SINR vs.

RSRP and RSRQ

For field measurements

Jyri Lamminmki
22.9.2009

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1
Nokia Siemens Networks

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RSRP
RSRP is the power of a single resource element.
UE measures the power of multiple resource elements used to
transfer the reference signal but then takes an average of them
rather than summing them.
Definition:
Reference signal received power (RSRP), is defined as the linear average over the power
contributions (in [W]) of the resource elements that carry cell-specific reference signals within
the considered measurement frequency bandwidth.
For RSRP determination the cell-specific reference signals R0 according TS 36.211 [3] shall be
used. If the UE can reliably detect that R1 is available it may use R1 in addition to R0 to
determine RSRP.
If receiver diversity is in use by the UE, the reported value shall not be lower than the
corresponding RSRP of any of the individual diversity branches.

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RSRP reporting range

From -44 dBm to -133 dBm

Document explaining RSRP reporting range details:

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3
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RSRQ
RSRQ = RSRP / (RSSI/N)
N is the number of resource blocks over which the RSSI is measured
RSSI is wide band power, including intracell power
Definition:
Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) is defined as the ratio NRSRP/(E-UTRA carrier RSSI), where N
is the number of RBs of the E-UTRA carrier RSSI measurement bandwidth. The measurements in the
numerator and denominator shall be made over the same set of resource blocks.
E-UTRA Carrier Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), comprises the linear average of the total received
power (in [W]) observed only in OFDM symbols containing reference symbols for antenna port 0, in the
measurement bandwidth, over N number of resource blocks by the UE from all sources, including cochannel serving and non-serving cells, adjacent channel interference, thermal noise etc.
If receiver diversity is in use by the UE, the reported value shall not be lower than the corresponding RSRQ of
any of the individual diversity branches.

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RSRQ reporting range

Impact of intra cell power to RSRQ:
Example for noise limited case (no interference):
If all resource elements are active and are transmitted with equal power then
RSRQ = N / 12N = -10.8 dB
(because RSRP is measured over 1 resource element and RSSI per resource block is measured over
12 resource elements)
When there is no traffic, and assuming only the reference symbols are transmitted (there are 2 of them
within the same symbol of a resource block) then the RSSI is generated by only the 2 reference
symbols so the result becomes;
RSRQ = N / 2N = -3 dB

Document explaining RSRQ reporting range details:

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SINR definition

SINR is the reference value used in the system simulation

SINR can be defined:
1. Wide band SINR
2. SINR for a specific subcarrier (or for a specific RE)

Straight forward SINR measurement is difficult on field

Own cell power should be separated from other cell power.

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Field measurement parameters

Terminals are measuring from service cell:
RSRP
RSRQ

Scanners are measuring from all decoded cells:

RSRP
RSRQ
Wideband channel power
P-SCH and S-SCH RSSI
Reference signal SINR

Mapping from RSRP/RSRQ to SINR needed

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SNR

RSRP to SNR mapping

Open question: does RSRP include noise power from measured bandwidth?
Impact on RSRP -> SNR mapping with low RSRP values
RSRP is measured for a single subcarrier
noisepower_for_15KHz= -125.2dBm

Noise figure = 7 dB
Temperature = 290 K

Case 1: RSRP doesnt contain noise power

SNR

RSRP
Pn _ RE

Pn _ RE 15KHz _ noise _ power

Case 2: RSRP contains noise power

SNR

RSRP Pn _ RE
Pn _ RE

Pn _ RE 15KHz _ noise _ power

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SNR
Comparing two equations
Case 1
SNR

RSRP
Pn _ RE

Pn _ RE 15KHz _ noise _ power

Case 2
SNR

RSRP Pn _ RE
Pn _ RE

Pn _ RE 15KHz _ noise _ power

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Case 1
Case 2
RSRP linear RSRP(dBm) SNR(dB)
SNR(dB)
1.0E-08
-50
75.21
75.21
3.2E-09
-55
70.21
70.21
1.0E-09
-60
65.21
65.21
3.2E-10
-65
60.21
60.21
1.0E-10
-70
55.21
55.21
3.2E-11
-75
50.21
50.21
1.0E-11
-80
45.21
45.21
3.2E-12
-85
40.21
40.21
1.0E-12
-90
35.21
35.21
3.2E-13
-95
30.21
30.21
1.0E-13
-100
25.21
25.20
3.2E-14
-105
20.21
20.17
1.0E-14
-110
15.21
15.08
3.2E-15
-115
10.21
9.78
1.0E-15
-120
5.21
3.66
3.2E-16
-125
0.21
-12.96
1.0E-16
-130
-4.79
#NUM!
3.2E-17
-135
-9.79
#NUM!

RSRQ to SINR mapping

RSRQ depends on own cell traffic load, but SINR doesnt depend on own cell
load.
Used Resource Elements per Resource Block (RE/RB) in serving cell is an input
parameter for RSRQ -> SINR mapping

Two cases:
Case 1: RSRP doesnt contain noise power
Case2: RSRP contains noise power

Case 1:
SINR

Case 2:

RSRP*12 N
Pi Pn _ 12 N

SINR

Pn _ xN Pn _ RE xN

x RE / RB _ used

N # RBs

N # RBs

RSSI Pi RSRP* xN Pn _ 12 N

RSSI Pi RSRP* xN Pn _(12 x ) N

N * RSRP
RSSI

SINR

RSRQ

RSRP *12 N
12

N * RSRP
1
RSRP * xN
x
RSRQ
RSRQ

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Pi Pn _12 N

Pn _ xN Pn _ RE xN

x RE / RB _ used

RSRQ

RSRP*12 N Pn _12 N

Presentation / Author / Date

SINR

N * RSRP
RSSI
RSRP*12 N Pn _12 N

N * RSRP
RSRP* xN Pn _(12 x ) N Pn _12 N
RSRQ

RSRP*12 N Pn _12 N
N * RSRP
RSRP* xN Pn _ xN
RSRQ

RSRQ to SINR mapping

RSRQ vs SINR
30.00

Case 1 equation used, as it is

25.00

simpler

20.00

2 RE/RB

SINR (dB)

15.00

12
SINR
1
x
RSRQ

4 RE/RB
6 RE/RB

10.00

8 RE/RB
10 RE/RB

5.00

12 RE/RB

0.00
-20

x=RE/RB

-19

-18

-17

-16

-15

-14

-13

-12

-11

-10

-9

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-5.00

-10.00
RSRQ (dB)

2RE/RB equals to empty cell. Only

RSRP vs. SNR

40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
20.00

SNR (dB)

Reference Signal power is considered

from serving cell.
12RE/RB equals to fully loaded
serving cell. All resource elements are
carrying data.

15.00
SNR
10.00
5.00
0.00
-135

-130

-125

-120

-115

-110

-105

-100

-5.00
-10.00
-15.00
RSRP (dBm )

Soc Classification level

11
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-95

-90

-85

-80

-75

-70

RSRQ to SINR mapping

SINR vs. RSRQ

Lab measurements matches well the

35
30
25
20

SINR

calculated results
Measured with Agilent scanner
RSRP
RSRQ
Reference signal SINR
Cable connection between BTS and
scanner
Attenuator used to reduce signal level
No traffic = only control chs and

15
10
5
0
-5

-20 -19 -18 -17 -16 -15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10

-9

-8

-7

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

-10
RSRQ
Measured - full traffic

reference signals
Full traffic load = data send in each
RB

Caculated - no traffic

Calculated - full traffic load

Measured - no traffic

SNR vs. RSRP

40
35
30
25

SNR

20
Measured-full traffic

15

Calculated

10

Measured - no traffic

5
0
-140 -135 -130 -125 -120 -115 -110 -105 -100
-5
-10
-15
RSRP

Soc Classification level

12
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-95

-90

-85

-80

Coverage criteria for field measurements

Coverage criteria for field measurement can be estimated with link budget tool
Depends on UL and DL parameters

Typical coverage requirement is that 95% of the measurement samples is fulfilling the criteria. (depends on
operators coverage requirements)
Example, outdoor coverage:
Throughput requirement 500/64kbps (DL/UL)
20W BTS Tx power
If DL only considered:
-SINR requirement -6dB
=> RSRQ>-16.9dB, empty serving cell
RSRQ>-17.7dB, fully loaded serving cell
RSRP>-130dBm
(1dB interference assumed)
If DL and UL considered
-DL SINR requirement -3dB
=> RSRQ>-14.1dB, empty serving cell
RSRQ>-15.5dB, fully loaded serving cell
RSRP>-127dBm
(1dB interference assumed)

Soc Classification level

13
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Channel Model
Antenna Configuration
FDPS Type
Users in Frequency Domain per TTI
FDPS Gain (dB)
HARQ Gain (dB)
Minimum Required SINR (dB)
Coding Rate Offset (dB)
Required SINR at Cell Edge (dB)
Maximum SINR at Cell Edge (dB)
Neighbour Cell Load
Method for Interference Margin
Interference Margin [Formula/Simulation] (dB)
Interference Margin [User Defined] (dB)
Number of Received Subcarriers (dB)
Thermal Noise Density (dBm/Hz)
Subcarrier Bandwidth (kHz)
Noise Power per Subcarrier (dBm)
Receiver Sensitivity (dBm)
Maximum Allowable Path Loss (dB)
(clutter not considered)

Enhanced Pedestrian A 5 Hz
1Tx-2Rx
1Tx-2Rx
Round Robin
2
10
0.00
4.58
5.45
-1.69
3.76
0.20
0.34
-6.06
-1.35
-0.03
50%
50%
User Defined
User Defined
not selected
not selected
1.00
1.00
27.8
10.8
-174
15
-132.17
-103.45
-120.53
162.96

160.03