e hando00s sho!ld be eli1inated.
There are t/o digital technologies that !tiliFe 3ery di00erent types o0 hando00s. @S syste1s
ha3e the ability to per0or1 0re:!ency hopping in high tra00ic areas. The goal is to red!ce the
chance o0 co,channel inter0erence in areas o0 tight re,!se. The res!lt is that hando00s occ!r 3ery
rapidly. C<A allo/s the phone to !se 1ore than one base station d!ring call processing (so0t
hando00*. The goal in C<A is to ens!re a high :!ality call by coherently co1bining 1!ltiple
signals. The res!lt is that the syste1 capacity can s!00er i0 the phone !ses 1!ltiple tra00ic
channels a 1a;ority o0 the ti1e. It is beyond the scope o0 this class to disc!ss the details o0
analyFing these types o0 hando00s.
Certi0ying that a base station passes the acceptable 1ini1!1 operating criteria deter1ines i0
another dri3e test is necessary. Typically, the de0a!lt control para1eters, !sed /hen initially
integrating a site, are not ade:!ate to 1eet the 1ini1!1 re:!ire1ents. In s!ch cases, the site
para1eters are ad;!sted. This 1ay in3ol3e changing the hando00 threshold, do/ntilting
antennas, or decreasing the po/er o!tp!t. Any changes 1ade to the initial con0ig!ration needs
to be doc!1ented and 3eri0ied thro!gh dri3e tests.
I0 changes to the syste1 are s!ggested, another dri3e test sho!ld be per0or1ed to con0ir1 that the
changes ha3e i1pro3ed the net/or5 per0or1ance. The dri3e test tea1 sho!ld 3eri0y that the
s!ggested changes ha3e been i1ple1ented at the site or s/itch be0ore testing. The dri3e sho!ld
be per0or1ed along the sa1e ro!te as de0ined pre3io!sly and that the sa1e call set!p proced!re
is 0ollo/ed. The data 0ro1 this dri3e test is analyFed in the sa1e 1anner as be0ore.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &+
The ne/ site /ill e3ent!ally beco1e an operational part o0 the net/or5. The engineer has to
certi0y that the site can 0!nction /ithin the net/or5 and 1eets the 1ini1!1 acceptance criteria.
I0 the site does not, the engineer 1!st s!ggest 0!rther changes and 3eri0y the co3erage M :!ality
be0ore proceeding. Once the site has been certi0ied, that site enters the reg!lar 1aintenance
sched!le 0or the syste1.
3$+ *ptimiGing System Performance
The syste1 is constantly 1onitored 0or syste1 per0or1ance. The goal is to 1aintain a gi3en
le3el o0 call :!ality and co3erage. The engineer has se3eral so!rces that can be !sed to 1eas!re
the per0or1ance o0 the net/or5:
S/itch data
Periodic dri3e testing
C!sto1er co1plaints
3$+$' SHitc! Data
S/itch data is probably the 1ost !se0!l /hen e3al!ating the per0or1ance o0 the net/or5. The
s/itch data collects a 3ariety o0 in0or1ation associated /ith net/or5 per0or1ance:
Site 0a!lt alar1s registered
Call atte1pts M 0ail!res
6rlang tra00ic
=ando00 statistics
These s/itch reports ser3e as a log o0 the o3erall syste1 per0or1ance. The reports can be
per0or1ed on a daily, /ee5ly, or 1onthly basis /ith little e00ort or cost. The data sho!ld also be
reported on a site,by,site basis to identi0y speci0ic proble1s. F!rther, the data collected at the
s/itch can be analyFed at the engineerGs des5.
The engineer 0irst loo5s 0or any K0a!ltG alar1s in the data. An alar1 co!ld be 1inor, li5e a brie0
po/er o!tage. In this case, a chec5 is 1ade to ens!re that bac5!p syste1s (battery or generator*
5ic5ed in to pro3ide po/er. I0 the alar1 indicates a 1a;or 0a!lt, a 1aintenance cre/ is deployed
to in3estigate and 0i. the proble1.
Call atte1pts, access 0ail!res, and tra00ic de1and are o0ten lin5ed together. The s/itch can
report the n!1ber o0 call atte1pts and access 0ail!res o3er the syste1. I0 there are a high
n!1ber o0 0ail!res, the engineer needs to identi0y the ca!se.
The ca!se can co1e 0ro1 a 3ariety o0 so!rces. The site or sites e.periencing the access 0ail!res
sho!ld 0irst be identi0ied. Any possible e:!ip1ent proble1s sho!ld be r!led o!t. 4e.t, the
engineer sho!ld loo5 at the call atte1pts and hando00 statistics to deter1ine i0 the proble1 is the
res!lt o0 high 6rlang de1and at the site. I0 all these possibilities are r!led o!t, the engineer 1ay
order a dri3e test o0 the proble1 area. This dri3e test /ill be per0or1ed to deter1ine i0 there is a
co3erage or inter0erence proble1.
3$+$+ Periodic DriEe Tests
A n!1ber o0 proble1s can only be identi0ied thro!gh periodically dri3e testing the 1ar5et.
These tests are e.pensi3e since it can ta5e days to co1pletely dri3e test an area. As a res!lt, this
type o0 testing is generally per0or1ed on a :!arterly basis.
Si1ilar to the initial opti1iFation dri3e testing, the ro!tes sho!ld be pre,deter1ined. The goal is
to collect data o3er the entire net/or5. Ro!tes sho!ld co3er 1a;or high/ays and roads. The
ro!tes sho!ld be de0ined to co3er 1ore roads in high de1and areas, li5e do/nto/n and
co11!ter ro!tes, than in the r!ral areas.
There is a di00erence bet/een the periodic dri3e testing and the dri3e testing done 0or initial site
integration. The s/itch data can generally pro3ide eno!gh in0or1ation on call processing to
in3estigate hando00, e:!ip1ent, or tra00ic de1and proble1s. So generally, the data collected
d!ring these dri3e tests does not need to incl!de call statistics. The data collection e:!ip1ent is
!sed to collect only signal strength 1eas!re1ents to identi0y inter0erence and co3erage iss!es.
6:!ip1ent sho!ld be con0ig!red 0or the dri3e test to scan set!p channels. I0 1eas!re1ent
reports 0ro1 the recei3er are 0re:!ent eno!gh, the engineer /ill be able to collect data ade:!ate
to deter1ine cell co3erage and plot CMI ratios 0or the 3ario!s set!p channels.
3$+$0 Customer Complaints
The net/or5 pro3ider /ill !s!ally ha3e a c!sto1er ser3ice depart1ent that registers c!sto1er
co1plaints. These c!sto1er representati3es can be a 3al!able so!rce o0 net/or5 per0or1ance
in0or1ation. The 5ey is to ha3e an ed!cated sta00 and a de0ined reporting sche1e.
C!sto1er Ser3ice Representati3es need to !nderstand the operation o0 the net/or5 al1ost as
/ell as the engineer. The c!sto1ers are generally ignorant o0 RF iss!es and /ill register general
co1plaints, li5e noisy calls or dropped calls or access 0ail!res. The C!sto1er Ser3ice
Representati3e needs to be able to gather the cr!cial in0or1ation that allo/s the engineer to
in3estigate the proble1.
The 0irst ite1 that needs to be passed on is the ti1e and place that the proble1 occ!rred. There
is no /ay to identi0y /hich site has the proble1 i0 the location o0 the proble1 call is not
reported. The ti1e o0 the occ!rrence is critical as /ell. A dropped call at 1idnight indicates a
di00erent proble1 than a dropped call at r!sh ho!r. The c!sto1er ser3ice representati3e sho!ld
also incl!de as 1!ch in0or1ation abo!t the call as possible. The engineer needs to 5no/ i0 the
call /as in progress, or /as the !ser /as trying to initiate a call. The call co!ld ha3e been placed
by a phone that /as 1o3ing or stationary. Identi0ying this in0or1ation abo!t the call can lead
the engineer to a sol!tion.
The ser3ice pro3ider sho!ld establish a reporting 1echanis1 0or all this in0or1ation. The
c!sto1er ser3ice depart1ent /ill generally ha3e an electronic 1essaging ser3ice bac5 to the
per0or1ance engineers. Co1plaints are registered on the ser3ice and reported directly to the
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &)
engineers so that action can be ta5en. I0 this 1echanis1 is not in place, a 3al!able so!rce o0
net/or5 per0or1ance data can be lost or o3er loo5ed.
3$0 Continued Propagation -odel *ptimiGation
The propagation 1odel sho!ld no/ be !sed as a 0inely t!ned instr!1ent 0or in3estigating
proposed changes to the syste1. The :!arterly dri3e tests can pro3ide data that /ill allo/ the
engineer to de3elop site speci0ic propagation para1eters. 9ith these para1eters in place, the
engineer can deter1ine the e00ecti3eness o0 any change to a site and be relati3ely con0ident that
the res!lts acc!rately re0lect reality.
Ad;!st1ents to the slope and intercept /ill i1pro3e predictions. The dri3e test data can be
co1pared to the predictions allo/ing the engineer to establish a con0idence le3el 0or any 0!t!re
predictions. F!rther ad;!st1ents to any correction 0actors can bring 1odel predictions to /ithin
# or & d8 o0 the act!al 1eas!re1ents. So1e ser3ice pro3iders ha3e e3en i1ple1ented seasonal
propagation para1eters to re0lect RF conditions d!ring the s!11er (/hen lea3es are on trees*
and /inter (/hen no lea3es are on trees*.
3$3 Updating FreDuency Plan
<ri3e testing and c!sto1er co1plaints 1ay identi0y proble1s that can not be addressed by
changes to s/itch para1eters or site con0ig!ration. There is only so 1!ch the engineer can do
/ith do/n tilting, hando00 thresholds, and po/er ad;!st1ents. Inter0erence iss!es, 0or e.a1ple,
typically re:!ire a co1plete ret!ne o0 the syste1 or a portion o0 the syste1.
'pdating the 0re:!ency plan is ti1e cons!1ing and di00ic!lt. It sho!ld be considered only as a
last resort sol!tion to an inter0erence proble1. The engineer sho!ld e.ha!st the potential o0
do/ntilting and po/er ad;!st1ents. The engineer 1ay e.plore e:!ip1ent options !sing a
propagation 1odel. Perhaps an antenna change o!t is called 0or or an ad;!st1ent to the radiation
centerline. I0 these options do not sol3e the proble1, as deter1ined by the propagation 1odel,
then the engineer has no choice b!t to reorganiFe the 0re:!ency plan.
The ne/ 0re:!ency plan 1!st be de3eloped on paper 0irst. This paper 3ersion sho!ld be chec5ed
0or inter0erence !sing a propagation 1odel. I0 the plan per0or1s /ell in the 1odel, it can then be
i1ple1ented.
I1ple1enting the 0re:!ency plan brings certain challenges. An entire 0re:!ency re,t!ne 1ay
re:!ire days or /ee5s, since they are generally per0or1ed d!ring a s1all 1aintenance /indo/.
aintenance cre/s are so1e ti1es re:!ired at the site, especially i0 the e:!ip1ent re:!ires
1an!al ad;!st1ents to the t!ning ca3ities. Other syste1s ha3e t!ning ca3ities that can be
ad;!sted 0ro1 the s/itch re1otely.
3$/ Planning for Future .roHt!
Planning and 1anaging the net/or5 reso!rces is i1portant to 1aintaining net/or5 :!ality. As
the s!bscriber rate gro/s, the 6rlang de1and o0 the syste1 increases. The net/or5 :!ality is
degraded as the de1and reaches the capacity o0 the net/or5. It is also possible to e.perience
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &-
proble1s only in certain regions o0 the net/or5. The res!lt is c!sto1er dissatis0action. They
/ill only tolerate bloc5ed calls so long be0ore s/itching to a co1petitor.
The engineer has to de0ine a 1ethod o0 anticipating de1and. This is acco1plished by analyFing
6rlang de1and statistics 0ro1 the s/itch. Reports sho!ld be generated at reg!lar inter3als
(/ee5ly, 1onthly, or :!arterly* that :!anti0y the 6rlang de1and on the syste1.
<aily or /ee5ly reports can be !sed by net/or5s that are ne/ to the 1ar5et. It is their 0irst
esti1ate o0 ho/ the net/or5 is per0or1ing as a co11ercial net/or5. The data /ill help these
ne/ net/or5s identi0y the 8!sy =o!r, the ho!r d!ring /hich the syste1 e.periences the highest
de1and. This 0ig!re is i1portant 0or long ter1 trending. The data can also be !sed to identi0y
proble1s that /ere not addressed in the syste1 opti1iFation. 6stablished carriers /ill !se
/ee5ly reports, as /ell. =o/e3er, the engineer in these 1ar5ets /ill be 1ore interested in long
ter1 tra00ic trends. Fig!re 2% gi3es and e.a1ple o0 tra00ic data collected o3er one day.
0
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*ncrease in /sage
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3our
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During )0!0 4ork 3ours
*ncrease in /sage
During )0!0 Rush 3our
Reduction in /sage
During 0!0 4ork 3ours
Busy 3our
5677 to 8677 p0m0
Figure '2" Typical Daily Traffic in a Wireless )etHorI :note t!e &usy !our;
The net/or5 per0or1ance engineer is generally 1ore interested in long ter1 tra00ic statistics.
These statistics, /hen co1piled o3er a period o0 ti1e, can re3eal trends in the syste1 !sage.
These trends help the engineer anticipate gro/th in the net/or5. =o/e3er, /ee5s and 1onths
/orth o0 tra00ic data 0ro1 the s/itch can o3er/hel1 the engineer. This is /hy it is i1portant to
identi0y the syste1 8!sy =o!r.
The 8!sy =o!r can be !sed to condense all the tra00ic data into a single 3al!e per day. Indeed,
/hy sho!ld the engineer analyFe tra00ic data ho!r by ho!r /hen the net/or5 per0or1ance is tied
to the hea3iest tra00ic period. The engineer can de0ine the 8!sy =o!r in t/o /ays. The 8!sy
=o!r can be established as a single 0i.ed ho!r d!ring the day, say bet/een +p1 and 6p1. The
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A &%
8o!ncing 8!sy =o!r is de0ined as the ho!r in the day d!ring /hich the 6rlang de1and /as
hea3iest. The 8o!ncing 8!sy =o!r can shi0t 0ro1 day to day. =o/e3er, it is 1ore acc!rate at
identi0ying the hea3iest de1and re:!ired o0 the syste1.
In ti1e, the engineer /ill ha3e eno!gh data to de3elop historical trends. >ears o0 data on the
8!sy =o!r tra00ic de1and can be co1piled to re3eal the gro/th in 6rlang de1and. 'sing
statistical techni:!es li5e linear regression, the engineer can pro;ect de1and into the 0!t!re.
C!rrent 6rlang capacity can be plotted /ith the data to re3eal appro.i1ately /hen the syste1
/ill e.ceed its capacity. The graph, in Fig!re $0, ill!strates this point. The engineer /ill need to
re0ine this proced!re to identi0y and correct Ks1allerG proble1s.
0
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Figure +%" An Example of ,istorical Traffic Data Used to ProJect Demand
9hile syste1,/ide data is a good 1eas!re o0 the o3erall tra00ic per0or1ance, it is s5e/ed by
sites that are not in !se 3ery o0ten. R!ral high/ay ro!tes, 0or e.a1ple, co!nt to/ard the syste1
capacity. =o/e3er, these r!ral sites 1ay not be /here the de1and is needed. The tra00ic
in0or1ation can be 0!rther di3ided to trend data 0or cl!sters o0 sites, single sites, and on a per
sector basis. This data /ill help identi0y proble1s on a s1aller scale. This is partic!larly
i1portant 0or identi0ying sites that are bloc5ing d!ring the r!sh ho!r.
Once the engineer identi0ies bloc5ing proble1s ca!sed by high de1and, se3eral sol!tions can be
e.plored. The 0re:!ency plan can be 1odi0ied to borro/ channels 0ro1 lo/ de1and sites and
add the1 to the high tra00ic sites. The hando00 thresholds can be ad;!sted to pre3ent calls being
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A
Current Design Capacity
+0
handed into the site. The hando00 para1eters can also be ad;!sted to allo/ the hea3y tra00ic site
to hando00 earlier. All o0 these 1ethods /ill help alle3iate tra00ic proble1s /itho!t the need to
b!ild ne/ sites. O0 co!rse, i0 the alternati3es do not /or5, the engineer 1!st s!ggest that ne/
sites be added to the syste1 to 1eet the tra00ic de1and.
It sho!ld be apparent that the Final <esign Stage is really an iterati3e process. The engineer is
constantly opti1iFing the syste1, responding to c!sto1er co1plaints, and atte1pting to
anticipate tro!ble spots in the net/or5.
Copyright 2%%) by SAFCO Technologies, Inc. Re3ision A +2
/ Conclusion
The co!rse has gi3en the st!dent a 0ra1e/or5 0ro1 /hich to begin the design o0 any type o0
/ireless net/or5 and organiFe the tas5s re:!ired o0 an RF engineer. The 1aterial has presented
the o!tline o0 1ain steps ta5en to 1o3e 0ro1 a Kpaper designG to a co11ercially 3iable net/or5.
These steps been organiFed into categories that 0or1 an o3erall design process /hich can help
the beginning engineer 1a5e sense o0 the 3aried tas5s per0or1ed by an RF engineer. The
e.perienced engineer can !se this process to analyFe the organiFational 0lo/ o0 the design
process, set 1ilestones, and 5eep a pro;ect on target.
The RF design process, o!tlined in this co!rse, assists the engineer by organiFing 3ario!s tas5s
into 1anageable design phases. This process 0or1s a coherent /hole that allo/s the engineer to
!nderstand the inter,related nat!re o0 the 3ario!s steps. 6ach tas5 re:!ires di00erent s5ills and
attention to detail. The design process ser3es as a re0erence to the engineer so that con0licting
tas5s do not absorb too 1!ch ti1e.
A Co1pany can bene0it 0ro1 this design process, as /ell. The process helps a co1pany
1aintain contin!ity d!ring personnel changes. In todayGs 1ar5et, RF engineers are lea3ing one
co1pany 0or another, others are pro1oted, and ne/ hires are being bro!ght on. There is a
potential 0or the syste1Gs per0or1ance to s!00er i0 a clearly de0ined design proced!re is not
i1ple1ented.
The design 1ethodology, disc!ssed in this co!rse, helps the engineer and co1pany /hen
approaching an initial syste1 design or deciding ho/ to b!ild o!t an e.isting syste1. Sites do
not e.ist yet so there is no ob;ecti3e data on /hich to base a decision. This co!rse has pro3ided
the engineer /ith a 1ethod 0or arri3ing at reasonable ass!1ptions.
Finally, the process established in this co!rse can help the engineer 0orecast proble1s be0ore
they a00ect net/or5 :!ality. This applies to tra00ic analysis, inter0erence, or co3erage iss!es.
The design process o!tlined in the 1aterial incorporates reg!lar analysis o0 s/itch data to
deter1ine tra00ic de1and and pro;ect 0!t!re de1and. E!arterly dri3e testing can !nco3er
inter0erence proble1s be0ore the s!bscriber.
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