OME100301 GSM BTS Trouble Shooting

ISSUE 2.2

Huawei Confidential. All Rights Reserved

Objectives

Upon completion this course, you will be able to : Know how to find faults in BTS Know the common fault types Grasp BTS fault disposal method

Know how to prevent BTS fault

Internal Use

Chapter 1 General Introduction Chapter 2 Typical Cases Chapter 3 BTS fault prevention

Internal Use

Chapter 1 General Introduction

1.1 The ways to find faults 1.2 Common fault types

1.3 Basic disposal method

Internal Use

1.1 The ways to find faults

Alarm Alarm console Alarm box OMC Shell Traffic statistics Drive test Routine inspection Customer complain

Internal Use

Locating fault equipment

If BSC has fault, usually it will affect some Sites or all of Sites If BTS has fault, usually it just affect itself and the handover successful rate of adjacent cells

During implementation or expansion, we can Interchange BTS and judge the fault is because of BSC or BTS During maintenance, BSC faults dont just affect one BTS

Internal Use

Chapter 1 General Introduction

1.1 The ways to find faults 1.2 Common fault types

1.3 Basic disposal method

Internal Use

1.2 Common fault types

Operation and maintenance fault OMC Software Loading BSC fault Voice Link Interconnection Clock

BTS fault Antenna & Feeder transmission RNO fault Access Call drop Congestion Handover

Internal Use

Chapter 1 General Introduction

1.1 The ways to find faults 1.2 Common fault types 1.3 Basic disposal method

Internal Use

1.3 Basic disposal method

Analyzing the Alarm Information Alarm information come from the BSS alarm system, indicated usually through sound, light, LED, and screen output, etc It includes the detailed description of the abnormality, possible causes and restoration suggestions, involves the hardware, link, trunk and CPU loading ratio, etc.. It is a gist for the fault analysis and location Analyzing the Indicator Status Indicators can indicate the work status of circuit, link, optical path, node and active/standby mode besides that of the corresponding boards, usually used along with the alarm information generally Analyzing Traffic Statistics Result It is the most useful method for locating RNO fault.

Internal Use

Basic disposal method

Analyzing Apparatus & Meter Test Result It reflects the fault nature with the visual and quantified data Some common Apparatus & Meter Signaling Analyzer, Test phone, Sitemaster, etc. Tracing the Interface It is applied in locating the failure causes of subscriber call connection and inter-office signaling cooperation, etc. The trace result can help to find the cause of call failure directly and locate the problem or to get the index for the subsequent analysis Calling Test It is a simple and quick method to judge whether the call processing function and relative modules of the BSS are normal or not

Internal Use

Basic disposal method

Comparison/Interchange Comparison: compare the faulted components or phenomenon with the normal ones, and find the differences so as to find the problem It is usually used in the situation with simple fault range Interchange: if the fault can not be located even after the standby components are replaced, you can interchange the normal components (such as board, optical fiber, etc.) with the potential faulted components, and to compare the work status so as to specify the fault range or part It is usually used in the situation with complicated fault range Switching/Resetting It can not locate the fault cause accurately, and due to the randomness of software running, the fault may be not able to recur, thus it is difficult to know the real fault and solve the problem This method is just an emergency method, applicable only in the emergent situation

Internal Use

Basic disposal method

Contacting the Technical Support Engineers of Huawei Before you call, please collect information as follow Detailed name of the office or site Linkman and telephone Time of fault occurring Software version of the office or site Detailed description of fault Alarm files, interface tracing files, traffic statistic result Actions performed after the faults occurring and the results Problem level and the time you wish to solve the problem

Internal Use

Summary

General Procedures of Troubleshooting Finding fault >Judging Fault >locating fault >Removing Fault Basic Methods of Fault Judgement and Location For simple fault Analyzing the Alarm Information and the Indicator status Comparison/Interchange For complex fault Analyzing Traffic Statistics Result Analyzing Apparatus & Meter Test Result Tracing the Interface, Calling Test For restoring system Switching/Resetting

Internal Use

Chapter 1 General Introduction Chapter 2 Typical Cases Chapter 3 BTS fault prevention

Internal Use

Chapter 2 Typical Cases

2.1 Antenna & Feeder Fault 2.2 Transmission Fault

Internal Use

BTS feeder system structure

Antenna

TX

T
R X RXD RX CDU

arrester

Feeder

TTA

arrester

Feeder

TTA

optional

Internal Use

Common faults

Type

Fault

phenomena MS fails to access the network, calls cannot be established, call drop, TRX idle for a long time Poor conversion quality, BTS coverage shrink Calls cannot be established Poor conversation quality, BTS coverage shrink Standing wave alarm occurs at CDU LNA alarm occurs at CDU TTA alarm occurs at CDU No DC feeding voltage at CDU antenna port after TTA configuration

No downlink signal
On downlink signal Downlink signal weakened No uplink signal On uplink signal BTS sensitivity weakened Standing wave alarm LNA alarm Feeder system faults TTA alarm

TTA feeding fails

Internal Use

Common faults on downlink

Description No downlink signal Downlink signal weakened Analysis No downlink signal

Step1: View the history alarms and real-time alarm at OMC or local maintenance console Step2: If there is emergent standing wave alarm at CDU, it is the most possible cause for which TMU turns off the transmitter power amplifier resulting in no downlink signal check the standing wave ratio at jumper side of CDU antenna port If the standing wave ratio is beyond limits, locate the faulty point segment by segment

Internal Use

Common faults on downlink

Analysis No downlink signal

Step3: Since there is no downlink signal, there must be a broken point in the RF signal path. If this point is located at the part from CDU antenna port to tower top, then CDU should be able to detect the emergent standing wave alarm. Otherwise, it can be concluded that the broken point is located between TRX output to CDU antenna point Check whether the cable connection between CDU TXCOM and TX-DUP is correct Step4: If the operations above fail to locate the failure, change the CDU

Internal Use

Common faults on downlink

Analysis Downlink signal weakened: The symptom of this failure is that the coverage of BTS or carrier shrinks. Follow the steps below to handle this problem: Step1: Check whether the output power of TRX is normal. Step2: Check whether the standing wave ratio at jumper side of CDU antenna port is normal. Step3: Check insertion loss of CDU transmitting path. Step4: Check whether the connectors involved in the RF signal path are tightened

Internal Use

Common faults on uplink

Description No uplink signal BTS sensitivity weakened Analysis No uplink signal Step1: Try another antenna feeder (CDU excluded) which has proven to be normal to substitute the one without uplink signal If the uplink signal at the new feeder recovered while the one at the original feeder fails, then the original antenna feeder has problems If the phenomenon remains, then CDU has problems. Check whether the cable connection between RXD OUT and HL_IN or between HL_OUT and HL_IN is correct

Internal Use

Common faults on uplink

Analysis No uplink signal Step2: If the failure cannot be located yet, change the CDU, and make the related record ; Notes: Restore the antenna feeder connection to it original status When changing the antenna feeder, make sure that: The two corresponding antenna feeders should be in the same cell/sector The antenna connection should be restored to the original status after locating the failure. Otherwise, the coverage of the cell may be affected. This is the basic principle to obey when using this method to locate the problem

Internal Use

Common faults on uplink

Analysis BTS sensitivity weakened If TTA is configured, first check whether there is any TTA alarm If so, the TTA is working abnormally Otherwise, check the CDU antenna port feeding If no feeding is detected, then the CDU is faulty and needs to be changed If DC voltage is normal, then it is considered that the TTA is normal After confirming that TTA is normal, check the standing wave ratio of antenna feeder If it is too large, then the connection of antenna feeder RF path is poor or something else If the standing wave is normal, check the performance of CDU receiving channel, such as gain and noise factor

Internal Use

Common faults on uplink

Analysis BTS sensitivity weakened The common faults can be located by adopting the methods above. But it is inevitable that there are some problems which can not be located by this method since it is not a comprehensive test. For example, if the gain decrease and noise factor increase of TTA is not reflected in the working current, the problem cannot be detected On such occasions, make clear records of the operations which have been done so far for further analysis

Internal Use

Common faults on feeder system

Description CDU alarm (SWR, TTA) Analysis Standing wave alarm Check the SWR of antenna feeder (CDU excluded). If it is lower than 1.5, while CDU SWR alarm has been generated, this alarm should be regarded as a mis-alarm, and the CDU needs to be changed If the SWR is higher than 1.5, it is necessary to adjust the connection of antenna feeder until it is lower than 1.5 The installation specification requires the SWR be lower than1.3

Internal Use

Common faults on feeder system

Analysis TTA alarm CDU measures the TTA feeding current through the antenna port. If the current is not in the normal TTA working current range (45~170mA), CDU generates TTA alarm If the feeding current is normal while there is TTA alarm, then it can be considered as a TTA mis-alarm. Use another CDU to substitute the faulty CDU. Keep the faulty CDU for further analysis. If the feeding current is beyond limits, TTA is faulty and needs to be changed For the migration site, it is also necessary to confirm the type of lightning arrester when using TTA

Internal Use

Chapter 2 Typical Cases

2.1 Antenna & Feeder Fault 2.2 Transmission Fault

Internal Use

2.2 Transmission Fault

Description Alarm console BIE board PCM loss of sync., LAPD_OML alarm Traffic Statistic console The handover successful rate, call drop rate of the cell is abnormal Consumer complaint Cannot take a call, bad quality, call drop

Internal Use

Transmission Fault

Possible causes Transmission device, board or E1 is faulty More transmission device, more fault Transmission code is different (use CRC4 or not) E1 connection quality is bad It will cause bad quality, even transmission broken High BER (bit error rate) Microwave, HDSL transmission, especially in rainy weather The grounding system is faulty

Internal Use

Transmission Fault 1: E1 broken

Handling process Probably the reason may be that the E1, transmission device or board is faulty Step1: perform self-loop test over BTS and check whether the LIU indicator of the TMU board is OFF. If no, it can be considered that the problem lies in TMU board. Please replace TMU board Step2: perform self-loop test over BSC and check whether the E1 indicator of BIE board is OFF. If not, it can be considered that the problem lies in the transmission device Step3: check the transmission NM and check whether a transmission related alarm is given. Based on the alarm (if any), you may judge whether the problem lies in the transmission device Step 4: if neither of them is faulty, it can be considered that the problem lies in the cooperation between the transmission device and BSC (or BTS)

Internal Use

Transmission Fault 2: OML alarm frequently

Handling process Generally the reason maybe that the E1 grounding is not good, it cause interference, or transmission device is faulty Check the TMU in the BTS to check E1 grounding settings Test the resistance of the E1 connector and that of the rack to measure the insulation situation Check whether the E1 connector in the DDF (when configured) is grounded Check whether the E1 enclosure of the transmission device is grounded

Internal Use

Transmission Fault 2: OML alarm frequently

Handling process Check whether the system is in the single-point-grounded state. If not, modify the system to the single-point-grounded state, then check whether the trouble is removed If the trouble is still not removed after the above measures, it may be considered that the problem lies in the transmission device, E1 or E1 interface board. Check the connection and perform loop test segment by segment to locate the fault Check the transmission NM and check whether a transmission related alarm is given. If yes, please handle it as the related alarm details

Internal Use

Typical case: OML broken for E1 grounding error

Description A sites OML was frequently interrupted and the indicator (corresponding to the E1) at BSC flashed The equipment room was located at the top of a 300m-high hill. The microwave transmission equipment room was 20m away On the site, the maintenance engineer found the following The E1 was grounded, as was checked from the DIP switch The E1 connector was insulated from the cabinet enclosure. The working grounding cable of the rack was connected with that of the equipment room The DDF, an all-metal frame, was connected to the grounding cable of the equipment room. The E1 connector contacted the metal of the DDF No lightning arrester was configured for the E1 The E1 indicator flashed fast

Internal Use

Typical case: OML broken for E1 grounding error

Handling process Step1: self-loop the E1 at the top of BTS cabinet and found the indicator of the E1 cable was OFF. It means BTS is OK. Step2: self-loop the E1 on the DDF and found the indicator of the E1 cable was OFF. It means the E1 from BTS to DDF is OK Step3: self-loop the BSC on the DDF and found the E1 indicator is OFF. It means the E1 from BSC to DDF is OK Step4: power the TMU off and then on, the trouble still existed Step5: remove the E1 from the DDF, the trouble still existed Step6: disconnect the E1 at the top of BTS cabinet, power off the rack and removed the TMU. Test the resistance between the cabinet-top E1 connector case and the grounding cable of the rack and found they were insulated from each other (normal)

Internal Use

Typical case: OML broken for E1 grounding error

Handling process Step7: change the TMU DIP switch that corresponded to the grounding of the E1 cable to OFF (ungrounded), the trouble still existed Step8: remove the E1 connector from the DDF and change the TMU DIP switch that corresponded to the grounding of the E1 cable to OFF (ungrounded). The trouble disappeared Step9: for confirming the reason, replace the TMU (with the E1 cable ungrounded). Let the E1 connector case contact the DDF and found the TMU E1 indicator flash fast Restored the TMU to the original one and removed the E1 connector from DDF, the trouble disappeared

Internal Use

Chapter 1 General Introduction

Chapter 2 Typical Cases Chapter 3 BTS fault prevention

Internal Use

Chapter 3 BTS fault prevention

nip the fault in the bud

Internal Use

Chapter 3 BTS fault prevention

Hardware: installation specifications is most important! give more attention to E1 connector give more attention to feeder connector give more attention to waterproofer of antenna and feeder system Confirming the grounding and lightning protection Checking Running status BTS maintenance console First, do multi-site fault query, then try to remove the fault according to the alarm description and suggestion. if you cannot remove the fault at provisionally, confirm the reason of every fault at least Do calling test for every timeslot

Internal Use

Huawei Confidential. All Rights Reserved