FREQUENCY HOPPING CONCEPT

Presented By:

Usman Javed Bhatti

Senior Engineer Radio Network Planning Ufone PTML

Frequency Hopping Concept

Each burst is transmitted on a different frequency Both mobile and base station follow the same hopping sequence
Frame 0 Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3 Frequency A Frequency B Frequency C Frequency D

The MS/BTS changes the frequency from burst to burst

4.615 millisec.

(1 Frame = 8*577 microsec.)

Capabilities of FH

1. Frequency Diversity Frequency hopping can reduce the effect of multipath fading. Multipath fading is frequency and location dependent. With frequency hopping, a non-moving mobile will typically not remain in a specific fading dip longer than one TDMA frame. The low signal strength dips in multipath fading are thus levelled out, and the mobile will perceive a more even radio environment. This is called frequency diversity

Multipath Fading

Multipath fading occurs when signals arrive at the receiver both directly from the transmitter, and, indirectly, due to propagation through objects or reflection. These signals arrive at slightly different times, with different amplitudes and phases. They sum together constructively and also destructively (fading dips). The fading dips appear at different spatial locations for different frequencies, i.e. they are frequency and location dependent. This phenomenon is called multipath fading. Fading dips are separated by approx. 17 cm for GSM 900, and approx. 8 cm for GSM 1800 and GSM 1900.

Fading

Fading (cont)

Frequency Diversity
Non Hopping
Freq. f1

Freq. f1

Hopping

Freq. f2 Corrupted Bursts

2. Interference Diversity Interference is dependent on time, frequency and mobile location. Without frequency hopping, some cell planning margins must be incorporated so that sufficient service quality can still be provided in an interfered situation. By changing frequency on every TDMA frame, a mobile only experiences interference on a particular frequency once in a number of hops. Similarly, interference on a particular frequency will be spread across many mobiles (i.e. averages out with other mobiles). This is called interference averaging and results in interference diversity. With interference diversity, the perceived radio environment will be more even. As a result of frequency hopping, cell planning margins can be reduced which makes it possible to implement a tighter frequency plan.

Interference Averaging
f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1

Wanted Call (f1 fixed)

f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1 f1

Non Hopping

Interfering Call (f1 fixed) Corrupted Bursts because of Interference

f1 f3 f1 f2 f3 f1 f2 f1 f3 f1 f2 f3 f2 f1 f2 f1 f3 f2 f3 f1 f2 f1 f3 f1 f3 f2 f1

Wanted Call (Hopping over f1, f2, f3)

f3 f2 f1 f3 f1 f3 f2 f3 f1 f2 f1 f3 f1 f2 f3 f1 f2 f1 f3 f2 f1 f3 f1 f2 f1 f2 f3

Hopping

Interfering Call (Hopping over f1, f2, f3)

Corrupted Bursts because of Interference

Objectives of Frequency Planning

Efficient Reuse Pattern Optimize Control Over Interference Better Call Quality

D A F

C
B

E G I H

L
K

4x3 Reuse Pattern

In An Ideal Scenario

Operators would like to use Every Carrier Frequency in Every Sector

Utilize Maximum Capacity from the Available Spectrum

Results in

INTERFERENCE

How to remove Interference ? Frequency Hopping

Conventional Frequency Planning

(4x3 Reuse)

Conservative frequency reuse pattern Typically 4 site by 3 sector repeat 12 frequencies provide one carrier per sector

D A F

C
B

E G I H

L
K

Coverage Plot for 4x3 Reuse Pattern

(No Frequency Hopping)

Low Interference Good Call Quality Some Interference Mildly Degraded Quality High Interference Likely To Drop Calls Excess Interference No Service

Aggressive Frequency Planning

(1x3 Reuse)

Reuse frequencies more often For example on a 1 site by 3 sector repeat 3 frequencies provide one carrier per sector

X Y X Y Z X Y

Z X Y Z

Coverage Plot for 1x3 Reuse Pattern

(No Frequency Hopping)

Low Interference Good Call Quality Some Interference Mildly Degraded Quality High Interference Likely To Drop Calls Excess Interference No Service

Coverage Plot for 1x3 Reuse Pattern

(With Frequency Hopping)

Low Interference Good Call Quality Some Interference Mildly Degraded Quality High Interference Likely To Drop Calls Excess Interference No Service

Conclusions
From a subscriber point of view, frequency hopping gives an improved speech quality in many situations. From an operator point of view, the benefits are:

tighter frequency reuse and increase in capacity, a more robust radio environment, a possibility to give subscribers a more uniform speech quality.

Types of Frequency Hopping

1. Base Band Hopping (BBH)

The TRXs transmit always the same frequency Number of frequencies for hopping = Number of carriers

2. Synthesiser Frequency Hopping (SFH)

The TRXs change (retune) the frequency every burst Number of frequencies for hopping > Number of carriers TRXs can hop over a range of 64 different frequencies

Base Band Hopping

The TRXs always transmit a fixed frequency. The call hops over the TRXs, maintaining the same timeslot, on a per burst basis. In reception the call is always processed by the same TRX (the one where the call started). The number of frequencies to hop over is limited by the number of TRX equipped in the cell. The BCCH carrier can hop in timeslots 1 to 7 (without power control/DTX).

Base Band Hopping (cont)

f1

f2

f3

f4

Base Band Hopping (cont)

Mobile A
Mobile B Mobile C Mobile D Mobile E

TRX 0

TRX 1

TRX 2

TRX 3

TRX 4

Ner Hopping Frequencies = Ner TRXs in service

Base Band Hopping (cont)

B C C H

TRANSMISSION BURST # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... Timeslot 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ... Frequency f3 f4 f1 f2 f3 f4 f1 ... TRX 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 ... Timeslot 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ...

RECEPTION Frequency f3 f4 f1 f2 f3 f4 f1 ... TRX 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 ...

T C H

T C H

T C H

T R X 4

T R X 3

T R X 2

T R X 1

f4 f3 f2 f1

Cyclic

Call assigned to TRX 3 Timeslot 5 at the set up

Synthesiser Frequency Hopping (SFH)

The TRXs are able to retune to a new frequency each burst. The call always stays in the same TRX. One TRX can hop up to over 64 different frequencies. Wide-band combining devices (hybrids) are required in the base station (Cavity Combiners can not be used with SFH). The BCCH frequency can be included in the hopping sequence, but in practice, BCCH carrier never hops, and carries traffic on timeslots 1 to 7.

Synthesiser Frequency Hopping (cont)

f1f8 f1f8 f1f8 f1f8

BCCH

Hopping over 8 frequencies

Types of Synthesiser Frequency Hopping

1. 1 X 3 SFH

Three Sector Sites Three Sets of ARFCNs Each Sector uses different MA

1. 1 X 1 SFH

One Single set of ARFCNs Each Sector uses same MA

Scenario
RF Capacity

Specific Amount Of Spectrum Specific Number Of Sites

Subscribers

Scenario (cont)
RF Capacity

Specific Amount Of Spectrum

Subscribers

Specific Number Of Sites

Scenario (cont)
RF Capacity

Subscribers

Operator Concerns
More Spectrum Quality New Sites

Scenario (cont)
RF Capacity

Subscribers

Traditional Ways 1. Allocate More Spectrum 2. Increase Spectral Efficiency Smaller Cells Tighter Frequency Reuse

Scenario (cont)
RF Capacity

Subscribers

Traditional Ways 1. Allocate More Spectrum 2. Increase Spectral Efficiency Smaller Cells Tighter Frequency Reuse

Scenario (cont) Alternate Technique

RF Capacity

Subscribers
FH

Scenario (cont) Alternate Technique

RF Capacity

Subscribers
FH

Advantages of Frequency Hopping

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Reduction in FER Improves Voice Quality Reduction in Drop Calls Increase Call Success Rate

Quality Capacity Trade Off

Q U Q U A
NON HOPPING SYSTEM

C A C A P

C A P

OR

Q U A
HOPPING SYSTEM

OR

Q U A

C A P

HOPPING SYSTEM

HOPPING SYSTEM

"For the same capacity FH improves the quality, and for a given average quality FH makes possible increase the capacity".

Advantages of Frequency Hopping (cont)

INVESTMENT REDUCTION
With Respect to the Fixed System Case:
Reduction in Number of Sites Required, for the Same Capacity and Quality

Reduction in Time and Work Required for Planning Reduction in Time and Work Required for Optimisation

Frequency Hopping Limitations (BBH and SFH)

Timeslot 0 of BCCH carrier can not hop Any timeslot configured as CCCH can not hop The BCCH carrier can not hop with SFH If SFH uses the BCCH frequency, the BCCH carrier can not carry traffic The BCCH carrier can hop with BBH

With BBH, the hopping system assigned to timeslot 0 of Non-BCCH carriers can not include the BCCH frequency

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