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12.1 Introduction
The total channels available are 832 in number. However, most mobile
units and systems are still operating on 666 channels.
Figure 12.1 shows the arrangement of 666 frequency channels in block
A and block B systems, each containing 333 channels. Out of these 333
available channels in each system, 312 channels are used for voice
communication and 21 channels are used for controlling the system.
These 21 channels are called as control channels or set-up channels.
Therefore, a total of 42 channels are used for controlling the system.
In channel 666, the two frequencies available for mobile and cell-site
transmit are
1.
2.
Each market (i.e. each city) has two systems for a duopoly market policy
with each block having 333 channels.
The 42 set-up channels also called as control channel sets are assigned
as follows:
1.
2.
The 42 set-up channels (control channel sets) are assigned in the middle
of all the assigned channels to facilitate scanning of those channels by
frequency synthesizers. In the new additional spectrum allocation of 10
MHz, an additional 166 channels are assigned.
Since a first channel is assigned below 825 MHz (or 870 MHz), in the
future, additional channels will be numbered up to 849 MHz (or 894
MHz) and will then circle back. The last channel number is 1023. There
are no channels between 799 and 991 channels. New additional spectrum
allocations are shown in Figure 12.2.
Since there are 21 set-up channels for each block, it is logical to group
312 voice channels into 21 subsets of 15 voice channels each (the last
subgroup has 12 voice channels only). Each subset then consists of 16
channels 15 voice channels and one control channel. In each set, the
closest adjacent channel is 21 channels away as shown in Figure 12.1. The
channel separation is provided in such a way that it is sufficient to meet
the adjacent channel isolation requirement.
The 16 channels in each subset can be mounted on a frame and
connected to a channel combiner. Wide separation between adjacent
channels is required for meeting the requirement of minimum isolation.
12.3 Set-up channels
The set-up channels are also called as control channels. They are
designated to set-up calls in the system. But even without set-up
channels, a system could work where all the channels are in either block
A or block B which will be used as voice channels. If a frequency reuse
technique is applied to a cellular system, the set-up channels act as
control channels.
access channels
paging channels
Access channels are used for calls originating from mobile. When a
mobile set scans all the 21 set-up channels (in block A), two conditions
are considered:
If no set-up channels are operational in block A, then the mobile unit
switches automatically to block B.
o
If there is a strong set-up channel with no message detected then within the
second setup, it will be selected by the scanner.
o
Paging channels are used for calls originating from land. Every cell site is
assigned its own control or set-up channels. For example, FOCC is the
forward set-up channel in which every cell site are mainly used to page
the mobile unit with control message of same mobile station.
The same message is transmitted by different set-up channels and there is
no simulcast interference.
o
A better algorithm is used to page from all the cell sites.
o
If call traffic data are collected while the system is operating, then we
can update the call traffic data at each cell site to correlate with the
vehicular traffic data. This information will be useful for determining
whether new cell splitting is needed. If it is, then we must determine how
many radios should be installed at the new site and where it is to be
located. These decisions are all related to frequency channel assignment.
12.4.1 Fixed channel assignment
In FCA, each cell assigns its own frequency channel to the mobile
subscribers within its cell. Channel assignment is primarily based on
causing least co-channel and adjacent channel interference in the
cellular system. The channel assignment for each voice call is determined
by MTSO on a short-term basis. In a FCA, the set-up and voice channels
are usually assigned to the cell site for relatively long periods. Channels
in a channel set are usually 21 channels apart and must meet minimum
frequency spacing requirements of a multi-channel transmitter
combiner. Channels are usually numbered in order of increasing
frequency. Regardless of the number of channels in a channel set, the
highest channel set is frequency adjacent to the lowest channel set.
The following are the advantages of FCA:
Fixed parameters (power, frequency) for transceivers.
Good performance under uniform- and/or high-traffic loads as cells
independently decide their channel allocation decisions.
o
If each cell is allocated to a pre-determined set of voice channels then the
call is blocked and all the channels are occupied.
o
Borrowing strategy: A cell is allowed to borrow channels from a
neighbouring cell if all of its own channels are occupied.
o
Mobile switching centre (MSC) supervises the borrowing procedure to
ensure no disrupting calls or interference with any of the calls in progress in the
donor cell.
o
o
used, then additional channels as per the current need can be borrowed
from any other cell (preferably adjacent cells) that has some free unused
channels. In addition, the central cell site can also borrow channels from
neighbouring cells. The extent of borrowing channels depends on the
traffic density in the area.
12.5 Channel assignment algorithms
There are several algorithms available for non-FCA. They are listed
below:
o
o
o
Determine the state of the vehicle in the cell (idle, off-hook, on-hook, and
handoff).
Method of implementation
Figure 12.3 Averaging blocking in spatially (a) uniform and (b) nonuniform traffic distribution
Handoff blocking
Handoff blocking is not considered as the regular cell blocking which can
only occur at the call set-up stage. In both BCA and FBCA, load is
increased almost equally to 30 per cent, as compared to FCA at 3 per
cent handoff blocking in uniform traffic (shown in Fig. 12.4(a)).
For a non-uniform traffic distribution, the load increase of both BCA
and FBCA at 4 per cent blocking is about 50 per cent (Fig. 12.4(b)),
which is a big improvement, considering the reduction in interference
and blocking. Otherwise, there would be multiple effects from
interference in several adjacent cells.
Figure 12.4 Handoff blocking in spatially (a) uniform and (b) nonuniform traffic distribution
12.7 Summary
o
o
o
Channel assignment does the allocation of specific channel to the cell sites
and mobile units:
o
o
directly to a mobile unit. On the basis of overall system performance, DCA can also
be used during a call.
Hybrid channel assignment/(algorithm) (HCA): This is a combination of
FCA and DCA. A portion of the total frequency channels will use FCA and the rest
will use DCA.
Borrowing channel assignment/ (algorithm) (BCA): It uses FCA as a
normal assignment condition. When all fixed channels are occupied, then the cell
borrows channels from the neighbouring cells.
Forcible-borrowing channel assignment/(algorithm) (FBCA): Here, if a
channel is in operation and the situation warrants it, channels must be borrowed
from the neighbouring cells and at the same time, another voice channel will be
assigned to continue the call in the neighbouring cell.
Channel cannot be borrowed frequently from adjacent cells.
There are two types of blocking possible in FBCA algorithm.
o
traffic.
o
o
Given data:
Total allocated RF spectrum bandwidth = 20 MHz
Channel bandwidth per simplex channel = 25 KHz
1. To determine number of full-duplex channel
Given data:
Total allocated RF spectrum bandwidth = 25 MHz
Channel bandwidth per simplex channel = 15 KHz
1. To determine number of full-duplex channel
Calculate the number of set-up and voice channels per cell for a cellular
system having a total spectrum allocation of 60 MHz which uses two 25
kHz simplex channels to provide full duplex set-up and voice channels.
Assume that the system is designed with nine-cell frequency-reuse
pattern and 1 MHz of the total spectrum is exclusively allocated for setup channels.
Solution
Given data:
Total allocated RF spectrum bandwidth = 60 MHz
Channel bandwidth per simplex channel = 25 kHz
Number of cells in one cluster = 9
Allocated RF bandwidth for set-up channels = 1 MHz
o
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
a.
b.
c.
d.
increasing gain
increasing power
dividing total number of channels into subsets
adding the given number of channels
a.
b.
c.
d.
RVC
RCC
FVC
FCC
2. What basis in a fixed channel set that consists of one or more subsets is
assigned to a cell site?
a.
short-term basis
b.
c.
d.
in dynamic basis
long-term basis
temporary basis
a.
b.
c.
d.
short-term basis
in dynamic basis
long-term basis
temporary basis
a.
b.
c.
d.
frequency management
frequency allotment
channel assignment
channel modelling
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
3.
4.
5.
reverse channels
forward channels
control channels
traffic channel
In set-up channels every two-way channel contains a bandwidth.
In normal case, set-up channels can be used for paging and accessing.
All the set-up channels carry only .
The access channel can be designated by as a channel apart from set-up
channels in the cell site.
4.
5.
6.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Further reading