UMTS / WCDMA

Remote controlled
adjustable electrical
downtilt

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Downtilt in GSM Systems

Downtilting of the vertical pattern reduces the radiated power towards

the horizon and concentrates it into the cell to be covered

mechanical downtilt
easy handling, adjustable, but downtilt angle not constant across the azimuth

electrical downtilt
constant downtilt angle over azimuth but not adjustable

adjustable electrical downtilt

combines the electrical benefits with the mechanical flexibility

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Downtilt in GSM Systems

UMTS / WCDMA

Locally remote controlled adjustable electrical

downtilt

access to hardly reachable antenna

sites is made much easier (top of high
tension line masts, chimneys)

ground access means lower

costs regarding number of
riggers involved and safety
equipment required

BTS

Control unit

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UMTS / WCDMA

Network

Big difference of mobile networks of 3rd generation (WCDMA) :

WCDMA is a dynamic network with variable cell sizes !

Comparison
Access

GSM
TDMA
(Time Division Multiple
Access)
Separation of the subscribers
by time slots
Frequency plan certain frequencies per cell
Hand over
registration only in one cell
(hard hand over)
Cell size
fixed

UMTS
WCDMA
(Wideband Code Division Multiple
Access)
Separation of the subscribers
by codes
the same full bandwidth in each cell
registration in two or more cells
(soft hand over)
variable

Different network planning compared to GSM

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Network

Power control and cell breathing

Complex relation between capacity, coverage and interference;
a growing load in the cell (quantity of subscribers, transferred data rate) is
increasing the noise and the required power; communication quality is effected
base station reduces the cell size

Quelle: HU Berlin

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UMTS / WCDMA

Network

The network planners aim at a continuous coverage but with a minimum

overlapping between the cells to avoid additional interferences
The cell breathing changes the situation permanently from big overlapping to
reduced coverage
--> the cells have to be adjusted carefully by means of the vertical downtilt
considering the average required capacity

Big overlapping

Reduced coverage
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UMTS / WCDMA

Network

Remote electrical tilt enables a continuing optimization to achieve the best balance
between interference and coverage also with respect to :
Soft handover
Due to the low uplink power levels the subscriber signals may be received by
two or three cells and added up by the system
improvement of the uplink path but eating up of capacity; 30-40% of the
subscribers may be in this situation

Soft handover

BTS

BTS

7
BTS

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UMTS / WCDMA

Network

Due to the complexity of the system an automatic dynamic in time compensation

by means of a RET system will not be possible the next years

network operators fear an oscillating network and want to keep the control

but already now the RET system can adapt the network to the current status
on the basis of pre-measured and pre-optimized scenarios; the downtilts can
be adjusted for different scenarios:

rush hour coverage

(specific high traffic spots)

working time
(main traffic in offices)

special coverage for

irregular events
(sport, games, music
festivals, trade fairs)

evening coverage
(main traffic at home
or in restaurants/bars)
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UMTS / WCDMA

RET Benefits

Conclusion:

For the network optimization due to changing cell sizes with WCDMA an
adaption of the coverage by adjustment of the downtilt angle is required

Local control directly at the base station does not provide the required
quick and permanent access

Central control for a complete network section, e.g. via the common OMC
(Operational Maintenance Center) is needed

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UMTS / WCDMA

RET Benefits

Benefits:

Up to 20% of WCDMA equipment can be saved

Lower bit failure rate

Smaller amount of drop calls

Cell correction due to network extensions can be carried out without sending
installation teams to the base stations

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UMTS / WCDMA

Remote Electrical Tilt (RET)

Concept:
Each manually adjustable Kathrein antenna
with appropriate mechanical interface can be
upgraded to provide remote electrical tilt by
means of a separate unit (RCU)

Antenna with
mechanical
RET interface

Remote control
unit (RCU)
attached

upgrading can be carried out also with

already mounted antennas

decision for appliance can be postponed

according to experience

further reduced number of versions

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UMTS / WCDMA

Mechanical Interface

Mechanical interface:

1
2
2

Adjustment wheel with

twist-lock function.
Downtilt spindle with
integrated scale.

Thread for fixing the protective

cap or the RCU (Remote Control
Unit).
Gearwheel for RCU power drive.
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UMTS / WCDMA

Remote Control Unit

RCU features:
Easy

attachment via robust 42 mm thread

Excellent

lightning and EMC protection:

- screened control cable
- grounded aluminum housing
- each wire is individually lightning protected

Integrated electronic for safe operation :

- easy calibration
- last position EPROM stored
- no position loss with power loss

Powerful motor with low power consumption :

- high torque for low temp. Application (-40 C)
- motor rotation detection integrated

Just one RCU (AISG 1.1 or 2.0) for all antenna types

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UMTS / WCDMA

Control Units

Portable Control Adapter

Central Control Unit

Alarm interface

Ethernet
port

RS 232 port

DC -48 V
3 AISG ports
for 9 RCUs
and 3 TMAs

AC 100 - 240 V

14

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PCA

- AISG conform !
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UMTS / WCDMA

Central Remote Controlling

Central remote controlling:

Connection between the Operational Maintenance Center (OMC) and the

RCU via a Central Control Unit (CCU)

Two link circles : OMC - CCU / CCU - RCU

Link CCU RCU (Antenna)

Antenna

OMC
CCU
Link
OMC - CCU

or

Link
CCU - RCU

PCA
RCU
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UMTS / WCDMA

Link CCU - RCU

Central remote controlling:

Antenna

Configuration of the system via Laptop

(antenna type, calibration)

RCU controlling via an additional cable and splitter

RCU controlling via an additional cable and daisy chain

RCU

Splitter

BTS
CCU

Additional
control cable
Feeder lines

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UMTS / WCDMA

Link CCU - RCU

For Daisy chain possibilities, the RCU has two connectors

Signal
input

Signal
output

Protection cap
For daisy chain:

Drain hole

Leave cap on
the last RCU
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UMTS / WCDMA

Link CCU - RCU

Alternative for the additional cable

Antenna

RCU controlling via the feeder line by means of

two Smart-BIAS-Ts)

RCU

RCU controlling via the feeder line by means of

TMA + Smart-BIAS-T
TMA
Smart
BIAS-T

BTS
CCU

Smart-BIAS-T
Feeder lines

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UMTS / WCDMA

Link CCU - RCU

Summary of applications

NODE B

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UMTS / WCDMA

Central Control Unit Software

CCU: HTML solution

CCU handles
power supply for RCU and TMA
downtilt signal processing
alarm signals for RCU and TMA

The CCU acts as a web server with

its own IP address

The appearing website contains all

required control elements for
normal service and installation

no separate software is required,

just a standard browser
CCU website

Access to one CCU at the same time

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UMTS / WCDMA

Standardization
Protocol CCU RCU

The RET system is working according to the AISG standard

(Antenna interface standards group)

The AISG is a standardization group with the mission statement to include

the RET control into the UMTS standard and to define the interfaces and
protocols between the RCU and the CCU

currently 42 members
22

antenna manufacturers (incl. Kathrein)

TMA manufacturer,

network operators OEMs

The link between the OMC and the CCU

is not standardized !

AISG 2.0 / 3GPP is the up to date standard !

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UMTS / WCDMA

Central Remote Controlling

Central remote controlling:

Connection between the Operational Maintenance Center (OMC) and the

RCU via a Central Control Unit (CCU)

Two link circles : OMC - CCU / CCU - RCU

Antenna

Link OMC CCU

OMC
Link
OMC - CCU

CCU

Link
CCU - RCU

RCU
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UMTS / WCDMA

Link OMC - CCU

Antenna

OMC

RCU

RS485

FixedLine solution
CCU

LAN connection
CCU-Control

BTS-Control

BTS

Wireless solution

The OMC to BTS interface is based on supplier specific protocols!

Only the connection can be used, no matter what type is!
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UMTS / WCDMA

CCU Administration

Browser application
OMC
CCU
CCU
CCU
CCU

HTML

CCU

The OMC is controlling hundreds of sites, but the IP / Browser solution is quite
slow and complicate:
access to the various CCUs only one after the other (especially with modem)
no reference to site names
with HTML the whole page has to be transferred even if only one value changes

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UMTS / WCDMA

Antenna System Manager

Alternative solution: Antenna System Manager

OMC
CCU
CCU
CCU
CCU

ASM
CCU

The Antenna System Manager is a SNMP based software on the OMC computer
The number of controllable CCUs and the following AISG devices is unlimited
The actual data are stored in the computer not in the CCU (access is only required
for a new adjustment)
fast transfer due to reduced data quantity (specially in modem mode)
Explorer enables tree architecture with regions and site names
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UMTS / WCDMA

Antenna System Manager

Combination with optimizer tool

OMC
CCU
CCU
CCU
CCU

Planning tool
Optimiser

ASM

SNMP

CCU

Many operators use an optimizer tool for their network planning

According to measurements and calculations certain scenarios are stored
With these scenarios (individual downtilt angles) the network is adapted to the
current situation : rush hour, working time, evening, special events, emergencies
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27

Product Presentation

RET Components

Components of the RET system:

RCU (Remote Control Unit)

CCU (Central Control Unit)
AC/DC power (3x RS485 connectors)
DC power (3x RS485 connectors)
AC Power (1x RS485 connector)
DC power (1x RS485 connector)
Layer-one Converter (3x SMB connector)
Outdoor
PCA (Portable Control Adapter)
Connection cables
Lightning protection / earthing clamps
Splitter for DC-power and signal
Earthing Clamp

860 10147, 860 10148

860 10006
860 10026
860 10140
860 10141
860 10068
860 10113
860 10046
860 10007,
860 10030
860 10002
860 10031

Optional:

TMAs (Tower Mounted Amplifier)

Smart-Bias-Tees
Bias-Tee

782 10147,
782 11055 - 11056
782 10577 - 10578

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UMTS / WCDMA

TMA

TMA

TMA

Power Supply and Alarm handling

of TMAs and RCUs are controlled
via Smart Bias Tee and CCU
RCU

UMTS

RCU

UMTS

RCU

UMTS

Package solution

Smart Bias
Tee

CCU
Sector A

Sector B

Sector C

OMC

Node B

29

To alarm I/O Ports

at Node B
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UMTS / WCDMA

Antenna system

>1.4 Mio RCUs

are sold already
(07/2011)

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Kathrein/MH 02/11