PROBLEM

PROBLEM INDICATOR

SYMPTOM

Faulty RRU

Faulty boards

Hardware issues

Consistently high RTWP

that doesnt subside
even at night, affects few
sites, no clustering

Faulty connectors

Faulty cables

Faulty filters

External
interference

Consistently high RTWP

that doesnt subside
even at night, several
cells in a cluster are
affected, more than 3db
difference between
RTWP in main antenna
branch and diversity
antenna branch during a
trace

use of signal jamers

radio stations

high UL traffic load

high RTWP occurs during

the cell peak load period
(eg during the day,
during BH etc) but
disappears during off
peak (eg night time)
periods, the RTWP does
not rise up to -90, if
more tnan -90 (eg -80,
-70 etc) then suspect
external interference or
hardware issues

too many UL users in

the cell coverage

SYMPTOM INDICATOR

TROUBLESHOOTING

not all cells of the same from the antenna ports, connect the jumper cable of
site affected, but all cells another cell of the same site that is not affected by
of the same RRU are
the RTWP to the suspected RRU, high RTWP appears
affected
on that cell during a trace then RRU is bad
all cells affected of the
nodeB are affected

Disconnect fiber connector at nodeB base, if RTWP is

still high then its a board issue

VSWR on affected cell

1. from the RRU ports, connect the fiber cable of

another cell of the same site that is not affected by
the RTWP to the suspected RRU, if high RTWP
disappears on that cell during a trace then
connectors/fiber/filters are bad
2. tap on the
connectors during a trace, if RTWP jumps then faulty
connector is a suspect

VSWR on affected cell

from the RRU ports, connect the fiber cable of

another cell of the same site that is not affected by
the RTWP to the suspected RRU, if high RTWP
disappears on that cell during a trace then
connectors/fiber/filters are bad
1. from the RRU ports, connect the fiber cable of
another cell of the same site that is not affected by
the RTWP to the suspected RRU, if high RTWP
disappears on that cell during a trace then
connectors/fiber/filters are bad
2. 2. tap on the
filters during a trace, if RTWP jumps then faulty filter
is a suspect

periodic in nature (occurs

between certain times),
its mobile and affects
different cells at a time

perform outdoor RF scan to locate interference

source

it affetcs a constant set of

cells in an area

perform outdoor RF scan to locate interference

source

1. check cell UL traffic

trend if it is experiencing
a surge. 2. check trend
of number of DCH and
HSUPA users in the cell, if
more than 35 then high
RTWP can occur.
3. check if an
event is occuring in the
cells coverage.
4. check
availability of neighboring
cells if its degraded.
5.
check if there is an
increase in the number of
RRC attempts

SOLUTION

change RRU

change board

tighten connectors

change cables

change filters

Report to operator

Report to operator

1. restore the
availability of
neighboring cells 2.
carry out traffic
balancing between
neighboring cells 3.
reduce power ramp
step and initial access
power parameters of
the cell
4. carry out
physical optimization
i.e downtilt the cell