Planning of Radio Network

RF Planning Tool

Regional Telecom Training Centre

Hyderabad
 Planning of sites
• For Coverage

• For Capacity

• To improve the Quality of the Network

 Planning of sites – Existing Network

• To improve the coverage in the

uncovered area
• To improve the quality of the network
• Capacity requirement
 Planning of sites – New Network

• Important locations in the area

• Business area
• Residential area
• Roads and railway routes
• Rural area
 How to select the sites – New Network

• Survey the area and take the Latitude/Longitudes of all

the important locations
• Plot them on the RF planning tool.
• Select the appropriate site locations in the map for
covering all the area to be covered and with good
coverage at all the important locations.
• Then survey the selected locations above for feasibility
and finalize.
• Select the type of the sites required at the above
locations (Micro/Macro/Umbrella coverage)
 How to select the sites – Existing Network

• Drive the entire area and take Drive test report

• Analyze for coverage patches, Low quality
area
• Take OMCR reports
• Analyze for Capacity requirement
• Import the drive test reports and the OMCR
reports for localizing the sites required.
• Select the appropriate site locations in the map
• Then survey the selected locations above for
feasibility and finalise.
Points to remember while selecting the sites
• Site is to be located on the high ground
• No obstructions nearby
• Preferable to take on the other side of
formations like hills so as to cover wider
area
• Select the buildings which will fulfill the
ICNIRP (International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection)
guidelines for limiting exposure of
Radiation.
 Safe Exposure Limit
Operating frequency

Parameter 900 MHz 1800 MHz 2100 MHz

1.Power Density 4.5 Watt / sq.m 9.0 Watt / sq. m 10.5 Watt / sq. m

2. Electric field (V / m ) 41.25 Volt / m. 58.33 Volt / m. 63.01 Volt / m.

3. Magnetic Field 0.111 Amp. / m. 0.157 Amp. / m. 0.1696 Amp. / m.

 Accuracy of the Planning tool depends on
the following points

• Digital map
• Link Budget
• Propagation Model
• Accuracy of the site data
 Digital Maps
• Digital Maps contains clutter, Heights and
Vectors.
• Latest digital maps with high resolution
 Link Budget
• It is the simple Budget calculations, which gives
the minimum signal strength required for good
quality of network in various conditions.
• From Link Budget, we determine the Cell Radii,
Design Thresholds, Power limits etc.,
• Many of the Link Budget factors are set by either
GSM Recommendations or by the Limitations of
the Manufacturer equipment.
  BTS MS

TX PA OUTPUT POWER: 40.00 W ( max 40.00 W ) 2.00 W

TX PA OUTPUT POWER (dBm) 46.0 dBm 33.0 dBm
COMBINER LOSSES: 4.7 dB None
SPECIFIC TX CABLE LOSSES: 0.0 dB None
RX SENSITIVITY: -110.0 dBm -104.0 dBm
RX SENSITIVITY + DIVERSITY -114.0 dBm None
CABLE+SLANT LOSS: 3.5 dB 0.0 dB
ANTENNA GAIN (ISO.): 17.0 dBi -2.0 dBi
BODY LOSSES: 3.0 dB
OVERLAPPING MARGIN: 0.0 dB

IN CAR PENETRATION FACTOR: 0.0 dB

INDOOR PENETRATION FACTOR: 34.0 dB

OPERATING FREQUENCY: 900 MHz
EQUIVALENT E.I.R.P: 54.8 dBm
TOTAL UPLINK BUDGET: 121.5 dB
TOTAL DOWNLINK BUDGET: 119.8 dB
WORST LINK BUDGET: 119.8 dB
OUTDOOR MINIMUM FIELD: -65.0 dBm (71.3 dBµV/m)
• For calculating the minimum signal level
required in different conditions like travelling in
a car, using in huge buildings following
additional information required.

Fade Margin
Penetration Losses
 Fade Margin
• Fade Margin is the margin required to ensure
that the signal remains above the minimum
required level for an acceptable part of the time
(acceptable is defined as 90%, 95%, 98%,...)
• The signal received by the mobile is constantly
changing. From this variability, a Standard
Deviation can be derived. The Fade margin is
simply the multiplication of the Standard
Deviation by the number of Standard Deviations
required to ensure the desired level of coverage.
Standard Deviation of fading = 6 to 8dB

Confidence Level SDs
50% 0
55% 0.13
60% 0.26
65% 0.39
70% 0.53
75% 0.68
80% 0.85
85% 1.04
90% 1.29
95% 1.65
99% 2.33
 Penetration Losses
• Penetration Losses are the additional losses required to
cover inside the building. In Building (or In – Car) losses
should be given as a mean value and a Standard
Deviation. Both must be taken into account if we wish to
cover more than the “average” buildings.
• For in-building coverage, the total Standard Deviation is
calculated as the square root of the sum of the squares
of the Standard Deviation (Building and Fade Margin)
• From these factors, we can simply derive the required
design thresholds for the system quality we wish.
 Large buildings Car
Penetration Losses 16 8
Standard Deviation 9 7

FOR LARGE BUILDINGS (90% coverage)

Total S.D = (S.D. due to Fade margin)2+( S.D. due to Penetration Los)2

= 8*8 + 9* 9 = 12.04

FOR Coverage in CARS (90% coverage)

Total S.D = 8*8 + 7* 7 = 10.63

 Service Thresholds
Required Signal Level = Sensitivity + Penetration Losses +Fade margin

For Large buildings (90% coverage)

Level = -102+16+(1.29X12.04) = -70.5dBm

For Coverage in Cars (90% coverage)

Level = -102+8+(1.29X10.63) = -80.3dBm
 Propagation Models
• RF Planning tool simulates the Radio Network
(Total Coverage, Coverage by Cells,
Interference). It should be equivalent to the
Coverage and Interference in the field.
• The tool calculates the coverage losses in the
clutter and gives the coverage output. These
Clutter losses in the in the tool is to be supplied
in the form of Propagation Model.
 Propagation Models
• Basically there are Two types of Propogation Models.
• Analytical
Based on the actual characteristics of the area
• Empirical
Based on the measurements

Most Models use a combination of these Two. Some of the models are
• Epstein – Peterson
• Okumura – Hata
• Cost – Hata
• Longley – Rice
• Standard Propagation Model
 Propagation Models
• These are the mathematical equations contains some constants (K1-K6)

• Standard Macrocell Model for Asset

Lp (dB) = K1 + K2 log(d) + K3 Hm + K4 log(Hm) + K5 log(Heff)
+ K6 log(Heff) log(d) + K7 Diffraction + Clutter factor
where Lp, Diffraction, Clutter factor are in dB
d, Hm, Heff are in m
• Planet mode Uses
PRX=PTX+K1+K2 Log(d) +K3 Log(Heff)+K4Diffraction+K5 Log(Heff) Log(d)
+K6(Hmeff)+Kclutter + Ant. Gain

K1 to K6 are the constants derived from Model Tuning.

Model Tuning is done by CW Test
The results are imported in to the planning tool. Change the values of K1 to K6 until the
prediction and the measured values are minimized.
RF Planning Tool - ATOLL
 Inputs Required
• Digital maps
• Propagation Models
• Antennas
• Link Budget Parameters
• Site Template
• Site database
 Inputs required
• Cell Type
• Frequency Band
• Propagation model
• Calculation Radius
• Resolution
 Site Data base
• Latitude
• Longitude
• Antenna Type
• Antenna Height
• Antenna Azimuths
• Antenna Tilt
• EIRP
• BCCH /TCH /BSIC
Freq Reuse Pattern
 Planning tool
• Open a new Project
• Define the Co-ordinate system of the map
(WGS84/UTM zone 44) in the
Tools/Options
• Import the Digital map
File/Import/Select the map select index file of Clutter and import it
Change the colors of the clutter for different clutters for easy
identification
File/Import/Select the map select index file of Heights and import it for
getting the Digital Terrain
File/Import/Select the map select index file of Vectors and import it
Change the colors of the Vectors for different Vectors for easy
identification
 Planning tool
• Import the Antennas
• Import the Propagation Models
• In the Predictions
Right click and create new coverage by signal level
Change the values and colors in the Legend for easy identification
Right click and create new coverage by C/I level
Change the values and colors in the Legend for easy identification
Right click and create new coverage by Transmitters
• Create a template for 3sector site
Create a template for 1sector site by giving the filling the required
information
 Creating sites
• Select the icon adjacent to Site template and click in the
map. Change the Latitude and Longitude. Give the site
name.
• Double click on the sector and changes in the sector may be
incorporated.
• Create the sites as above
• Run for Coverage by signal to get the coverage maps of all
sites.
• Run for Coverage by Transmitter to get the coverage maps
Cell wise.
 Frequency Plan
• Group the Total frequencies in to TWO groups for BCCH
and TCH allotment.
• Double click on the sector and assign the BCCH
frequencies.
• Run for signal by coverage by C/I to get the interference
levels of all sites.
• Change the BCCH accordingly to get better C/I
• Assign BSIC
 Frequency Plan
• Subgroup the TCH frequencies in to 6 groups.
• Group 1 64,111,118
• Group 2 80, 112,119
• Group 3 81,113,120
• Group 4 82, 115, 122
• Group 5 87, 116, 123
• Group 6 88, 117, 124
• Assign each group to different cells for assigning the TCH
Frequencies
• MA List
• 64,80,81,82,87,88,111,112,113,115,116,117,118,119,120,122,123,124
• Assign HSN for each site/Cell
• Assign BSIC for each sector
 Neighbor List
• Create a neighbor list
 Frequency Plan requires
• Latitude / Longitude
• Antennas (Type, Height and tilt)
• Orientation of the Antennas
• BCCH / TCH Frequencies(MAIO) to be allotted
• MA List
• BSIC
• Neighbor list