Electrical Downtilt Overview

Agenda
Electrical Downtilt

Variable Electrical Downtilt

Remote Controlled Variable Electrical Downtilt (Teletilt)

Downtilt
Used to

Control coverage
Reduce Interference

2 methods: Mechanical Electrical

Electrical / Mechanical Downtilt

No downtilt

Mechanical downtilt Electrical downtilt

Creating Electrical Downtilt

No downtilt
Equal path lengths in feed network

Downtilt
Un-equal path lengths in feed network

Electrical Downtilt Coverage

No downtilt Electrical downtilt

Mechanical Downtilt Coverage

No downtilt

Mechanical downtilt

C/I - Electrical Downtilt

Minimal Co channel interference Assuming 7/21 reuse

C/I - Mechanical Downtilt

High Co channel interference Assuming 7/21 reuse 4/12 reuse even worse

Co Channel Interference

Electrical

Mechanical

Comparing Downtilt Methods

10 Electrical downtilt

6 Electrical + 4 Mechanical

10 Mechanical downtilt

Co-channel Interference vs Downtilt

Interference received from a mobile in a cochannel cell Electrical downtilt provides much better interference suppression Typically can be worse as there is normally more than 1 co-channel base station

Mechanical

Change in -10 interference received -20 from co-channel -30 base station -40 [dB]
0 2 4

Electrical

10

Down tilt angle [deg]

C/I vs Downtilt Angle for Electrical & Mechanical Tilt

10

Electrical downtilt

60 40

Electrical downtilt: Signal reduced, interference reduced more, therefore the C/I is increased Mechanical downtilt: Eventually signal is reduced but not as much as interference, therefore C/I reduced Independent of antenna heights(20,40 & 60m) In real world - some flattening of curves

Change in C/I ratio [dB]

20 0 60

Mechanical downtilt
40

20 -10

6 Downtilt angle

10

12

EDT and CDMA

Despite common frequencies there are still key benefits for CDMA from EDT

Soft hand-off zones become critical for capacity and dropped calls

Pilot signals for paging & control etc. create pollution which becomes a major factor for capacity and quality.

Cell sites before optimisation

CDMA and Mechanical Downtilt

Soft hand-off zones large.

Limited capacity
Increases areas where pilot pollution could be a problem.

Cell sites after optimisation by mechanical downtilt

CDMA and Electrical Downtilt

The soft hand-off zones are optimised,
maximises capacity.

Pilot pollution minimised

optimises call quality maximises capacity.
Cell sites after optimisation by electrical downtilt

Back Lobes and Downtilt

Backlobes are also tilted with electrical downtilt

Benefits of Electrical Tilt

Improved Signal to Interference (C/I) ratio Less dropped calls Improved reputation Improved revenue

No Interference Interference

Variable Electrical Downtilt

Variable Electrical Downtilt

How it works Deltec Varitilt and Teletilt antennas feature variable electrical downtilt

Variable Electrical Downtilt -Easy to adjust

Control Systems: Handheld Controller

Handheld Controller
Sets downtilt of single antenna

Adjusts and reads antenna tilt

Menu-driven operation Commands are sent via a connection panel in the cell site shelter (one connector per antenna) Battery powered (rechargeable)

Variable Electrical Downtilt No need to swap or move

5 7

OR
2

Variable Electrical Downtilt Simplify Planning

What antenna do I use?
2, 5, 7or 9 ???

2 - 10

Variable Electrical Downtilt Optimise for the Real world

Ideal

Real

Variations between modelling tool and reality Changes to the environment

Effects of Backtilt

6 Total
(6 EDT + 0 MDT )

0 Total
(6 EDT - 6 MDT )

Variable Electrical Downtilt Simplify stock holding

2

2-10

8 4

Variable Electrical Downtilt Benefits

Easy to adjust antennas

No need to change or move antennas

Simplifies planning (Choosing antennas) Can optimise antennas for real world Improved network performance Better revenue

Simplify stock holding

Remote Controlled Variable Electrical Downtilt

Downtilt Adjustment - an Expensive Process

Specialised team with training for altitude works

Several hours required to perform adjustments

Restricted times and access to sites

One or more cells out of service while adjustments are made

Platform or other means to access the antennas Result: Less adjustments are made, Less optimisation is attained

Adjustment planning depends on weather

 Adjustments in minutes From your desk No site downtime No extra manpower / equipment

Teletilt Variable Electrical Downtilt

Independent of weather

Optimise your network with Teletilt

Easy to fine tune Correct handovers Reduce interference

Fill in holes
Balance traffic

Check your settings with Teletilt

What is the tilt?

2 5 7 ???

Drive Testing with Teletilt

Adjust as you test

New stepper motor actuator integrated into antenna with EDT range sensor

IN OUT

IN

OUT

Red handheld controller no longer required for new installations

Management System Roadmap

RS485

Controller 3 Actuator

DC
POWER

Controller 6 Actuator or 3 Actuator (Can also be mounted up mast)

RS485

Remote control capability

DC
POWER

BTS

BTS System supports antennas with internal or external actuators

DC
POWER

BTS

Splitter

RS485

Multi-dropped controllers (3 to 6 Actuator) to support up to 18 single band antennas

Splitter

RS485

Controller 6 Actuator

DC
POWER

DC
POWER

BTS

BTS
Issue A 4 Oct 2001

Current
Antennas
800/900/1800/1900 and Multiband Antennas with integrated brush motor actuators Red Hand Held Controller (brush motor compatible)

4-5 Months
UMWD Wide Band Antenna (with field retro-fittable stepper motor actuator) New local controller (stepper motor compatible)

7-8 Months
800/900, Multiband and UMWD Wide Band Antennas (all with integrated stepper motor actuators) One control system to control all actuators (stepper motor and brush motor)

12 Months

Control Systems

Full remote control over wide area network

 Fast adjustment

Teletilt Benefits

Adjustment independent of Time Weather Site access difficulties No interruption of service No special requirement for Equipment Manpower The downtilt is known Ability to fine tune coverage

Teletilt Benefits Financial & Customer

$$$
Savings in Labour Savings in equipment hire costs Savings in downtime

Improved customer service:

(loss in revenue)
Increase revenue through improved performance

Optimise network performance

Avoid outages Respond quickly to changing traffic patterns