GSM TCH Call Drop & Solutions

i
Contents
1 Statistical points & types of TCH call drop ............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Call drop due to RF loss .................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Call drop due to handover failure ...................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Call drop due to LAPD link failure ................................................................................................... 4
2 Causes for different types of call drop ...................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Main causes for call drop due to RF loss: ......................................................................................... 5
2.2 Main causes for call drop due to handover failure ............................................................................ 6
2.3 Main causes for call drop due to LAPD link failure ......................................................................... 6
3 Flow of problem handling ......................................................................................................................... 9
4 Typical cases: ............................................................................................................................................ 11
4.1 High call drop rate at Cell 1, 3 of BTS A (of a region) ................................................................... 11
4.2 High call drop rate at Cell B-3 of a region ...................................................................................... 12



1
1 Statistical points & types of TCH call
drop
In mobile communications, call drop refers to the phenomenon that calls are lost or
interrupted due to some reasons after TCH assignment. Call drop brings a lot
inconvenience to subscribers, which is also the problem that subscribers complain
about most.
Statistical point of TCH call drop: BSC sends CLEAR_REQ message to MSC, the
channel currently occupied by MS is TCH.
Call drop falls into the following types:
1. Call drop due to RF loss (i.e. radio link fault);
2. Call drop due to handover failure;
3. Call drop due to LAPD link failure.
1.1 Call drop due to RF loss
BSC
Measure Report
Measure Result
Connection failure
Clear Request
(Radio Interface
Failure)
MSC BTS Ms

Fig 1-1 Call drop due to RF loss
Call drop due to RF loss consists of two parts:
A. DL failure: according to GSM regulations, there is a timer S (T100), which is given
an initial value when the MS starts talking, that is radio_link_time out. The value is
GSM TCH Call Drop & Solutions
2
broadcasted on BCCH. Each time when MS cant decode an SACCH message (4
SACCH BLOCK), S is deducted by 1. Each time when MS decodes an SACCH
message, S is increased by 2. But S wont exceed the initial value defined by radio
link_time out. When S is 0, MS will quit connecting to network and enter idle mode.
Hence call drop happens once.
B. UL failure: the parameter for inspecting UL failure is link fail. When BTS cant
decode an SACCH message, a counter in HDPC (whose max value is defined by link
fail) is deducted by 1; when BTS decodes an SACCH message correctly, the counter
increments by 2 (the value shall not exceed what defined by link fail). When the
counter shows 0, BTS stops sending DL SACCH and starts timer rr_t3109
(rr_t3109>T100)at the same time. When MS T100 expires, MS returns to idle mode,
hence call drop occurs. BTS releases radio channel when timer rr_t3109>T100 expires.
BSC needs to send a message Clear-request to MSC.
Either of UL and DL fails, BTS and MS will stop sending SACCH to each other, thus
force the counterpart to release TCH. Each time link_failhappens on TCH,
RF_LOSSES_TCH increments.
1.2 Call drop due to handover failure
Principle of call drop due to handover failure: After the original cell received Handover
Command or Assignment (corresponding handover control timer is started by BSC),
MS hasnt accessed into the target cell, nor has it returned to the original cell. i.e. MS
not only failed to occupy TCH in target cell and send Handover Complete or
Assignment Complete, but also failed to return to TCH in original cell and send
Handover Failure or Assignment Failure, thus it is disconnected with network. At the
same time, the BSC-controlled handover control timer expires, and MSC will be
notified to clear the release, and it will count this abnormal call as call drop due to
handover failure.
Handover control timer in BSC is classified into: T8 expires (inter-BSC handover),
T3103 expires (inter-cell handover under one BSC), T3107 expires (intra-cell
handover).
Fig 1-2 illustrates call drop due to handover failure.
Chapter Error! Use the Home tab to apply 1 to the text that you want to appear here. Error! Use th
e Home tab to apply 1 to the text that you want to appear here.
3
A1
BSC Old BTS: MS
HANDOVER COMMAND
CHANNEL ACT
A2
CHANNEL ACT ACK
New BTS
HANDOVER COMMAND
SET T3103
T3103
Timeout

Fig 1-2 T3103 expiresinter-cell handover failure
A1
BSC BTS:TRX MS
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
CHANNEL ACTIVATE
A2
CHANNEL ACTIVATE ACK
SET T3107
T3107
Timeout

Fig 1-3 T3107 expiresintra-cell handover failure
T3103 expiresinter-cell handover failure
A1
BSC Old BTS: MS
HANDOVER COMMAND
CHANNEL ACT
A2
CHANNEL ACT ACK
New BTS
HANDOVER COMMAND
SET T8
T8 Timeout

Fig 1-4 T8 expiresinter-BSC handover failure
GSM TCH Call Drop & Solutions
4
1.3 Call drop due to LAPD link failure
Explanation: when LAPD link breaks, calls on carriers will be interrupted. BSC counts
after it receives message showing that LAPD link is broken.

5
2 Causes for different types of call drop
2.1 Main causes for call drop due to RF loss:
1. Weak coverage area, poor signal;
2. Interference: like internal interference caused by inappropriate frequency
planning and external interference;
3. Unreasonable radio parameters:
Minimum receive level is set too low, which leads to MS suffering from call
drop in weak coverage area.
Unreasonable setting of NCC Permitted: in some networks, the serving cell and
adjacent cells may adopt different NCC, which requires input of NCC adopted
by adjacent cells in NCC Permitted. Once the setting is not reasonable, adjacent
cells of an NCC wont be detected by MS, which will result in handover
nonoccurance and call drop.
Value of radio link timer is set too small (radio link will time out soon), which
leads to call drop when it expires due to sudden deterioration in radio
environment; if its set too large, use ratio of TCH will decrease.
Unreasonable power control parameters: such as unreasonable power control
threshold for level and quality, which may cause MS power to decrease when
signal and quality are poor.
Unreasonable FH parameters: wrong setting of Maio leads to co-channel
interference within a site.
Definition of adjacent cell data is set wrong or not complete, which disables MS
to improve signal quality by handover, hence call drop due to signal
deterioration.
Unreasonable handover parameters, which disables MS to improve radio quality
through handover when necessary, hence call drop is resulted.
Congestion in adjacent cells: it causes call drops, because MS is unable to
improve radio quality through handover. the congestion problem shall be solved
GSM TCH Call Drop & Solutions
6
first.
4. Hardware fault: such as too low output of power amplifier, big difference
between in transmission power of different carriers, faults of carrier transmitter,
combiner and divider.
5. Antenna system fault: such as difference in down-tilt and azimuth of two
antennas; too large feeder VSWR; overlarge coverage caused by unreasonable
antenna height or down-tilt; all these will cause skip-zone coverage, thus creates
isolated-island effect and call drop is resulted.
6. MS malfunction: for example, power-fail due to poor contact of battery, etc..
2.2 Main causes for call drop due to handover failure
We need to take into consideration optimization of handover success rate (especially
that of success rate of outgoing handover) when trying to solve problem about call drop
due to handover failure.
1. Interference: like internal interference caused by inappropriate frequency
planning and external interference.
2. Hardware fault: clock malfunction in target cell or serving cell, too low output
of power amplifier, big difference between in transmission power of different
carriers, faults of carrier transmitter, combiner and divider.
3. Unreasonable settings of radio parameters
Co-BCCH and co-BSIC in target cell, high outgoing handover failure rate is
caused, thus call drop is resulted;
Inappropriate adjacent cell relation or wrong adjacent cell data, high outgoing
handover failure rate is caused, thus call drop is resulted;
Unreasonable settings of handover parametersPingpong handover will be
caused, thus call drop is resulted.
2.3 Main causes for call drop due to LAPD link failure
1. BTS transmission problem: like interruption in transmission and unstable
transmission (on and off), etc.;
Chapter Error! Use the Home tab to apply 1 to the text that you want to appear here. Error! Use th
e Home tab to apply 1 to the text that you want to appear here.
7
2. BTS hardware problem: like unreliable E1, problems about CMM board and
backboard connection lines;
3. BSC hardware problem: like problem about LAPD processing module.

9
3 Flow of problem handling
Checking of radio parameters and hardware is advised for locating problems.
Flow of handling call-drop problem:
1. Analysis of performance report: to confirm the cause of call drop in cell with
high call drop rate;
2. For call drops due to different reasons, make analysis accordingly;
3. If there are more call drops due to RF loss, the following procedures are
recommended:
Check radio parameters: adjust the unreasonable settings of radio parameters;
Check indicators like BER and level of idle interference band, reduce or
eliminate radio interference;
Check if coverage problem exists through DT. For weak coverage, focus on
hardware problem checking; for skip-zone coverage, focus on checking power
parameters, handover parameters and antenna down-tilt, etc.;
Check and eliminate equipment fault; change panels with problems;
Check antenna system, especially the parts with problems.
4. If there are more call drops due to handover failure, the following procedures are
recommended:
Check radio parameters: adjust the unreasonable settings of radio parameters;
Check indicators like BER and level of idle interference band, reduce or
eliminate radio interference;
Check and eliminate equipment fault; change panels with problems;
5. If there are more call drops due to LAPD link failure, the following procedures
are recommended:
Investigate equipment problem at BSC;
Investigate BTS transmission;
GSM TCH Call Drop & Solutions
10
Investigate hardware problem at BTS.
Basic flow of handling call drops:
Acellsuffersfrom
highTCHcalldrop
rate
Analysisofcall
droptypes
CalldropofRF
loss
Complete
Calldropof
handoverfailure
CalldropofLAPD
Ifradio
parametersset
reasonably?
Ifinterference
exists?
Anyequipment
hardwarefault?
Anyantenna
systemfault?
Eliminate
antenna
fault
Eliminate
equipment
fault
Check&
eliminate
interferenc
e
Adjust
radio
parameter
s
Ifradio
parametersset
reasonably?
Ifinterference
exists?
Anequipment
hardwarefault?
Anycoverage
problem?
Improve
coverage
Anyhardware
faultatBSC?
Anyfaultwith
BTS
transmission?
Anyhardware
faultatBTS?
Eliminate
hardware
fault
Eliminate
transmissio
nfault
Eliminate
hardware
fault
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Fig 3-1 Flow of handling call drops

11
4 Typical cases:
4.1 High call drop rate at Cell 1, 3 of BTS A (of a region)
Problem description
Performance indicators at OMCR show high call drop rate at Cell A-1, A-3.
Problem analysis
Get detailed performance statistics, investigate call drop cause, its found that the
main cause for call drop is RF loss. Check radio parameter settings, its found that
Cell A-1, A-3 co-channel, and its confirmed that co-channel interference exists, thus
call drop is resulted.
Problem solution
Adjust frequency, eliminate interference. Number of call drop times is obviously
reduced.
Date Site
Cell location area
(LAC-CI)
No. of
TCH call
drops
No. of TCH
occupancy
times(includ
ing HO)
TCH call
drop rate
(including
HO)(%)
2005-05-20 Region X_A _1_DV2 LAC8411-CI25176 66 1161 5.68
2005-05-21 Region X _A _1_DV2 LAC8411-CI25176 32 870 3.67
2005-05-23 Region X _A _1_DV2 LAC8411-CI25176 42 1038 4.04
After frequency adjustment
2005-05-27 Region X _A _1_DV2 LAC8411-CI25176 4 1057 0.37
2005-05-28 Region X _A _1_DV2 LAC8411-CI25176 4 865 0.46

Date Site
Cell location area
(LAC-CI)
No. of
TCH call
drops
No. of TCH
occupancy
times(includi
ng HO)
TCH call
drop rate
(including
HO)(%)
2005-05-20 Region X _A _3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25178 60 1399 4.28
2005-05-21 Region X _A _3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25178 25 1260 1.98
2005-05-23 Region X _A _3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25178 34 1281 2.65
After frequency adjustment
2005-05-27 Region X _A _3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25178 4 1270 0.31
GSM TCH Call Drop & Solutions
12
2005-05-28 Region X _A _3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25178 4 1139 0.35
4.2 High call drop rate at Cell B-3 of a region
Problem description
Performance indicators at OMCR show high call drop rate at Cell B-3.
Problem analysis
Get detailed performance statistics, investigate call drop cause, its found that the
main reason is handover failure. Check data of cell frequency and adjacent cells, no
problem is found. Trace signaling, its discovered that UL level is stronger, but UL
quality is rather poor, interference level of idle TCH indicated in RF resource is 5, as
shown in the following figure. Therefore, its confirmed that external interference
exists in the cell.

Problem solution
Try to apply out-of-band frequency (usable frequency given by operator according to
the external interference at the region). After frequency adjustment, number of call
drops reduced greatly, indicators display normal, and the problem is solved.
Chapter Error! Use the Home tab to apply 1 to the text that you want to appear here. Error! Use th
e Home tab to apply 1 to the text that you want to appear here.
13
Date Site
Cell location area
(LAC-CI)
No. of
TCH call
drops
No. of TCH
occupancy
times(includ
ing HO)
TCH call
drop rate
(including
HO)(%)
2005-05-23 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 19 608 3.12
2005-05-24 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 22 542 4.05
2005-05-25 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 39 790 4.93
After frequency adjustment
2005-05-26 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 2 703 0.28
2005-05-27 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 1 826 0.12
2005-05-28 Region X _B-3_DV2 LAC8411-CI25458 1 495 0.2