GSM Training Materials for Skill Certificates

Network Interference and Solutions

R1.0
Suitable for staff with junior P&O skill certificates (lower than
certificate III)
Issued by Network Optimization System Dept.

Internal Use Only

Version Introduction
Version
R1.0

Date
2009-03-11

Author
Su ShaoLi

Reviewed by
Fei AiPing

Amendment
Records
First edition

Internal Use Only

Training Goals
To know the classification of interference;
To master the analytical methods of
interference problem;
To master the flow of handling
interference problem;
To know the analytical tool of interference
problem;
To be able to handle common interference
problems.

Contents
GSM Frequency Allocation
Phenomena & Classification of Interference
Flow of Handling Interference Problem
Analytical Methods of Interference Problem
Typical Cases

Internal Use Only

GSM Frequency Allocation

Frequency
Band
EGSM+GSM
900
DCS1800

UL Frequency

DL
Frequency

Duplex
Interval

Band Width

Carrier
Frequency
Interval

880 MHz ~915

MHz

925 MHz~960
MHz

45 MHz

35 MHz

200 kHz

1710 MHz~1785
MHz

1805
MHz~1880
MHz

95 MHz

75 MHz

200 kHz

Contents
GSM Frequency Allocation
Phenomena & Classification of Interference
Flow of Handling Interference Problem
Analytical Methods of Interference Problem
Typical Cases

Internal Use Only

Phenomena of Interference
Poor
speech
quality
On-and-off
speech

Call drop
Phenomena

Unable to
establish calls

Metallic noise

Internal Use Only

Classification of Interference
Internal
Internal

interference
interference
Internalinterference
interferencerefers
refersto
tounreasonable
unreasonable

Internal
frequencyplanning
planningand
andequipment
equipmenthardware
hardwarefaults,
faults,
frequency
whichcould
couldlead
leadto
todecrease
decreaseininnetwork
networkservice
service
which
quality.
quality.
Externalinterference
interference
External
Externalinterference
interferencerefers
refersto
tounknown
unknownsignal
signalsource
source

External
outof
ofthe
thenetwork,
network,whose
whoseexistence
existencecould
couldseriously
seriously
out
disturbthe
thenetworks
networkssignals
signalsand
andlead
leadto
todecrease
decreaseinin
disturb
servicequality.
quality.
service
UL interference

UL interference
DL interference

DL interference

Internal Use Only

Internal Interference _Causes

Unreasonablefrequency
frequency planning
planning
Unreasonable

Equipment faults
faults
Equipment

Skip-zonecoverage
coverage
Skip-zone

Internal
Internal
interference
interference

Internal Use Only

Internal Interference
_Due to Unreasonable Frequency Planning
Unreasonable frequency
frequency planning
planning ::
Unreasonable
Frequencyand
and adjacent
adjacent cell
cellrelation
relationmay
may
Frequency
beset
setunreasonable
unreasonablein
innetwork
networkplanning
planning
be
becauseof
of planning
planning tools
toolsor
orhuman
human
because
mistakes..
mistakes

Interference will be reflected in too large

Interference will be reflected in too large
DL_RxQuality,MS
MSunable
unable to
toaccess
access into
into
DL_RxQuality,
network, poor
poor speech
speech quality,
quality,and
andcall
calldrop.
drop.
network,

Internal Use Only

Internal Interference
_Due to Unreasonable Frequency Planning

Checkand
andconfirm
confirm problem:
problem:
Check

Useplanning
planningtool
toolto
tocheck
checkififco-channel
co-channelexists;
exists;
Use
co-channelisiseasy
easyto
tobe
bedetected
detectedififititdoes
doesexist.
exist.
co-channel
As for cells in boundary areas, we can block co
As for cells in boundary areas, we can block cochannelcells
cellsin
inthe
thenetwork;
network;meanwhile,
meanwhile,make
make
channel
tracingtest
testwith
withDT
DTdevices
devicesat
atareas
areaswith
with
tracing
emergenceof
oflarge
largeDL_RxQuality.
DL_RxQuality.IfIfco-channel
co-channel
emergence
interferencedoes
doesexist,
exist,the
theDL_RxQuality
DL_RxQualityvalue
value
interference
shallbecome
becomesmaller
smallerafter
afterthe
theblocking
blockingof
ofcocoshall
channelcells,
cells,thus
thuswe
wecan
canadjust
adjustthe
thecells
cells
channel
frequenciesto
toeliminate
eliminatethe
theinterference.
interference.
frequencies

Internal Use Only

Internal Interference _Due to Skip-Zone

Coverage

Interference caused by skip-zone

coverage

If the actual cell coverage greatly exceeds

requirement, interference will be increased.
Incorrect setting of engineering and
network parameters may lead to skip-zone
coverage.

Internal Use Only

Internal Interference _Due to Skip-Zone

Coverage

Unreasonablesetting
settingof
ofengineering
engineeringparameters
parameters
Unreasonable

Wrongantenna
antennatype,
type,down-tilt
down-tiltand
andazimuth
azimuthmay
mayresult
result
Wrong
inover
overlarge
largecell
cellcoverage,
coverage,which
whichexceeds
exceedsactual
actual
in
coverageneed
need
coverage

Unreasonablesetting
settingof
ofnetwork
networkparameters
parameters
Unreasonable

Networkparameters
parametersinclude:
include:minimum
minimumaccess
accesslevel,
level,
Network
BTStransmission
transmissionpower,
power,MS
MSmax
maxtransmission
transmission
BTS
power,handover
handoverthresholds,
thresholds,etc.
etc.Improper
Impropersetting
settingof
of
power,
theseparameters
parameterswill
willresult
resultin
inskip-zone
skip-zonecoverage
coverage
these
problemand
andinterference
interferenceas
aswell
well
problem

Internal Use Only

Internal Interference _Due to Equipment

Fault

Interference caused by equipment

fault:

Radio fault of BTS is mainly caused by

defective UL unit parts.

Internal Use Only

External Interference

Definition:
Definition:
External interference refers to other interferences
External interference refers to other interferences
caused
causedby
byexternal
externalfactors,
factors,but
butnot
notdue
duetotoequipment
equipment
fault
or
unreasonable
frequency
planning.
fault or unreasonable frequency planning.

Common
Commonexternal
externalinterferences:
interferences:
due to wide-band repeater;
due to wide-band repeater;
due to CDMA system (trailing signal);
due to CDMA system (trailing signal);
due to signal jammer;
due to signal jammer;

Characteristic:
Characteristic:
Its hard to detect this kind of interference without
Its hard to detect this kind of interference without
specific
specificdevices.
devices.

Contents
GSM Frequency Allocation
Phenomena & Classification of Interference
Flow of Handling Interference Problem
Analytical Methods of Interference Problem
Typical Cases

Internal Use Only

Flow of Handling Interference Problem

Any new sites? If thorough
change of frequency parameters
taken recently?
Interference
exists

Several
cells
Poor
speech
quality due
to
interference

Confirm
interference
range

One
TRX

Check
frequency,
change
frequency
points

One cell
Check
VSWR/antenna/divider/du
plexer

Interference
exists

Interference
exists

Check
and
change
TRX

Check
external
interference

End

Contents
GSM Frequency Allocation
Phenomena & Classification of Interference
Flow of Handling Interference Problem
Analytical Methods of Interference Problem
Typical Cases

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

Analytical
Analytical
Methods
Methodsofof
Interference
Interference
Problem
Problem

Statistical
Statistical
analysis
analysisofof
network
network
performance
performance
indicators
indicators

Analysis
Analysisofof
parameter
parameter
checking
checking

Investigation
Investigation
ofofhardware
hardware
fault
fault

Drive
DriveTest
Test
and
andDialing
Dialing
Test
Test

External
External
interference
interference
test
test

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Statistical Analysis of Network Performance
Indicators
Statistical analysis of network performance indicators
Statistical analysis of network performance indicators

Statisticsofofinterference
interferenceband
band: :When
WhenTCHs
TCHsare
areininidle
idle
Statistics
status,UL
ULnoise/interference
noise/interferenceisisconstantly
constantlybeing
beingmeasured
measured
status,
byBTS,
BTS,and
andthe
themeasurement
measurementresult
resultwill
willbe
beanalyzed,
analyzed,and
and
by
interferencelevel
levelwill
willbe
besent
sentto
toBSC
BSCinin66levels.
levels.
interference

Statisticsofofhandover
handoverdue
dueto
toUL/DL
UL/DLinterference
interference: :We
Wecan
can
Statistics
judgewhether
whetherinterference
interferenceexists
existsthrough
throughstatistics
statisticsof
of
judge
handovercaused
causedby
byUL/DL
UL/DLinterference.
interference.
handover

CollectionofofUL/DL
UL/DLRQ
RQsamples
samplesduring
duringspeeches
speeches: :
Collection
RxQualisisan
anindicator
indicatorto
toreflect
reflectspeech
speechquality,
quality,which
whichisis
RxQual
basedon
onerror
errorrate
rateand
andfalls
fallsinto
into88grades
grades(0
(0
7).
7).
based

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Statistical
Analysis of Network
Corresponding relation between RxQual and BER
Performance Indicators

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Analysis of Parameter Checking
Parameter checking

Check
parameters
related to
transmitting
power

Check antenna
engineering
parameters

Check frequency
planning
parameters

Check
parameters
related to skipzone coverage

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Checking hardware fault

Checking hardware
hardware fault
fault
Checking
OMCRwarning
warning analysis
analysis
OMCR
Checking latent equipment fault

Checking latent equipment fault

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Checking Latent Equipment Fault

Blockthe
thetwo
two
Block
inputways
waysofof
input
TRX,observe
observe
TRX,
ULinterference
interference
UL
band;ififits
its0,0,its
its
band;
provedthat
thatTRX
TRX
proved
hasntbrought
brought
hasnt
ULinterference.
interference.
UL

Inputthe
thetwo
two
Input
stimulationsofof
stimulations
TRXwithout
without
TRX
connecting
connecting
themtotopower
power
them
amplifier,
amplifier,
observeUL
UL
observe
interference
interference
band;ififits
its0,0,itit
band;
meansexternal
external
means
interference
interference
doesntexist.
exist.
doesnt

seriousUL
UL
IfIfserious
interferenceexists
exists
interference
eventhough
thoughthere
thereisis
even
nostimulation
stimulation
no
imposedon
onpower
power
imposed
amplifier,disconnect
disconnect
amplifier,
racktop
topfeeder
feeder
rack
cables,ififthe
the
cables,
interference
interference
disappears,we
wecan
can
disappears,
inferthat
thatthe
theproblem
problem
infer
causedby
byexternal
external
isiscaused
factors.
factors.

Disconnectthe
the
Disconnect
racktop
topfeeder
feeder
rack
cables,and
and
cables,
observeUL
UL
observe
interferenceband;
band;
interference
theinterference
interference
ififthe
isntfading
fadingatatall,
all,
isnt
thenwe
wecan
can
then
concludethat
thatthe
the
conclude
problemisiswith
withthe
the
problem
dividerunit.
unit.
divider

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Drive Test and Call Quality Test

Drive Test and Call Quality Test

Drive test can effectively detect the location and

degree of interference, which is convenient for
analyzing the cause of interference.

In CQT, we can actually feel the speech quality

at areas being interfered, and we can see call
quality class on the test phone.

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Drive
Test and Call Quality Test
DT parameters:

DT parameters:
C/I: co-channel carrier-to-interference ratio
C/I: co-channel carrier-to-interference ratio

RxQual

C/I[dB]

23

19

17

15

13

11

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Drive Test and Call Quality Test

DT
DTParameters:
Parameters:
SQI SPEECH QUALITY INDEX is the comprehensive
SQI SPEECH QUALITY INDEX is the comprehensive
description
descriptionofofBER,
BER,FER
FERand
andHANDOVER
HANDOVEREVENT
EVENTby
byTEMS.
TEMS.

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Test
of
External
Interference
Confirm external interference with SITEMASTER :

Confirm external interference with SITEMASTER :

Test of UL interference
Test of UL interference
Connect the input port of frequency-sweep
Connect the input port of frequency-sweep
generator
generatortotothe
theoutput
outputport
portofofdivider
dividertotoincrease
increase
the
degree
of
sensitivity,
as
shown
in
the
figure.
the degree of sensitivity, as shown in the figure.

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Test of
External Interference
Confirm external interference with SITEMASTER :
Confirm external interference with SITEMASTER :
persistent strong level exists within the bandwidth of
persistent strong level exists within the bandwidth of
20MHz,
20MHz,we
wecan
canconclude
concludethat
thatserious
seriousUL
ULinterference
interference
exists.
exists.

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Test of External Interference

Confirm
Confirmexternal
externalinterference
interferencewith
withYBT250:
YBT250:
Make UL interference analysis of GSM 900M UL frequency band with
Make UL interference analysis of GSM 900M UL frequency band with
frequency
frequencyscanning
scanningmeter-NetTek
meter-NetTekAnalyzer
Analyzer(TEK
(TEKcompany).
company).The
Themodel
model
we
usually
use
is
YBT250.
we usually use is YBT250.

Connection
Connectionmethod
methodofofYBT250:
YBT250:
One is to use its own test antenna
One is to use its own test antenna
One is to obtain interference information through connection to the
One is to obtain interference information through connection to the
output
outputport
portofofdivider.
divider.

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Test of External Interference

Connection method using YBT250 to test UL interference:

CDU

Feeder
Antenna

YBT 250

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- Test of External Interference

Wave
Wavegraph
graphofofUL
ULinterference
interferencetested
testedby
byYBT250:
YBT250:
This output is the average value of the test results of one minute, which
This output is the average value of the test results of one minute, which
shows
showsthe
thefrequency
frequencyand
andstrength
strengthofofinterference.
interference. Persistent
Persistentobservation
observation
isisneeded
neededtotoconfirm
confirmififthe
theinterference
interferencecontinues.
continues.

Internal Use Only

Analytical Methods of Interference Problem

- TestTime
ofscatter
External
Interference
graph
Timescatter
graphofofUL
ULinterference
interference tested
testedby
byYBT250:
YBT250:

TEK
TEKfrequency
frequencyscanning
scanningmeter
meterfeatures
featuresininthree
threedimensional
dimensionalrecording
recordingofof
time,
time,frequency
frequencyand
andsignal.
signal.The
Thevertical
verticalbold
boldred
redlines
linesininthe
thegraph
graph
represent
the
time
duration,
signal
level
strength
and
frequency.
represent the time duration, signal level strength and frequency.

Color
Color
spectrum
spectrum
=strength
=strength

vertical
vertical
axis=time
axis=time

horizontal
horizontal
axis=frequency
axis=frequency

Contents
GSM Frequency Allocation
Phenomena & Classification of Interference
Flow of Handling Interference Problem
Analytical Methods of Interference Problem
Typical Cases

Typical Case 1: Problem Description

Internal Use Only

SinceMarch
March2005,
2005, an
anoperator
operator has
hasreceived
receivedaalot
lot of
of
Since
complaintsabout
about poor
poor speech
speechquality;
quality; sometimes
sometimes
complaints
callseven
evencouldnt
couldnt be
besetup;
setup; the
thecaller
caller could
couldhear
hear
calls
thecounterpart,
counterpart, but
but could
couldnot
not be
beheard.
heard.
the

Typical Case 1: Problem Analysis

Atthe
the
At
beginningwe
we
beginning
thoughtititwas
was
thought
causedby
by
caused
poorsignal.
signal.
poor
Afteron-site
on-site
After
test,we
wefound
found
test,
wasnt
ititwasnt
coverage
coverage
problem.
problem.

Whenthe
thelevel
level
When
testedby
byMS
MSwas
was
tested
-85dbm,UL
ULcall
call
-85dbm,
problemoccurred,
occurred,
problem
whichwas
was
which
displayedas
asonondisplayed
and-offspeech,
speech,
and-off
silence,metallic
metallic
silence,
noiseand
andcurrent
current
noise
noise,so
sowe
we
noise,
concludedthat
that
concluded
theproblem
problemwas
was
the
causedby
by
caused
interference.
interference.

Performanc
Performanc
statistics
eestatistics
OMCR
atatOMCR
showedthat
that
showed
therank
rankofof
the
idlechannel
channel
idle
interference
interference
bandwas
was
band
high.
high.

Internal Use Only

Confirmedthe
the
Confirmed
problemwas
was
problem
causedby
by
caused
interference
interference

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step 1

TestUL
ULinterference
interferencewith
withYBT250
YBT250connected
connectedtotoCDU.
CDU.CDMA
CDMAwave
waveform
form
Test
wasstrong
strongwhen
whenwave
wavefilter
filterwasnt
wasntused,
used,the
thepeak
peakvalue
valuereached
reachedabout
about
was
-35dbm(average
(averageabout
about-60dbm),
-60dbm),which
whichwas
wasclose
closetotoGSM
GSMUL
ULwave
waveband
band
-35dbm
andcould
couldcause
causeUL
ULinterference
interferencetotoGSM
GSMnetwork.
network.
and

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step In1Inthe
thethree
threedimensional
dimensionalgraph
graphofofinterference
interferencetested
testedby
byYBT250,
YBT250, the
the
CDMAwave
waveform
formwas
wasstrong
strong and
andthe
thewave
waveform
formofofGSM
GSMbackground
background
CDMA
noiseon
onthe
theright
rightwas
washigh
highininaalong
longperiod
periodofoftime.
time.
noise

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step 2
UseCDMA
CDMAwave
wavefilter
filtertotoeliminate
eliminateCDMA
CDMAinterference.
interference.
Use

Common
CDU

CDMA wave
filter

Anten
na
Feeder

YBT 250

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

WhenCDMA
CDMAwave
wavefilter
filterwas
wasadopted,
adopted,CDMA
CDMAwave
waveform
formwas
was
Step 2 When
obviouslyweakened,
weakened,but
butititwas
wasstill
stillstrong
strongatatsome
somecertain
certain
obviously
point;the
thebackground
backgroundnoise
noiseininGSM
GSMfrequency
frequencyband
bandwas
wasalso
also
point;
reduced.
reduced.

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step 2
BecauseofofCDMA
CDMAwave
wavefilter,
filter,the
theUL
ULinterference
interferenceininGSM
GSM
Because
frequencyband
bandreduced
reducedgreatly.
greatly.
frequency

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step 3
Withthe
theaim
aimtotoeliminate
eliminateCDMA
CDMAinterference,
interference,adopt
adoptIRCDU
IRCDU
With
+CDMAwave
wavefilter.
filter.
+CDMA

IR CDU

YBT 250

CDMA wave
filter

Antenn
a

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step 3Adoption
AdoptionofofIRCDU
IRCDU
CDMA
CDMA wave
wavefilter
filtercan
caneffectively
effectivelyfilter
filter
CDMAwaves
wavestotobelow
below-104dbm.
-104dbm.This
Thiskind
kindofoffiltering
filteringeffect
effect
CDMA
canhelp
helpcompletely
completelyavoid
avoidCDMA
CDMAnetwork
networkinterfering
interferingGSM
GSMUL
UL
can
network.
network.

Internal Use Only

Typical Case 1: Problem Handling Process

Step 3Adoption
AdoptionofofIRCDU
IRCDU
CDMA
CDMAwave
wavefilter
filtercan
caneliminate
eliminateCDMA
CDMA
waveform
formtotoaagreat
greatextent;
extent; during
duringthe
thetest
testperiod,
period,CDMA
CDMA
wave
interferencewas
wasalmost
almosteliminated.
eliminated.
interference

Typical Case 1: Summary

Theinterference
interferencesource
source was
wasfrom
from CDMA
CDMA
The
system.Through
Throughcomparisons
comparisonsof
of tests
tests
system.
above,we
wecan
cansee
seeafter
after IRCDU+CDMA
IRCDU+CDMA
above,
wavefilter
filter was
wasused,
used,call
callquality
quality
wave
obviouslyimproved.
improved.
obviously

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Questions

How is interference resulted from

How is interference resulted from

wrong
wrongsetting
settingofoftransmitting
transmittingpowerpowerrelated
relatedparameters?
parameters?

What is the flow of checking

What is the flow of checking

external
externalinterference?
interference?