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16 views5 pages

Drive Testing in Mobile Communication

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Walter Benites
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A review on drive test and site selection for Mobile Radio Communication

Article · May 2014

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International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 151 / Volume 3 Issue 5

A review on drive test and site selection for Mobile Radio Communication
Govind Sati#, Dr. Sonika Singh*
#
Electronics and Communication Department,
DIT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
1
satigovind@[Link]
3
gsonika@[Link]

Abstract— In cellular system propagation models important for measurement of characterization of


designed for the specific areas or terrain. When these propagation and fading effects in channel. In this
models used in different environment, efficiency of the
models is suffer. This change in efficiency affects process the field data is collected and it is use for
coverage, capacity and Quality of Service (QoS) of optimizing or adjusting propagation models.
cellular mobile network. Drive testing is method of
measuring and assessing the QoS of mobile network. B. Post-design drive test:-
Different sites of recent technology 2G, 3G, HSPA,
WCDMA, Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiMAX are Post-design drive test is use for site
analysed by drive testing with TEMS Investigation
tools. These different sites analyses with different verification/optimization. In post-design phase the
parameter like Rx Lev, Rx Qual, FER, BER etc. The initial set of sites are selected. Coverage of the
aim of this paper is study of the drive test process and network is also analyzed in this process.
RF planning in Mobile communication. Different
parameter of drive test is also discus in this paper.
II. WHY DRIVE TESTING
Drive testing consists of test teams which drive on
pre – defined routes of network region. In this
Keywords— drive test, RF parameter, TEMS
process we analysis calls and measuring the strength
Investigation.
of signal. Unsuccessful handovers, quality if audio
I. INTRODUCTION and call drop etc. also analysis in drive test with test
In order to study the nature of radiation pattern and data collection.
strength of signal for a particular terrain we require
certain king of modeling. These models are used for
predicting the path loss between transmitter and
receiver site. Due to this prediction we analyses the GPS BTS
characteristics of propagation models. Efficiency is M
major characteristic of propagation models. S
Efficiency of the propagation models suffer when
these propagation models used in different areas. Laptop with
Changes in efficiency affect the QoS of mobile Drive Test
networks. Designing of the drive test is based on the Software
following two objectives.

A. Pre-design drive test

B. Post-design drive test Power Dongle


A. Pre-design drive test:-
Fig01 – Drive testing system
Pre-design drive test is used for measurement
integration. It is the beginning of design phase, when These result are transferred from the MS to a dedicate
no site has been selected or built. This step is most PC. In drive test process various data groups are

© 2014 IJAIR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 151


International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 152 / Volume 3 Issue 5

processed in order to produce graphical and tabular Receiving level consider strength of the signal at
data the complete process interpreted by the test receiver. Receiving level measure in dB. Range of
engineer. Both radial and azimuthal routes are tested the receiving level is -30dB to -110dB.
in drive process. In urban and sub-urban areas the
effect of street orientations has to be considered in B. Quality of voice (Rx Qual):-
this process. In rural area the effect of foliage pattern
Quality of voice at receiving level measure be bit
is also considered in drive test process. Both line of
error rate (BER). Range of Rx Qual is 0 to 7.
site (LOS) and non-LOS position of the MS or
receiver with respect to transmitter have to be C. Frame Erasure Rate (FER):-
included in the drive test.
Frame Erasure Rate represents the percentage of
Fig01 show the drive testing system, it consist GPS frames being dropped due to high number of non-
system, dongle, laptop with drive test software, corrected bit errors in the frame. FER indicate the
mobile station and power system. GPS system, quality in network.
dongle and mobile connected with laptop. Drive
testing software installed in laptop. Drive testing D. BER Actual:-
software provide interface between dongle and
laptop. Laptop analyzes the complete drive testing It is the ratio of number of bits errors to the total
process. Power system is important part of this number of bit transmitted in a given time interval. It
process. GPS-system used for navigation. Dongle measures the voice quality in network. BER depend
receive the signal which transmits by BTS. [1] on Rx Qual. BER useful and countable up to 12.8%
which corresponds to Rx Qual of maximum 7.
III. TEST SITE SELECTION
In the site selection maximum height of the building E. SQI:-
(in urban and sub-urban areas) and vegetation (in
SQI is best criterion to use for optimizing the speech
rural areas) is to be considered. Cluttering pattern of
quality in network. SQI dedicated to reflecting the
both building and vegetation also considered in the
quality of speech (as opposed to radio environment
measurement. Location and height of the base station
conditions). SQI is updated at 0.5s intervals. It is
antenna is major parameter for the site selection.
compute on basis of FER and BER. Ideal value for
At the time of drive test the collection of data EFR30 is FR -21 & HR -17.
processed from all sector of the transmitting antenna.
F. Carrier – over – interference ratio (C/I):-
All sector of transmitter antenna located at 120*.
It is the ratio of signal strength of the current serving
The height of the base station antenna is 35m and
cell and the signal strength of undesired signal
above the ground. Base station antenna located at
components. It should be at least greater than 9.
masts and few other were on rooftops. Bandwidth of
the transmitted signal is 806-960MHz (806-
880MHz/880-960MHz).
V. LOSS AND FADING FOR DRIVE TEST
IV. RF PARAMETER FOR DRIVE TEST Strength of received signal is major factor for drive
Drive test are analyses by the different parameters. test. Lot of variations arises in strength of the
They are based on the strength of receiving signal, received signal at the receiver site. Variation in signal
frame erasure rate, bit error rate, quality of speech is analyzed by the following three types of
and carrier – over – interference ratio. [2] phenomena.

A. Receiving level (Rx Lev):- A. Propagation loss

B. Slow fading

© 2014 IJAIR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 152


International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 153 / Volume 3 Issue 5

C. Fast fading devices connected and red color change to green


color.
A. Propagation loss:-
Step3- in next step mobile is connected in the ‘idle
Propagation losses are depends on the environment of mode’. The GSM window started and shows latitude
the site. Changes in environment also affect the & longitude of the place and displaying live network
propagation loss. Variation in propagation is 20-50dB data in the corresponding tables and charts.
per decade. Propagation loss over terrain, foliage
and/or buildings may be attributed to various Step4- now click to ‘record’ tool bar and save log
phenomena including, diffraction, scattering or file, followed by originating call on the place.
absorption.
Step5- drive on that routs which covering the cell and
Propagation losses are important factor for mobile neighboring cells.
telephone and many different propagation models for
built in different areas. Predication of the propagation Step6- coverage of cell, strength of received signal,
loss is done between transmitter and receiver. call connection, FR parameter and many other
considerations checked and record with log file.
B. Slow fading:-
Step7- finally log file is generated. It can be exported
Fading describe the rapid fluctuation of the amplitude to different format for post processing requirements.
of a radio signal at travel distance over short time
period. Slow fading is due to shadowing and usually
modeled by a log-normal probability density
VII. DATA COLLECTION TOOLS
function. Log-normal random process is used for
The TEMS Investigator dongle and software versions
analysis of slow fading. Slow fading is time-
8.1, 9.1, 10.1 & 13.1 used for the collection of data
dispersive or frequency-dispersive. Doppler profile of
sample of measured signal at the time of drive test. It
the channel is also major factor for slow fading. [3]
has the accuracy of ±4dBm. The calibrated power
C. Fast fading:- was -100 ≤ - ≤ -40dBm. A geographical positioning
system (GPS) receiver collects the location
Fast fading arise due to multipath effects in the information of the dongle as well as drive test
received signal at receiver site. Rayleigh or Ricean vehicle. The accuracy of the GPS is ± 15m. This
distribution is used to analyses the fast fading. It accuracy is better than previous value of ±200m -
describes the statistical time varying nature of the ±300m. The selective variability was switch off in the
received signal. Rayleigh distributed signal envelope recent past, it improved the accuracy of the GPS
as a function of time. When strength of the signal is dramatically. [3][4]
rapidly changed as compared to the rate of change of
the channel is called fast fading. [3] TEMS Investigation is the tool for troubleshooting,
verification, optimization and maintenance of
VI. DRIVE TEST STEPS wireless networks. TEMS offers single equipment
Drive test consist following step. with multiple functions like data collection, real-time
analysis, and post-processing, TEMS Investigation
Step1- opens investigation software like TEMS (v8.1, eliminates the need for multiple tools, reducing costs
9.1, 10.1 and 13.1) in laptop. When system open, it and saving time and effort for operations staff. TEMS
show GSM window by default. Empty tables and investigation supports all major technologies, making
charts on display meant for RF information. it the ideal testing solution both for rolling out new
networks and for ensuring seamless integration with
Step2- Red color symbol indicate the disconnection
existing networks.
status of both external device dongle and GPS. After
clicking ‘connected ALL’ in connection toolbar both Using TEMS Investigation, operators can increase
accessibility, improve retain ability, and achieve

© 2014 IJAIR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 153


International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 154 / Volume 3 Issue 5

better service performance. TEMS Investigation


support for LTE (FDD and TDD), GSM, GPRS,
EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+, TD-SCDMA,
CDMA(IS-95 TO EV-DO Rev B) and WiMAX,
together with support for a wide range of services.[5]

The tool ensures seamless integration among LTE,


WCDMA/HSPA, and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks
as well as LTE, CDMA EV-DO, CDMA200 and
IS95 networks.

VIII. CONCLUSION
Drive testing help us to measuring and assessing the
Quality of Service, coverage and capacity of mobile
network. TEMS Investigation is main tool of drive
testing. It consist both hardware and software. Resent
version of TEMS Investigation software is 13.1.
Hardware of TEMS Investigation is a dongle. TEMS
Investigation support for LTE (FDD and TDD),
GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+,
TD-SCDMA, CDMA(IS-95 TO EV-DO Rev B) and
WiMAX, together with support for a wide range of
services. Selection of test site based on the height of
base station antenna, height of building and
vegetation (in urban sub-urban and rural areas).

IX. REFERENCES
[1] RF Planning and Drive Test (E1-E2 consumer mobility).

[2] Performance assessment of HSPDA networks from outdoor


drive test measurements.

Joaquin Matamales, David Martin – Sacristan, Jose F. Monserrat


and Narcis Cardona. 978-1-4244-2517-4109. 2009 IEEE.

[3] Rapport T.S Wireless Communication Principles and Practice


2nd.
Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Prentice Hall PTR. 2002.

[4] Efficient path loss prediction in mobile wireless


communication network,

Vishal Gupta, Sandip Vijay and S. C. Sharma, ISN2008, Feb. 22-


24, 2008, Pg-271.

[5] TEMS Investigation release notes, ASCOM, document. NT11-


21089, [Link]/networktesing, 2011.

View publication stats © 2014 IJAIR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 154

Common questions

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The drive testing process accounts for environmental factors by including the effects of street orientations in urban and sub-urban areas and foliage patterns in rural areas. Drive tests process data from both line of sight (LOS) and non-LOS positions between mobile stations and transmitters to assess signal variation due to these environmental factors. The process involves analyzing propagation loss, slow fading influenced by shadowing, and fast fading resulting from multipath effects. These factors are crucial for understanding signal strength variations and optimizing network performance across different terrains .

The TEMS Investigation tool plays a crucial role in the drive test process as it provides an integrated solution for troubleshooting, verification, optimization, and maintenance of wireless networks. It offers real-time analysis and post-processing capabilities, as well as data collection functions, thus eliminating the need for multiple tools and reducing operational costs. By supporting all major technologies, TEMS Investigation ensures seamless network integration and aids operators in increasing accessibility and improving service performance. It is instrumental in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting drive test data, which is essential for network optimization .

The primary goals of conducting drive tests in mobile radio communication systems are to measure and assess the Quality of Service (QoS), coverage, and capacity of mobile networks. Drive tests involve analyzing call performance, signal strength, unsuccessful handovers, and audio quality to improve network optimization and ensure efficient network operation. Pre-design drive tests aim at characterizing the propagation and fading effects in channels before any site is selected or built, while post-design drive tests focus on site verification and network coverage analysis .

Slow fading differs from fast fading in that slow fading results from shadowing effects, often caused by large obstructions such as buildings or hills, leading to gradual changes in signal strength over longer periods. It is typically modeled using a log-normal probability density function. Fast fading, on the other hand, is due to multipath effects that cause rapid fluctuations in signal amplitude over short periods. Techniques like Rayleigh or Ricean distribution are used during drive tests to analyze fast fading. These analyses help design robust systems capable of managing signal variations effectively .

Fast fading, a result of multipath signal propagation, causes rapid changes in signal amplitude, leading to signal distortion and quality degradation over short timescales. Slow fading, caused by large obstacles, results in more gradual signal variation, impacting overall connectivity and stability. To mitigate fast fading, techniques such as diversity combining and adaptive equalization are employed, whereas slow fading is managed by adjusting power levels and using robust link adaptation methods to stabilize the connection even with varying signal strengths .

Propagation loss has significant implications for mobile network performance as it directly affects signal strength at the receiver, influencing both coverage and quality of service. Factors such as terrain, foliage, and building structures contribute to propagation losses through diffraction, scattering, and absorption. Variability in propagation loss can range from 20 to 50 dB per decade, leading to challenges in maintaining consistent signal quality across different environments. Effective modeling and prediction of propagation loss are crucial for optimizing network design and ensuring reliable communication .

The Carrier over Interference ratio (C/I) is a critical parameter in drive test analysis as it measures the strength of the desired signal against the interference from other signals. A higher C/I ratio indicates better network performance, as the desired signal is stronger compared to any interfering signals. In mobile radio communication, it is important for the C/I to be greater than 9 to ensure that the signal quality remains sufficient for communication purposes, thus directly impacting the clarity and reliability of calls .

During drive tests, voice quality is assessed using parameters such as the Bit Error Rate (BER), Frame Erasure Rate (FER), and Speech Quality Index (SQI). BER measures the ratio of error bits to the total transmitted bits, directly affecting clarity. FER indicates the percentage of frames dropped due to errors, impacting perceived quality. SQI uses a combination of BER and FER to provide a comprehensive assessment of voice quality. These parameters are critical as they relate to the overall performance of the network in delivering clear and uninterrupted audio communication .

An accurate GPS system is necessary during drive tests for mobile radio communication to provide precise location information of the drive test vehicle and measurement devices. This location data is crucial for correlating the measured signal parameters, such as signal strength and quality, with specific geographical areas, thereby enabling accurate assessments of network performance across different terrains and conditions. Improved GPS accuracy ensures that test data accurately reflects the real-world scenarios experienced by network users, which is key for effective network optimization and troubleshooting .

The pre-design drive test phase focuses on integrating initial measurements to characterize propagation and fading effects before any site has been established. Its main objective is to gather field data to optimize or adjust propagation models, providing a foundation for network design. The post-design phase, however, is centered on site verification and optimization. It uses the defined sites to analyze and ensure network coverage, enhancing and validating the network design based on real-world performance data. These phases together ensure an accurate and effective mobile network implementation .

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