AIR INTERFACE

By:
Eng\ WALEED ELSAFOURY
AIR INTERFACE

• GSM bands
GSM 900 GSM 1800 GSM 1900

0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 GHz

Carrier n
Carrier (n+1)

f
200 kHz
AIR INTERFACE

Uplink and downlink

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• GSM Frequency Bands

GSM(DCS)
System P-GSM 900 E-GSM 900 GSM(PCS) 1900
1800
Uplink (MS  BS) 890 – 915 MHz 880 – 915 MHz 1710 – 1785 MHz 1850 – 1910 MHz
Downlink(BS MS) 935 – 960 MHz 925 - 960 MHz 1805 - 1880 MHz 1930 - 1990 MHz

Wavelength  33 cm  33 cm  17 cm  16 cm

Bandwidth 25 MHz 35 MHz 75 MHz 60 MHz

Duplex distance 45 MHz 45 MHz 95 MHz 80 MHz

Carrier separation 200 kHz 200 kHz 200 kHz 200 kHz

No. of carriers 124 174 374 299

Channel rate 270.8 kbps 270.8 kbps 270.8 kbps 270.8 kbps
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- TDMA in GSM
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• TDMA frame
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• TDMA frame structure

3 57 1 26 1 57 3
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• TDMA frame structure
-Bit rate of the radio carrier is 270.833 Kbps
-Bit duration =1/270.833=3.69 µsec
-One time slot =148 bits+8.25 guard bits=156.25 bits
-Time slot duration =156.25x3.69 µsec= 0.577 msec
-Frame duration=0.577x8= 4.615 msec
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• Guard band is used for :

- burst alignment errors
- time dispersion on the propagation path
- Time required for smooth switch on-off in transmitter
• The numbering scheme of the time slots is staggered
by 3 time slots to remove necessity for MS to send
and receive in the same time

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
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• Types of channels
1. Physical channels
2. Logic channels
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• Types of logic channels

1. Traffic channels
2. Control channels
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• Types of Traffic channels

22.8 Kbps
1. Full rate
- 13 Kbps data rate 13 Kbps 9.8 Kbps

2. Enhanced full rate

- 12.2 Kbps data rate 12.2 Kbps 10.6 Kbps

3. Half rate
- increase network capacity 5.6 Kbps 5.8 Kbps

11.4 Kbps

Data

Redundancy
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• Types of control channels

• Broadcast control channel

• Common control channel

• Dedicated control channel

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Common Control Channels (CCCHs)
 Transfer control information between all MSs and BTS.
 Necessary for call origination and paging.

Logical ch. Function BTS MS

 Transmits paging
 Listens to PCH
Paging CHannel message to indicate
• Alert the MS of an regularly.
(PCH) an incoming call
incoming call  When identifies its
Downlink  The paging message
identity, it responds.
contains MS identity.
 Answerspaging
Random Access • Usedby MS to  Receives request
message on RACH by
CHannel (RACH) request access to from MS for a
requesting signaling
Uplink the network. signaling channel.
channel.

Access Grant • Used by BS to  Assignsa SDCCH  Receives

a signaling
CHannel (AGCH) inform MS about signaling channel to channel assignment
Downlink the channel to use. MS. SDCCH.
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Dedicated Control Channels (DCCHs)
 Carry messages between MS and network.
 SDCCH is used for call setup, update, authentication
Logical ch. Function BTS MS

 Switches to SDCCH.  Switches to SDCCH.

Stand-alone
• Exchangesignaling  Call set-up is  Call setup is performed.
Dedicated Control
information in uplink performed in idle  MS receives TCH
Channel (SDCCH)
and downlink. mode. assignment [carrier +
UL+DL
 BSC assigns a TCH. time slot]

• Conveys power control

Slow Associated
and timing information Instructs MS about:  Sendsmeasurements of
Control Channel
in downlink. Transmit power its BTS and neighboring
(SACCH)
• Conveys link quality Time advance. BTSs during a call.
UL+DL
reports in uplink.

Fast Associated
• StealsTCH to carry
Control Channel  Transmitshandover  Transmits handover
handover and channel
(FACCH) information. request..
reassignment.
UL+DL
 AIR INTERFACE

The Broadcast Channels (BCHs)

 Is transmitted by BS all the time.
 Monitored by MSs periodically (every 30 sec).
 All BCHs are downlink.
Logical channel Function BTS MS
Frequency Supply MS with  Transmits a carrier  Identifies BCCH
Correction reference freq. frequency. carrier
Channel  synchronizes with
(FCCH) the frequency.

Synch. Channel For TDMA frame  Transmits frame  Synchronizes with

(SCH) synchronization . number and BSIC. frame structure.

• Carries parameters  Broadcasts cell Receives LAI

needed to identify information such May update
and access network. as MS sets its output
Broadcast • It is transmitted at
Control  LAI, power level.
constant power at all
Channel  maximum output
times and checked
(BCCH) by all MSs. power needed
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• Adaptive Frame Alignment
 The BS-MS delay depends on distance.
 If BS–MS separation= 10km, Propagation delay=33 sec.
 Long guard interval is inefficient.
 GSM uses adaptive time alignment system whereby BS
transmits timing advance at the MS.
 This instructs the mis-aligned MS to transmit earlier

TDMA frame TS0 TS1 TS2

B
A
B: Far away from BS

Propagation delay

A: Close to BS
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Slow Frequency Hopping

 Rayleigh fading is frequency-selective.

 BS&MS hop from one frequency to other.

 Frequency hopping is optional.

 Rate of hopping =1/4.615msec=217 hop/sec.

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TDMA
frame

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3

Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3

Carrier 1 Carrier 3 Carrier 2
slot 3 slot 3 slot 3