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Introduction to GU SDR
Base Stations
GU Product Support Dept.

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Purpose

2012/6/21

You are expected to master the following

knowledge after this course


basic concepts and structure of SDR

Types of SDR base stations

SDR hardware boards

Interfaces of SDR base stations

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Contents
Basic Concepts of SDR
Structure of SDR Base Stations
Introduction to BBU
Introduction to RU/RRU
Introduction to Interface between BBU and RU/RRU
Special Functions of SDR Base Stations

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What is SDR (1)

The radio technologies defined by the SDR forum are classified
into five levels: HR, SCR, SDR, ISR and USR.
 HR hardware radio Tier0. For example, the traditional
single-mode base station.
 SCRsoftware choose radio
Feature: Single-mode base transceiver stations of different
modes can be placed together, but they are integrated in terms
of software.


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What is SDR (2)

SDR- Software Defined Radio: you can use the software to
select a demodulation mode, broadband signals or narrowband
signals. ZTE ZDR base station series leads the technologies in
the industry.
 Feature: Different radio modes can share hardware, including
RF front end, ADC/DAC and base band processing.


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What is SDR (3)

ISRIdea software radio.
Feature: 1) get rid of the analog RF front end; 2) the whole system can be
controlled by programming except the antenna.
 USRUltimate software radio
Feature: 1) it has the function of the ISR; 2) the controlling software should
be standardized. Switch between different radio modes can be finished within
milliseconds.
 The ISR cannot be widely used because the technology is not mature.


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What is SDR (4)

SDR and cognitive radio
 Cognitive radio is an
important technology of
USR. It can perceive the
surroundings, and adjust
the wireless bandwidth
and de-modulation mode
accordingly.


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Contents
Basic concepts of SDR
Structure of SDR Base Stations
Introduction to BBU
Introduction to RU/RRU
Introduction to Interface between BBU and RU/RRU
Special Functions of SDR Base Stations

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SDR technology brings changes to base station structure



Significant feature of the SDR software defined radio mode

1 The RF front end processes

signals of multiple radio modes

SDR technology
the system supports
multiple radio modes

2 Baseband processes signals

of multiple radio modes

3 Software integration to
unify software versions

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Market drives changes to the base station structure

A

B
Cut cost

Green base
station

Structure

C
Wireless
integration,
IP technology

D
Compatible

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Structure of ZTE SDR base station









Support the distributed structure of BBU and RRU. For

traditional base stations, BBU and RRU should be in the same
module.
Multi-mode base band pool BBU
Multi-mode RF platform
Adopt IP technology to process internal data stream of the base
station
OMC platformOMCR and OMCB
Unified software platform

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SDR product structure

ANT

RRU/RU
BBU baseband pool

Multi-

Fiber
Resource

carrier PA
Duplex

Transceiver
Front end of Rx

control board

BBU
External power

PWS

220VAC

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SDR product architecture



Distributed base station: RF is distributed remotely

RRU

BBU

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SDR product architecture



Macro base station: BBU and RU are all in the cabinet, which is
different from the distributed base station in structure.

Advantage 1 of the SDR architecture BBU and

RRU can be distributed separately
In this mode, both BBU and RRU and maximize their
efficiency. BBU can achieve the maximum integration,
and RRU can focus on the power of itself.
 The networking is flexible if the RRU is distributed
remotely. For example, it can support multi-carrier and
indoor distributed coverage.
 BBU and RRU can be distributed flexibly, which benefit
for compatibility design.


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Advantage 2 of the SDR architecture baseband hardware









Support multiple radio modes

Simple design
Powerful processing capability
Easy to manage
Easy to share resources
Cut cost
Easy for evolution of baseband technologies

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Advantage 3 of the SDR architecture independent RF unit










Simplified functions
Improved reliability, easy for maintenance
Improved the efficiency of the power amplifier
Optimized heat design, easy for integration
Closer to antenna, hence bigger power
Flexible forms of RU/RRU products
Help to reduce the size and weight of base stations
Cut cost

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Advantage 4 of the SDR architecture unified interface between

BBU and RU/RRU







The interface between BBU and RU/RRU is the exclusive

interface for communication between BBU and RU/RRU .
The interface between BBU and RU/RRU supports such radio
modes as GSM, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, etc.
Support fiber interface and electrical interface
Support 1.2288Gbps and 2.4576Gbps rate
Support RU/RRU cascading-connection
RRU can be distributed remotely. BBU should keep 40 km
away from RRU.

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Distributed base station: B8200R8860

B8200: powerful BBU
It supports 60 GSM carriers, and support both GSM and
WCDMA.
 R8860: dual mode RRU, broadband transceiver
It supports GSM single-mode 6-carrier, or WCDMA single-mode
3-sector, or supports both radio modes at the same time.


RF
CPRI
Um
interface

Fiber
ZXSDR BBU

ZXSDR RRU

MS

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Indoor dual-mode macro base station ZXSDR BS8800








Size: main cabinet 950600450 mm

extension cabinet 700600450 mm
Weight: main cabinet 150Kg
extension cabinet 130Kg
Power: S12/12/12: 1335W
S6/6/6: 825W
Input voltage: -48VDC (-40~ -57VDC)
Transmission mode: the Abis interface supports 8 E1/T1 links
and 1 GE port.
Maximum site configuration: S12/12/12 or O36

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Software architecture of the SDR base station OMC software

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Software architecture of the SDR base station OMC software 2



OMCB is an operation and maintenance unit to manage NodeB in

3GPP. ZTEs SDR base stations support both radio modes of GSM
and WCDMA. Connection mode of the traditional base station: OMCR>BSC->BTS; Connection mode of the SDR: OMCB->BTS, OMCR>BSC->BTS.

According to the management mode of WCDMA, the board

management, configuration, software downloading and alarms are all
managed by OMCB. In case of the dual-mode, operation and
maintenance tasks of GSM are moved to OMCB, and OMCR manages
GSM related radio configuration and status management.

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Software architecture of the SDR base station OMC software 3



OMCR connects to BTS through BSC, regardless the link status

between BSC and BTS. OMCR sends data to BSC, who then
synchronizes the data to BTS.

OMCB is different from OMCR. OMCB interacts with SDR through IP

links. The interaction between OMCB and SDR may pass or not pass
through BSC/RNC. OMCB and SDR confirm data transmission only,
and BSC/RNC needs not to make confirmation. Physically, OMCB can
interact with SDR through IP routes provided by BSC/RNC.

For dual-mode sites, some OMCB connects with BSC, and some
OMCB connects with RNC. BSC/RNC then connects with SDR
through IP transmission.

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Software architecture of the SDR base station OMC software 4



OMCB and OMCR can share the same server or board, but they are
two different programs and there is no direct interaction between them.
Hence, it is necessary to guarantee data consistent manually.
Theoretically, the basic board information is configured on OMCB, and
the logic information is configured on OMCR. If data are inconsistent
between them, we will take the data on OMCB as the reference data.
The main control board of the SDR will keep a copy of all configuration
data of the OMCB. Hence, the data takes effect directly when the SDR
starts, without direct interaction between the SDR and OMCB. Then,
the SDR creates a link to BSC and requests for radio parameters, and
BSC sends the data except configuration information of OMCB to the
SDR. Thus, a complete data configuration table is generated. That is a
theoretic process. In practice, it is necessary to modify the data
configuration. For example, modify radio parameters for expansion
projects. Data configuration of OMCB should be compatible with that of
OMCR, otherwise, the SDR cannot respond correctly.

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Media plane of the SDR





The media plane supports transmission by the RTP protocol

The UBPG of SDR and the BIPB of iBSC process RTP data of the
user plane.
CC is responsible for forwarding messages inside the BBU and over
the Abis interface.

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Contents
Basic Concepts of SDR
Structure of SDR Base Stations
Introduction to BBU
Introduction to RU/RRU
Introduction to Interface between BBU and RU/RRU
Special Functions of SDR Base Stations

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Hardware structure


Cabinet
- 19 inch
- 2U

Flexible installation mode

- Mounted on the wall
independently
- 19 inch standard cabinet

15
14

- Installed in the Hub cabinet 13

- Installed in the outdoor
cabinet

16

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Hardware boards








Control and clock module (CC)

Fabric switching module (FS)(3 or 4 slot)
Site alarm module (SA)(13th slot)
Baseband processing board (BPC/UBPG)(umts/gsm)(3 or 4)
Fan array module (FA)(controled by CC)
Power module (PM)(1+1)
Backplane board (BB)(CC make managements through BB)
PW

FS

BP

PW

FS

BP

CC

BP

CC

BP

SA

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Hardware interfaces

E1: supports 16 E1/T1 links at most

GE: there are two GE interfaces. One is photo-electric
exclusively, and the other is electric.
CPRI: One FS has 6 CPRI interfaces. There are two FS
at most, hence there are 12 CRPI interfaces at most.
GPS1
CPRI

E1

GPS

GE

GE

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Hardware function module CC









Integrate such functions as main control, clock, switching and the

Iub/Abis interface
Physically, the CC does not provide the E1/T1 interface. It connects
E1/T1 to the SA through the backplane of BBU, and the SA provides
the E1/T1 interface.
Support the master/slave mode
Full IP transmission
CC0: It supports internal or external GPS, clock cascaded connection,
and 16 E1 links. It does not support 2MBits clock.
CC2: It does not support internal or external GPS and clock cascaded
connection. It supports 2MBits clock and 8 E1 links.

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Hardware function module FS

The slot for FS is also compatible for the baseband board.
 6 1.25G CPRI optical ports, which support 24TRX (GSM) or
4CS (WCDMA) each.
 It does not support master/slave switchover.


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Hardware function module SA/SE

Environment monitoring module
 Fan monitor
 SA: support 8 channels of E1/T1 signals, 1 RS232 serial port or
1 RS485 interface, 6 input dry contact alarm, and 2 doubledirectional dry contact alarm
 SE: support 8 channels of E1/T1 signals, 1 RS232 serial port or
1 RS485 interface, 6 input dry contact alarm, and 2 doubledirectional dry contact alarm


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Hardware function module FA

Fan monitoring module
 Power supply, rotation control and status report
 LEDs on the fan subrack


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Hardware function module PM

A single PM provides 16 12V-power supply, which can meet the
power supply requirement of B8200 in full configuration.
 Two PMs working in master/slave mode


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Hardware function module backplane

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BBU configuration rules

Board

Configurations

Power module (PM)

1 PM is configured by default. Decide whether it is necessary to

configure 2 PMs according to the requirement for reliability and cost.

Site alarm module (SA)

1 SA is configured by default.

Control and clock module (CC)

1 CC is configured by default. Select either CC0 or CC2 according to

the clock and E1. Decide whether it is necessary to configure 2 CCs
according to the requirement for reliability and cost.

Fabric switch module (FS)

Generally, 1 FS is configured, and 2 FSs at most. The quantity

depends on site configuration.

Universal baseband processing

board for GSM (UBPG)

The quantity depends on site configuration.

The slots are compatible for both the BPC and the UBPG.

Baseband processing board

type C (BPC)

The quantity depends on site configuration.

The slots are compatible for both the BPC and the UBPG.

Fan array module (FA)

1 FA only is configured

Site alarm extension board

(SE)

Optional, which depends on the quantity of dry contacts.

It is inserted at Slot 5.

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Contents
Basic Concepts of SDR
Structure of SDR Base Stations
Introduction to BBU
Introduction to RU/RRU
Introduction to Interface between BBU and RU/RRU
Special Functions of SDR Base Stations

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Multi-carrier RU/RRU (1)



The multi-carrier RF modules include three types:

RU60 (60W) , R8860 (60W), and RU80 (80W).

 RU/RRU uses multi-carrier technology. IT performs
signal synthesis for multiple carriers. It uses only
one set of boards and PA, and one set of antenna
system. RU60 supports signal synthesis for 6
carriers.


The RU/RRU module has only two external

antenna ports. It supports single-transmitting and
double receiving generally. If the cell has over 6
carriers, one port should be reserved to connect

the other RU.

 RU/RRU adopts broadband transceiver and
broadband power amplifier.

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RU/RRU configuration rules







RRU supports at most 4-level cascaded connection. In practice,

however, it is suggested to adopt only 2-level cascaded connection
in networking.
For RRUs in cascaded connection, there is no limit to the position,
sequence, frequency band, and radio mode.
RRUs of different bands share neither antennas nor feeders.
For multiple sets of RRUs sharing the iron tower, the isolation
between TX/Rx and RX must greater than 30dB.

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Contents
Basic Concepts of SDR
Structure of SDR Base Stations
Introduction to BBU
Introduction to RU/RRU
Introduction to Interface between BBU and RU/RRU
Special Functions of SDR Base Stations

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Fiber interfaces


Each FS board supports 6 fiber interfaces.

Each RU supports 2 fiber interfaces.

The fiber supports both star-type and link-type networking

For link-type networking, at most 4 RUs can be connected in

cascading mode.

BBU is at most 40 Km away from the RU.

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Contents
Basic Concepts of SDR
Structure of SDR Base Stations
Introduction to BBU
Introduction to RU/RRU
Introduction to Interface between BBU and RU/RRU
Special Functions of SDR Base Stations

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High integration


BBU supports 60 TRXs.

RU supports 6TRX/2TRX.

A fiber can support 24 TRX

All IP transmission based structure

Support multi-band RRU

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Flexible structure


Support macro-base station

Support remote RU

Support both FE/GE and E1/T1

Support both indoor and outdoor requirements

Small volume and light weight

Energy efficient

Support evolution of the technology

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Multiple new functions



Baseband frequency hopping

Transmitting and receiving diversity

Combine multiple carriers

Applied for express railways

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Basic concept baseband frequency hopping



Frequency hopping refers to that multiple frequencies are used for radio
transmission of a single speech/signaling/data link. The transmission
frequency keeps stable within the transmission period of a burst pulse. For
different burse pulses of the same link, the transmission frequency may
change. The MS may be affected by the fading effect of some frequency
on the transmission path. GSM coding and inter-leaving technology helps
to minimize the impact of single-burst lost to the voice quality.

Baseband frequency hopping means that multiple transmitters work on

their respective frequencies, and switch signals of different channels to
different transmitters to send them on the baseband, thus to achieve the
function of frequency hopping.

The function of frequency hopping is easy and feasible. Because of limited

number of TRXs, there are a just a few frequencies available for frequency
hopping.

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Features of the technology







The downlink of multiple carriers are same signals.

TRXs of an RU should be processed on the same UBPG. A
UPBG can process 12 TRXs at most.
Uplink signals are combined selectively, which can improve
sensitivity.
Quantity of configured RUs increases.
Quantity of configured UBPGs increases.

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Lower cost


Reduce the cost per unit

Reduce the cost of typical networking

Reduce the operation cost

Reduce the maintenance cost

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Review







Basic concepts of SDR

SDR hardware and software structure
3 types of SDR base stations
Functions of each SDR board
Various interface of SDR

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