Optimization Overview and

Procedures
Lesson # 1
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Lesson Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to:

Discuss the reasons for RF optimization.

Describe the stages of RF optimization.
Describe general RF optimization procedures dependent
upon system maturation.

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Optimization Overview
RF optimization - the process of engineering
a wireless network to reach a pre-defined
level of performance and maintaining this
level as the system matures.

There are three primary reasons for RF

optimization.
Improve Call Performance
Handoff Control
Efficient Capacity Management

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Stages of Optimization
Each stage will
present the
engineer with
different
challenges.

There are three stages in which

optimization activities should occur:

Pre-commercial launch
After commercial launch
During system growth and maturation

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Stages of Optimization
The benchmark
for RF
performance is
set during this
stage of
optimization.

Pre-Commercial Launch

Optimizing a network before commercial

launch should concentrate on the following:
performing a system or cluster datafill audit and
shakedown
RF coverage and handoff control
producing initial neighbor lists
minimizing dropped calls
increasing access completion
determining search window settings
increasing hard handoff completion rates

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Stages of Optimization
Analysis during
this stage of
optimization will
give you a
glimpse of the
personality of
your network.

Commercial Launch

After commercial launch of your network,

the optimization efforts should
concentrate on:
RF coverage and handoff control
decreasing dropped calls
increasing access completion
monitoring capacity and traffic growth

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Stages of Optimization
Optimization is
an on-going
process that
requires
constant
attention.

During System Growth and Maturation

Efforts during this stage will concentrate

on:
integrating new sites into the existing network
RF coverage and handoff control
monitoring capacity and traffic growth
minimizing dropped calls
maximizing access success
maximizing hard handoff success

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Optimization Procedures
Entrance
Criteria are a set
of conditions
that must be
met before
optimization
begins.

Entrance Criteria

All BTSs should be installed and calibrated

correctly.

The spectrum should be cleared of interference

down to -110dBm for 800MHz systems. (-111dBm
for 1900MHz systems)

All sectors should be operational, capable of

originating calls, and performing handoffs.

Personnel should be available to make changes

to parameters, perform SBS logging, enable or
disable OCNS, and wilt or blossom sectors.

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Optimization Procedures
Entrance Criteria (cont.)

An up to date site database should be

available in the prediction tool.

All test vehicles, tools, maps, etc., should

be available
drive testing gear should be installed and
operationally tested.

PN offset plan should be created and

entered into datafill.

Initial neighbor lists created and entered

into datafill.

Exit criteria defined.

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Pre-Commercial (1st pass- OCNS disabled)

Perform datafill audit and
shakedown.

Perform cluster drive using

2 min. Markov calls

Optimize SRCH_WIN_A and

BTS Demodulation
windows.

Optimize SRCH_WIN_N/R.
Perform RF coverage
analysis.

Perform neighbor list

tuning.

Generate a per-site Transmit

Gain Adjust plot.

Make necessary changes to

the network discovered
during analysis.

Re-accomplish the above

steps until the desired
results are achieved.

Perform dropped call and

access failure analysis.
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Pre-Commercial (2nd pass- OCNS enabled)

Perform cluster drive tests
using 2 min. Markov calls.

Re-generate the RF
coverage analysis plots.

Perform dropped call

analysis.

Perform failed access

analysis.

Perform detailed analysis of

special or key areas within
the network.

Make necessary changes to

the network discovered
during analysis.

Re-accomplish the above

steps until the desired
results are achieved.

Determine average number

of sectors per user.

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Optimization Procedures
Once the
network is
commercially
launched use
the following
list to determine
when and how
to optimize.

After Commercial Launch

Use MTX Operational Measurements (OMs) and
logged BTSPerformanceData to isolate problem
areas.

Enable unconditional SBS logging of RTD,

NeighborListTuningArray and VitalData.

Use unconditional SBS and BTS diagnostic

logging.

If particular mobiles are suspect, enable a full

optimization logmask for those mobiles.

Use drive testing as a last resort for characterizing

a problem area.

Use drive testing to complete the integration of

new sites.
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Optimization Procedures
Exit Criteria are
those criteria
that when met,
optimization is
complete for the
time being.

Possible Exit Criteria

Achievement of a target dropped call rate.

Achievement of a target access success
rate.

Achievement of RF coverage over a

specified geographic area.

Achievement of a target capacity value

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Lesson 1 - Summary
In this lesson we have:

Discussed the reasons for RF optimization

Described the stages for RF optimization
Described the procedures for optimization based on
the maturity of the network

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