Important WCDMA technical Q/A.

What is a typical NodeB sensitivity level?

The service and load determines the NodeB sensitivity; in general, in a no-load condition,
the sensitivity is between -115dBm to -125dBm. For Ericsson, the NodeB sensitivity
level is calclated at arond!
"#12.2! -12$ dBm
%#-&$! -11' dBm
%#-12(! -115 dBm
%#-)($! -115 dBm
What is a typical UE sensitivity level?
The service and load determines the *E sensitivity; in general, in no-load condition, the
sensitivity is between -1+5dBm and -12+dBm. For Ericsson, the *E sensitivity level is
calclated at arond!
"#12.2! -11' dBm
%#-&$! -112 dBm
%#-12(! -11+ dBm
%#-)($! -1+5 dBm
,#-%.! -'5 dBm
What is a typical NodeB maim!m o!tp!t po"er?
The ma/imm NodeB ot0t 0ower is sally 2+1 or $+1, that is, $)dBm or $&dBm.
What is UE maim!m transmit po"er in yo!r lin# $!d%et?
21dBm.
What is a typical antenna %ain?
The antenna gain de0ends on antenna model; in lin2 bdget we se arond 13dBi.
What is a typical maim!m path loss?
The ma/imm 0ath loss is de0endent on the service and vendor recommendations;
ty0ically it is in between 1)5 to 1$+dB 4or rban areas and between 15+ to 1&+dB 4or
rral areas.
What is di&&erence $et"een dBi and dBd?
dBi is the gain in dB 4rom isotro0ic sorce; dBd is the gain 4rom a di0ole sorce.
dBd 5 2.15 6 dBi.
What is the di&&erence $et"een dB and dBm?
dBm is a nit o4 0ower level, measred in milli-watts in logarithm scale, that is,
dBm 6 1+ 7 log8171+++9 where 1 is the 0ower in 1atts dB is not a nit, it is the
di44erence in dBm.
What is 'dBm?
+dBm 6 1 milli-watt.
(o" does )MA "or#?
. T:. redces system noise, im0roves 0lin2 sensitivity and leads to longer *E battery
li4e. #ensitivity is the minimm in0t 0ower needed to get a sitable signal-to-noise ratio
8#N;9 at the ot0t o4 the receiver. <t is determined by receiver noise 4igre, thermo
noise 0ower and re=ired #N;. Thermo noise 0ower is determined by bandwidth and
tem0eratre, #N; is determined by modlation techni=e, there4ore the only variable is
noise 4igre.
The cascading noise 4igre can be calclated by Friis e=ation 8,erald Friis9!
NFt 6 NF1 5 8NF2-19>?1 5 8NF)-19>8?17?29 5 ... 5 8NFi-19>8?17?27...7?i9
.s the e=ation shows, the 4irst bloc2 im0oses the minimm and the most 0rominent
noise 4igre on the system, and the 4ollowing bloc2s im0oses less and less im0act to the
system 0rovided the gains are 0ositive. @inear 0assive devices have noise 4igre e=al to
their loss. . T:. ty0ically has a gain o4 12dB.
There are ty0ically to0 Am0er, main 4eeder and a bottom Am0er between antenna and
BT#. . T:. 0laced near antenna with a short Am0er 4rom antenna 0rovides the best
noise 4igre im0rovement B the noise 4igre will be restricted to the to0 Am0er loss
8NF19 and T:. 88NF2-19>?19, and the remaining bloc2s 8main 4eeder and bottom
Am0er9 have little e44ect.
To smmariCe, a T:. has a gain thatDs close to 4eeder loss.
What are the pros and cons *advanta%es and disadvanta%es+ o& )MA?
En the 0side, a T:. redces system noise, im0roves 0lin2 sensitivity and leads to
longer *E battery li4e. En the downside, T:. im0oses an additional insertion loss
8ty0ically +.5dB9 on the downlin2 and increases site installation and maintenance
com0le/ity.
What is typical )MA %ain?
T:. ty0ically has a 12 dB gain; however, the e44ective gain comes 4rom noise 4igre
redction and the gain is close or e=ivalent to the 4eeder loss.
Why )MA are installed at the top near the antenna and not the $ottom near the
NodeB?
Based on Friis E=ation, having a T:. near the BT# will have the to0 Am0er and main
4eeder losses 8noise 4igres9 cascaded in and a T:. will not be able to hel0 s00ress the
losses.
What is UM), chip rate?
).($:,C.
What is processin% %ain?
%rocessing gain is the ratio o4 chi0 rate over data bit rate, sally re0resented in decibel
8dB9 scale. For e/am0le, with ).($:,C chi0 rate and 12.22 data rate, the 0rocessing gain
is!
%?12.22 6 1+ 7 log 8),($+,+++ > 12,2++9 6 25dB
What are the processin% %ains &or C, and -, services?
"#12.2! 25dB
%#-&$! 1(dB
%#-12(! 15dB
%#-)($! 1+dB
,#-%.! 2dB
(o" to calc!late maim!m n!m$er o& !sers on a cell?
To calclate the ma/imm nmber o4 sers 8M9 on a cell, we need to 2now!
W! chi0 rate 84or *:T# ),($+,+++ chi0s 0er second9
EbNo! Eb>No re=irement 8assming )dB 4or "#-12.229
i! other-cell to in-cell inter4erence ratio 8assming &+F9
R! ser data rate 8assming 12,2++ 2b0s 4or "#-12.229
G! loading 4actor 8assming 5+F9
Ta2e 12.22b0s as e/am0le!
: 6 1 > 8EnNo 7 81 5 i9 7 ;9 7 G 6 ),($+,+++ 8) 7 81 5 +.&9 7 12,2++9 7 +.5 6 )2.(
The nmber o4 sers cold also be hard-limited by EH#F code s0ace. Ta2e "#12.22 4or
e/am0le!
a. . "#-12.22 bearer needs 1 #F12( code.
b. Total available codes 4or "#-12.22 6 12( B 2 81 #F&$9 B 2 8$ #F25&9 6 12$.
c. "onsider so4t-handover 4actor o4 1.( and loading 4actor o4 5+F! 12$ > 1.( 7.+5
6 )$ sers>cell.
What is E$/No?
By de4inition Eb>No is energy bit over noise density, i.e. is the ratio o4 the energy 0er
in4ormation bit to the 0ower s0ectral density 8o4 inter4erence and noise9 a4ter dis0reading.
Eb>No 6 %rocessing ?ain 5 #<;
For e/am0le, i4 Eb>No is 5dB and 0rocessing gain is 25dB then the #<; shold be -2+dB
or better.
What are the E$/No tar%ets in yo!r desi%n?
The Eb>No targets are de0endent on the service!
I En the 0lin2, ty0ically "# is 5 to &dB and %# is ) to $dB B %# is abot 2dB lower.
I En the downlin2, ty0ically "# has & to 3dB and %# is 5 to &dB B %# is abot 1dB
lower.
Why is E$/No re.!irement lo"er &or -, than &or C,?
%# has a better error correction ca0ability and can tiliCe retransmission, there4ore it can
a44ord to a lower Eb>No. "# is real-time and cannot tolerate delay so it needs a higher
Eb>No to maintain a stronger ;F lin2.
What is Ec/Io?
Ec><o is the ratio o4 the energy 0er chi0 in "%<", to the total received 0ower density
8inclding "%<", itsel49.
,ometimes "e say Ec/Io and sometimes "e say Ec/No/ are they di&&erent?
<o 6 own cell inter4erence 5 srronding cell inter4erence 5 noise density
No 6 srronding cell inter4erence 5 noise density
That is, <o is the total received 0ower density inclding "%<", o4 its own cell, No is the
total received 0ower density e/clding "%<", o4 its own cell. Technically Ec><o shold
be the correct measrement bt, de to e=i0ment ca0ability, Ec>No is actally
measred. <n *:T#, Ec>No and Ec><o are o4ten sed interchangeably.
What is 0,C-?
;#"% stands 4or ;eceived #ignal "ode %ower B the energy 0er chi0 in "%<", averaged
over 512 chi0s.
What is ,I0?
#<; is the #ignal-to-<nter4erence ;atio B the ratio o4 the energy in dedicated 0hysical
control channel bits to the 0ower density o4 inter4erence and noise a4ter dis0reading.
What is the loadin% &actor in yo!r desi%n?
The designed loading ty0ically is 5+F; however, sometimes a carrier may want to design
0 to 35F load.
1ive a simple de&inition o& pole capacity?
The 0lin2 noise increases with the loading e/0onentially. 1hen the 0lin2 noise
a00roaches in4inity then no more sers can be added to a cell B and the cell loading is
close to 1++F and has reached its J0ole ca0acityK.
:athematically, to calclate the 0lin2 0ole ca0acity we need to 2now!
W! chi0 rate 84or *:T# ),($+,+++ chi0s 0er second9
R! ser data rate 8assming 12,2++ 2b0s 4or "#-12.229
f! other-cell to in-cell inter4erence ratio 8assming &5F9
EbNo! Eb>No re=irement 8assming 5dB9
.F! .ctivity 4actor 8assming 5+F9
%ole "a0acity 6 81>;9 > 8815f9 7 .F 7 1+L8EbNo>1+99 6 12+.&
To calclate the downlin2 0ole ca0acity we also need to 2now!
! downlin2 channels orthogonality 4actor 8assming 55F9
%ole "a0acity 6 81>;9 > 881- 5f9 7 1+L8EbNo>1+99 6 &$.+&
What is typical pole capacity &or C,234.4/ -,256/ -,2347 and -,2876?
1ith same assm0tions as above!
I "#-12.22! 12+.& 8*@9, &$.1 8-@9.
I %#-&$2! )$.( 8*@9, 12.(8-@9.
I %#-12(2! 1&.2 8*@9, (.$ 8-@9.
I %#-)($2! 1&.2 8*@9, 2.( 8-@9.
%#-)($2 has only 12(2 on the 0lin2, there4ore the 0lin2 ca0acity is the same 4or
both.
(o" many types o& handovers are there in UM),?
#o4t handover, so4ter handover, inter-4re=ency handover, inter-;.T handover, inter-;.T
cell change 8*E moving ot o4 *:T# coverage into ?#:>?%;#>E?-?E coverage9.
What is so&t handover and so&ter handover?
I #o4t handover! when a *E is connected to cells owned by di44erent NodeB.
I #o4ter handover! when a *E is connected to cells owned by the same NodeB.
(o" does so&t/so&ter handover "or#?
I #o4t>so4ter handover downlin2! *E ra2e receiver 0er4orms ma/imm ratio
combining, i.e. *E combines mlti-0ath signals and 4orm a stronger signal.
I #o4t handover 0lin2! ;N" 0er4orms selection combining, i.e. ;N" selects the
better signal coming 4rom mlti0le NodeB.
I #o4ter handover 0lin2! NodeB 0er4orms ma/imm ratio combining, i.e. NodeB
ra2e receiver combines signals 4rom di44erent 0aths and 4orms a stronger signal.
Why is there 9so&t handover %ain:?
#o4t handover gain comes 4rom the 4ollowing!
I :acro diversity gain over slow 4ading.
I :icro diversity gain over 4ast 4ading.
I -ownlin2 load sharing over mlti0le ;F lin2s. By maintaining mlti0le lin2s each
lin2 cold transmit at a lower 0ower, reslting in lower inter4erence there4ore a
gain.
Brie& descri$e the advanta%es and disadvanta%es o& so&t handover?
.dvantages!
I Evercome 4ading throgh macro diversity.
I ;edced Node B 0ower which in trn decreases inter4erence and increases ca0acity.
I ;edced *E 0ower 80 $dB9, decreasing inter4erence and increasing battery li4e.
-isadvantages!
I *E sing several radio lin2s re=ires more channeliCation codes, and more resorces
on the <b and <r inter4aces.
What are &ast &adin% and slo" &adin%?
Fast 4ading is also called mlti-0ath 4ading, as a reslt o4 mlti-0ath 0ro0agation. 1hen
mlti-0ath signals arriving at a *E, the constrctive and destrctive 0hases create a
variation in signal strength.
#low 4ading is also called shadowing. 1hen a *E moves away 4rom a cell the signal
strength dro0s down slowly.
What are &ast &adin% mar%in and slo" &adin% mar%in?
To 4actor in the 4ast 4ading and slow 4ading, we need to have a margin in the lin2 bdget
and they are called 4ast 4ading margin and slow 4ading margin.
<n lin2 bdget, the 4ast 4ading margin is sally set to 2-); slow 4ading margin is set to 3-
1+.
What is a typical so&t handover %ain in yo!r lin# $!d%et?
a. "#-12.22! )dB 8*@9, 2dB 8-@9.
b. %#-&$2! 1dB 8*@9, +dB 8-@9.
c. %#-12(2! 1dB 8*@9, +dB 8-@9.
d. %#-)($2! 1dB 8*@9, +dB 8-@9.
What is the percenta%e in time a UE is epected to $e in so&t or so&ter handover?
Ty0ically a *E shold be in so4t handover mode at no more than )5 to $+F o4 the time;
in so4ter handover mode at abot 5F o4 the time.
What is a typical Ei0-?
The Ei;% de0ends NodeB transmit 0ower, cable and connector loss and antenna gain.
1ith a sam0le system o4 $)dBm transmit 0ower, a )dB cable and connector loss and a
13dBi antenna gain, the Ei;% 6 $) B ) 5 13 6 53dBm.
(o" m!ch po"er !s!ally a NodeB is allocated to control channels?
The 0ower allocated to control channels may de0end on e=i0ment vendor
recommendation. Ty0ically no more than 2+F o4 the total NodeB 0ower is allocated to
control channels, inclding "%<",. ,owever, i4 ,#-%. is de0loyed on the same carrier
then the total 0ower allocated to control channel may go 0 to 25 to )+F becase o4 the
additional ,#-%. control channels re=ired.
What is a typical C-IC( po"er?
"%<", 0ower ty0ically ta2es abot 1+F o4 the total NodeB 0ower. For a 2+1 8$)dBm9
NodeB, "%<", is arond 21 8))dBm9.
<n rban areas where in-bilding coverage is ta2en care o4 by in-bilding installations, the
"%<", may sometimes go as low as 5F becase!
I The coverage area is small since sers are close to the site, and
I :ore 0ower can be allocated to tra44ic channels.
(o" m!ch is yo!r (,D-A *ma+ lin# po"er?
,#-%. lin2 0ower is ty0ically $ to 5dB below the ma/imm NodeB ma/imm ot0t
0ower. For e/am0le, 4or $)dBm ma/imm NodeB 0ower the ,#-%. lin2 0ower is
)'dBm.
Consider do"nlin# only/ "hat are the ma;or components in calc!latin% maim!m
path loss/ startin% &rom NodeB?
I NodeB "%<", transmits 0ower.
I Mm0er and 4eeder connector loss.
I .ntenna gain.
I Ever-the-air loss.
I Bilding > vehicle 0enetration loss.
I Body loss.
I Etc.
What is maim!m path2loss?
The ma/imm 0ath-loss is how mch signal is allowed to dro0 4rom a transmitter to a
receiver and maintains as good signal.
,imple lin# $!d%et< "ith a 8'dBm C-IC( and a 23''dBm UE sensitivity/ i%norin%
anythin% in $et"een/ "hat is the maim!m path loss?
)+ B 8B1++9 6 )+ 5 1++ 6 1)+dB.
,!ppose I have a maim!m path2loss o& 38'dBm/ "hat is the ne" path2loss i& a =dB
$ody loss is added?
125dB.
What is channeli>ation code?
"hanneliCation codes are orthogonal codes sed to s0read the signal and hence 0rovides
channel se0aration, that is, channeliCation codes are sed to se0arate channels 4rom a cell.
(o" many channeli>ation codes are availa$le?
The nmber o4 channeliCation codes available is de0endent on the length o4 code. <n the
0lin2 the length is de4ined as between $ and 25&. <n the downlin2 the length is de4ined
as between $ and 512.
Are channeli>ation codes m!t!ally ortho%onal? I& so/ "hy is 9?rtho%onality
@actor: re.!ired in the lin# $!d%et?
Nes, channeliCation codes are mtally orthogonal. Nonetheless, de to mlti-0ath with
variable time delay, channels 4rom the same cell are no longer 0er4ectly orthogonal and
may inter4ere with each other.
. J-ownlin2 Erthogonality FactorK, ty0ically 5+-&+F, is there4ore needed in the lin2
bdget to accont 4or the inter4erence B and hence redces 0ole ca0acity.
What is scram$lin% code? (o" many scram$lin% codes there are?
#crambling codes are sed to se0arate cells and *Es 4rom each other, that is, each cell or
*E shold have a ni=e scrambling code. There are 512 scrambling codes on the
downlin2 and millions on the 0lin2.
What is scram$lin% 9code %ro!p:?
The 512 scrambling codes are divided into &$ code gro0s B each code gro0 has (
scrambling codes.
"ode gro0 i 8i 6 + to &)9 has codes 4rom i7( to 8i5197(-1, i.e. 8+-39 8(-159O85+$-5119.
Do yo! divide scram$lin% code %ro!ps into s!$%ro!ps? -lease %ive an eample.
Nes, we divide the &$ code gro0s into sbgro0s!
I :acro layer gro0! 2$ code gro0s reserved 4or macro 8otdoor9 sites.
I :icro layer gro0! 1& code gro0s reserved 4or micro 8in-bilding9 sites.
I E/0ansion gro0! 2$ code gro0s reserved 4or 4tre e/0ansion sites.
Which service !s!ally needs hi%her po"er/ C, or -,?
"onsider downlin2 and ta2e "#-12.2 and %#-)($2 4or e/am0le. The 0rocessing gain is
25 4or "#-12.2 and 1+ 4or %#-)($. The Eb>No re=irement is 3 4or "#-12.2 and 5 4or %#-
)($. There4ore the 0ower re=irement is higher 4or "#-12.2 than %#-)($.
What is E$/No re.!irement &or (,D-A?
The Eb>No re=irement 4or ,#-%. varies with ser bit rate 8data rate9, ty0ically 2 4or
3&(2b0s and 5 4or 2:b0s.
What is 9noise rise:? What does a hi%her noise rise mean in terms o& net"or#
loadin%?
For every new ser added to the service, additional noise is added to the networ2. That
is, each new ser cases a Jnoise riseK. <n theory, the Jnoise riseK is de4ined as the ratio
o4 total received wideband 0ower to the noise 0ower. ,igher Jnoise riseK vale im0lies
more sers are allowed on the networ2, and each ser has to transmit higher 0ower to
overcome the higher noise level. This means smaller 0ath loss can be tolerated and the
cell radis is redced. To smmariCe, a higher noise rise means higher ca0acity and
smaller 4oot0rint, a lower noise rise means smaller ca0acity and bigger 4oot0rint.
What is 9pilot poll!tion:?
#im0ly s0ea2ing, when the nmber o4 strong cells e/ceeds the active set siCe, there is
J0ilot 0olltionK in the area. Ty0ically the active set siCe is ), so i4 there are more than )
strong cells then there is 0ilot 0olltion.
-e4inition o4 Jstrong cellK! 0ilots within the handover window siCe 4rom the strongest
cell. Ty0ical handover window siCe is between $ to &dB. For e/am0le, i4 there are more
than 2 cells 8besides the strongest cell9 within $dB o4 the strongest cell then there is 0ilot
0olltion.
What is a typical handover "indo" si>e in yo!r net"or#?
. handover window siCe is sally between $ to &dB.
What is 9so&t handover: and 9so&ter handover:?
J#o4t handoverK is when *E has connection to mlti0le cells on di44erent NodeB.
J#o4ter handoverK is when *E has connection to mlti0le cells on same NodeB.
<n downlin2 a *E can combine signals 4rom di44erent cells, im0roving the signal =ality.
For 0lin2 and so4t handover, ;N" selects the best signal 4rom di44erent NodeB. For
0lin2 and so4ter handover, a NodeB combines the signal 4rom di44erent sectors.
D!rin% a handover/ i& one cell sends a po"er do"n re.!est and t"o cells send a
po"er !p re.!est/ shall the UE po"er !p or po"er do"n?
%ower down. .s long as a good lin2 can be maintained it is not necessary to 0ower 0 in
order to maintain mlti0le lin2s. :aintaining nnecessary mlti0le lin2s increases noise
rise and shall be avoided.
,!ppose "e are desi%nin% a C, net"or# and a -, net"or#/ is there a ma;or
di&&erence in the desi%n consideration?
#erver dominance is the 2ey di44erence. <n a "# networ2 we shall limit the nmber o4
strong servers in any given area to no more than the active set siCe to avoid 0ilot 0olltion
8in the downlin29. <n a %# networ2, however, there isnDt so4t handover in the downlin2 so
the server dominance is very im0ortant B meaning ideally there shold be only one
dominant server in a given area.
What is the active set si>e on yo!r net"or#?
).
(o" many &in%ers does a UE ra#e receiver have?
$.
What is 9compressed mode:?
Be4ore *E can 0er4orm inter-4re=ency or <;.T handover, it needs to have some time to
loc2 on to the control channel o4 the other 4re=ency or system and listen to the broadcast
in4ormation. "ertain idle 0eriods are created in radio 4rames 4or this 0r0ose and is
called Jcom0ressed modeK.
Descri$e the po"er control schemes in UM),?
I E0en loo0 B 4or *E to access the networ2, i.e. sed at call set0 or initial access to set
*E transmit 0ower.
I "losed oter loo0! ;N" calclates the #<; target and sends the target to NodeB 8every
1+ms 4rame9.
I "losed inner loo0! NodeB sends the T%" bits to *E to increase or decrease the 0ower
at 1,5++ times a second.
What is the &re.!ency o& po"er control *ho" &ast is po"er control+?
I E0en loo0! de0ends on 0arameter setting!
T)++ B time to wait between ;;" retries 81++ms to (+++ ms, ty0ical 15++ms9
I "losed oter loo0! 1++ times a second.
I "losed inner loo0! 1,5++ times a second.
Brie&ly descri$e "hy open loop po"er control is needed and ho" it "or#s?
I 1hen a *E needs to access to the networ2 it ses ;.", to begin the 0rocess.
I ;.", is a shared channel on the 0lin2 sed by all *E, there4ore may enconter
contention 8collision9 dring mlti0le ser access attem0ts and inter4ere with each
other.
I Each *E mst estimate the amont o4 0ower to se on the access attem0t since no
4eedbac2 4rom the NodeB e/ists as it does on the dedicated channel.
I The 0r0ose o4 o0en loo0 0ower control is to minimiCe the chance o4 collision and
minimiCe the initial *E transmit 0ower to redce inter4erence to other *E.
I <nitial *E transmit 0ower 6 %rimaryP"%<",P%ower B "%<",P;#"% 5
*@P<nter4erence 5 constantPHaleP"0rach
I <nstead o4 sending the whole message, a JtestK 80reamble9 is sent.
I 1ait 4or answer 4rom NodeB.
I <4 no answer 4rom NodeB increase the 0ower.
I Try and try ntil scceed or timeot.
What is po"er control 9headroom:?
%ower control JheadroomK is also called J0ower riseK. <n a non-4ading channel the *E
needs to transmit a certain 4i/ed 0ower. <n a 4ading channel a *E reacts to 0ower control
commands and sally increases the transmit 0ower. The di44erence between the average
0ower levels o4 4ading and non-4ading channels is called J0ower riseK or JheadroomK.
When in 82"ay so&t handover/ i& a UE receives po"er do"n re.!est &rom one cell
and po"er !p re.!est &rom the other 4 cells/ sho!ld the UE po"er !p or do"n and
"hy?
%ower down. :aintaining one good lin2 is s44icient to sstain a call and having
nnecessary stronger lin2s creates more inter4erence.
,!ppose t"o UE are served $y the same cell/ the UE "ith "ea#er lin# *poor 0@
condition+ !ses more 9capacity:/ "hy does this mean?
The *E with wea2er ;F lin2 will re=ire NodeB to transmit higher tra44ic 0ower in order
to reach the *E, reslting in less 0ower 4or other *E B there4ore consmes more
Jca0acityK.
Under "hat circ!mstances can a NodeB reach its capacity? What are the capacity
limitations?
NodeB reaches its ma/imm transmit 0ower, rns ot o4 its channel elements, 0lin2
noise rise reaches its design target, etc.
What is 9cell $reathin%: and "hy?
The cell coverage shrin2s as the loading increases, this is called cell breathing.
<n the 0lin2, as more and more *E are served by a cell, each *E needs to transmit
higher 0ower to com0ensate 4or the 0lin2 noise rise. .s a conse=ence, the *E with
wea2er lin2 8*E at greater distance9 may not have enogh 0ower to reach the NodeB B
there4ore a coverage shrin2age.
<n the downlin2, the NodeB also needs to transmit higher 0ower as more *E are being
served. .s a conse=ence *E with wea2er lin2 8greater distance9 may not be reachable
by the NodeB.
Is UM), an !plin#2limited or do"nlin#2limited system?
. *:T# system cold be either 0lin2-limited or downlin2-limited de0ending on the
loading. <n a lightly loaded system, the *E transmit 0ower sets a coverage limitation
there4ore it is 0lin2-limited. <n a heavily loaded system, the NodeB transmit 0ower
limits the nmber o4 *Es it can serve there4ore it is downlin2-limited.
What is the impact o& hi%her data rate on covera%e?
,igher data rate has lower 0rocessing gain and there4ore a NodeB needs to transmit
more 0ower to meet the re=ired Eb>No; this means the coverage is smaller 4or higher
data rate.
What is ?CN,?
E"N# stands 4or Erthogonal "hannel Noise #imlator. <t is a simlated networ2 load
sally by increasing the noise rise 4igre in the NodeB.
What are the inter&aces $et"een each U)0AN component?
*! *E to NodeB
<b! NodeB to ;N"
<r! ;N" to ;N"
<! ;N" to :#"
Brie&ly descri$e the UE to U)0AN protocol stac# *air inter&ace layers+.
The radio inter4ace is divided into ) layers!
1. -hysical layer 8@ayer 1, @19! sed to transmit data over the air, res0onsible
4or channel coding, interleaving, re0etition, modlation, 0ower control,
macro-diversity combining.
2. Ain# layer 8@29! is s0lit into 2 sb-layers B :edim .ccess "ontrol 8:."9
and ;adio @in2 "ontrol 8;@"9.
Q :."! res0onsible 4or mlti0le/ing data 4rom mlti0le a00lications onto
0hysical channels in 0re0aration 4or over-the-air transmit ion.
Q ;@"! segments the data streams into 4rames that are small enogh to be
transmitted over the radio lin2.
). Upper layer 8@)9! vertically 0artitioned into 2 0lanes! control 0lane 4or
signaling and ser 0lan 4or bearer tra44ic.
Q 00C 8;adio ;esorce "ontrol9 is the control 0lan 0rotocol! controls the
radio resorces 4or the access networ2.
<n im0lementation!
1. *E has all ) layers.
2. NodeB has %hysical @ayer.
). ;N" had :." layer and ;;" layer.
Brie&ly descri$e UM), air inter&ace channel types and their &!nctions.
There are ) ty0es o4 channels across air inter4ace B 0hysical channel, trans0ort channel
and logical channel!
I %hysical "hannel! carries data between 0hysical layers o4 *E and NodeB.
I Trans0ort "hannel! carries data between 0hysical layer and :." layer.
I @ogical "hannel! carries data between :." layer and ;;" layer.
1ive some eamples o& -hysical/ )ransport and Ao%ical channels.
1. @ogical "hannel!
Q "ontrol channel! B"",, %"",, """,, -"",.
Q Tra44ic channel! -T",, "T",.
2. Trans0ort "hannel!
Q "ommon control channel! B",, F.",, %",, ;.",, "%",.
Q -edicated channel! -",, -#",.
2. %hysical "hannel!
Q "ommon control channel! %-""%",, #-""%",, %-#",, #-#",, "%<",,
.<",, %<",, %-#",, %;.",, %"%",, "->".-<",.
Q -edicated channel! -%-",, -%"",.
What are the 00C operation modes?
<dle mode and connected mode.

What are the 00C states?
There are $ ;;" #tates! "ellP-",, "ellPF.",, *;.P%", and "ellP%",.
*;. 6 *T;.N ;egistration .rea.

What are transparent mode/ ac#no"led%ed mode and !nac#no"led%ed mode?
I Trans0arent mode corres0onds to the lowest service o4 the ;@" layer, no controls
and no detection o4 missing data.
I *nac2nowledged mode o44ers the 0ossibility o4 segment and concatenate o4 data
bt no error correction or retransmission there4ore no garantee o4 delivery.
I .c2nowledged mode o44ers, in addition to *: mode 4nctions, ac2nowledgement
o4 transmission, 4low control, error correction and retransmission.
Which layer*s+ per&orm cipherin% &!nction?
;;" B 4or ac2nowledged mode 8.:9 and nac2nowledged mode 8*:9.
:." B 4or trans0arent mode 8T:9.
What is ?B,@?
Erthogonal Hariable #0reading Factor.
(o" many ?B,@ code spaces are availa$le?
I Total EH#F codes 6 25&.
I ;eserved! 1 #F&$ 4or #-""%",, 1 #F25& 4or "%<",, %-""%",, %<", and
.<", each.
I Total available code s0ace 6 25& B $ 81 #F&$9 B $ 8$ #F25&9 6 2$(.
Can code space limit the cell capacity?
Nes, cell ca0acity can be hard-limited by code s0ace. Ta2e "#-12.22 4or e/am0le!
I . "#-12.22 bearer needs 1 #F12( code.
I Total available codes 4or "#-12.22 6 12( B 2 81 #F&$9 B 2 8$ #F25&9 6 12$.
I "onsider so4t-handover 4actor o4 1.(! 12$ > 1.( 6 &( sers>cell.
Can a !ser have ?B,@ code as 93333:?
No, becase J1111OK 825& times9 is sed by "%<",.
What are the sym$ol rates *$its per sym$ol+ &or B-,C/ Q-,C/ 7-,C and 35QAM?
I B%#R! 1.
I S%#R! 2.
I (%#R! ).
I 1&S.:! $.
Brie&ly descri$e UM), &rame str!ct!re.
I *:T# 4rame dration 6 1+ms.
I Each 4rame is divided into 15 timeslots.
I Each timeslot is divided into 25&+ chi0s.
I There4ore 25&+ chi0s>T# 7 15 T#>4rame 7 81+++ms>1+ms9 4rame>sec 6 ),($+,+++
chi0>sec.
What is cell selection criterion?
"ell selection is based on!
a. Smean! the average #<; o4 the target cell.
b. Smin! minimm re=ired #<;.
c. %com0ensation! a correction vale 4or di44erence *E classes.
# 6 Smean - Smin - %com0ensation
d. <4 #T+ then the cell is a valid candidate.
e. . *E will cam0 on the cell with the highest #.
Brie&ly descri$e Capacity Mana%ement and its &!nctions<
"a0acity :anagement is res0onsible 4or the control o4 the load in the cell. <t consists o4
) main 4nctions!
-edicated :onitored ;esorce ,andling! trac2s tiliCation o4 critical resorces o4
the system.
.dmission "ontrol! acce0ts>re4ses admission re=ests based on the crrent load
on the dedicated monitored resorces and the characteristics o4 the re=est
"ongestion "ontrol! detects>resolves overload sitations

What are the ma;or 6 C-Is in propa%ation model t!nin% and typical accepta$le
val!es?
The $ R%<s are standard deviation error, root mean s=are error, mean error and
correlation coe44icient. The ty0ical acce0table vales are!
I #tandard deviation error! the smaller the better, sally 3 to 'dB.
I :ean error! the smaller the better, sally 2 to).
I ;oot mean s=are error! the smaller the better, sally
I "orrelation coe44icient! the larger the better, sally 3+F to '+F.
What is the minim!m n!m$er o& $ins re.!ired &or a certain propa%ation model?
The more bins the more li2ely to come 0 with a good model. *sally a minimm o4
2,+++ bines is considered acce0table, bt sometimes as low as 5++ bins may be acce0ted.
(o" many scram$lin% codes are there?
There are 512 scrambling codes in the downlin2 and 1&,333,21& codes in the 0lin2.
(o" many scram$lin% code %ro!ps are there &or do"nlin#?
There are &$ code gro0s, each gro0 has ( scrambling codes.
Can "e assi%n same scram$lin% codes to sister sectors *sectors on same site+?
No, becase scrambling code on the downlin2 is sed 4or cell identity. .s a re=irement,
scrambling codes have to maintain a sa4e se0aration to avoid inter4erence.
Are scram$lin% codes ortho%onal?
No, scrambling codes are not orthogonal since they are not synchroniCed at each
receiver. They are 0sedo random se=ences o4 codes.
Can "e assi%n scram$lin% codes 3/ 4 and 8 to sister sectors?
Nes.
In I,2D= "e have a -N re!se &actor *-N step si>e+ and there&ore cannot !se all =34
-N codes/ "hy isnEt it necessary &or UM), scram$lin% codes?
Becase <#-'5 is a synchroniCed networ2, di44erent %N codes have the same code
se=ence with a time shi4t, there4ore we need to maintain a certain %N ste0 siCe to avoid
mlti-0ath 0roblem. For e/am0le, i4 two sectors in the neighborhood have a small %N
se0aration then signal arriving 4rom cell . may rn into the time domain o4 cell B,
casing inter4erence.
*:T#, on the other hand, is not a synchroniCed networ2 and all scrambling codes are
mtally orthogonal so no need to maintain a ste0 siCe.
What are covera%e thresholds in yo!r UM), desi%n and "hy?
The coverage thresholds are based on *E sensitivity, 4ading and 0enetration loss.
.ssming *E sensitivity o4 -11+dBm, 4ade margin o4 5dB!
I Etdoor! -11+dBm sensitivity 5 5dB 4ade margin 6 -1+5dBm.
I <n-vehicle! -11+dBm 5 5dB 5 (dB in-vehicle 0enetration loss 6 -'3dBm.
I <n-bilding! -11+dBm 5 5dB 5 15dB in-bilding 0enetration loss 6 -'+dBm.
What is the Ec/Io tar%et in yo!r desi%n?
The Ec><o target ty0ically is between -12 to -1$dB. ,owever, i4 a networ2 is designed 4or
data then the Ec><o target cold go higher to arond -1+dB becase server dominance is
more critical 4or a data networ2 B since there isnDt so4tware in the downlin2.
What is 9Monte Carlo sim!lation:?
#ince *:T# coverage is de0endent on the loading, static coverage and =ality analysis
8;#"% and Ec><o9 re0resents the networ2 0er4ormance in no-load condition. :onte "arlo
simlation is there4ore sed to illstrate networ2 0er4ormance nder simlated loading
condition.
What is the #ey di&&erence $et"een a static analysis and a Monte Carlo sim!lation?
#tatic analysis can only show ;#"% and Ec><o in no-load condition. :onte "arlo
simlation not only can show ;#"% and Ec><o in simlated loading condition bt also
can show many more others! mean served, cell loading, 0lin2 and downlin2 ca0acity
limits reached, etc.
What sho!ld $e r!n &irst *"hat in&ormation sho!ld $e ready and loaded+ $e&ore
r!nnin% a Monte Carlo sim!lation?
Be4ore rnning :onte "arlo simlation, the 4ollowing shold be com0leted or in 0lace.
I ;n 0rediction.
I #0read the tra44ic.
I -e4ine terminal ty0es.
(o" many snap shots and iteration do yo! !s!ally have "hen r!nnin% Monte Carlo
sim!lation?
8-e0end on so4tware tool recommendations9.
What are the desi%n C-IEs?
8;#"%, Ec><o, mean served, so4t handover ratioO9
What plots do yo! !s!ally chec# a&ter r!nnin% Monte Carlo &or tro!$le spots?
8;#"%, Ec><o, service 0robability, reasons 4or 4ailreO9
What are the typical reasons o& &ail!re in Monte Carlo sim!lation?
I -ownlin2 Eb>No 4ailre 8"a0acity9.
I -ownlin2 Eb>No 4ailre 8;ange9.
I *0lin2 Eb>No 4ailre.
I @ow 0ilot #<;.
I Noise rise limit reached.
I Etc.
What does 9tra&&ic spread: mean?
JTra44ic s0readK means s0reading tra44ic 8nmber o4 terminals9 in a cell coverage area.
Do yo! !se live tra&&ic or even2load tra&&ic in yo!r desi%n?
8-e0ends9.
What are the optimi>ation tools yo! !se?
-rive test, analysis, othersU
Are ,ystem In&ormation Bloc#s *,IB+ transmitted all the time?
No, system in4ormation bloc2 is mlti0le/ed with synchroniCation channel.
#ynchroniCation channel occ0ies the 4irst time slot 8T#9 and #<B occ0ies the other '
time slots.
(o" does UE camp *synchroni>e+ to a NodeB?
1. *E ses the 0rimary synchroniCation channel 8%-#",9 4or slot alignment 8T#
synchroniCation9.
2. .4ter aligning to NodeB time slot, *E then ses secondary synchroniCation
channel 8#-#",9 to obtain 4rame synchroniCation and scrambling code gro0
identi4ication.
). *E then ses scrambling code <- to obtain "%<",, ths cam0ing to a NodeB.
What co!ld $e the ca!se o& so&t handover &ail!re?
I *E isse.
I ;esorce navailable at target NodeB.
I <nade=ate #,E threshold de4ined.
I Etc.
What are the three sets in handover?
The ) sets in handover are!
I .ctive set B the list o4 cells which are in so4t handover with *E.
I :onitored set B the list o4 cells not in active set bt ;N" has told *E to monitor.
I -etected set B list o4 cells detected by the *E bt not con4igred in the neighbor
list.
What are the ma;or di&&erences $et"een 1,M and UM), handover decision?
?#:!
I Time-based mobile measres o4 ;/@ev and ;/Sal B mobile sends measrement
re0ort every #.", 0eriod 8$(+ms9.
I B#" instrcts mobile to handover based on these re0orts.
*:T#!
I Event-triggered re0orting B *E sends a measrement re0ort only on certain event
JtriggersK.
I *E 0lays more 0art in the handover decision.
What are the events 3a/ 3$/ 3c/ etc.?
I e1a B a %rimary "%<", enters the re0orting range, i.e. add a cell to active set.
I e1b B a 0rimary "%<", leaves the re0orting range, i.e. removed a cell 4rom active
set.
I e1c B a non-active 0rimary "%<", becomes better than an active 0rimary "%<",,
i.e. re0lace a cell.
I e1d! change o4 best cell.
I e1e! a %rimary "%<", becomes better than an absolte threshold.
I e14! a %rimary "%<", becomes worse than an absolte threshold.
What are event 4a24d and 8a28d?
Events 2a-2d are 4or inter-4re=ency handover measrements and events )a-)d are 4or
<;.T handover measrements.
I e)a! the *:T# cell =ality has moved below a threshold and a ?#: cell =ality
had moved above a threshold.
I e)b! the ?#: cell =ality has moved below a threshold.
I e)c! the ?#: cell =ality has moved above a threshold.
I e)d! there was a change in the order o4 best ?#: cell list.
What may happen "hen thereEs a missin% nei%h$or or an incorrect nei%h$or?
I .ccess 4ailre and handover 4ailre! may attem0t to access to a wrong scrambling
code.
I -ro00ed call! *E not aware o4 a strong scrambling code, strong inter4erence.
I %oor data throgh0t.
I %oor voice =ality.
I Etc.
What can "e try to improve "hen access &ail!re is hi%h?
1hen access 4ailre is high we can try the 4ollowing to im0rove ;.", 0er4ormance!
I <ncrease ma/imm *E transmit 0ower allowed! :a/PallowedP*@PTVP%ower.
I <ncrease 0ower =ic2ly! 0owerPE44setP%+.
I <ncrease nmber o4 0reambles sent in a given 0reamble cycle!
0reambleP;etransP:a/.
I <ncrease the nmber o4 0reamble cycles! ma/P%reambleP"ycle.
I <ncrease nmber o4 ;;" "onnection ;e=est retries! N)++.
What are the conditions yo! typically set to tri%%er I0A) handover?
;#"% and Ec><o are sed to trigger <;.T handover!
I ;#"% W -1++dBm.
I Ec><o W -1&dBm.
What are the typical C-Is yo! !se to meas!re a net"or# and "hat criteria?
I .ccess 4ailre rate 8W 2F9.
I "all set0 time 8"#! over '5F o4 the time X &-second 4or mobile-to-%#TN, '-
second 4or mobile-mobile. %#! over '5F o4 the time X 5-second9.
I -ro00ed call rate 8W 2F9.
I B@E;! over '5F o4 the bloc2s W 2F.
I .verage -@>*@ throgh0t 4or %#-! 21+2b0s 4or loaded, 2$+2b0s 4or nloaded.
What is the typical UE transmit po"er?
Haries - most o4 the time below +dBm.
(ave yo!r !sed Ericsson )EM,? I& so<
I -o yo 2now how to create command se=enceU
I 1hat are the call se=ences yo ty0ically haveU "# long call, "# short call, %#-
call, etc.
I 1hat are the ty0ical commands yo have 4or "# and %# callU
I -o yo reglarly sto0 and restart a new log 4ileU 1hy and when to sto0 and start
a new 4ileU
I ,ow do yo sto0 a log 4ileU #to0 command se=ence 4irst, wait and ma2e sre all
e=i0ment are in idle mode be4ore sto0 logging.
Did yo! "or# on nei%h$or prioriti>ation?
%lease e/0lain.
What is the typical event se.!ence o& I0A) (andover &rom 81 to 41
I Event 2d B entering into com0ressed mode B measrement o4 2? candidates B
Event )a B Heri4ication o4 2? resorces B ,andover 4rom *T;.N "ommand
4rom )? ;N" to *E
What are the possi$le ca!ses &or an I0A) @ail!re?

I :issing 2? relations
I Non availability o4 2? ;esorces
I %oor 2? "overage
I :issing )? ;elations

What is -a%in% ,!ccess 0atio? What is the typical -,0 that yo! have seen in a
UM), net"or#?

I %#; B %aging ;es0onses to the %aging .ttem0ts
I .bot '+F

What are the possi$le ca!ses &or a lo"er -,0?

I Non-continos ;F "overage B *E going in and ot o4 coverage area
4re=ently
I Hery ,igh Y%eriodic @ocation *0date TimerD B Ree0ing *Es in H@; long time
a4ter it moved ot o4 coverage
I @ower %aging "hannel %ower
I .ccess "hannel %arameter <sses
I -elayed @ocation *0date when crossing the @. > "N Bondaries

What are the possi$le ca!ses &or a Drop Call on a UM), net"or#?

I %oor "overage 8-@ > *@9
I %ilot %olltion > %ilot #0illover
I :issing Neighbor
I #" "ollisions
I -elayed ,andovers
I No resorce availability 8"ongestion9 4or ,and in
I @oss o4 #ynchroniCation
I Fast Fading
I -elayed <;.T Triggers
I ,ardware <sses
I E/ternal <nter4erence

A UE is served $y 4 or 8 ,C in A,. It is identi&yin% a ,C &rom 8rd tier/ ,tron%er and
meets the criteria &or Event3a or Event3c. B!t ,(? did not happen $eca!se o&
missin% nei%h$or relations? (o" do yo! optimi>e this iss!e?

I #tdy the %ilot s0illover 4rom the )
rd
Tier #" and control its coverage
I Even a4ter controlling the coverage, i4 the s0illover is there, .dd the neighbor.

A UE is served $y 4 ,C in A,/ a ,C is comin% in to Monitored ,et and Event3a is
tri%%ered. B!t UE is not receivin% Active ,et Update &rom NodeB and the call
drops. What co!ld $e possi$le ca!ses &or this drop?

I -elayed ,andover
I @oss o4 #ynchroniCation
I Fast Fading
I %ilot %olltion > #0illover isses

What is (ard (andover in UM),? When "ill it happen?

I ,ard ,andover in *:T# is a brea2 be4ore ma2e ty0e ,andover
<t can ha00en in the inter ;N" bondaries where there is no <r lin2.


What is the typical Call ,et!p )ime &or a 81 UE to 81 UE Call? What are the
possi$le 0@ related ca!ses &or a delayed C,) in this type o& call?


I & to ' seconds
:lti0le ;;" .ttem0ts 8*E is on 0oor coverage B need more than .ccess
.ttem0t9
-elayed %age ;es0onses
,igh @oad on %aging and>or .ccess "hannel
%aging > .ccess %arameters

What is ,o&t (andover ?verhead? What is the typical val!e in UM), net"or#?


I #o4t ,andover Everhead is calclated in two ways. 19 .verage .ctive #et #iCe B Total
Tra44ic > %rimary Tra44ic. 29 #econdary > Total Tra44ic
Ty0ical Hales are li2e 1.3 8.vg .ctive #et #iCe9 or )5F 8#econdary > Total 9

What "ill happen to the ,o&t (andover ?verhead "hen yo! apply ?CN, on the
net"or#? And Why?


I 1ith E"N#, the inter4erence 8load9 increases. This leads to redction in Ec><o o4 a
%ilot, which redces the 0ilot s0illovers. ;edction in %ilot #0illover will redce the #o4t
,andover Everhead.

What are the possi$le ca!ses &or an Access @ail!re in UM),?


I :issing Neighbors
%oor "overage
%ilot %olltion > #0illover
%oor "ell ;eselection
"ore Networ2 <sses
Non B availability o4 resorces. .dmission "ontrol denies
,ardware <sses
<m0ro0er ;.", %arameters
E/ternal <nter4erence


*@?0 E0IC,,?N EF-E0IENCED+ What is 0)W-? What is the si%ni&icance o& it?


I ;eceived Total 1ide-band %ower
<t gives the Total *0lin2 %ower 8<nter4erence9 level received at NodeB

*@?0 E0IC,,?N EF-E0IENCED+ What is the ,ystem 0e&erence -oint at "hich
all the -o"er Aevels are meas!red in Ericsson NodeB?


I #ystem ;e4 %oint 4or E>>> NodeB is at the ot0t o4 T:. 8Between T:. and .ntenna9

What are the typical val!es &or Greportin%ran%e3aE and Greportin%ran%e3$E?

I ) dB and 5 dB res0ectively.

What "ill $e the impact "hen yo! chan%e Greportin%ran%e3aE &rom 8 to 6 dB and
Gtimetotri%%er3aE 3'' to 84' ms/ "itho!t chan%in% any other parameters?


I ;edction in nmber o4 Event1a
-elayed Event1a trigger
;edction in .verage .ctive #et #iCe
-elay in Event1a cold increase -@ inter4erence, which cold lead to a dro0 call
or increase in .verage %ower %er *ser 8redction in cell ca0acity9

What is Admission Control?

I .dmission "ontrol is an algorithm which controls the ;esorce .llocation 4or a
new call and additional resorce allocation 4or an e/isting call. <ncase, i4 a cell is heavily
a loaded and enogh resorces in terms o4 0ower, codes or "Es are not available,
admission control denies 0ermission 4or the additional resorce re=irement.

What is Con%estion Control?


I "ongestion "ontrol monitors the dynamic tiliCation o4 s0eci4ic cell resorces and
insres that overload conditions do not occr. <4 overload conditions do occr,
"ongestion "ontrol will immediately restrict .dmission "ontrol 4rom granting additional
resorces. <n addition, "ongestion "ontrol will attem0t to resolve the congestion by
either down switching, or terminating e/isting sers. Ence the congestion is corrected,
the congestion resoltion actions will cease, and .dmission "ontrol will be enabled.

What is the maim!m n!m$er o& Channeli>ation Codes that can $e allocated &or
(,/ as per 81-- standard?
I 15 codes o4 #F 1&.
What is GCode M!ltiplein%E in (,D-A?
,harin% the (, Channeli>ation Codes amon% more than one (, !sers "ithin the
4ms ))I period.

*@?0 E0IC,,?N EF-E0IENCED+ In Ericsson ,ystem/ ho" is the -o"er allocated
&or (,D-AH

Power unutilized by 99 PS, CS and Common Channels, is used for HS (P
HS
= P
max
-
hsPowerMargin - P
non-HS)

What are Events that can tri%%er the (,D-A Cell Chan%e?
I Event 1d ,# B "hange o4 Best "ell in the .ctive #et
Event 1b or Event 1c B ;emoval o4 the Best "ell 4rom the .ctive #et
(o" is typically the Call ,et!p )ime o& a C,B call calc!lated in UM), !sin% A8
messa%es?

C,) is calc!lated as the time di&&erence $et"een GAlertin%E and the &irst 00C
Connection 0e.!est *Call Initiation+ messa%es.

What is pre2synchroni>ed handover?
A pre2synchroni>ation method in "hich the so!rce cell chooses a si%nat!re &or the
!ser mo$ile to !se in the tar%et cell &or 0AC( access/ and instr!cts the
!ser mo$ile to per&orm 0AC( access and ret!rn to the c!rrent cell
$e&ore a handover command *$rea# command+ is iss!ed. )his ca!ses
parallel eec!tion o& the UA synchroni>ation process "ith the contet
trans&er process amon% the t"o $ase stations
Brie& descri$e the advanta%es and disadvanta%es o& so&t handover?
Advanta%es
,peech .!ality<
The s0eech =ality is very good. The handover is seamless and the 4re=ency is not
changed. Ene or even more connections 4rom the *E to the *T;.N are 0 all the time.
There is no short interr0tion o4 the data trans4er when a connection to one cell is
released. Transmission errors can be detected and corrected very well becase the
*T;.N receives the radio signal 4rom di44erent locations and can se Ast the signal o4
the cell that crrently has the best radio lin2 to the *E. <n this case es0ecially in
bildings, radio signal re4lections by walls etc. can better be 4iltered by the *T;.N. The
0robability that many radio lin2s at the same time are distrbed is very low.
-o"er savin%<
Becase o4 the 0ossibility to correct transmission errors easily by com0aring the signals
received by the di44erent antennas 4rom the *E a higher transmission error rate in each
lin2 can be com0ensated. ,ence the transmission 0ower level can be lower than in
networ2s or sitations with only one radio lin2 to the networ2. This saves 0ower. *Es
can wor2 longer with same battery 0ower.
Ao"er transmission po"er level<
Becase o4 the e44ect described above the transmission 0ower level o4 the *E and the
cells is normally lower than it cold be with only one radio lin2 only. This redces
0ossible adverse health e44ects and redces the 0ossibility o4 distrbing other systems.
No pin%2pon% e&&ect<
Becase an *E can have more than one connection it is not 0ossible that a *E located in
the middle o4 two cells o4ten does a 8hard9 handover between these two cells.
@re.!ency plannin% and net"or# epansion!
Becase in 1-"-:. all 0artici0ants se the same 4re=ency no detailed 4re=ency
0lanning is needed. New cells can be added easily becase no new 4re=ency 0lanning is
needed when e/0anding an e/isting networ2.
Disadvanta%es
Costs of computation:
Especially in a softer handover (intra Node B/intra RNS) many
arithmetic exercise has
to be done by the Node B to do the maximum ratio combining. he !E
also has to do
this "or#. Even in other soft handover cases the cost of computation
by the SRN$ to do
the selection combining are %uite high compared to hard handover. &or
the latter
combining is not needed (see '.'). his computations cost po"er and
hard"are.
Complex to implement:
he implementation of the di(erent soft handover scenarios in the
!R)N is more
di*cult than hard handover only. he +rm"are/soft"are of the !E is
also much more
complex because it must be able to handle many radio lin#s "ith
di(erent scrambling
codes and has to do maximum ratio combining. !E and !R)N have to
ad,ust
permanently the transmission po"er level to reduce interferences "ith
other participants.
&or more detailed description of the problems that may occur at high
transmission po"er
levels see chapter '.- ./acro 0iversity1.