QUESTION ANSWER

Can you list me the interfaces of a

Air, Abis, Ater, A, Gb, Gi, Gn, Gd, Gr, Gs
GSM network?
Can you list me the network MS, BTS, BSC, MSC, SGSN,
elements of a GSM network? GGSN,BG,HLR,EIR,AUC,CG,LIG
Unique Identifier for a SIM.1 MS can be paged with a
What is the IMSI?
single PAGING message
TMSI in a Location Area. Shorter so you can page more
What is the TMSI?
MS
When do you use IMSI and when Authentication, but basically we care about it for paging.
TMSI? Paging message always contains IMSI
How many MS can you page with 1
2
paging message done w/ IMSI?
How many MS can you page with 1
4
paging message done w/ TIMSI?
Paging method? Can you change Either IMSI and / or TMSI … you can change the method
this method w/ BSS parameters? by NSS parameters
RACH, AGCH, PCH … there is also NCH but it is not
Name some of the CCH channels
used …
Which are the feature we have in Default PCH has always priority over AGCH. Anyway you
----- in order to change the CCCH can reserve a certain number of blocks of AGCH.
behaviour? However, if AGCH =0, AGCH has priority over PCH
Which are the CCCH in UL and
UL = RACH DL = AGCH, PCH, (NCH)
which are in DL?
Dedicated Channels in GSM FACCH, SACCH, SDCCH, TCH

Broadcast Channels in GSM BCCH, FCH, CBCH, SCH

Which is the difference between Congestion = all resources in use. BLOCKING = Blocked
CONGESTION and BLOCKING? requests
How do you measure
seconds
CONGESTION in -----?
How do you measure BLOCKING in
events
-----?
Which is the unit of measure for the
1 event
blocking measurement?
Which is the measurement period for
10 msec
the congestion measurement?
Which is the measurement period for
20 sec
the traffic measurement?
Which are the ----- features to help
SDCCH congestion not to become Dynamic SDCCH, FACCH Call Set Up
SDCCH blocking?
HR (EFR and AMR), DR, DADLB (actually this one avoids
Which are the ----- features to help congestion to happen as well as traffic reason handover),
TCH blocking? traffic reason HO (MSC initiated), AMH (traffic reason HO,
BSC initiated)
DR is triggered when there is actual congestion in the
Which is the difference between
TCHs. DADLB is triggered when the load of the BTS is
DADLB and DR?
above a certain threshold defined as a parameter.
 Which type of HO is triggered w/
SDCCH - TCH HO
DR?
Is DR helpful for SDCCH or TCH
TCH Congestion
congestion?
There are 2 timers and 1 threshold
Min Time = Time in order to identify neighbours.
you need to define when you
Max Time = max time to try HO.
activate DR … can you tell me which
Level Threshold = Minimum Threshold of the neighbours
are these parameters and what are
in order to try SDCCH-TCH HO
these for?
Which are the differences between Basically IDR is an improvement of DR and it takes into
DR (directed Retry) and IDR account the Source Call Type, Target Cell Type and
(Intelligent Directed Retry)? Subscriber type … anyway it is never used …
Threshold Level
Which are the DR parameters you
Min time DR
need to set?
Max Time DR
Basically when the BTS load is above the load defined by
a parameter (in AMH feature's parameter group). the
Can you briefly explain to me the
AmhPBGT MARGIN for that specific neighbour relation is
BSC INITIATED TRAFFIC HO?
squeezed in order to help to lower load traffic … that's the
reason why you call it TRAFFIC HO
What happen in a network if there
are legacy MS that don't support They just use C1 (it happens all the time in Europe)
C2?
Microcell and to bias a layer (it happens in CINGULAR for
Why do you want to use C2? 850 in order to have dual band MS which are EDGE
capable only on 850)
Can you make practical examples of
traffic management in dualband, microcell
C2 usage?
What's the difference between Cell Cell Selection is when you switch on the MS. Cell
Selection and Cell Re-Selection? ReSelection when it is already on
- MS is able to read BCCH
What are the 4 criteria of the suitable - MS is allowed to register to the PLMN and LA
cells for MS to camp on - the cell is not barred
- signal level is higher than threshold (C1 > 0)

What is the TIMING ADVANCE? Measure distance MS -BTS w/ resolution of 550 meters

How long is it in time and in space? 1/2 bit where the bit rate is 270kbps ~ 550 meters

Who calculates it? BSC/BTS and sends back to the MS

How is it calculated? RACH delay

How can you collect TA statistics in There is the table … although we have only 10 bins … not
the ----- OSS? 63 …
Can you modify the setting of the TA
Yes, BSC level, maximum is 10 bins
stats in the ----- OSS?
Why do we need to use timing BTS needs to know when MS signal is expected to arrive
advance to avoid inter symbol interference
Max distance you can keep a call in
GSM?
(what is the maximum value of 63 TA .. Equivalent to ~ 35 km
timing advance in normal GSM cell?
And what does it equivalent to? )
Which network element uses TA to Basically MS sends its bursts in advance in order to get to
take certain decisions? MS or BTS? the BTS in the window expected …
Alows to have double maximum distance MS - BTS …
What is the extended cell feature?
theoretically 70 km … practically 65 km
Is it available in -----? Yes …

Which is the cabinet / BSC you need

Ultrasite will support it in S11.5. Talk Family supports it
to have in order to make Extended
since S7
Cell work?
Advantages and disadvantages of
Basically when you have a MASTER, if this goes down
the MASTER-MASTER and
also the other cabinet goes down
MASTER-SLAVE configuration
Do you need the Synch Cable
between cabinets in order to share no
the T1?
Which is the best configuration for
cabinet synchronization (MASTER,
independent
SLAVE, INDEPENDENT) if you don't
have CBCCH?
Why independent configuration is Because doesn't have a chain effec in case 1 BCF has
the best? problems
Advantages and disadvantages of
Basically a hybrid configuration is always an headache for
allocating 1900 radios on one
implementation
cabinet and 850 on another cabinet
FULL is when you don't use DTX, SUB when you use
Briefly explain FULL and SUB
DTX. FULL Is measured on 104 frames, SUB on 12
measurements in the Air I/F?
frames
Are these stats always sent? Both of
Yes., both all the the time
them?
How can the BSC understand which
There is a flag that says if DTX is used or not
one to use?
If you plot these stats what do you
Sub stats are more spread, more standard deviation
notice?
What happens when you enable UL
DTX / disable UL DTX to your RxQual has more samples in 0 and 7
RxQuality?
How much of it is due to real Some is real interference but most is just statistical
interference? distribution
Why you have a different distribution
between SUB and FULL RxQual
Less samples = Less reliable = More deviation
samples? (HINT - It is a statistical
reason)

What are BER and BEP? Bit Error Rate and Probability
Can you explain what is NBLO It is used in CBCCH and it measures the difference
measurement and how it is used? between BCCH and non-BCCH layer
 CBCCH advantage = Trunking Gain + you can assign the
call to the slave (e.g. other layer) w/ call assignment w/o
Which is the main advantage of using HO
CBCCH Vs. Multiple BCCH? MBCCH advantage = Give BCCH channel to both bands
… especially here in US where there are a lot of legacy
phones in singleband @ 1900
Could you please explain the basic
signalling of a Mobile Originated Call RACH, AGCH, SDCCH, TCH …
Setup?
Could you please explain the basic
signalling of a Mobile Terminated PCH, RACH, AGCH, SDCCH, TCH …
Call Setup?
What are the important GSM
3.22, 4 series esp. 4.08 & 4.60, 5 series esp 5.08, 5.05
specifications for radio performance?
What is the channel spacing in
200 kHz
GSM?
What is the duplex frequency of
45 MHz for GSM850 and 80 MHz for GSM1900
GSm850 and GSM1900?
in GSM, What is the multiple access
FDMA/TDMA with FDD
and duplex used?
What is ARFCN? What does it Absolure Radio Frequency Channel Number. Basically it
mean? is the frequency in use.
Is ARFCN = 120 in GSM850 or
850
GSM1900 band?
How many ARFCN do you have in
ch 128 -251 (124 Ch)
GSM850?
How many ARFCN do you have in
Ch 512 - 811 (300 ch)
GSM1900?
Which is the number of frames in a
51
SIGNALLING CHANNEL?
Which is the number of frames in a
26
TRAFFIC CHANNEL?
What's the difference between
MECHANICAL and ELECTRICAL Electrical reduces also side lobes and back lobes.
DOWNTILT?
How does the ELECTRICAL Put a signal w/ different phases which deletes part of the
DOWNTILT work? initial one creating smaller lobes
What is the difference in propagation
7 dB. The higher the frequency, the more the loss.
between 850Mhz and 1900Mhz?
Also known as shadowing, caused by large obstructions
What is Slow fading? such as hils, building trees. Behaviour is a slow change in
propagation
Also known as multipath or Rayleigh. Caused by
constuctive or destructive interference as a result of
What is Fast fading?
reflections, multiple propagation paths. Fades as deep as
30 dB over distances of half a wavelength
In the slow moving mobile
environment,
Fast Fading.
what kind of fading has more impact
to signal?
 When the RF signal is distorted around an object.
Happens to all EM waves, it seems as though the wave
"bends" around an object, therefore can provide coverage
What is Diffraction? behind an obstruction. Happens when there is no LOS or
the 1st Fresnel zone is obstructed. Commonly modelled
as knife edge, either single or double. Epstein-Petersein
is a multiple edge model.
What is the effect of transmit
None. Diffraction is independent of frequency
frequency on Diffraction?
Coverage is provided by the signal propagating to an
What is the difference between
area. Service is useable coverage, affected by
"Service" and "Coverage"?
interference or GSM distance constraints
Interference is unwanted coverage. The same signal can
What is the relationship between
be both coverage or interference depending on whether
Coverage and Interference?
the signal is useful or not
Site location (Lat, long), Antenna configuration (diversity,
What is the required information HPBW, gain, type), Antenna line information (feeder
from site survey activities? And what length/loss, spiltter, diplexer, MHA), Rooftop layout.
are their purpose? This is used for link budge calc., coverage planning and
prediction simulation, optimization analysis
Customer wants to give to ----- a
new service, coverage planning of a
new market. You need to tell him
Coverage Polygons (Rural, SubUrban, Urban, Freeway) #
which are the inputs you need in
Different RxLevel for each polygon # Coverage Probability
order to start your work. Please do
so … which are the inputs you need
to ask him for.
What is the Coverage Probability?
You have normally 2 Coverage
Cell Edge. Cell Area.
Probabillity … which are their
names?
Cell Area Coverage Probability ~ 90% is a typical value
Which is a typical Coverge
you can use and that you have to put in the Propagation
Probability you can use for coverage
model as an input in order to have the Cell Range and
dimensioning purposes?
from that the Cell Area.
The customer has given you the
input you have requested him 1. You need to decide the type of equipment and
(Polygons, RxLev, Coverage configuration you want to have. Normally this is a
Probability) now you need to decide standard one (e.g. ULTRASITE, w/ LNA, 2 TRXs) 2.
which are the tools you need in order Calculate the LINK BALANCE for that specific
to give him an initial understanding configuration. 3. Propagation Model (e.g. Okomura Hata)
of how many sites he needs. Please correction factors (e.g. mean and standarddeviation)
tell me which are the tools you need

Probably at this point you have to

decide / ask which is the typical PRO OMNI = Trunking Gain. Cover perfectly an Island for
configuration you want in the sites example, from the top of a hill. CONS OMNI = Painful
(omni, 2 sectors, 3 sectors). Which when you need to make frequency plan and/or limit
are the advantages / disadvantages interference
of OMNI?
 Probably at this point you have to
decide / ask which is the typical
configuration you want in the sites Probably you can use a 2 sector site when you have a
(omni, 2 sectors, 3 sectors). Which freeway in a rural area.
are the advantages / disadvantages
of 2 sectors?
Probably at this point you have to
decide / ask which is the typical
3 sectors is probably the best combination for coverage
configuration you want in the sites
and frequency plan and it gives good ability to control
(omni, 2 sectors, 3 sectors). Which
interference (w/ tilts)
are the advantages / disadvantages
of 3 sectors?
Related to the previous question …
which is the best configuration is you City = 3 sectors. Freeway = 2 sectors (but only if around
have to cover a freeway? And if you there is really nothing else to cover). Island = Omni works
need to cover an Island? And if you just fine if you put it on the top of the hill
need to cover a city?
Once you have decided which is the
sector configuration to use, how can
you use the Cell Range calculated You use the typical hexagon model. With that you know
w/ the Propagation Model correction how many sites you need in order to cover you polygon.
factors in order to calculate how
many sites to you need?
10*log (W) = dBW,
What is the relationship of W, dB and 10*log(W/1000[mW]) = dBm,
dBm? 10 log (Power/ Reference) = dB or 20 log (Voltage /
Reference)

10 dB + 14 dB 24 dB

10 dBm + 14 dB 24 dBm

In order to do it you need to convert the dBm to Watt, sum

10 dBm + 14 dBm the Watts and go back to dBm … in this case the results
is 15.455 dBm
False. The A and B coefficient used in OH model is
Is the following statement correct?
different if frequency below 1000 MHz and
Okumura Hata model used in
above1500MHz. Besides, the area correction factor is
GSM850 is the same as GSM1900.
different between the 2 frequency
BTS type (Rx sensitivity and Tx Power), Antenna gain,
What is the possible way to improve
feeder length and types (site planning), using MHA and
link budget?
diversity (improve Rx), using Booster (improve Tx)
Sensitivity and TRX output power for
-112 to -115 dBm, 5W TRX
----- METROSITE?
-115 typical (-112 to -118 dBm),
Sensitivity and TRX output power for
43dBm (guaranteed ~ minimum on 100% production)
----- ULTRASITE?
47dBm TRX (nominal ~ on 90% of production)
 With the maximum allow pathloss from link budget with
How does the link budget impact to consideration of LP, STD, Slow fading margin and
number of the sites required in an propagation model , it is used for defining the cell range. If
area? the pathloss is bigger, the cell range could be higher and
the number of sites require will be reduced.

cell/site splitting: coverage enhancement but more cost to

hardware & limitation of frequency
more TRX: easy but need frequency
micro cell layer: more easy to control interference but
Please list 3 methods of capacity more site require
enhancement and their pros & cons dualband: additional spectrum required, minimize impact
to existing band coverage/capacity,
soft capacity features: hopping, IUO, DFCA, AMR, DTX
better cell planning &optimization for better interference
control.

Basically the LNA is helping to improve the effective noise

figure of the receiving path which then reduces the Rx
Sensitivity of receiving path. The simple way to do is the
How does LNA improve the
compensation of feeder loss (but not more than LNA
sensitivity?
gain). However, the calculation have to be calculated on
the effective noise figure and effective gain of the
receiving path.
IDD is basically a DL booster. The way it works is
INTELLIGENT DOWNLINK
basically putting together the signals of 2 TRXs with the
DIVERSITY?
same signal but w/ a different phase. The gain is ~ 3 dB.
What is the problems with highrise lack of coverage as the antennas are lower down.
buildings? Increased interference from LOS to many sites.
TRUNKING GAIN IS THE GAIN THAT YOU HAVE WHEN
YOU HAVE LESS ENTRY POINT TO THE RESOURCES
What is trunking gain? (e.g. 1 line in front of the 10 airport check-in counters
works much better than 10 lines in front of the same 10
airport check-in counters) …
One channel used for 3600 seconds in 1 h ~ 100%
what does 1 Erlang mean?
utilization of a resource (TCH or PDCH in GSM)
Customer is complaining that w/
1TRX he can serve only 3 Erlang
and has 10% blocking while we have Basically the traffic is not approaching the BTS w/ a
told him that according to the Erlang Poisson distribution (which is the assumption that is the
B table we should be able to serve 3 base of the Erlang B model)
Erl w/ 2% blocking. What is
happening?
What is the Erlang C table? It is a model which takes into account queuing
If we have QUEUING active do we
need to use the Erlang C table? No … because queue is not infinite …
Why?
Is the Erlang B table the right model
NO
to use in case of AMR FR / HR?
1 TRX w/ 2% blocking … according
to the Erlang B table how many ~ 3 Erl
Erlang can I serve?
What is the output from link budget? Maximum allowed pathloss (UL and DL)
Which is a typical PathLoss you can
~ 150 dB
have in a GSM connection?
Do we use different LINK BUDGET No, maximum allowed path loss is not environment
for different type of environments? dependent. It is service dependent though
To model the network. Allows the planner to see the effect
What is the purpose of a radio of making changes to the network so the best solution can
planning tool? be chosen and implemented. Can also be used to store
all the site data.
First start with accurate clutter, DTM and building data.
How can you ensure the planning Next calibrate the model correctly. All site data must be
tool is as accurate as possible? correct. This will give the propagation model of the
network.
What general power law do
3.5 power law (4th power law good enough)
propagation models follow?
Name two methods of propagation
Statistical and Deterministic (Ray tracing, virtual source)
modelling
Name two statistical models Okumra-Hata (General propagation) and Walfisch-
commonly used Ikegami (canyon like environment)
Collect CW (not TEMS, noise floor isn't low enough)
measurements from mulitple locations. Drive through as
many clutter classes as possible. Input all data to a
How do you calibrate a statistical planning tool. Calculate SD. Use different values of first
propagation model? co-efficient to get different SD values. This is normally a
square function, so get minimum. Continue with other
coefficients. Repeat. Coefficient order: distance,
diffraction, BTS height, BTS height*distance

What are the main MML families in EA: Adjacency, EE: BSC, EQ: BTS, ER: TRX, EH: HOC,
manipulating radio objects? EU: POC

How do you list current alarms for a

ZEOL
BTS?

What does the initial "Z" stand for in It makes MML interpret the command from the main level,
an MML command? even if you are inside another family

What is the available tool for OSS

TANO, NDW, EOSFLEX
data collection in -----?
Name two drive test tools TEMS, NEMO(TOM)
What drive test equipment is needed Logging tool, 2 phones (one short call, one long), GPS,
for performance data collection? scanner, map, power supply for all
What type of measurements should Continuous Wave (CW), Greater dynamic range and
be used for model calibration? lower noise floor
Name some protocol analysers for
monitoring the Abis, A or Gn Nethawk, K1215, Agilent
interfaces
When a cell is being interfered with by another cell with
What is co-channel interference
the same carrier frequency
 What is the GSM rejection ratio for
9 dB
co-channel interference?
When a cell is being interfered with by another cell with a
What is adjacent channel carrier frequency which is seperated by 200kHz for the
interference? 1st adjacent interferer, 400kHz for the 2nd adjacent
interferer, etc.
What is the GSM rejection ratio for
the first adjacent channel -9 dB (-18 dB for the second adjacent interferer)
interference?

What is frequency reuse 4/12 ? There are 12 frequency ch reuse on the 4x3-sector sites.

When planning a frequency what is

3 ch. (600 kHz) for GSM850 and 4 ch (800 kHz) for
the channel separation required for
GSM1900
the TRX in the same cell?
When planning a frequency what is
the channel separation required for 400 kHz
the TRX in the same site?
1/1: there is 1 MA list and reuse on every cells
3/3: there are 3 MA list and each site (3 sectors) using
what is the different between
same MA list and reuse every 3 sites
hopping scheme 1/1, 3/3, 1/3?
1/3: there are 3 MA list and each cells in same site using
different MA list. And reuse same pattern for every site.
What is the factor to determine Number of TRX (too small number of TRX cannot gain
which hopping scheme above to be much from BB hopping) and combiner type. (RTC is only
used? can use BB hopping)
Do we need to plan MAIO Step, MA
There is no need to plan for MAIO and MAIO offset in BB
List, MAIO Offset and HSN when
hopping. However, HSN is required.
use BB hopping?
Do we need to plan MAIO Step, MA yes, all of them. MA list is required to plan to ensure that
List, MAIO Offset and HSN when there is no frequency collision within the site. HSN should
use RF hopping? be same for all sectors in the sites.
Do you have MAL only w/ RF
only with RF hopping
hopping or also w/ BB hopping?
Which is the main difference RF = TRX changes ARFCN. BB = Call moves from 1
between RF and BB hopping? RTSL to an other (in an other TRX)
What is a MAL? Mobile Alloction List. It is used for RF HOPPING
How many MAL can you define in a
128
----- BSC?
Which are the parameters you need
t define in the BTS when you want to HSN, Maio Step, MAIO Offset,hopping mode, MAlist
use a MAL?
Why do we use Frequency Hopping? You have 2 advantages w/frequency hopping …
(I mean which are the advantages of FREQUENCY DIVERSITY (FADING) and
frequency hopping) INTERFERENCE DIVERSITY
Which is the type of fading you are
able to "beat" when you use Fast Fading
HOPPING?
You have a BTS w/ 3 hopping TRXs
Basically the sum of MAIO OFFSET and MAIO STEPS
and a MAL w/ 3 ARFCN … once you
exceeds the number of ARFCN in the MAL … it is indeed
try to unlock the the site the BSC
a silly problem but you need to know it. Suggestion is to
gaves you a DX error saying that
keep MAIO OFFSET = 0 and MAIO STEP =1 in such a
you don't have enough frequencies
case (where probably you are using ad HOC hopping)
… where is the problem?

How many HSN do we have? 64 (0 … 63)

Is this a GSM standard or do you

know if ----- has any plan to increase No. it can't … it is GSM specs
this number?

How does HSN = 0 works? sequential hopping (others are psuedo-random)

Uses the parameters you set (MAIOs) and FN which is

Do you know which are the basics of
something you can't define … that is the reason why in a
the algorithm used from HSN?
synch network you can better control the interference.
How many HSN do I need to define
1
for each BTS in RF HOPPING?
How many HSN do I need to define
2
for each BTS in BB HOPPING?
Effective Frequency Load. A way of measuring spectral
What is EFL? efficiency with a hopping system. Formula:
erls/(#freq*ave#(TCH/TRX))
A way of measuring how effectively the spectrum is being
What is spectral efficiency? used. The more traffic carried with less spectrum the more
efficient the use. Formula: erls/MHz/Cell
Is the following statement correct?
Why? No, because it is all frequencies are used all the time
It is good enough to use RF hopping which could create the high interference level esp. if the
reuse 1/1 with MA list length 15 in site planning (dominant area) is not good enough.
the area with 6+6+6 BTS.
When customer want to build
GSM1900 on GSM850 site or vise
Frequency use (intereference and intermodulation
versa, what are the things that you
between 2 bands)
would like to suggest him to check
antenna solution (Isolation requirement and area spacing)
and what is the issue behind that?
(not parameters)
When can you have paging thru the
Gs interface is necessary
Gb I/f instead of the A I/f?
What's the advantage of the paging
Can page a MS in data session
thru the Gb I/f?
Yes … if the LA is bigger you need to page more MS, so
Does the Abis I/f size change the
all these messages need to go thru the Abis … so you
paging capability?
need a bigger Abis
How many MS can you paging
100,000 paging messages … 200,000 MS if you use IMSI
messages can you send in 1 hour w/
or 400,000 MS if you use TMSI
16kbps TRXSig?
How many MS can you paging
messages can you send in 1 hour w/ 400,000 paging messages …
64kbps TRXSig?
 Which is a parameter you can
change in order to reduce the
Periodic Location Update … you need to reduce it …
probability that a MS that went out of
coverage will be paged?
Identify neighbour … couple BCCH, BSIC make you
Why do we need BSIC in GSM?
identify the neighbour
How many bits are the BSIC? 6
Which are the 2 components of the
NCC, BCC
BSIC?
They should be the same in the BCCH TRX, not in all the
Which is the relation between BCC
TRXs … NOKIA by default is usig the same but it is not
and TSC?
mandatory in GSM.
Can we have TSC <> BCC in -----?
Since when? Do you know if
Yes, we have a S10 feature about it. CINGULAR doesn't
CINGULAR has it activated?
use it.
(do we have any features that could
allow TSC <> BCC?)
Which is the the reason to have TSC Better HO SUCCESS RATE … but basically it doesn't
<>BCC? change anything …
Which is the relationship between
There is no relationship. PLMN is MCC + MNC
NCC and PLMN?
This is for the MS and BTS to learn the interference.
Basically the MS is expecting a certain TSC but receives
Why do we need TSC (Training
an other if there is intereference. The difference between
Seuqence Code) in GSM?
the expected and the measured one is used in order to
reconstruct the rest of the bits of the burst.
Which is a recommended size for Depends from Abis LAPD size … 1-2 BSC works fine w/
the LA in -----? 16kbps
Can you have smaller LA? YES

Can you have bigger LA? YES

Can you have a LA across 2 different
NO
MSC?
Why do you need the LA in GSM? Paging reasons
Can you have a LA across more
Yes
than 1 BSC?
Which is the trade off in the LA size? Paging and SDCCH traffic

Which are the KPI you need to

SDCCH, Paging Success Rate, congestion in Abis and Air
monitor when you are modifying the
for LAPD and CCCH
LA size?
Does roaming traffic affecting the LA
No
size?
Which are the parameters you can
change in order to make harder or Cell Reselection Hysteresis
easier LA update?
 What is the PLMN permitted It defines to which PLMNs the MS is permitted to report
parameter? measurement results.
Is "PLMN permitted" parameter the
No.
same as PLMN id?
What parameters need to be set as
the equal to or subset of PLMN NCC part of the BSICs.
permitted?

If it is not set, what will happen? MS is not possible to measure the cells e.g. no HO.
Where really do you need this
National Borders
parameter?
Do you know which is the PLMN
All of them
setting used in CINGULAR?
Can you use TRAFFICA tool in the
CINGULAR network? Blue? Only if you have our core … means Orange
Orange? Why?
If you increase the LA size do you
NO
expect an increase in the A I/f traffic?
If you increase the LA size do you
expect an increase in the Abis I/f YES
traffic?
If you increase the LA size do you
expect an increase in the Air I/f YES
traffic?
What do you use the FACCH for in
HO, CALL SETUP if you have the feature
UL and DL?
What do you use the SACCH for in
System Info (DL), Measurements (UL), SMS during a call
UL and DL?
How many SDCCH can you put in 1
8
RTSL?
Which is the difference between
combined = CCCH + 4SDCCH; separated = CCCH and
COMBINED and SEPARATED
SDCCH are in different RTSL
signalling?
Which channels have no power
BCCH, SDCCH, GPRS TSL(DL)
control?
Measurement report is sent to BSC
every period of which channel and SACCH = 480 ms
how long does it equivalent to?
What is the different between sync in non-sync HO, there is physical information is require for
and non-sync HO? And in which MS to perform HO. The information contains TA
case it will happen? And what information and it requires when the cell HO to different
parameter is used to define this? BCF cell. The parameter is in each ADJ pair "SYNC"
is following statement correct?
There is no problem if the neighbor False. MS report only BCCH and BSIC to BSC, therefore
list contains the same BCCH and BSC will not be able to differentiate which ADJ is the right
same BSIC from different cells as one and that could cause HO failure and eventually call
long as the 2 neighbour are far away drop
and not interfere to each other.
 Nx is the total number of sample in the evaluation.
What is the Nx/Px parameters in
Px is the number of samples within Nx that below or
handover parameters defined? And
above threshold.
what is the impact on setting large
The large number could lead to the longer time for HO
number of Nx/Px?
decision making
What's the difference between HO HO Attempt is before the check if target has available
ATTEMPT and HO command in RTSL. HO Command is after. There are more HO
-----? attempts than HO commands
Which is the 1st thing you should
check in the formula when the
If counts HO attempts …
customer is telling yu he has a very
high HO failure rate?
1) Interference (uplink or downlink)
2) Uplink quality
3) Downlink quality
4) Uplink level
5) Downlink level
6) Distance between MS and BTS
Please name 5 types of HO reasons 7) Turn around corner MS (special case of rapid field
drop)
8) Any other rapid field drop
9) Fast / slow moving MS (special case of umbrella
handover)
10) Any other umbrella or power budget handover
11) traffic reason ho
1) Adjacent Cell Load Threshold : Can be checked only
for cells belonging to the same BSC as the serving one
What is the 4 criteria in ranking the
2) Adjacent Cell Priority
ADJ for HO candidate?
3) Overloaded Cell -> Reduction of Priority
4) RX level (if same priority)
What is typical value use for PBGT
6 dB
HO margin?
dualBandCell Y indicates cell as dual band cell
What are the 3 parameters in BSS multiCellBandReporting 0..3 number of adjacent dual
that need to change to make sure band cells taken into account for measurement report
that dualband is working? earlySendingIndication Y enables MS to send classmark
3 message as early as possible
it reduces the amount of same band reporting. Normally
What is the impact of setting higher
there are only 6 cells report from MS. Deducting by MBR,
number of mulitcellBandreporting?
the rest will be used for same band.
What feature could be used to help
EMR
the situation?
What is the RLT parameter? RLT = Radio Link timeout.

It is both in UL and in DL. Speaking about UL … if the

BTS doesn't receive the SACCH in UL it decreases this
How does RLT works? counter by -1 and if receives the SACCH it increments by
+2. If it gets to the maximum value it stops incrementing.
When it gets to zero the BSC releases the call.
How many RLT do we have in -----?
In NOKIA we have only one RLT …
UL / DL / AMR FR / AMR HR?
 Why should we have different RLT Because the C/I protection in very different … so the RLT
for AMR FR and AMR HR and EFR? should take into account before dropping a call …
What does EFR mean? EFR = Enhanced Full Rate

It is a way to speed up the Power Control + HO decisions

What is FAST AVERAGING? because you don't need to wait the complete window
before start counting Nx/Px in your decision
We have a WEIGHTING parameter It is used to overweight if you want) the FULL
in HOC, POC … what is this for? measurements rather than the SUB measurements
How many parameters do you have
for FAST AVERAGING?
3 … after Call Set Up, After PC, After HO
(at what call phase Fast Averaging
can be applied?)
Because based on the measurements we can take after
the same SACCH different HO decisions and you want to
Why do we have the concept of give to certain HO more priority (e.g. Quality HO should
PRIORITY in the HO? have higher priority over PBGT HO because the problem
is more urgent … and the way you choose the
neighbours for the different HO types are different)

What is a CLEAR CODE? DX Cause w/ failure

What is a DX CAUSE? Why this Internal Cause in BSC. Because of DX architecture
funny name? ofBSC and MSC
After activation of Double BA list the
sector doesn't make anymore HO … Neighbour BCCHs are not in the list
what's the problem?
where to find information about ----- 1) NED 2) Jump page. 3) Database Description for BSC
counter and KPI? Measurements (PDF document)
What is the JUMP PAGE? Intranet page w/ info about KPI, COUNTERS

CLEAR CODES CAN BE MONITORED W/

How can you use DX CAUSE and
OBSERVATIONS … YO CAN FOR EXAMPLE USE
CLEAR CODE in order to optimize
"DROP CALL OBSERVATION" OR "DROP CALL
my network?
BREAKDOWN" …
THEY ARE BOTH WAYS TO GET PERFORMANCE
WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE
STATS … KPI AND COUNTERS ARE FROM
BETWEEN MEASUREMENT AND
MEASUREMENTS TABLES. OBSERVATION ARE
OBSERVATION
GIVING US CLEAR CODES / DX CAUSE.
Is the MS or the BTS able to No … in GSM we can't measure the C/I … we can only
measure the actual C/I of the Air I/f? measure the BER, FER … which are affected of the C/I
In the ----- OSS I have seen there These are idle mode measurements and they are only in
are interference measurements . UL … basically in the RTSL not in use if the Level is
Can you explain what they mean above -110 dBm we assume it is interference and it is
and how they is measured? recorded in the OSS stats …
INTERFERENCE HO are basically QUALITY HO in good
In the ----- OSS measurements I can RxLevel condition (which is set with a RxLevel parameter)
see HO due to interference? How do … the reason is dual … 1) Have stats about bad Quality
these HO work / are triggered? in good RxLevel conditions. 2) Trigger an intracell HO
rather than a intercell HO
 What is AMR? Adaptive Multirate voice coding

AMR varies the proportion of voice coding and channel

How does it work? coding to provide more robustness in bad C/I at the
expense of voice quality
How many AMR codecs are there at 8 at FR, 6 at HR (1 not used in HR). Only 4 can be used
FR and HR? in a call
Mean Opinion Score: A subjective view of the quality of a
What is MOS?
voice call
Frame Erasure Rate: Number of speech frames discarded
due to errors. A better measure of quality than BER with
What is FER?
AMR because BER is measured before decoding and
FER after decoding
What is the effect of AMR on a full It allows the call to maintain the same FER in worse C/I
rate channel? conditions
What is the effect of AMR on a half It allows the FER to improve in better C/I conditions while
rate Channel? occupying half a timeslot
When certain C/I thresholds are met, the voice codec will
How does AMR link adaptation
be changed. There is no target FER to maintain and
work?
thresholds have to be carefully chosen
A channel with 11.4 kbps. FR is 22.8 kbps. Each channel
What is a half rate channel?
occupies alternate bursts of a multiframe.
With cell load thresholds. When the lower limit is reached,
How does the BSC decide whether
calls are packed, when the upper limit is reached, new
to use a HR or FR channel?
calls are sent to FR

When is a HR unpacked to FR? When the RxQual of the HR call reaches a pre-set limit
Does ----- supports all the GSM AMR No doesn't support HR 7.95kbps because it should use
codecs? 16kbps TRAU and NOKIA doesn't have it.
Name of a CINGULAR idea to maximize capacity.
Basically while testing it they have found that our BSS
had a problem and wasn't unpacking if a candidate for
What is MAXCAP feature?
Quality HO wasn't available. When it was introduced we
saw a sudden increase in drop call during unpacking. That
is the reason why we want to have MAXCAP = OFF.
Do you have more signalling
In band singalling, but it is transparent
channels in AMR HR?
Does the overall bit rate on the Air
No it doesn't …
I/F changes w/ AMR?
Dynamic Frequency and Channel Allocation, is a BSS
radio resource management functionality that selects the
radio channel individually for each connection from a
What is DFCA? dedicated channel pool based on C/I criteria. The different
degrees of interference tolerence of different connection
type such as EFR,AMR FR, HR are taken into account in
the ch selection process.
 -BSC2i + CP2MX CPU cards or BSC 3i
-BSC-BSC connections for BSC using DFCA and have
What are the DFCA HW adjacent service area.
requirement? -Ultrasite or metrosite BTS
- Wideband combiner
- LMU in every BTS
-S11.5
What are the DFCA SW - CX4.1
requirement? -OSS4
-LMU4.1
Three frequency bands are defined
BCCH band, Regular band (optional), DFCA band
in DFCA, what are they?
-The range of Malist is 1-32
-The DFCA MA list must be defined the same way in al
What are the requirement/limitation BSCs within each continous BSC area
in DFCA band? -DFCA MA list do not contain consecutive frequency
-Any two DFCA MA lists containing adjacent frequency
are required to be of the same length.
-non real time information I.e. Background inteference
matrix
What are the inputs for DFCA -near real time information I.e. Mobile measurement
channel allocation? report
- realtime information I.e. Radio channel usage
information
What are the 4 methods in DFCA C/I
incoming DL, Incoming UL, Outgoing DL, Outgoing UL
estimation?

Soft Blocking is a user define parameter.

If in the C/I estimation phase any of the four C/I estimates

produced for each radio channel candidate does not
exceed the soft blocking limit of the interfered connection,
then the radio channel candidate is deemed soft blocked.

If there are no acceptable assignment candidates (i.e. all

the candidates breach the connection type specific soft
blocking C/I limit), the assignment will be directed to a
What is the Soft Blocking in DFCA? regular TRX if available.

If there are no free TSLs on any regular TRXs of the cell,

the call will be finally rejected (DFCA soft blocking
situation). Directed retry could still be used and if
successfull the directed retry will move the call to another
cell in which case the call is not rejected.

In case of handovers soft blocking is not applied except if

the handover is for DR or DADLB then the soft blocking is
applied as in normal call setup.
 If the current incoming DL C/I average is below the Force
HR mode C/I threshold for the corresponding channel
type (non-AMR/AMR), then the force HO mode is
switched on. After HR mode switched on, HR
channel/AMR HR channel will be assigned to a speech
What is DFCA forced HR mode?
connection that is placed on a DFCA TRX until the HR
mode switched off.

DFCA Force HR mode C/I threshold and Force HR C/I

threshold AMR are user defined parameters.
· Packet switch territory is not allow in DFCA TRX
What is the restrictions to use
· Dynamic SDCCH is not allowed in DFCA TRX
DFCA? (features interworking
· FACCH call setup to DFCA TRX is not possible.
limitation)
· Antenna hopping cannot be used in DFCA TRX

BSS Synchronization
-Sync MUST be on prior to switching to DFCA Mode.
-FN and TS offsets should be set (not left at 0)
Interference Handovers
-nterference based handovers should be enabled on all
DFCA BTS
Apart from DFCA parameter, what Dynamic Power Control
are the parameters shall be checked -Should be enabled on all DFCA BTS for UL and DL
for DFCA activation? Timeslot Type
-TCH timeslots only supported on DFCA TRX’s
-All signaling (e.g. SDCCH) and GP timeslots must be
removed.
Idle & Active BA List Usage
-BA list must be created and attached for Idle & Active use
in each DFCA BTS

What additional network elements

SGSN, GGSN, CG, DNS, (BG, LIG)
are needed for Data?
What elements need to be upgraded TRXs. A modulation scheme is used and modulation is
to activate EGPRS? performed by the TRX with hardware
How does an MS handover from one
It doesn't. MS performs cell re-selection exactly like idle
cell to another during a data
mode
session?
When a cell re-selects, the data stored in the BVC buffer
is Flushed (Deleted). If the new cell is in the same PCU
What is a Flush?
than the data is moved to the new BVC. If not it is deleted
and there is a bigger break in downloading.
What modulation scheme does
GMSK
GRPS use?
How many GPRS coding schemes
are there currently in ----- and what CS1, CS2
are they called?
What modulation scheme does
GMSK(mcs1-4), 8PSK
EGPRS use?
How many EGPRS coding schemes
9: MCS1 - MCS9
are there?
 What is the maximum bitrate per
GPRS: 13kbps with CS2, EGPRS: 59.62 kbps with MCS9
timeslot with GPRS and EGPRS?
Maximum TSL capacity after C/I has reduced the MCS
What is timeslot capacity?
but before TBF multiplexing
Re-transmissions are sent in MCSs of the same family as
What are the MCS families used for?
each family has a different packet length.
What functionality counters fast
Incremental Redundency
fading in EGPRS?
Data is punctured after coding. This involves reducing the
number of bits needed to send the data. 3 puncturing
How does it work? codes are used. If the first packet can't be fully decoded, it
is sent again with different puncturing scheme. The
packets are combined until it is decoded.
What functionality counters slow
Link Adaptation
fading in EGPRS?
PCU tries to keep best throughput by using BEP to
calculate the probabilty of the packet being decoded. PCU
uses initial MCS, then once it has BEP values, chooses
How does it work?
modulation, then coding scheme according to whether it is
initial transmission or re-transmission. User only has to
set initial MCS
When there is more than one TBF allocated to the same
What is timeslot multiplexing?
timeslot
When there is a mix of GPRS and EGRPS TBFs on a
What is TBF multiplexing?
timeslot. Especially bad with UL GPRS and DL EGRPS
3, NMO1: Needs a Gs link, all CS and PS paging through
SGSN and PCCCH (or CCCH). NMO2: No Gs link, CS
How many different types of Network
paging through MSC and CCCH, PS paging through
Mode of Operation are they and how
SGSN and CCCH, NMO3: No Gs link, CS paging through
are they different?
MSC and SGSN, PS paging through SGSN and PCCCH
(not supported in Nokia)
Radio Link Control is between the PCU and the MS.
What is the difference between the Logical Link Control is between the SGSN and the MS.
RLC and LLC protocols? RLC gives network throughput, LLC gives user
throughput.
A territory is an area of the cell that is used for a certain
What is a territory?
purpose
How many are there and what are
4: CS, Dedicated data, Default data, Additional data
they called?
Dedicated data is only used for data, default can be used
for both but CS is kept out of it unless there is no more
How does each behave? CS territory available, additional is data territory beyond
default and is released as soon as possible, CS can be
used to carry CS and includes default and additional
Is there power control in EGPRS? Only in Uplink
EGPRS Dynamic Abis Pool: A part of the Abis set aside
for EGPRS use. It is shared amongst all TRXs attached to
What is an EDAP and why is it it and provides a 30% saving on Abis capacity compared
needed? to fixed allocation. The EDAP is needed because the
higher bitrates with EGPRS need more than 1 16kbps
Abis subslot
 In one phase, the RACH request asks for a TBF. In two
What is the difference between one-
phase, the RACH request ask for a single block and uses
phase and two-phase access?
this to ask for the TBF.
Routing Area: serve the same function for data as the LA
What is a RA?
for voice: Allows the SGSN to page the MS
A RA is a subset of an LA. Maxiumum size is the LA size.
What is its relationship to an LA?
An LA can have more than one RA.
Which is the trade off in the Small default territory = Few GPRS reason Ho. Big default
DEFAULT TERRITORY size? territory = Better Throughput
Can you have separated (from the
VOICE one) signalling for GPRS / Yes, you can although it is not really used
EGPRS?
Which is the channel you are going
PBCCH
to use?
Which is the trade off in term of
Need to use a dedicated RTSL for it
signalling using PBCCH?
What's the impact of GPRS traffic on There is an impact, but there is no evidence so far of any
the CCCH load? real bottleneck created from data signalling
Why we don't we use PBCCH in
Basically Blackberry 1st generation doesn't suport it
CINGULAR?
Which are the other features you can
use for cell reselection if you C31, C32
implement PBCCH?
Which is the meaning of C31 and C31 allows you to prefer a set of BTSs. C32 makes the
C32? cell reselection among the one prefered from C31
Packet Control Unit. Receives the LLC PDUs from the
SGSN and breaks them down into RLC Packets for the
What is a PCU and what does it do? radio interface. Vice versa in the opposite direction.
Responsible for all scheduling, LA and radio resource
management for data

2i: 2 per BSCU, 8+1 BCSU max, 3i: 4 per BSCU, 6+1
How many are there in a BSC?
BCSU max

Digital Signal Processor core. Handles the individual Abis

What is a DSP core?
subslots and does the actual work.

How many are there in a PCU? 16

What is the maximum number of

16
EDAPs a PCU can handle?

What is the maximum number of 16

kbps Abis sub-slots a PCU can 256
handle?
As 8PSK has variable amplitude, the amplifier has to work
What is the effect on the link budget in linear, not satuarated, mode. There has to be a power
of using 8PSK modulation? back-off to keep operation in linear mode. Back-off is 2 dB
for BTS, 4-5 dB for MS
 Erlang B will provide enough spare TSL to guarentee GoS
for voice. Data can use these. Formula is a choice
between Erlang B and an approximation, which ever
Outline a dimensioning method for requires more timeslots. Number of TSL for data is data
combined voice and data traffic? load divided by TSL capacity. Total TSL required given by
Max(ErlangB(CS),CS traffic(E)+Guard TSL+TSL for data-
Dedicated TSL)+dedicated TSL. From here work out
TRXs and so on.

A way of including timeslot multiplexing in dimensioning

What is rate reduction?
by taking into account CS and PS traffic and PS territory

How big can an EDAP be? 12 * 64 kbps Abis TSL

How many EDAPs can be attached There is no limit. It could be one per site or one per TRX,
to a site? although this is inefficient

How many EDAPS can be mapped

As long as there is space on the T1, there is no limit
onto a single T1?

Which are the 3 states of a MS in

Ready, Idle, Standby
GPRS?
MS is transmitting data or it has just transmitted data … it
What does READY mean?
is in active mode
What does IDLE mean? Basically the SGSN doesn't know where the MS is
What does STANDBY mean? SGSN knows where the MS is based on the RA resolution
How do you move from IDLE to
Attach and Detach
READY? And viceversa?
How do you move from READY to READY --> STANDBY / timer. STANDBY --> READY just
STANDBY? And viceversa? if you send or receive data
How do you move from STANDBY to
GPRS Detach, either implicit or through a timer
IDLE? And viceversa?
What is a TBF in EGPRS? Temporary Block Flow
Is the TBF in both directions? no, unidirectional
Can the same TBF be bi-directional
no
(let's say like a voice call)?
Which is the basic signalling in order
UL TBF and in DL just ACK
to maintain an UL TBF?
Which is the basic signalling in order
DL TBF and in UL just ACK
to maintain an UL TBF?
What is the effect of putting data on With no power control there is increase interference to the
a hopping TRX? hopping layer
What is the main objective of
To maximise user throughput
EGPRS optimisation?
Mostly through, capacity improvements. C/I improvements
In EGPRS, how is this achieved? will affect the MCS but this is linked to GSM. For EGRPS
only we can play with TRXs, Ded TSL, EDAP, PCU, Gb
If a TRX is BLK-SYS when EGENA
is turned on, what is the most GTRX=Y and the TRX is not attached to the EDAP
probably cause?

Throughput, TBF est fail, TBF fail, TBF lost due to flush or
MS lost, GMSK share of EGPRS, TBF/TSL, Payload,
Name some EGPRS KPIs
EDAP congestion (mins/Gb), territory upgrade rejects,
territory downgrades, PCU congestion
What is PoC? Push-to-Talk over Cellular. It is a real-time service
What elements need to be added for
PoC Server, possible Presence server
PoC?
It is merely a transport layer, PoC is a service that uses
How is EGPRS used for PoC?
EGPRS
Are there re-transmission in PoC? Not from the PoC server. EGPRS uses normal algorithm
Start to Talk (STT) time, Voice Through Delay
What KPIs are used in PoC? (VTD),Glitches (delay in packet arrival), Lost data), Round
Trip Delay (RTT) (depends on user reaction)
What values are normally expected
STT: <2s, VTD: <4s
for STT and VTD?
What is the Adv: greater possibility of the data being decoded for MSs
advantages/disadvantages of a low in bad quality. Dis: Less range if 8PSK due to power back-
initial MCS off
A small capacity cell with an antenna not more than 5m in
Define a Microcell
height
In a grid system, on the side of a building. Not on a corner
What is the best position for a otherwise the canyon streets will propagate the signal too
microcell antenna? far. In a non gird system, side or corner of the building
wherever best serves the target area.
Fast moving mobiles may select it and then leave the
What are the disadvantages of a
coverage area very fast. Local congestion because of
micro cell?
high traffic
Use C2 penalty time to make the cell attractive only to
How can these be solved? slow mobiles. Run the cell as barred and use hierarchical
handovers to move the calls from the overlaying macros
Name some RF systems used in in- Active or passive Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS),
building cells leaky feeders, Yagis in the lift shaft.
If you don't know an answer to a NED, Jump, Quickplace, mailing lists, ETSI Specs, Nokia
question where do you look? Feature Descriptions, Training course material.
Why don't we suggest to have a
More intracell Ho. Eat up PCU capacity
bigger DEFAULT TERRITORY?