8/2/13

Channel Concept

GSM Network Basics

An Introduction to GSM Networks

CHANNEL CONCEPT
Each timeslot on a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) frame is called a physical channel. Therefore, there are 8 physical channels per carrier frequency in GSM. Physical channels can be used to transmit speech, data or signaling information. A physical channel may carry different messages, depending on the information that is to be sent. These messages are called logical channels. Information is transmitted via physical channels as the form of bursts. The relationship between bursts and logical channels is shown in the figure below.

gsmbasics.awardspace.info/channel.htm

1/2

8/2/13

Channel Concept

The relationship between bursts and logical channels The Control channels are control the communication (signaling) of the mobile station with the base transceiver station while the Traffic channels bares the voice information. Logical channels are transmitted on physical channels. The method of placing logical channels on physical channels is called mapping. While most logical channels take only one time slot to transmit, some take more. If so, the logical channel information is carried in the same physical channel time slot on consecutive TDMA frames. Because logical channels are short, several logical channels can share the same physical channel, making the use of time slots more efficient. Most of the cells are having 4 simultaneous carriers (or TRXs). The figure below shows the carrier frequencies for a sample cell, including an additional allocation of a time slot for DCCH (Dedicated Control Channel) in TRX1 due to a high call set-up load in the cell. Otherwise one DCCH is enough.

The relationship between physical channels and logical channels Time slot 0 of the first carrier frequency in a cell is always reserved for signaling purposes. In this way, when an MS is determining whether a carrier frequency is a BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel) carrier, it knows where to look. 8 SDCCH's and 4 SACCH's all can share the same physical channel (Channel D in the figure above). This means that 8 calls can be set-up simultaneously on one physical channel. All time slots in a cell other than those assigned for signaling information are used for traffic, i.e. speech or data. Logical channel TCH is used. In addition, at regular intervals during a call, an MS transmits to the BTS measurements it has made about signal strength and quality. Logical channel SACCH is used for this, replacing one TCH time slot at a time.

Home | BSS | NSS | GSM Cell | Transmission Planning | Tower & Antenna | Power System | WCDMA | SS7
Chathuranga Perera, Electrical Engineer Ceylon Electricity Board

gsmbasics.awardspace.info/channel.htm

2/2