GSM BSS 08 BSC Operation

and Configuration
Radio Network
Objectives

Configure the Radio Network and define Cell Data

knowing the main parameters and procedure to
execute them.

 Explain the purpose of basic BSC Cell parameters and the

effects they have on the
GSM Radio Access Network
 Configure the basic radio network in the BSC using MML
commands and parameters

. Figure
24- Radio Network
Cell Range

BTS

RXLEV

BSTXPWR
no coverage
no call possible
MSRXMIN
distance to BTS
calls possible

. Figure
34- Radio Network
BCH and CCCH Carriers
Cell X

marks the timeslot where 512 C0

the BCHs and CCCHs are 524 C1
transmitted.

C0 = BCCH carrier Cell Z Cell Y

C1 = TCH carrier 520 C0 516 C0

. Figure
44- Radio Network
Frequency Groups in a 4/12 - Cluster

Freq. group A1 B1 C1 D1 A2 B2 C2 D2 A3 B3 C3 D3
Channel. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

. . . . . . . . . . . .

121 122 123 124

. Figure
54- Radio Network
4/12 Cell Pattern

A2

A2 A2

A2

A2 A2

. Figure
64- Radio Network
 Internal, External, and Outer Cells

It is required to
define some cells
though they are
outside the BSC.
This is done by
including the ext
parameter in the
definition command:

rldei:cell=cell,ext;
MSC Boundary Internal Cells
BSC Boundary External Cells
Location Area Boundary Outer Cells

. Figure
74- Radio Network
MSC and LAI
RLDEC: CELL=cell, CGI=cgi, BSIC=bsic, BCCHNO=bcchno,
AGBLK=agblk, MFRMS=mfrms, BCCHTYPE=bcchtype, XRANGE=xrange;

. Figure
84- Radio Network
CGI and LAI

. Figure
94- Radio Network
 BSIC and NCCPERM Parameters
Cell in another N/W Cell in same N/W
with same ARFCN with same ARFCN

BSIC=4
1

BSIC=3 C0=600 BSIC A two-digit number for each cell

2 made up of the NCC and BCC.
C0=600

& &3
=0 rk NCCPERM (NCC Permitted) Defines
m o 7
per etw 4&& the allowed NCCs on the BCCH
c n = rk
nc this r m o BSIC=4
carriers for which the MS is permitted
i n e t w 3
cp ne to report measurements.
nc this
in C0=600

Network
Boundary Handover
Candidate

. Figure
104 - Radio Network
BCCHNO Parameter
marks the timeslot Cell X
where the BCHs and
CCCHs are transmitted. 512 C0

C0 = BCCH carrier 524 C1

C1 = TCH carrier
C2 = TCH carrier
C3 = TCH carrier Cell Z Cell Y
520 C0 516 C0

BCCHNO is the ARFCN used

for C0 (the BCCH carrier)

. Figure
114 - Radio Network
Block for AGBLK
AGBLK=1
Frame Number = 1 11 20
TS0 F S B B B B A A A A F S C C C C C C C C
C0 DL 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2

21 31 40
F S C C C C C C C C F S C C C C C C C C
3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6

41 51

F S C C C C C C C C I
7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8

AGBLK = 0.....7 – if BCCHTYPE=NCOMB

AGBLK = 0.....2 – if BCCHTYPE=COMB or COMBC

. Figure
124 - Radio Network
Create a SubCell

Cell A - underlaid

BCCH
Cell A - overlaid TCH
TCH SDCCH

RBS

RLDSI: CELL=cell;
RLDGI: CELL=cell, CHGR=chgr, SCTYPE=sctype, BAND=band;

. Figure
134 - Radio Network
DTX

RLCXC: CELL=cell, DTXD=dtxd;

. Figure
144 - Radio Network
MSTXPWR Parameter

RLCPC: CELL=cell, SCTYPE=sctype, MSTXPWR=mstxpwr,

BSPWRB=bspwrb, BSPWRT=bspwrt;

MSTXPWR is the maximum permitted

transmit power (in dBm) for an MS

Most outdoor macro sites will have this set to 30 dBm (1 watt).
Indoor sites will have lower settings to prevent the RX from being
saturated.

. Figure
154 - Radio Network
Base Station Power Parameters
BSPWRB is the TX power for BCCH
carrier A
BSPWRT is the TX power for TCH N
T BSPWR is the ERP for
carrier
ALNA BCCH carrier
Note that the BSTXPWR is the ERP for
reference point TCH carrier
T for BSPWR &
B R BSTXPWR can
U
T be here
S C
D
U

BSPWRB is the TX power for BCCH BSPWR is calculated ERP for

carrier or underlaid subcells BCCH carrier
BSPWRT is the TX power for TCH BSTXPWR is calculated ERP for
carriers or overlaid subcells TCH carriers

. Figure
164 - Radio Network
Frequency Hopping
Frame = 0 Frame = 1 Frame = 2 Frame = 3

C0 C1 C2 C3

RLCHC: CELL=cell, CHGR=chgr, HOP=hop, HSN=hsn, MAIO=maio;

. Figure
174 - Radio Network
Create a DCHNO

RLCFI: CELL=cell, CHGR=chgr, DCHNO=dchno;

. Figure
184 - Radio Network
Group of Frequency

. Figure
194 - Radio Network
Definition of the SDCCH

RLCCC:CELL=HLM1,CHGR=0,SDCCH=9,TN=2&&4;
Assign 9 SDCCH/8 (on Time Slots 2 through 4 for each
Carrier in Channel Group 0 in cell HLM1.

TN 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
C0 B T S S S T T T
C1 T T S S S T T T
C2 T T S S S T T T
C3 T T T T T T T T
C4 T T T T T T T T

B=BCCH, S=SDCCH/8, T=TCH, TN=Timeslot Number

C0 -C4= First to fifth carrier in CHGR 0

. Figure
204 - Radio Network
Measurement Reports: Active Mode
2 523
520
3
517 535
Measurement Report
1
515
SS RxLev RxQual 532
Neighbor List
529 548
RxLev ARFCN BSIC
Active BA List
55 517 526 22 545
515 517 520
51 545 22 541 559
523 526 529
45 551 22
532 535 538 538 558
40 520 22
541 545 548
22 548 22 555
551 555 558
12 558 22
559 ... 551

1 After the call is established, the BSC sends the Active BA List to the MS. This list contains
the ARFCNs for C0 for all defined neighbors and can be as long as 32 ARFCNs.

2 The MS measures the SS (RxLev) and BER (RxQual) of the Serving Cell AND It also
measures SS on all the neighbors on the BA List and makes a Neighbor List
3 The MS sends the Measurement Report to the BTS.

. Figure
214 - Radio Network
Defining Neighbors
Cell = A Cell = B Cell = C
C0 = 512 C0 = 519 C0 = 533
Cell = E Cell = D
C0 = 530 C0 = 543
Cell = F
C0 = 523
Cell = G Cell = J
C0 = 515 C0 = 540
Cell = H
C0 = 522

To define a neighbor cell, use the rlnri command:

rlnri:cell=cell,cellr=cellr[,single];

CELLR is the name of the neighbor cell. Reciprocal relation is automatically

formed.
SINGLE = Indicates only one-way handover from CELL to CELLR is allowed
(has no values).

. Figure
224 - Radio Network
ACCMIN Parameter

ACCMIN = 100 ( i.e., -100 dBm)

MS further away from BTS

Detected SS = -105 dBm
Access not allowed Detected SS = -75 dBm
Access allowed

ACCMIN is the minimum RX signal level in (neg) dBm at

the MS for permission to access the system.

RLSSC: CELL=cell, ACCMIN=accmin, CCHPWR=cchpwr, CRH=crh, DTXU=dtxu,

NCCPERM=nccperm, RLINKT=rlinkt;

. Figure
234 - Radio Network
CCHPWR Parameter

RACH: RACH:
CCHPWR = 30 CCHPWR = 43
TXPWR = 30 TXPWR = 29

GSM800 :
Ms class 5
P=29 dBm

CCHPWR is Control Channel Power. Maximum transmitter power level

(TXPWR) in dBm an MS may use when accessing on a control channel (CCH).

RLSSC: CELL=cell, ACCMIN=accmin, CCHPWR=cchpwr, CRH=crh, DTXU=dtxu,

NCCPERM=nccperm, RLINKT=rlinkt;

. Figure
244 - Radio Network
Discontinuous Transmission

RLSSC: CELL=cell, ACCMIN=accmin, CCHPWR=cchpwr, CRH=crh, DTXU=dtxu,

NCCPERM=nccperm, RLINKT=rlinkt;

. Figure
254 - Radio Network
Handover Allowed According to the
Parameter NCCPERM
Country A
NCC = 2
f 28 f 29 f 32 f 31
Country B
NCC = 3

f 30 f 17 f 15 f1 f 13 Country C
NCC = 1 & 4

f 31 f 20 f 16 f 75 f2 f3

f 21 f 18 f 13 f 30 f 12

f5 f3 f4 f 76

RLSSC: CELL=cell, ACCMIN=accmin, CCHPWR=cchpwr, CRH=crh, DTXU=dtxu,

NCCPERM=nccperm, RLINKT=rlinkt;

. Figure
264 - Radio Network
Radio Link Time-Out, Downlink

COUNTER 480MS

16
(RLINKT)

RADIOLINK
TIME-OUT

TIME

. Figure
274 - Radio Network
Locating Parameters
All cells must provide the following parameters for locating:
• MSTXPWR
• BSPWR
• BSTXPWR
• MSRXMIN
• BSRXMIN

Ericsson 1 requires the following Ericsson 3 requires the following

additional parameters: additional parameters:
• MSRXSUFF • HYSTSEP
• BSRXSUFF • HIHYST
• KHYST • LOHYST
• LHYST • OFFSETP or OFFSETN
• TRHYST
• KOFFSETP or KOFFSETN
• LOFFSETP or LOFFSETN
• TROFFSETP or TROFFSETN

. Figure
284 - Radio Network
Locating (Handover)
There are several Locating algorithms:
 Ericsson 1 Algorithm
 Ericsson 1 is complex, which means that it is difficult to optimize.

 Ericsson 3 Algorithm
 Ericsson 3 is easier to handle (fewer parameters) and easier to
understand than Ericsson1, but still possible to optimize.

EVALTYPE is the type of Locating Algorithm evaluation used.

. Figure
294 - Radio Network
Ericsson 1 Algorithm
Step 1: M-criterion
M-criteria

Cell SS
A -59 dBm
Accepted B -65 dBm
Cells C -69 dBm
D -75 dBm
RXMIN E -85 dBm
=90 Cells Not Accepted F -95 dBm

MSRXMIN is a threshold for DL signal strength from neighboring cells, as

measured by the MS, for allowing a cell to be eligible as a handover candidate. It
is defined per cell.
BSRXMIN is the corresponding threshold for the UL signal strength to neighboring
cells, as calculated from the DL measurements. It is defined per cell and given in
relation to a reference point, e.g., as EiRP.

. Figure
304 - Radio Network
 Neighbor Cell Uplink Measurements
The serving cell can make measurements of
2
the mobile’s signal for reporting to the BSC BSTXPWR = BSPWR = 43 dBm

0) = 103 dB
3 = 43 – (-6
BS P WR - P IN,MS
LP =
4 PIN,BTS=
POUT,MS – LP
PIN,MS= 1 = 30 – 103
-60 dBm = -73 dBm
The mobile can make
downlink measurements
to compare with
Does the neighbor cell make uplink
MSRXMIN
measurements of the mobile?
1 The BSC receives the Downlink SS of the neighboring cell from the MS in the Measurement
Report, PIN,MS
2 The BSC ‘knows’ the output power of the neighboring cell from the parameters BSTXPWR and
BSPWR
3 From these two, the BSC can calculate the Path Loss, LP, from BSPWR - PIN,MS

4 Using the MS output power (also in the Measurement Report), the BSC can calculate PIN,BTS as
POUT,MS - LP.
. Figure
314 - Radio Network
Ericsson 1 Algorithm
Step 2: K-criterion

Cell SS L Cells
A -59 dBm
B -65 dBm
Svg -66 dBm K-criteria
C -69 dBm
RXSUFF=70
D -75 dBm
RXMIN E -85 dBm
=90 F -95 dBm
K Cells

MSRXSUFF is the sufficient signal strength in negative dBm for path loss
criteria in Mobile Station.
BSRXSUFF is the sufficient signal strength in negative dBm for path loss
criteria in Base Station.

. Figure
324 - Radio Network
 Ericsson 1 Algorithm
Step 3: L-criterion

L-criteria
(Path Loss)

Cell SS RxLev Path Loss

Cell SS A -59 dBm 51 BSTXPWR - RxLev
Srvg -66 dBm 60 BSPWR - RxLev
A -59 dBm
C -69 dBm 41 BSTXPWR - RxLev
B -65 dBm B -65 dBm 45 BSTXPWR - RxLev
Svg -66 dBm
C -69 dBm RXSUFF=70
D -75 dBm
RXMIN E -85 dBm
=90 F -95 dBm
K Cells (by Rx SS)

. Figure
334 - Radio Network
Ericsson 3 Algorithm
Step 1: M-criterion
M-criteria
Cell SS
A -59 dBm
Accepted B -65 dBm
Cells C -69 dBm
D -75 dBm
RXMIN E -85 dBm
=90 Cells Not Accepted F -95 dBm

MSRXMIN is a threshold for DL signal strength from neighboring cells, as

measured by the MS, for allowing a cell to be eligible as a handover candidate. It
is defined per cell.
BSRXMIN is the corresponding threshold for the UL signal strength to
neighboring cells, as calculated from the DL measurements. It is defined per cell
and given in relation to a reference point, e.g., as EiRP.
. Figure
344 - Radio Network
Ericsson 3 Algorithm
Step 2: Determination of Serving Cell Type

Cell SS If Svg Cell > 70 then Svg Cell

is high SS cell - use HIHYST
A -59 dBm
B -65 dBm
Svg -66 dBm
C -69 dBm
HYSTSEP=70
D -75 dBm
RXMIN E -85 dBm
=90 F -95 dBm If Svg Cell < 70 then Svg Cell
is low SS cell - use LOHYST

HYSTSEP gives the signal strength level specifying whether serving cell currently is a
low or high signal strength cell; defined per cell

LOHYST is the hysteresis used if the serving cell is a low signal strength cell. It is
defined as a cell to cell relation; defined per cell

HIHYST is the hysteresis used if the serving cell is a high signal strength cell. It is
defined as a cell to cell relation; defined per cell

. Figure
354 - Radio Network
 Ericsson 3 Algorithm
Step 3: Ranking

Cell SS Ranking
Cell SS A -59 dBm SS - HIHYST
Svg -66 dBm SS
A -59 dBm
B -65 dBm SS - HIHYST
B -65 dBm C -69 dBm SS - HIHYST
Svg -66 dBm D -75 dBm SS - HIHYST
C -69 dBm E -85 dBm SS - HIHYST
D -75 dBm
RXMIN E -85 dBm
=90 F -95 dBm

Qualifying neighbor cells are ranked by SS (with appropriate hysteresis and penalties)

. Figure
364 - Radio Network
Connection of Channel Groups to
Transceiver Groups
BSC MO = TG
TRX 1

Cell Data File

CHGR=0

CHGR=1
TRX 2

RXTCI: MO=mo, CELL=cell, CHGR=chgr;

. Figure
374 - Radio Network