Site Troubleshooting Guide

LTE

RBS 6000 Series

RBS 6102

RBS 6101

RBS 6201

RBS 6601

RBS 6301

RRU

MetroPCS primarily uses RBS 6201 inside a weatherized

cabinet
MetroPCS primarily uses SIMO
Some sites will use RBS 6601 with RRUs, but not
currently available

Weatherized Cabinet

Majority of
MetroPCS sites
are outdoors

Cabinet Back

RBS 6201 Hardware

DUL Digital
Unit LTE

RU Radio
Unit

SIMO

Tx/Rx1

Rx2

Cabinet Diagram
Fans

Radio

RUs

DUL
CC

Power

SIU
C

Transmission

Cabinet No Jumpers
Power

RUs
DULs

SIU

Cabinet Jumpers

Antenna
Jumpers
Power

DUL

RUs

Diplexer Site
Diplexer

LTE

CDMA

Output
Input

Diplexer Detail

Input

Output

Diplexers

Visit Preparation

Printed Materials
RFDS Sheet with all plumbing diagrams
Notes about site access
Directions
Satellite image
Site Shakedown report
Equipment
Cabinet key
Dummy load set
Sitemaster
Laptop setup to run TEMS Investigation with UE

Equipment

Sitemaster

Laptop with UE
Cabinet Key

First Steps

Best Practices
Take photos!
Be prepared
Ensure E-UTRAN support is available
Notify relevant parties based on customer procedures
Visual Inspection
Make sure nothing immediately looks incorrect
Trace the RU-DUL cables to ensure there are no swaps
Ensure the RU-DUL cables have a good connection
Check small QMA wave guide for damage and ensure
connection

Photos
Take a photo of the site label to identify
pictures

RU to DUL Jumper check

Ensure the RU-DUL jumpers are
correct
DUL

RU-DUL
Jumpers

RU

RUL QMA Wave Guide

Check small QMA
wave
guide
for
Check
damage and ensure connection

Bent

Correct

RUL QMA Wave Guide

Check
Bent Connector
Disconnected Connector

Common Issues

Sector Swaps
DL or UL throughput low
Bad or no coverage
Azimuth incorrect

Sector Swaps
Causes
RU-DUL cables
Jumpers from cabinet to diplexer
Jumpers from diplexer to antenna feeders
Antenna feeders to antennas
CDMA incorrect
Do not trust colors on cables
Troubleshooting Steps
E-UTRAN lock test
Cable tracing

E-UTRAN Lock Test

Procedure
Have E-UTRAN lock a single sector
Verify the reference signal transmit light
stops blinking
Repeat for each sector

Conclusion
Ensures that the DUL is configured
correctly
Verifies there is no RU-DUL cable swap

E-UTRAN Lock Test

Blinking
Transmittin
g reference
signals

No Light
Locked

Antenna Jumper check

Verify all cables match colors in plumbing
diagrams
Non-diplex site
Trace the antenna jumpers from the RUL to the
back of the cabinet
Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to
the antenna feeders
Diplex site
Trace the antenna jumpers from the RUL to the
back of the cabinet
Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to
the diplexer
Trace the antenna jumpers from the diplexer to

Antenna Jumper Check

Verify all cables match colors in plumbing
diagrams
Sector 4

Sector 5

Sector 6

Antenna Jumper Check

Trace the antenna jumpers from the
RUL to the back of the cabinet
Jumpers exit cabinet

Jumpers at RUL

View Cabinet Back

Jumpers exit cabinet

Antenna Jumper Check

Trace the antenna jumpers from the cabinet to the
antenna feeders

Jumpers from cabinet

Antenna feeders

Antenna Jumper Check

Trace the antenna
jumpers from the cabinet to the
Diplex
diplexer
Jumpers from
cabinet

Jumpers
enter
Diplexer

Antenna Jumper Check

Trace the antenna
jumpers from the
Diplex
cabinet to the diplexer

Jumpers from
cabinet

Jumpers
enter
Diplexer

DL or UL throughput low
Causes
Backhaul
Antenna system and jumpers
Hardware problems with RU-DUL

Troubleshooting Steps
Dummy Load Test
Feeder Sweeps
E-UTRAN support

Dummy Load test

Procedure
Trace the power connector to the RUL and turn it of
Detach the antenna jumpers from the RUL
Connect the attenuators to the RUL
Connect the dummy antennas to the attenuators
Power on the RUL
Have EUTRAN unlock the target sector and lock all other
sectors
Place the UE near the dummy antennas
Upload and download a file and record a TEMS log
Conclusion
Eliminates or identifies antenna system cause of problem

Dummy Load Test

Trace the power connector to the RUL
and turn it of
Power light off

Dummy Load Test

Detach the antenna jumpers from the
RUL

Disconnected
Jumpers

Dummy Load Test

UseRUL
high power
Connect the attenuators to the
attenuators
Adapters

Attenuators
Ensure attenuators are connected
to both Tx/Rx2 and Rx2

Dummy Load Test

Connect the dummy antennas to the
attenuators
Attenuators

Dummy
antennas

Dummy Load test

Power on the RUL
Power light on
Power Button
Power
Connector

Dummy Load Test

Have EUTRAN unlock the target
sector and lock all other sectors

Ensure blinking

Dummy Load Test

Place the UE near the dummy
antennas

Dummy
antennas
UE

Dummy Load Test

Upload and download a file and
record a TEMS log

Feeder Sweeps

Tests
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio
Return Loss
Distance to Fault
Covered in a diferent guide
Conclusion
Determines if there are problems in the antenna system

E-UTRAN support
Procedure
Connect to the cell (dummy load or
otherwise)
Download or upload a file
Have E-UTRAN monitor the node

Conclusion
Determines if there is a configuration
problem or a problem in the backhaul

Bad or No Coverage
Causes
Antenna System
Jumpers not connected
Hardware problems with RU-DUL
(damaged connectors)

Troubleshooting Steps
Ensure all connectors are tightly secured
Dummy Load Test
Feeder Sweeps

Incorrect Azimuth
Troubleshooting Steps
Drive Test
Visual inspection of antenna direction

THANK YOU