WCDMA Coverage

Problem Analysis

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Copyright 2010 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Foreword

The coverage problem is common in WCDMA radio network

optimization. In this course, we will discuss how to find and

resolve the WCDMA coverage problems.

Copyright 2010 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page2

Contents
1. Classification Of Coverage Problem

2. Coverage Optimization Flow

3. Case Analysis

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Page3

Classification Of Coverage Problem

Weak coverage

Coverage holes

Cross-cell coverage

Pilot pollution

Imbalanced between uplink and downlink

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Page4

Weak Coverage

Pilot signal is lower than the minimum access threshold of

UE. For example, RSCP threshold is -115dBm, and Ec/Io

threshold is -18dB

Solution

Adjust antenna for increasing coverage

Use RRU, repeaters or leakage cable

Construct a new NodeB

Use indoor distributed coverage system

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Page5

Coverage Holes

Pilot signal is higher than the minimum access level but

lower than the request of the services (voice, video phone

PS64 etc.)

Solution:

Adjust antenna for increasing coverage

Use RRU (Radio Remote Unit), repeater or mini site

Adjust the Max Radio Link power for the services

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Page6

Cross-Cell Coverage

Coverage areas of some NodeB are beyond the planned

range, and forms pilot areas satisfying full-coverage

services in coverage areas of other NodeBs.

Solution

Adjust tilt angel and azimuth of antenna

Avoid antenna propagation directed to the road

Adjust pilot power, and reduce coverage areas of NodeB

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Page7

Pilot Pollution

Multiple pilot signals are received in one point, but there is no

primary pilot strong enough

Judgement

There are more than 3 cells

Pilot signal level CPICH_RSCP>-95dBm

(CPICH_RSCP1st- CPICH_RSCP4th)<5dB,

Solution

Adjust the position of sites or adjust antenna

Reduce the power of CPICH channel

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Page8

Imbalanced between Uplink and Downlink

Uplink coverage is limited:

Transmit power of UE is maximum but cannot meet uplink

BLER requirements

Due to uplink interference

Downlink coverage is limited:

Transmit power of downlink dedicated channel code is

maximum but cannot meet downlink BLER requirements

Due to downlink interference

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Page9

Contents
1. Classification Of Coverage Problem

2. Coverage Optimization Flow

3. Case Analysis

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Page10

Contents
2. Coverage Optimization Flow

2.1 Optimization Target in Different Stage

2.2 Preparation for Optimization

2.3 Coverage Data Analysis

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Page11

In Single Site Verification Stage

Focus on:

Weak Coverage

Coverage Holes

Check whether the coverage area of cell is consistent with

planning

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Page12

In RF Optimization Stage

Focus on:

Cross-Cell Coverage

Pilot pollution

Check:

Interference:

RTWP in uplink

RSSI measured by Scanner and UE in downlink

Ec/No with and without cell load

RSCP: Whether RSCP is strong enough

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Page13

In Parameter Optimization Stage

Focus on:

Soft Handover Ratio

Too high soft handover ratio results in capacity limitation

Typical soft handover ratio: 30%~40%

Performance KPI

Whether the traffic distribution is consistent with planning

Copyright 2010 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page14

Contents
2. Coverage Optimization Flow

2.1 Optimization Target in Different Stage

2.2 Preparation for Optimization

2.3 Coverage Data Analysis

Copyright 2010 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page15

Preparation

Planning
Result

Site Distribution, Site Configuration,

Antenna Configuration
Pilot Prediction, Service Distribution

Analysis Tools

Drive Test Tool

Performance Management tool
Signaling Analysis Tool

Configuration
Parameters

CPICH PowerMax FACH Power

Sintrasearch etc.

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Page16

Planning Result

Knowing planning result is important for coverage problem

analysis

Including

Site Distribution

Site Configuration

Antenna Configuration

Pilot Prediction

Service Distribution

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Page17

Analysis Tools

Including

Drive Test Tools, such as Genex Probe and Genex Assistant

Performance Management tool, such as iManager PRS

Signaling Analysis Tool, such as LMT

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Page18

Configuration Parameters

The radio configuration parameters to be adjusted for

solving coverage problems include

CPICH TX Power

MaxFACHPower

QqualminQrxlevmin

SintrasearchSintersearchSsearchrat

PreambleRetransMax

IntraFILTERCOEFIntraCellIndividualOffset

RLMaxDLPwrRLMinDLPwroriented to service

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Page19

Configuration Parameters

PCPICHPower

Parameter name: PCPICH transmit power [0.1dBm]

Recommended value: 330, namely 33dBm

MaxFachPower

Parameter name: Max transmit power of FACH [0.1dB]

Recommended value: 10, namely 1dB

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Page20

Configuration Parameters

Qqualmin

Parameter name: Min quality level

Recommended value: -18, namely -18dB

Qrxlevmin

Parameter name: Min Rx level

Recommended value: -58, namely -115dBm

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Page21

Configuration Parameters

IdleSintrasearch

Parameter name: Intra-freq cell reselection threshold for idle

mode

Recommended value: 127, namely none

ConnSintrasearch

Parameter name: Intra-freq cell reselection threshold for

connected mode

Recommended value: 127, namely none

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Page22

Configuration Parameters

IdleSintersearch

Parameter name: Inter-freq cell reselection threshold for idle

mode

Recommended value: 127, namely none

ConnSintersearch

Parameter name: Inter-freq cell reselection threshold for

connected mode

Recommended value: 127, namely none

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Page23

Configuration Parameters

SsearchRat

Parameter name: Inter-RAT cell reselection threshold

Recommended value: 127, namely none

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Page24

Configuration Parameters

PowerRampStep

Parameter name: Power increase step

Recommended value: 2, namely 2dB

PreambleRetransMax

Parameter name: Max preamble retransmission

Recommended value: 20

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Page25

Configuration Parameters

FilterCoef

Parameter name: Intra-freq meas L3 filter coeff

Recommended value: D3, namely K=3

CIO

Parameter name: Cell oriented Cell Individual Offset

Recommended value: 0, namely 0dB

CIOOffset

Parameter name: Neighboring cell oriented CIO

Recommended value: 0, namely 0dB

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Page26

Configuration Parameters

RlMaxDlPwr/RlMinDlPwr

Parameter name: RL Max/Min DL TX power

Service

RL Max Downlink Transmit

Power (dB)

RL Min Downlink
Transmit Power (dB)

Downlink SF

CS Domain
12.2 kbps AMR

-3

-18

128

28 kbps

-2

-17

64

32 kbps

-2

-17

64

64 kbps

-15

32

PS Domain
8 kbps

-8

-23

128

32 kbps

-4

-19

64

64 kbps

-2

-17

32

144 kbps

-15

16

256 kbps

-13

384 kbps

-11

Copyright 2010 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page27

Contents
2. Coverage Optimization Flow

2.1 Optimization Target in Different Stage

2.2 Preparation for Optimization

2.3 Coverage Data Analysis

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Page28

Coverage Data Analysis

Downlink Coverage

Uplink Coverage Analysis

Analysis

Uplink Interference (RTWP)

RSCP

UE Tx Power

Dominant Cell

Comparison between UE
and Scanner

DL Tx Power Distribution

Soft Handover Ratio

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Page29

Downlink Coverage Analysis

RSCP Analysis
Coverage
hole

The RSCP is lower than 95dBm

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Page30

Downlink Coverage Analysis

Dominant Cell Analysis

Dominant cell
changes frequently,
No Dominant Cell

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Page31

Downlink Coverage Analysis

Comparison between UE and Scanner

UE
Boundary of cells are
shown more clearly by
Scanner than UE

Scanner
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Page32

Downlink Coverage Analysis

DL Tx Power Distribution

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Page33

Downlink Coverage Analysis

Soft Handover Ratio

Soft Handover Ratio is defined by Drive Test:

Soft Handover Ratio

Number of Points whichSatisfy the SHO Criterion

Number of Points

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Page34

Downlink Coverage Analysis

Soft Handover Ratio

Pilot Pollution

Number of Points
which are used to get
SHO Ratio

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Page35

Uplink Coverage Analysis

RTWP Analysis

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Page36

Uplink Coverage Analysis

UE Tx Power
Red Point shows the
UE Tx Power is higher
than 20dBm

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Page37

KPI Analysis

Coverage problem affects:

RRC Setup Successful Rate

RAB Setup Successful Rate

Call Drop Rate

Handover Successful Rate

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Page38

Contents
1. Classification Of Coverage Problem

2. Coverage Optimization Flow

3. Case Analysis

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Page39

Case 1

From drive test, the RSCP in the blue circle is lower than -90dBm,
which means the weak coverage
Weak
Coverage

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Page40

Case 1

The simulation shows that signal in some zones is bad

Weak
Coverage

If the distance between the

site is low, the RSCP is
more than -80dBm
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Page41

Case 1

The distribution of the sites is not density proportional:

Smallest site
distance: 0.62km

Largest site
distance: 1.37km

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Page42

Case 2

After swap, the uses complain the mobile cannot camp on

3G, and the distance between complaint point and site is

2km

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Page43

Case 2

Possible reasons:

Hardware fault

Installation fault, such as high VSWR

Engineering parameter fault

Cell Parameters fault, such as improper PCPICH power

There is no alarm, and VSWR is normal

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Page44

Case 2

The site of 3G_Westfort_NGA is built on the mountain, and

the height is 60meter

Drive test result of
SC138

Mountain
3G_Westfort_NGA,
st
the SC of the 1
Sector Cell is 138
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Page45

Case 2

The downtilt of Cell SC138 is set as 6 in engineering

parameter table

Check the tilt configuration in NodeB :

Current Tilt is set as 6,

which means 0.6

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Page46

Case 2

Modify the Tilt from 6 to 60, the problem is resolved.

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Page47

Case 3

The RRC Setup Success Ratio of the following 2 cells are

around 92%: Cell

RRC Setup Success Ratio

92.86
91.09

2242
2722

Checking the relative counters, most of the RRC failure is

indicated with the counter RRC.FailConnEstab.NoReply

VS.RR VS.RRC
VS.RRC VS.RRC VS.RRC
RRC.Fai
VS.RRC VS.RRC
VS.RRC VS.RRC
Cell C.FailC .AttCon
.Rej.Po .Rej.UL. .Rej.DL.
lConnE
.Rej.RL. .Rej.AA
.Rej.Co .Rej.Oth
ID onnEst nEstab.
wer.Con CE.Con CE.Con
stab.No
Fail
L2.Fail
de.Cong er.Cong
ab.Cell Cell
g
g
g
Reply

2242
2722

2025 28361
1908 21414

0
0

0
0

0
0

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18
0

0
0

Page48

0
0

0
0

2007
1908

Case 3: Analysis

Usually the counter RRC.FailConnEstab.NoReply is caused by

the weak coverage

Checking the IOS data, the Ec/No of most RRC requests are low.
This is the reason that NoReply from UE for RRC Connection
Setup

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Page49

Case 3: Analysis

Checking the states of neighbour cells: some WCDMA cell

are not activated yet, so the UEs located in other cells camp
on the Cell2242 and Cell2722

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Page50

Case 3: Solution

Modify the parameters of inter-RAT cell reselection to make

UE easier to reselect to 2G cell:

Parameters

Default Value

Modified Value

Qqualmin

-18dB

-16dB

Qrxlevmin

-115dBm

-101dBm

SsearchRat

4dB

2dB

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Page51

Case 3: Result

After Modification, the RRC Connection Setup Successful

Rate improved:

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Page52

Summary

In this course, we have discussed coverage related

problems:

Classification Of Coverage Problem

Weak coverage

Coverage holes

Cross-cell coverage

Pilot pollution

Imbalanced between uplink and downlink

Coverage Optimization Flow

Case Analysis

Copyright 2010 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Page53

Thank you
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