Tag Archives: optimization

What is Carrier Optimization?

October 27, 2015 Wade Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

I think that we often overlook one of the most important steps in deployment. The optimization process. This team finds more problems in the network than you realize to make it a better operating network. They find all the deployment problems that happened. They find mistakes in the original design and installation mistakes. That’s right installers! They find mistakes and problems that force physical changes!

Listen! iTunes or Stitcher

I would like to cover these heroes because they are the ones that take the system from performing “OK” to ranking high in the Root Metrics ratings. These are the groups that make the difference between the dropped calls and the seamless coverage. They are the ones that allow you to download that ever important Facebook page without missing a cat video! Let’s look at what these teams do.

How is in the team? The optimization team is usually made up of:

A project manager, PM
RF Engineer, RFE
Drive Team, DT

These are usually the three components of the optimization. What they do is gather the data to test the performance of the system and make changes to improve performance and coverage. Sound easy? Let’s look at what is involved.

The PM is there to manage the teams, create reports, and guide each team to work together. You don’t want one person going off and wasting time and money.

The RF Engineers are the ones who analyze the data, make adjustments, and make recommendations.

The drive teams are the ones who drive and walk around to collect the live data. They use laptops, software, and usually a type of smartphone connected to the laptop. They track their coverage with a GPS for location, the other devices will capture the data like signal strength, voice quality and handoff, download and upload speeds and handoffs, QoS of the connection, and the ability to connect and make a call and make data connections.

If you take all of this data, it is still not enough. There is also something called PCMD, per call measurement data that is used to analyze the coverage. The RFE teams have to take all of this data and make corrections to the network. What corrections? Let me tell you!

I know that most of you think that it’s a simple change in the eNodeB or the maybe a router. It is not always that easy. The optimization team will find so many problems with the network, more than most of you realize. I made a list below just to cover the surface.

Just a few problems caught in optimization:

Router problems, bandwidth or routing issues
Core issues, setting adjustments in the MME or one of the gateways
eNodeB settings are wrong
eNodeB wrong neighbor lists, self interference issues
Handoff issues, could be in the eNodeB or the core
Radio head cabling is wrong
PIM problems at a site that were missed
Antenna elevation, (up and down), is wrong and needs to be corrected
Antenna azimuth, (left or right), is wrong and needs to be changed
Bad cables on the radio head
Dirty fiber between the BBU and Radio head causing lost data
Power settings in the radio head
eNodeB settings that affect QoS
OEM problems

The optimization team’s goal is to have the network improve to become excellent in user experience. This takes time and a good plan of attack. They can’t just go around and drive the network. They really have to have a plan to concentrate on a problem area and work their way out. This will need to be organized and tactical. The cells and the clusters need to be looked at as a system. They will need to identify the problem with one piece of equipment but the goal is to have a high performing system. Making one change in an eNodeB could negatively affect a nearby cell causing new problems to arise. So this process is not an easy one. The RFE team needs to look at the whole before changing a piece.

When there is a system wide problem, the Tiger Teams are called in to correct the problem. This could be an OEM problem or maybe an issue with the original design or even faulty cabling. It happens.

OK, enough about that. I hope you learned how valuable this part of wireless deployment is to the carrier’s success.

More on RootMetrics found here. They are the group that measures the performance of the cell systems out there. They do the drive testing and package the measurements together to show the carriers how well they are performing. They have a great blog found here.

Pay attention, be smart, and be safe out there whether you are 100 feet up or driving. We need you to make it home alive, safe, and happy.

Pay attention to be smart and be safe!

Newsletter Sign up and feedback.

Presales pages are here! –>

I am asking you to help the Hubble Foundation because if you don’t help these families, who will? The carriers do not support Hubble and neither does NATE, so it’s up to you! What if it were you? Would you want help? Who would help you if you were hurt? Who would help your family, your spouse, your children if something happened to you? Do you see the people who are hurt?

Wade4Wireless BlogCast

Carrier’s Wireless Deployment Steps Overview

August 31, 2015 Wade Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

You know, in the old days when deployments were controlled by a tech who would oversee most of the work, things went very well, very smooth, albeit slower. I think that the broadcast engineers probably handle most of their deployments like this because they manage their sites very closely. In the cell carrier business the carriers don’t really have a site owner other than maybe the techs that work on it after handoff. When the site is being built they may notify them of the installation schedule to make sure the installation teams have access. It is very different today.

Tower Safety 480-313-0678

The PM will oversee the entire deployment. The RF Design team will create the design. The Site Acquisition team will find the sites and work with RF Design to fine tune the design and determine details like the antenna downtilt and power. The Site Design team will engineer and create drawings for each site. The Network design team will create all the back-end design for the core and the integration. Logistics will need to make sure that all the kits are set up properly and ready. The installation teams need to get it installed properly. The commissioning teams need to get the site powered up and the backhaul ready. The integration teams need to get the site updated and integrated into the core. The optimization team must make sure it is optimized into the cluster. Then you have site acceptance.

This is taken from the book I am writing, I thought you might appreciate this high level overview of the wireless deployments steps. Of course I write more detail in the book.

Deployment is more than just the installation. It will cover the RF design which should be done in the beginning but many companies forgo this because they feel that the system doesn’t need it. If someone feels that confident, great. Then you need to do the survey. Many now use Google Earth for this in today’s world and for indoor they use drawings. That usually is good enough but I still think that you should visit the site to make sure that everything is the way it is on the drawing or web. If you run into any issues then someone has to make changes and eat the cost.

Click Here to Understand the Scope of Work

Then you have the optimization, which is an art and a process. For the initial installation many of the installers are doing the preliminary optimization as part of the commissioning since they are on site. Having the installer do this is easy and cheaper than deploying a team to do the optimization immediately. The carrier may have some type of optimization tool or server then that will help with optimizing.

Deployment of the small cell, mini macro, and CRAN is very similar to the Macro cell but it will have to be cost-effective. This is something that many people did not understand I the beginning, including myself. We have to change our way of thinking. Backhaul was the real issue. Installation has a procedure and has to be done correctly, but the backhaul was an issue and when we started this we thought we had to have fiber at every site. We don’t, there are plenty of alternatives, which I will cover later. For now let’s just understand that you could use wireless, fiber, copper, or a cable modem for backhaul. The other issue is that many carriers wanted a dedicated dark fiber connection, which is a lot of money, but an awesome connection. That thinking has changed to save on costs.

Now that we understand that we need to be very cost-effective we know that we can be flexible on many issues that could have been show stoppers, but now they just slow us down. The small cell/CRAN is cheaper and very cost-effective and the mounting assets are plentiful. The backhaul is still an issue, but at least we have options.

Click Here to order Your Logbook

RF Design – this is generally where the RF team will determine the need for coverage based of need, complaints, and holes. This is changing because now the carriers are filling holes by responding to customer need, not looking at RF holes anymore. Just because there is no coverage doesn’t mean they need coverage. So they look at statistics and complaints, then they fill the hole or place the sites as needed. Of course, a Greenfield deployment is going to follow every step possible.

Site Acquisition – this is where a team will look at the RF design and try to find sites that fill the need. They don’t just find sites, that is how it used to be. Now they need to look at the site, the owner, the permitting and zoning, the availability to fiber or some type of backhaul, and then pick a cost-effective site.

Site Design – this is where the site, the individual site will be looked at and the design will be done. They may need to do a site survey to determine what will be needed for the installation, the backhaul, and power. They may also need to create drawings for permitting and zoning.

Click Here to Support the Hubble Foundation

Network Design – this is usually the part where they have to assign the name of the site, the IP information, the RF information, the expected neighbor lists, the addition of the site to the core, schedule the date of integration and adding this site to the rest of the neighbors and maybe the cluster. This is a “behind the scenes” task that most people forget about, but it is absolutely critical. It needs to be done.

Logistics – I would bet most people overlook this and think that it’s part of installation. The reality is that if someone isn’t paying attention to logistics there will be major delays. Usually the PM has to make sure that it is all coordinated properly but unless you have the logistics of where to put all the hardware and how they will get to the deployment crews, you will have major delays and lost costs.

Installation – now you can install the hardware, the backhaul, the fronthaul, and the power. Finally you see the equipment at the site and hopefully it will be ready for the next step.

Commissioning – this is where you will power up the cell, test the backhaul, make updates to the firmware if necessary.

Integration – this is where you will complete the upgrades, add it to the core, and possibly turn up the site if it’s ready. They may or may not go live. They will also do some testing with someone on site to insure it’s working the way it’s supposed to. With LTE they will do upload and download tests. If there is voice at the site they will be required to do an e911 test to make sure it works. It must be done at the site and it must connect to 911 for any emergency.

Optimization – this is where they will have the site optimized for peak performance not only with RF, but also downloads, uploads, working with neighboring sites, and so on. The Optimization teams will consist of RF and DT, (drive teams), that will make sure that each cell site is operating properly and working in the cluster properly. The site will need to be integrated into the core. The handoffs will need to be tested. The cluster will be tested together and all the cell sites need to work together, seamlessly for the system to work well. Remember that voice, text, and data all need to be tested in the real world before the system can be accepted or brought live. This step is critical. The metrics and Key Performance Indicators, (KPIs) of this step will determine what changes need to made to the system. For instance, do the antennas need more downtilt? Does power need to be adjusted? Did a cell handoff to the wrong neighboring cell? This is all worked out and cleaned up in this step.

Subscribe today on iTunes or Stitcher

Project Management – PM is the overall management of the project. You will have several PMs, they have become an integral part of every aspect of deployment. You will have a PM that oversees the overall project, not one but several. Generally you have one for the customer and one for the company in charge of the project. Then you will probably have one for each aspect of the deployment and then each company may have their own PM to oversee the deployment and to be the interface between the customer and the work crew. It is the job of the PM to insure the project moves forward and to solve any issues in any aspect of the project and to set the proper expectations for delivery. No easy task.

Wrap up – So there you have a brief overview. I have more detail in the book but this is going to help you understand what is involved in these rollout. There are many more steps in each task. Some people think you build it and then turn it on, it is not that straight forward. It takes skills and talent. For all of you that do this, good job. It’s a shame these tasks don’t pay better.

Get on my newsletter list and tell me what you think!

I am asking you to help the Hubble Foundation because if you don’t help these families, who will? What if it were you? Would you want help? Who would help you if you were hurt? Who would help your family, your spouse, your children if something happened to you? Do you see the people who are hurt? Click here to learn about the wonderful work they are doing. Please support hurt climbers and their families by donating to the Hubble Foundation. Show you care for people in wireless. Not everyone has a safe job in deployments. The Hubble Foundation helps support the people who get hurt building the wireless systems that the world relies on.

Wade4Wireless BlogCast

Carrier Aggregation and Optimization

August 12, 2015 Wade Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

I don’t know how many of you have been reading about carrier aggregation but it’s pretty cool. This is where the carrier, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint to name a few, can take multiple channels of LTE and make them look like one big pipe for all of your data. How cool is that?

So the reason carriers would want Carrier Aggregation is to get the biggest bank got the buck by combining as many channels as they can to get a bigger pipe. Why does this matter to them? It matters because they have several smaller channels that they can combine to make all those channels look like one big pipe, sweet! One massive pipe for backhaul. See the gain for the end-user? More bandwidth! That is the “value add” for the customers. It means to the carrier that they can use all that spectrum they have once it is converted from CDMA to LET and put it together to look like one big awesome pipe for the Smartphone on steroids!

∑ Click here to learn about the SOW or climbing or get the logbook!

In theory you could have inter-band or intra-band carriers working together. What does that mean? Intra-band would be 2 channels in the same band and inter-band would be 2 channels in different bands. The cells putting this out do need to be co-located and have the same azimuth. Now they plan to have more channels aggregated in future releases. Someday they plan to have 2 uplink and 4 downlink channels all working together. Can you imagine getting 600Mbps down to your tablet or phone?

Tune in at iTunes or Stitcher

dog-tags_clearbackgrond — **Tower Safety Training, Click here for more information!**

How do they do it? Well, it is a combination of the core work to allow the aggregation and the RAN to understand what is going on. However, you also need to let the devices know what to do because you are going to make everything work together, like a concert where all the instruments play together to bake a beautiful song, or at least a song that sounds good, the entire end to end, (E2E), system needs to work together. Is that cool or what?

This is for LTE, but what about FDD and TDD, does it matter. At this time I believe it does, because they can aggregate the same formats and they are working to combine both a FDD channel along with a TDD channel.

Is it part of 3GPP? Yes, Release 10 and beyond. Currently it’s 2 carriers working together. I believe that the latest release is 14.x and maybe 15.x.

The downside is that the UE device will use more power. So the battery life may be shorter, but you will be able to download everything faster.

Support the Hubble Foundation here!

It means that once LTE-U takes off then they can add that in too, eventually. I know that they are already looking at ways to have LTE-U and LTE licensed all work as one. This could really change everything for shared carrier locations, like stadiums or large buildings where all the carriers, in theory, could share a common small cell. Just a theory at this point but I can see it coming in Wade’s World.

However, when it’s tested there need to be steps taken. For optimization in the past they had to test one device per channel. Now that device needs to be able to look across several channels and make sure that the all the information is calculated and put together properly. This is happening now. There is 2 carrier aggregation happening now so the optimization teams are already doing the upgrades. Great job Optimization teams!

If you wonder what is involved in optimization, then here it is. A few methods, like getting information from you system monitor, NOC, customer complaints, or anything that collects coverage data. You can make a determination on where to go to repair problems. However, when you first bring a site up and want to get it properly integrated into the cluster, then you need to optimize the site. I know that OEMs are working to make this automated with SON, but for now there are drive teams that drive around collecting data with device, usually some type of smart phone connected to a laptop and there is a software package, usually JDSU, that collects the data. With this data the RF engineer can tell if the antenna is pointed in the proper direction and if the down tilt needs adjusted. They also can change the power settings or make other adjustments as needed. In today’s eNodeBs there are so many adjustments they can make to have the site and cluster perform at its peak. They take this data and compare it to their Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, to see if it is performing as it should be.

If the RF Design team did their job right then it should work as planned but sometimes there are outside issues that cause problems. For instance a new building could go up or maybe there is a source of interference nearby or maybe they can’t penetrate a building like they had hoped, it is all possible. So that is why they do it.

Optimization is also done after the installation because carriers are always working to make improvements. This is a huge drain on resources but it needs to be done. The theory is that someday the Self Organizing Network, SON, server will monitor and make adjustments. I don’t this it is there quite yet. They do have SONs out there but they are not doing remote optimizations that I know of.

So, in today’s world you usually have a drive team that will drive around selected grids or clusters. Then you have the RF team that will make adjustments. And you have a PM that organizes everything. If you are a class operation you will have a solution architect handy to look at the system end to end and make recommendations. Pretty cool, right?

For more Optimization information go here.

BTW – Aggregation definition is “the gathering of things together” according to Google. For more information on carrier aggregation go here.

The feature is called Wi-Fi Assist and will be available on IOS 9.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3192108/Finally-Apple-s-iOS-9-automatically-switch-Wi-Fi-mobile-data-never-run-signal.html#ixzz3iVnAgKNf

Be smart, be safe, and pay attention!

I am putting a deployment handbook that will be focused around small cells and CRAN. It will be geared towards deployment but a good reference overall. It will have most of what I post but also some extra notes is it. If your interested, feel free to sign up for my newsletter below.

Name

Email

Comment

Δ

Wade4Wireless BlogCast

Drones Invade Wireless

August 3, 2015 Wade Leave a comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

So today let’s talk drones for wireless work. I see many possibilities for drones to really play a big part in the deployments. So, I have a few scenarios that I would like to play out.

Optimization!

Optimization drones, a thing of the future? No, here today and being used now! I thought I heard everything but now Nokia, (whom is taking over Alcatel-Lucent) is working on using drones for LTE optimization. How cool is that? Boy, Rajeev Suri must be a cool guy to authorize the use of drones! Nokia has been using them for tower inspections in the Middle East and now there is talk of using them for optimization. While they are not doing it here in the USA it is being done. It is only a matter of time before we see it here. Can you imagine how efficient testing will be when the drone can do all the tests? Don’t believe me that it’s being done? Go to this link! You will see that they are doing it in Dubai! If interested in looking it up the web look here and here and here.

∑ Learn Wireless! Click me and go there! ∞

Optimizing drones would have GPS tracking and RF devices, probably smart phones on it to track coverage and performance. Basically a Smartphone that would transfer data and track the upload and download speeds automatically. Then it would send the information up to the cloud so some server could work with it to make adjustments as needed, or the adjustments would be made manually, most likely version at this time. Knocking down the coverage teams to one guy and a drone and automating the process. Now these files are huge, so make sure the data plan can handle it or make sure you have Wi-Fi access. They may just relay it back down to the engineer’s laptop so that person can put it all together.

How great would this be to not have to deal with traffic? This could really be more efficient with the addition of small cells, oDAS, iDAS, and mini-macro sites being deployed because you could concentrate the optimization with the hassle of walking, driving, and trying to hit all of the areas. I know most of the carriers are trying to automate this as much as possible by using PCMD data so who knows how much this will be needed beyond deployment in the future.

Inspections!

So for the inspecting towers it was obvious that they would put cameras on the drones and document what they find. Of course it would take a drone with a camera and a good pilot to make sure that they get the proper pictures. This would entail getting the right pictures and following the close out or site survey plan. You save the time of having a climber go up in the air. You get the documentation in one quick shot with one person on site. You get all of this in a timely and safe manner. Even the FAA is getting on board with it. Can anyone do it, maybe? I am actually a fan of making sure they are certified so that you don’t have some clown out there buzzing the college girls. If they have their certification to lose then maybe they will be careful and professional. Remember, I worked in the field, I know all the complaints I had to deal with when my crews said or did something stupid. The FAA article is here. This is where some GoPro cameras would really come in handy to monitor and record all that is being done. You could grab a snapshot from the video and then you’re done.

Now, on any of this you need to take video and record your results. I would like to think that Field Dailies will come out with a package to help us out. They already have close out packages. I am an affiliate of Field Dailies but I think they are great regardless. So if you go to http://www.fielddailies.com/field-solutions/ you will see that you can go right from your smart phone to the cloud to complete the closeout package. All in one shot while in the field it will be ready for you. I am a fan of efficiency and they made it really efficient. So go in and request a demo and let them know that Wade sent you. What do you have to lose? Just think if you have a drone to go out, survey the tower, then from your laptop or Smartphone you get the pictures and upload them from your truck, then you are almost finished! Imagine how much time you would save and how efficient you would be? Wouldn’t that be great?

Learn Wireless! Click me and go there! Ω

I also like using the drones for safety inspections out at sites while work is being performed at the site. However, it seems that no one in the industry shares that excitement. I would say that less than .001% of anyone out there has any interest in doing safety inspections. Teaching safety is something that everyone is on board with, but no one wants to measure the results. The only measurement we have is when someone dies. Why would anyone care when it cost money and then reality would set in that not everyone is trained properly or responsible, but that is another story.

Future Ideas!

I also think that we could use drones to test microwave paths. This has not been cleared but it seems like the best use of drones. Again, you would need clearance and you would need to get FAA approval. So far we don’t have it because, as I understand it, you can only fly over people that know what is going on for business. Now it seems that for fun you can fly anywhere any time, but there will be a crackdown on some of this. It also seems that public safety can fly them anywhere they wish and take pictures. But for tower work, we will wait for the FAA to approve it. Once they do how cool would it be to fly a 2 mile link to make sure there is nothing in the path? I think that would be the greatest to verify a path. If a building goes up then you know right then! Trust me, I used to do path calculations all the time and I used to drive paths to be sure they were clear. I also did some spotting to verify LOS but it gets harder on long paths and many times the tower owner doesn’t want anyone on their tower unless they are inspecting or installing. So then you drive the path. If only I had a drone to fly the path.

What about small cell and DAS inspections? I think that you could knock out streets at a time by flying the drone about 30 to 50 feet AGL and then going around the streets. You could also verify the paths from the pole to a building, so you could plan out your build in an urban area, if the FAA would allow you to do it. These are populated streets. If you were disciplined then you would not interfere with any air space but you need to let the local authorities know what is going on because they would see it as a threat. That is until Amazon gets the approvals to make deliveries using drones. Then we can need traffic control.

Subscribe today on iTunes or Stitcher to listen weekly!

Please, write a review today!

Certification!

As far as the drone pilots go, I really think you need to be certified. I just think that the pilots should take the flying seriously. Like I implied above I don’t think we should have some prankster who looks at it as a fun time and not a serious job to be out there acting stupid, that’s all. If you ever worked in the field then you know what I am talking about. I think that this will create new business out there and make all of the above services more efficient and cost-effective.

Why should professionals fly drones? Here’s why:

http://factually.gizmodo.com/drones-fly-too-close-to-airplanes-25-times-a-month-1668266409

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/24/drone-plane-vancouver-video_n_5209476.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/drone-seen-flying-in-path-of-landing-planes-at-vancouver-airport-1.2693601

What do you think?

Be smart, be safe, and pay attention!

I am putting a small cell wireless deployment handbook together, it should be out soon. It will be geared towards deployment but a good reference overall. It will have most of what I post but also some extra notes is it. If your interested, feel free to sign up for my newsletter below.

Please support hurt climbers and their families by donating to the Hubble Foundation. Show you care for people in wireless. Not everyone has a safe job in deployments. The Hubble Foundation helps support the people who get hurt building the wireless systems that the world relies on. If it were you, wouldn’t you want someone to help your family out?

Wade's Working Tips

Tag Archives: optimization