Assist Case: Why does the TRX or site reset abruptly

sometimes
Fault Isolation and Rectification Steps
RF Cable verification

Description of the Problem

Cause of the Problem
Analysis of the Cause
TRX Test Method
Faulty Cable Isolation
RF Cable Description
Summary

Soc Classification level

1 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Description of the Problem

Flexi EDGE BTS is on Air (in service) in the network.

When the cabinet door is closed or a metal object is brought near to the site, one or more
TRX or the the BCF are reset.
Alarms usually enabled are:
7708: TRX Restarted
7705: LAPD failure
7606: TRX Faulty: ESMA System module has lost connection to EXxx TRX Module
7603: BTS Faulty: ESMA System module has lost connection to EXxx TRX Module
Occasionally the following alarms are also seen
7767: BCCH Missing and in extreme cases we also see
7704: PCM Failure and 7706: BTS O&M Link Failure
Problem can occur immediately or may take some time after a metal object is brought
close to the front of the BTS.

Soc Classification level

2 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Snapshot During Problem

Soc Classification level

3 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Cause of the Problem:
The BTS RF cables connecting the Tx output of the EXxA to the input of the ERxA (note
that this could be via an EWxA) can occasionally be damaged during BTS installation or
other site maintenance activities. This damage may not be visible externally.
The damaged cable may have reduced screening properties or an excessive impedance
mismatch. When the BTS is radiating at high RF Power levels the cable will leak excess
RF radiation.
A door, or in some cases even a metal object like a guide plate, is sufficient to reflect the
excess RF leakage back at the BTS and cause a TRX reset or some cases a BCF reset.
If the cable is badly damaged it may not even require the proximity of a metal object to
restart any TRX.

Soc Classification level

4 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Analysis of the Cause
Under certain conditions the FEPD module can become sensitive to the increased RF
radiation reflected within the BTS cabinet.
Increased RF radiation near to the FEPD can lead to the DC power supplied to the
EXxA being switched off momentarily, causing a TRX restart.
Increased RF radiation near the FEPD may also momentarily switch off the DC power
to the ESMA which will cause a BCF reset.
The damaged RF cable may cause any EXxA connected to the same ESMA to restart
i.e. not just the EXxA which has the damaged RF cable.

Soc Classification level

5 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Tests to verify the faulty RF cables
The following procedures can be used to verify the RF cables:-

1) The TRX Test can be run using the BTS manager.

2) The faulty cable isolation test sequence.

NOTE: The TRX Test can be used to find any badly damaged RF cables but may not
identify all the damaged cables that can lead to the TRX/BCF restart issue. It may
also be necessary to perform the faulty cable isolation test.

Soc Classification level

6 Nokia Siemens Networks /
TRX Test Method

The TRX test can be run for each individual TRX installed at the site.
Before this:-
Disable BB or AHOP from the sector under test.
The power for the sector should be PMAX=0 (set at BSC).

A faulty cable may give failed TRX test results with one of the following reasons:-
> Low Power in Abis1- Air3 Loop
> RF cables not connected.

* A snapshot of follows.
* A document is attached describing the Tests from BSC for different configurations.

Soc Classification level

7 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Snap Shot of TRX Test

Soc Classification level

8 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Faulty Cable Isolation test
Faulty RF cables can be isolated in the following manner:
1) Connect the BTS Manager to the BTS (ESMA LMP)
2) Disable BB or Antenna Hopping from the BSC for all sectors of the BCF/Site as it
would not permit TRX blocking/unblocking in a BB/AHOP sector.
3) Verify that all the sectors are radiating at maximum power which can be verified from the
BSC using the command: ZEUO:BTS=<BTS id>;
4) Block all TRX of the Site locally from the BTS Manager.
5) For each sector at a time, unblock one TRX at a time (this would enable the BCCH to
reconfigure to each TRX at a time. This will enable sufficient power available on the cable
to be able to test each cable successfully.
6) On the BTS Control drop down menu of the BTS Manager, select the Power Control
Option and Change the Control from User to BTS (If it is not already there).

Soc Classification level

9 Nokia Siemens Networks /
 Faulty Cable Isolation Continued
7) Bring the door of the cabinet or a sufficient sized metal plate in front of the radiating
TRX Tx port. Try this a number of times varying the distance from the BTS and speed of
movement ie slowly and fast.
8) When this activity is performed on a TRX with a faulty RF cable, it will be observed
on the power control box that the display of any one or more of the six power ports of
the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) turn from Green to a Question Mark in Red denoting
an Unknown State.
9) Note that before removing any TX cable, block the TRX locally first or a VSWR major
alarm may block the TRX which would require a sector reset from the BSC
10)The TX cable should be immediately removed from the TRX and replaced. This new
cable should again be verified in the same way before any other TRX is unblocked.
11) Repeat the activity on each TRX one at a time. Unblocking it to do the testing and
Blocking it again after verifying the integrity of the Tx cable.
12) For each TRX, after verifying that the Tx cable is OK, swap it with its Rx cable to
also verify its integrity before unblocking any other TRX.
13) In some cases a BCF Reset may also be observed on the site.

Soc Classification level

10 Nokia Siemens Networks /
Description of the Cable

The cable is an RG 400 cable with QMA Male type connectors at both ends. Cable codes:
994931b RA QMA RF CABLE ASSEMBLY 172 MM
994933b RA QMA RF CABLE ASSEMBLY 275 MM

Soc Classification level

11 Nokia Siemens Networks /
 Summary
The RF cables might look and feel very flexible and robust but should be handled with
extreme care as a broken or damaged cable may cause many quality and reduced output
power issues.
The tests described earlier should be performed to isolate any damaged RF cables on sites
displaying any unintentional reset or RF quality issues.
The reset issue may not be immediately reproducible on each site as it may take some time
for the necessary site conditions to develop ie heating of damaged cables etc.
The damaged cables should be removed and then disposed of immediately.

Soc Classification level

12 Nokia Siemens Networks /