3G node-b / RBS

(Outdoor)
Overview

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

RBS 3201

The RBS 3201 is an outdoor macro

cabinet and a member of the RBS
3000 family.
It has up to three sectors and up to
two carriers per sector.

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

RBS 3201

Cabinet View

The RBS 3201 Macro outdoor comprises the following hardware:

D:Power Subrack (includes PSU and PCU) and fan unit
E:Smoke Detector (optional)
F:Internal Distribution Module/Battery Fuse Unit (IDM/BFU)
G:Radio Frequency (RF) subrack and fan unit
The RF subrack typically consists of the following components:
Antenna Interface Unit (AIU)
Radio Frequency Interface (RFIF) board
Switch Core Board (SCB)
Transceiver (TRX) board
Dummy Boar
H:AC Connection Unit (ACCU) Distribution Unit (with Service Outlet )
J: Space for optional site transmission equipment
K:CF3 (optional)

A :Climate Unit (CLU)

B:External Alarm Module (XALM) (optional)
C:Baseband (BB) subrack and fan unit
The BB subrack typically consists of the following
components:
Baseband Interface (BBIF) board
Exchange Terminal (ET) board
General Purpose Processor Board (GPB)
Random Access Receiver (RAX) board
Switch Core Board (SCB)
Timing Unit Board (TUB)
PrashantTransmitter
Mathur

(TX) board

L:Distribution Frame (DF)

M:Power Connection Unit
N:Auxiliary Distribution Module (ADM) (optional)
P:RF Connection Box
Q:Batteries (optional)
R:Multicarrier Power Amplifier (MCPA) Subrack and fan unit
The MCPA subrack typically consists of the following components:
MCPA
MCPA hub
Dummy MCPA
S:Noise hood (optional)
Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

Standard Hardware Units

A: CU
The Climate Unit (CLU) can either be a Combined CLU or a Heat Exchanger
(H/E) CLU, depending on the operation temperature.
B: XALM
The External Alarm Module (XALM) handles the customer specific alarms as
well as predefined alarms for Ericsson equipment
C: Baseband Subrack
Baseband (BB) Subrack functionality handles dedicated and common channels to
User Equipment (UE).
The BB subrack comprises an interface for connection to a Radio Network Controller
(RNC), a Main Processor (MP) cluster and the external Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(ATM) interface termination as well as all functionality in the baseband domain
except for average output power limiter, power clipping, delay and gain adjustment
(which are all located in the RF subrack).
The Baseband Interface board
The Baseband Interface (BBIF) board connects the BB subrack to the RF
subrack. The connection carries the downlink and uplink traffic streams
as well as timing signals.
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

ET board
The Exchange Terminal (ET) board serves as an interface between the transmission
cables and the ATM switch on an Switch Core Board (SCB). The ET board provides
the connections for the Iub (Interface between RBS and RNC) and remote Mub
(management interface) interfaces .
The type of ET board depends on the transmission standard
Number of units: 0 - 2 (ET-M1), 0 - 1 (ET-M4), 0 - 1(ET-MC41s), 0 - 2 (ET-MC1),
0 - 2 (ET-M3), 0 - 1 (ET-PSW).
GPB
The General Purpose Processor Board (GPB) operates as an MP, it contains and
executes the main part of the RBS software. The GPB controls devices on boards
and in auxiliary units. It has flash memory, an Ethernet connection and an RS232
interface.
The GPB can be duplicated to provide redundancy. Upon failure in the active MP,
the other GPB starts and takes over as MP.
RAX board
The Random Access and Receiver (RAX) board comprises the BB RX part, mainly
taking care of the following:
Cell combination for softer hand over ,
Decoding ,
Dedicated and random access transport channels
Searching
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

RAX boards within a BB subrack share the load to achieve high availability. If one
RAX board fails, the load is divided over the remaining RAX boards. This
ensures the RBS continues to handle traffic, although with reduced capacity.
Number of units: 1 9
SCB
The Switch Core Board (SCB) contains an ATM switch and is connected to the
ATM switch ports located on other boards, through the backplane. An SCB can
also be connected with up to four other SCBs located in other subracks, and to the
RF subrack for ATM switching parts.
The system power is distributed to the subrack backplane through the SCB. The
SCB contains a power filter function for system power. The SCB also supervises,
controls and provides power to the subrack fans.
The SCB can be duplicated to provide redundancy. If one SCB stops working, the
other takes over the traffic. The first slot and the last slot in the BB and RF subrack
are reserved for SCBs (normally).
Number of units: 2 or 4
TUB
The Timing Unit Board (TUB) generates and distributes a reference signal for
local timing generation. The frequency accuracy is given by an external
reference signal, either provided on a transmission interface or a local
external source, for example GPS. The TUB can be duplicated to
provide redundancy.
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

TX board
The Transmitter (TX) board are available with different CE and HS capacities.
The RBS may be configured to provide High-Speed Downlink Packet Access
(HSDPA), using HSDPA capable TX boards.
The TX board comprises the BB TX part, taking care of the following:
Cell splitting
Channel combining
Encoding
Handling transport channels
Modulation and spreading
Number of units: 1 2
D: Power Subrack
The Power Control Unit (PCU) and Power Supply Units (PSUs) are located in
the power subrack .
PCU
The PCU connects and translates signals from the PSUs, the IDM/BFU, the ACCU
, and the CLU, and transfers them to the MP (GPB) for control and supervision.
The PCU also supervises, controls, and provides power to the power subrack fan
Number of units: 1

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

PSU
The PSU converts and rectifies the incoming power from the ACCU to -48 V DC
system voltage. The PSU distributes the converted power to the IDM/BFU for
distribution to other subracks.
Number of units: 3 5
E: Smoke detector
The smoke detector generates an alarm if smoke is detected or the temperature
is above 63C inside the RBS. An XALM is required for this function
F: IDM/BFU
The Internal Distribution Module/Battery Fuse Unit (IDM/BFU) handles the internal
DC distribution and is the connection point between the power distributors
(PSUs and batteries) and power consuming units. The IDM/BFU is equipped with
a main distribution branch with fuses and a contactor for connection to the batteries.
Number of units: 1

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

G: RF subrack
The Radio Frequency (RF) Subrack contains most of the RF processing
hardware. It does not contain the power amplifiers and optional Antenna System
Control (ASC).The RF subrack takes care of the following:
D/A and A/D conversion
RF modulation and demodulation
RF carrier combining and splitting
Low noise amplification for reception
The following sections give a brief description of the boards in the RF subrack.
AIU
The Antenna Interface (AIU) Unit consists of a filter and control unit, as well as a
combiner and splitter unit.
The filter and control unit provides the following:
Duplex filtering of the TX and RX signal
Flexible frequency and signal splitting
Low-noise amplification of the RX signal
Power measurement of TX signal
The combiner and splitter unit performs the following:
Frequency combination in the downlink,
Signal splitting and high power combination when two MCPA modules
are used
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

RFIF Board
The Radio Frequency Interface (RFIF) board connects the RF subrack to the BB
subrack and to the MCPA hub. The connection carries the downlink and uplink traffic,
as well as timing signals. The RFIF board also implements power clipping for
downlink traffic.
TRX board
The Transceiver (TRX) board provides the following:
A/D and D/A conversion
Channel filtering
Delay and gain adjustment
RF modulation and demodulation
A TRX board comprises two independent transceivers for two TX and RX signal pairs.
Number of units: 1 6
H: ACCU Distribution Unit (with service outlet)
The ACCU consists of two parts: the connection unit at the bottom center
of the cabinet and the distribution unit in the left part of the cabinet.
The AC Connection Unit (ACCU) receives the incoming power and distributes it,
through circuit breakers located in the ACCU, to the PSUs, climate
system, lamp, smoke detector and service outlet.
The ACCU also contains the cold start function, which is used
when the RBS is started in temperatures below +5 C.
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

The ACCU then only supplies the Climate Control Unit (CCU) with power, and the
heater is turned on. When the temperature sensor senses that the internal
temperature in the ACCU reaches +5 C, the rest of the RBS is supplied with power.
The ACCU provides a Surge Protective Device (SPD) against power line
disturbances affecting the incoming power.
K:

CF3
The CF3 is used for the following:
The installation of the DC filter for BBU 9500
As an interface for optional site transmission equipment
STM-1/ET-M4 cable gland
L:

DF
The Distribution Frame (DF) contains overvoltage protection and connection
fields for transmission. The DF is also a connection field for external alarms (EACU)
that can be connected to, and controlled by, the XALM
M: PCU
The Power Connection Unit contains the Power Connection Interface.

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

N: ADM
The Auxiliary Distribution Module (ADM) distributes the DC power taken
from the IDM/BFU to the DC users in the optional site transmission equipment.
P: RF Connection Box
The RF Connection Box is the connection interface for jumper cables
and the earth grounding cable
Q: Batteries
The RBS has an internal battery backup time of 30 minutes of operation .
(when 31 configuration, 20 W MCPA, 200 W transmission).
The four 12 V batteries provides -48 V DC.
R: MCPA
The Multicarrier Power Amplifier (MCPA) Subrack contains the linear power
amplifiers for the RF carriers.
The subrack contains positions for up to six MCPA modules and is connected to the
RF subrack through front panel cabling .
There are two versions of MCPA, the 20 W and the 30 W RF power amplifier.
Each power amplifier can simultaneously amplify up to four RF carriers,
by dividing the power between the carriers.
Number of units: 1 - 6
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

MCPA HUB
The MCPA Hub is the connection interface between the MCPA and the RFIF board.
Number of units: 1
S: Noise Hood
The Noise Hood is a soundproofing hood (cover).

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

ACRONYMS
3GPP
3rd Generation Partnership Project
AIU
Antenna Interface Unit
ASC
Antenna System Controller
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
BBIF
Baseband Interface
BER
Bit Error Rate
BP
Board Processor
BTS
Base Transceiver Station
CBN
Common Bonding Network
CORBA
Common Object Request Broker
Architecture
CSU
Combiner and Splitter Unit
CU
Capacitor Unit
C/I
Carrier/Interference
Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

dB
dBm
DDTMA
DL
DPX
E1
E3
EACU
EMC
ET
FDD
HTTP
HW
IDM
IP
Prashant Mathur

Decibel
Decibel relative to 1 mW
Dual Duplex TMA
Down-Link
Duplex
Transmission interface E1
Transmission interface E3
External Alarm Connection Unit
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Exchange Terminal
Frequency Division Duplex
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
Hardware
Internal Distribution Module
Internet Protocol
Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

MCPA
Mgt.
MMI
MPC
MTBF
NMS
O&M
OMC
PSU
PCU
RAN
RANOS

Prashant Mathur

Multi Carrier Power Amplifier

Management
Man Machine Interface
Main Processor Cluster
Mean Time Between Failures
Network Management Systems
Operation and Maintenance
Operation and Maintenance
Centre
Power Supply Unit
Power Control Unit
Radio Access Network
Radio Access Network Operation Support

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31

Prashant Mathur

Node B 3G RBS (Outdoor) Overview

2009-12-31