RSSI Troubleshooting

RSSI troubleshooting
South East Region

July 17, 2007
© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.
RSSI Troubleshooting
Purpose of this presentation
 The purpose of this presentation is to point out the main sources that are
susceptible to cause 3G UL interference, as well as the best practices that can help
finding and solving them.
 The UL RSSI counters are Ericsson performance indicators designed to identify

cells that experience abnormal high or low interference levels. Site visits might still
be required and could potentially provide additional important information
 The site design and parameter configurations play an important part in RSSI
troubleshooting. Components that impact the UL RSSI are, for example:
 Indoor Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
 Ericsson Diplexer-Duplexer units (DDU)
 Receive Antenna Interface Tray (RX-AIT)
 Enhanced Uplink (EUL) represents an important step towards mobile broadband

services. Ensuring the UL interference is kept under control, will ensure no serious
limitation exists over services performance in P5MD.

Page 2 February 28, 2019 AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures.
Some Frequent Asked Questions
What is UL RSSI?
 Received Signal Strength Indicator of the total wideband received power within
the entire channel bandwidth
 Note that RSSI does not distinguish between own, other, or any other unwanted
internal or external interference
How is UL RSSI measured in the Ericsson system?

 The RSSI is measured every 100 ms. An average value is then calculated every
second and stored as a PDF step range, [65] long (-110 to -65 dBm, with the
resolutions 0.5 dBm and 5 dBm).
 Counter “pmaverageRSSI”, MO Class “Carrier” and incremented on the RBS level
How high is the actual noise floor for an unloaded system?

 The expected uplink interference level in an unloaded system is given by thermal
noise (kTB = -174 dBm/Hz) plus the ASC Noise Figure of the Node B (~2 dB)
 Thus the Receiver Noise Density = -174 + 2 = -172 dBm/Hz.
 The total effective noise = -172 + 10*log(3,840,000) = -106 dBm

Some Frequent Asked Questions (continue)
What impact will my traffic load have on the RSSI?

 If the system load (Mpole) is increased to 50%, a 3dB Noise rise can be expected
15
12
Noise rise [dB]
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Loading
 This means we can expect a uplink interference level of -106 + 3 = -103 dBm
How does the system configurable parameters affect the RSSI?

 No TMA: ValueReported = ValueMeasured in RBS + ULAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable
 With TMA: ValueReported = ValueMeasured in RBS + ULAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable –
ULGainMO:ExternalTMA
 So if we assume a RBS without a TMA, and the ULAttenuation set to 3 dB, then
we should investigate if the RSSI increase over -103 + 3 = -100 dBm

What is new in P5MD?
RBS P5ED
New
RBS P5MD
New RNC P5MD

Selecting sites for troubleshooting
Investigate sites with reported RSSI values outside the normal* range:
*The normal range depends on the market design and traffic load
Low RSSI
This example site is considered “deaf”
since all samples are below -110 dBm
Normal
High RSSI
This example site has to many high RSSI
samples

Low RSSI
Possible reasons for sites experiencing a Low UL RSSI
1. No IP communication (unable to ftp xml from the site)

2. Component failures:
i. Cable, connectors and/or diplexers
ii. Antenna
iii. TMA
iv. RX-AIT
v. Distributed antenna system (DAS)
3. Incorrect parameter settings
4. Incorrect installation
Sites that are not integrated or locked, won’t show any counter values

Case L1
TMA not powered
Notes
The TMA power to this
site was not enabled,
causing a low RSSI.
This was corrected on
6/19

High RSSI
Possible reasons for sites experiencing a High UL RSSI
1. Internal Causes
i. RBS Internal Interference (Case H1)
ii. Faulty diplexers (Case H2, H3)
iii. Faulty Antenna/TMA (Case H4)
iv. Incorrect parameter settings (Case H5)
v. Incorrect installation (Case H6, H7, H8, H9)
vi. Traffic load (Case H10)
2. External Causes
i. GSM Interference (Case H11)
ii. High sites (Case 12)
iii. External interference (Case 13)

Case H1
RBS Internal Interference
Notes
In order to eliminate possible interference
created internally to the RBS, the RF
jumper ports can be connected to a
spectrum analyzer or a dummy load
If the RSSI values of the site returns to

normal, it means interference is generated
external to the RBS
In case of the RBS3202, the set of

connectors H1, H2 and H3 are related to Rx
Diversity, while J1, J2 and J3 are the ones
with Tx/Rx combined. In the case of the RF Cable connection
RBS3206, the lower cables are the ones
with the Rx Diversity, while the upper ones
are the Tx/Rx branch

Case H2
Faulty Diplexers
SFL RSSI tracker during Rollout

Notes
A faulty diplexer can cause
unwanted interference on
the uplink.
The SFL team found a specific
RSS diplexer model that
increased the uplink
interference. Once these were
replaced, the UL RSSI
recovered
Before
Before
Before
After
After
After
Vs. Vs. Vs.

Case H3
Faulty Diplexers
Notes
The Tampa team
found a bad
diplexer on 6/9,
and replaced it.
The average RSSI
remained within
the normal range
afterward

Case H4
Faulty Antenna/TMA
Notes
A TMA or an Antenna can also be a source of
interference. TMAs are usually replaced, while
Antennae don’t typically fail.
TMA
Troubleshooting can commence using dummy
loads and/or a spectrum analyzer to
isolated the source of interference
RBS

Case H5
Incorrect parameter settings
Notes
When using a RX-AIT or/and a TMA, it is
important to ensure the configurations are
set correctly in the RBS
Typically, the RX-AIT uplink gain is 10 dB
for 1900 MHz and 20 dB for 850 MHz. The
attenuator loss is typically 4 dB, unless it is
a 850 MHz installation with a TMA, where the
attenuation will be 15 dB

Case H5
A Cluster in Charlotte got the

6 dB ULAttenuator values fixed to
include the 6 dB gain
6 dB
If a site reports 6 dB lower

RSSI than other cells, it
could be that that RX-AIT is
down

Case H5
System configuration calculations
DlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + RXAIT_Losses_DL
TMA ULAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + RXAIT_Losses_UL – RXAIT_Gain

DlAttenuationMO:ExternalTma = TMA_Ins_Loss
  ULGainMO:ExternalTma = 12 dB (typical value)
DlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + RXAIT_Losses_DL + Jumper_loss

TMA
ULAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + RXAIT_Losses_UL + Jumper_loss
  ULGainMO:ExternalTma = RXAIT_Gain (need to define the TMA object)
DlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_loss
TMA UlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss
DlAttenuationMO:ExternalTMA = TMA_Ins_Loss
  ULGainMO:ExternalTma = 12 dB (typical value)
TMA DlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_loss + Jumper_loss

UlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + Jumper_loss
 

Case H6
Faulty installation
Notes
During the design of the
antenna sharing solution it
was identified that the RX
path to the UMTS receiver
would require 15dB
attenuation to prevent the
receivers from being over
powered.
These attenuators were

never installed for this
example site. This resulted
in the average RSSI of -
88dBm on all affected
sectors.

Case H7
Faulty installation
Notes
The Tampa team added the
correct attenuator pads, and
this moved the UL RSSI to the
expected range

Case H8
Faulty installation
Notes
This Atlanta design called for an
attenuator to be installed with the
Distributed Antenna System (DAS).
This was never completed, resulting
in a high UL RSSI
GA6363 & GA6364 - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
LGC Neutral Host

1900 MHz
Atrium T Gates Concourse A Concourse B Concourse C Concourse D Concourse E Tunnel

(+8 dBm) (+5 dBm) (+5 dBm) (+5 dBm) (+5 dBm) (+5 dBm) (+5 dBm) (+8 dBm)
Tx Rx Tx Rx Tx Rx Tx Rx Tx Rx Tx Rx Tx Rx Tx Rx
Splitter Specifications:
Meca 802-4-1.500V
N-type connections Attenuator Specifications:
2 to 1 2 to 1 2 to 1 2 to 1
Splitter Splitter Splitter Splitter Meca 612-xx-1
xx dB, 2 W
Male N-type connections
N Attenuator
Female xx dB Female
2 to 1 Attenuator
Splitter
Attenuator 2W N
Female xx dB xx dB Male Attenuator
N 2W 2W xx dB
Attenuator
Male Attenuator Attenuator Attenuator Female 2W
xx dB
xx dB 30 dB xx dB N
2W Attenuator
Attenuator
2W 30 dB 50 W 2W Male
Attenuator Specifications: 30 dB
50 W 50 W
Meca 650-30-1F4 Attenuator
Attenuator Attenuator
30 dB, 50 W 30 dB
N-type connections 50 W 30 dB 30 dB
50 W 50 W
Female
N
Male Attenuator
30 dB
Female 50 W
N
Male
Notes: F F F F F F
U U U U U U
1) LGC will need to be on-site during
commissioning to set proper levels
2) No Rx Diversity - the A branch is used
for Tx & the B branch is used for Rx
R R R R R R
3) DL TX Power is limited to the amount U U U
U U U
specified for each zone (+5 dBm). The
second attenuator (xx dB) will need to be
measured on site and ordered then in GA6363 GA6364
order to be exact. The second attenuator 3206 x 1900 3206 x 1900
3 sectors (X, Y, Z) 3 sectors (X, Y, Z)
1 RU per sector 1 RU per sector

Case H9
Faulty installation
Notes
This site example had cabling
problems affecting GSM as
well. The Tampa team
corrected it, and this restored
the UL RSSI

Case H10
Impact of Traffic load on the UL Interference
Increase in RSSI
Notes
If the noise rise is
higher than 3-4 dB
while the load is less
than 50-60%, then
further investigation
should be performed.
Neighboring cells and
external interference
are examples that may
cause the increase

Case H11
GSM Interference
200kHz GSM spikes

will impact the RTWP
on UMTS
TelCel, a mexican
operator, was using the
same band as Cingular’s
UMTS network
Mexican border
High interference

Case H11
GSM Interference (continue)
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 PM
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
12:00 AM
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
-85.00
-87.00
-89.00
-91.00
-93.00
-95.00 -96.13 -96.13

-97.13
-97.00
-98.73
-99.23 -99.33
-99.52
-99.00
-101.57 -101.82
-101.00
-103.42
-103.00
-105.00 Notes
UL RSSI measured by sites experiencing GSM interference
Ave. UL RSSI measured by sites with configuration issues Narrow band GSM interference
Ave. Network UL RSSI is easily identified by the fact
that the reported UL RSSI
follows a similar pattern to the
GSM traffic profile

Case H12
High sites
Mount Soledad – High site (2400ft)

Notes
High sites normally share the
tower with multiple
technologies. Unwanted
coupling is always a risk if
minimum separation between
antennas are not maintained.
Containing this site is almost

impossible due to it’s relative
height. This sector was
measuring UL RSSI at -97dBm
while the surrounding sites
were reporting the noise floor
at -104dBm.

Case H13
External interference
San Antonio
Notes
More than 280 sectors
were affected in San
Antonio
Ave. RSSI was

generally acceptable,
but the No. samples
>= “-90.5 to -90 dBm”
indicated that there
was an external
interferer present
1500 ft broadcast tower was

identified as the cause for this
network wide harmonic interferer
Conclusions
Summary
 High and Low UL RSSI measurements usually points towards a

problem within the system setup or equipment functionality
 Hourly and daily statistics can help to indicate if the interference

is constant, or trend with 2G and/or 3G traffic load
 It is important to ensure all system parameters and the

installation are implemented correctly, before searching for an
external interferer


RSSI Troubleshooting

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South East Region

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

 The UL RSSI counters are Ericsson performance indicators designed to identify

 Enhanced Uplink (EUL) represents an important step towards mobile broadband

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

How is UL RSSI measured in the Ericsson system?

How high is the actual noise floor for an unloaded system?

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

What impact will my traffic load have on the RSSI?

How does the system configurable parameters affect the RSSI?

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

New RNC P5MD

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

Possible reasons for sites experiencing a Low UL RSSI

1. No IP communication (unable to ftp xml from the site)

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

Possible reasons for sites experiencing a High UL RSSI

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

If the RSSI values of the site returns to

In case of the RBS3202, the set of

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

SFL RSSI tracker during Rollout

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

A Cluster in Charlotte got the

If a site reports 6 dB lower

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

TMA ULAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + RXAIT_Losses_UL – RXAIT_Gain

DlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_Loss + RXAIT_Losses_DL + Jumper_loss

  ULGainMO:ExternalTma = RXAIT_Gain (need to define the TMA object)

TMA DlAttenuationMO:AntFeederCable = Feeder_loss + Jumper_loss

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

These attenuators were

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

GA6363 & GA6364 - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

LGC Neutral Host

Atrium T Gates Concourse A Concourse B Concourse C Concourse D Concourse E Tunnel

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

200kHz GSM spikes

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

-95.00 -96.13 -96.13

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

Mount Soledad – High site (2400ft)

Containing this site is almost

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

Ave. RSSI was

1500 ft broadcast tower was

 High and Low UL RSSI measurements usually points towards a

 Hourly and daily statistics can help to indicate if the interference

 It is important to ensure all system parameters and the

© 2006 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved.

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