9/14/2013

PHYSICAL CHANNEL

RF PLANNING / NETWORK OPTIMIZATION

& DRIVE TESTING PROFESSIONAL
BROADCAST, COMMON CONTROL &
DEDICATED CHANNELS

There are 08 time slots in each ARFCN or it can be said that each
ARFCN is one frequency. These are further broken up into logical
channels that contains signaling & system messaging information.
Logical channels are transmitted only on certain frames in a certain
timeslot. Different time slots will carry different logical channels,
depending on the structure that the vendor BSS utilizes.
There are two main categories of logical channels in GSM.
- Signaling Channels
- Traffic Channels
Logical channels are divided into 03 categories, i.e. Broadcast,
Common Control & Dedicated Channels

CONTROL CHANNELS
Control channels are dedicated to the sending and/or
receiving of command messages between BTS and MS.
Broadcast Channels (BCH)
Used to transfer system & sync. information, timing references,
system configuration information & lists of neighboring radio
channels to all MS operating within its radio coverage area.
Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Used to coordinate the control of mobile devices operating within its
cell radio coverage area. Includes, RACH, PCH, AGCH.
Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
Communication channels that transfer the signaling messages.

1. BROADCAST CHANNELS (BCH)

Channel

2. COMMON CONTROL CHANNELS (CCCH)

Direction
BTS
MS
Point
- Transmits a BCCH
to
- Identifies BCCH carrier freq.
multi- carrier frequency
point

FCCH
(Frequency
DL
Correction
Channel)

SCH
(Sychroniz
ation
Channel)

BCCH
(Broadcast
Control
Channel)

DL

DL

-Transmits info.
Point
about, TDMA frame
to
no. , structure &
multiBSIC (Base station
point
Identity code)

Point
to
multipoint

- Broad`casts cell
information LAI,
maximum power
allowed in a cell,
BCCH carriers of
neigbouring cells.

- Synchronizes with TDMA frame

structure
- BSIC can only be decoded by an
MS if the BTS belongs to a GSM
network.
- Receives LAI & if LAI is different,
Location Updating will occur.
- MS sets its o/p level based on the
info. received on the BCCH.
- MS stores the list of BCCH carrier
freq. on which Rx.lev. measurement
is done for Handover decision.

Channel

Direction

BTS

MS

PCH
(Paging
Channel)

DL

-Transmits a paging
message to indicate an
Point
incoming call or SMS.
to
- Contains identity no. of
Point
the mobile subscriber that
the network has to contact

- MS listens to the PCH

at certain time intervals.
- Identifying its own
mobile subscriber
identity number, it will
respond

RACH
(Random
Access
Channel)

UL

- Receives access
Point
request from MS for call
to
setup, location update,
Point
SMS, etc.

- Answering paging
message on the RACH
- Requests signaling
channel

AGCH
(Access
Grant
Channel)

DL

Point - Assigns a signaling

to channel (SDCCH) to the
Point MS

- Receives signaling
channel assignment
(SDCCH)

9/14/2013

3. DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNELS (DCCH)

Channel

Direction

BTS

3. DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNELS (DCCH) Contd

MS

-The MS switches to the

assigned SDCCH
- Call set-up is performed
- The MS receives a TCH
assignment information
(TRX/carrier freq. & time slot)
- Sends averaged
- Instructs MS on the
measurements (signal strength
SACCH
allowed transmitter power
& quality), neighboring BTS's
(Slow
UL & Point to & parameters for timing
Associated
signal strength.
DL Point advance.
Control
- The MS continues to use
- SAACH is used for SMS
Channel)
SACCH for this purpose during
during a call.
a call.

SDCCH
(Standalone
UL & Point to
Dedicated
DL Point
Control
Channel )

- BTS switches to the

assigned SDCCH for call
set-up signaling
- TCH is assigned
- SDCCH is also used for
SMS messages to MS

FACCH
(Fast
UL & Point to - Transmits handover
Associated
DL Point information
Control
Channel)

Channel

Direction

CBCH
(Cell Broadcast
Channel)

DL

BTS

Point to Uses this logical channel to

Point
(SDCCH transmit short message
mapped)
service cell broadcast

MS
MS receives cell
broadcast
messages

- Transmits necessary
handover information in access
burst

TRAFFIC CHANNELS

A GSM traffic channel (TCH) carries speech and data traffic.

In each 26-frame multiframe, 24 frames are used for traffic channels, one is
used for the slow associated control channel (SACCH) and one is unused.

A GSM full-rate traffic channel (TCH/F) has a rate of 13 kbps

One full-rate traffic channel is allocated one slot in each TDMA frame.

A half-rate traffic channel (TCH/H) has a rate of 6.5kbps

DTRX ARRANGEMENT IN A BTS

An Antenna supports 4TRX at

maximum, therefore, one DTRX or
DRU has the below structure

If there is high traffic, 02 SD slots can

be reserved to cater traffic

Over the BCCH ARFCN and TCH

ARFCN, all the TCH can be used for
calls / data traffic.

BASIC CALL FLOW

1. The MSC/VLR knows which LA the MS is located in. A paging message is sent to the BSC's
controlling the LA.
2. The BSCs distribute the paging message to the BTS's in the desired LA. The BTS's transmit the
message over the air interface using PCH.
3. When the MS detects a PCH identifying itself, it sends a request for a signaling channel using
RACH.
4. The BSC uses AGCH to inform the MS of the signaling channel (SDCCH and SACCH) to use.

Q&A

5. SDCCH and SACCH are used for call set-up. A TCH is allocated and the SDCCH is released.
6. The MS and BTS switch to the identified TCH frequency and time slot. The MS generates ring
tone. If the subscriber answers, the connection is established. During the call, signals can be
sent and received by the MS using SACCH.

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