Technical Support Note

TS-2GB TS-DOC-0066

RX diversity sharing
between Flexi EDGE BTS
and Flexi Multiradio BTS
WCDMA
Fl exi E DGE BTS
Fl exi Multi radio B TS W CDMA

This document contains following

type of information
Informative X
Corrective
Urgent
Security

Information is classified as
Internal
Public X
Customer Specific

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 1 (18)

Table of Contents

1. Validity......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Keywords .................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 3
4. COMPABILITY / DEPENCIES to other products ......................................................................... 4
4.1 Controller Software.......................................................................... 4
4.2 BTS Software .................................................................................. 4
4.3 BTS Manager Software ................................................................... 4
4.4 BTS Hardware................................................................................. 4
4.5 Additional information: ..................................................................... 4
5. Supported Configurations ............................................................................................................ 5
6. Frequency limitations................................................................................................................... 6
7. Cabling instructions ..................................................................................................................... 9
8. Commissioning .......................................................................................................................... 11
8.1 Flexi EDGE BTS commissioning ................................................... 12
8.2 Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA commissioning ............................... 13
9. Verifying .................................................................................................................................... 15
10. References .................................................................................... 17

Contact:

Contact your local Nokia Siemens Networks support or GSM/EDGE BTS Technical
support at [email protected]

Summary of changes:

05-Apr-2011 1.0 Approved

10-Aug-2011 2.0 Approved

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 2 (18)

Purpose
This document contains information how to install and commission the RX Diversity
sharing between Flexi EDGE BTS and Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA. Typically this
instruction is needed when new Flexi Multiradio WCDMA BTS equipment is installed and
co-sited with the existing Flexi EDGE BTS.
.

1. VALIDITY

Product:
Flexi EDGE BTS X
Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA X

2. KEYWORDS

Antenna sharing, RX diversity sharing

3. SUMMARY

.
RX diversity sharing enables operators to reduce site complexity, site upgrade costs and to
reuse existing antenna system inside operating bandwidth. The main benefits are as
follows:
• Only 2 antenna feeder lines needed instead of 4 per sector
• Only one X-polarized antenna per sector
• No need for multiradio combiner (MRC)
• Enables high capacity per technology in the same frequency band

Flexi Multiradio RF module (FXxA) has separate RX diversity outputs for each Main
(TX/RX) antenna line so that the diversity signal can be provided for a co-sited BTS, such
as Flexi EDGE BTS. Flexi EDGE Dual Duplexer Module (ERxA) has RX diversity outputs
also. They can be used to provide diversity signal for a co-sited BTS, such as Flexi
Multiradio RF module.

RX diversity sharing requires that both co-sited BTSs operate within the same frequency
band.

Note:
Rx-diversity sharing requires mandatory combining (WBC or RTC) in Flexi EDGE BTS.
This will reduce DL power especially for those cases where no combining was used before
introduction of RX-diversity sharing.
Introduction of WBC/RTC will introduce extra ca. 3.2/2 db loss in DL in such case.

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 3 (18)

4. COMPABILITY / DEPENCIES TO OTHER PRODUCTS

4.1 Controller Software

• 3G RNC SW: RN5.0 or later

• 2G BSC SW: S14 or later

4.2 BTS Software

• Flexi EDGE BTS: EP3 MP4.0 or later

• Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA: WN6.0 MP3 or later

4.3 BTS Manager Software

• WCDMA BTS Site Manager Version WN6.0 MP3 or later

• Flexi EDGE BTS Manager Version 3 MP4.0 or later

4.4 BTS Hardware

• Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA:

o FXDA (Flexi Multiradio Radio Frequency Module 900Mhz)
o FXEA (Flexi Multiradio Radio Frequency Module 1800MHz)
o FSMC / D / E (Flexi Multiradio System Module)

• Flexi EDGE BTS:

o ERxA (Flexi EDGE Dual Duplexer Module)
o EXxA (Flexi EDGE Dual TRX Module)
o EWxx (Flexi EDGE Wideband Combiner Sub-module)
o ESMA (Flexi EDGE System Module)

The instructions are given for ERxA (DDU) configurations but they can be applied for
ECxA (Flexi EDGE Remote Tune Combiner Module) configurations as well with some
minor changes

4.5 Additional information:

• No NEW BTS licenses are needed in 2G or 3G because of the RX diversity

sharing. Normal licenses according to the used configuration are needed like
before.
• In 3G RNC, 900MHz support needs to be enabled.

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 4 (18)

5. SUPPORTED CONFIGURATIONS

Figure 1 depicts he RX diversity sharing arrangement between Flexi EDGE BTS and Flexi
Multiradio BTS WCDMA (note: Only one sector shown). Both BTSs need to have a
connection to the upper network (3G to RNC / 2G to BSC).

Figure 1: RX Diversity sharing between Flexi EDGE BTS and Flexi Multiradio
WCDMA (Only one sector shown)

Most likely existing Flexi EDGE BTS HW configuration needs changes because only one
antenna connector in Dual Duplexer can be used BTS downlink transmission. Other
antenna connector is used for receiving RX diversity from Flexi Multiradio BTS.

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 5 (18)

6. FREQUENCY LIMITATIONS

RX diversity sharing requires that both BTS operate in the same frequencies band and
within the bandwidth limited segment utilized by the Flexi Multiradio BTS.

ERxA Dual Duplexer Module in Flexi EDGE BTS has fixed full-band filter so it provides
continuous and full 900/1800 MHz band RX diversity also to co-siting BTS.

Flexi Multiradio RF Modules are also full-band capable. However, their instantaneous
bandwidth is limited due to the internal SW tunable filters (STuF). STuF has specific
passband bandwidths on both RX and TX bands.

• FXDA Flexi Multiradio RF Module 900MHz has RF bandwidth 20MHz in both BTS
TX (DL) and BTS RX (UL).
• FXEA Flexi Multiradio RF Module 1800MHz has RF bandwidth 20MHz in BTS TX
(DL) and 30MHz in BTS RX (UL).
•
Each pipe can be tuned independently to cover different 20 MHz (FXDA) or 30 MHz
(FXEA) sections in BTS RX (UL), if needed. Tuning is automatically done by the BTS SW,
depending on the carrier frequencies allocated on each pipe.

In order to provide RX diversity from Flexi Multiradio RF module to Flexi EDGE BTS, the
TRX frequencies used in Flexi EDGE BTS must be within the instantaneous bandwidth of
the RF module pipe providing the RX diversity signal.

The center frequency of the StuF filter on a certain pipe can be seen on the WCDMA BTS
Site Manager, Local cell properties: Uplink (RX) carrier frequency, see example below on
Figure 2:

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 Figure 2 Local cell properties

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 Following Figure 3 gives example how to calculate TRX frequencies used in Flexi EDGE
BTS:

Figure 3 Example of calculating frequency limits

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7. CABLING INSTRUCTIONS

The Rx Diversity Sharing Kit (RDSA) is used for Rx diversity sharing between Flexi
Multiradio and Flexi EDGE BTS. The kit (472454A) contains 6 pieces of 2000 mm Rx
diversity sharing cables (HSAG cable 995386). The cables have a QMA connector on one
end and a 7/16 connector on the other.

Figure 4: HSAG cable.

The HSAG cables are connected between Flexi EDGE Dual Duplexer Module (ERxA) and
Flexi Multiradio Radio Frequency Module (FXxA) as shown in Figure 5.

The distance between the modules is limited by the length of the HSAG cable and its
physical path.

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 Figure 5 Rx diversity sharing cabling with FXxA and ERxA

Follow these steps to install the cables (note: Steps given for one sector only):

1. Connect one HSAG cable between FXxA RxO1 and ERxA Ant A connectors.
2. Connect one HSAG cable between ERxA ExtB and FXxA Ant2 Rx connectors
3. Connect one antenna feeder (jumper) cable in FXxA Ant1 Tx/Rx connector
4. Connect other antenna feeder (jumper) cable in ERxA Ant B connector
5. Connect TX output cable from EWxx into TxB connector and other needed RX
cables from RxA1-4 and RxB1-4 to DTRX.

Warning! In the case shown on Figure 5, Make sure transceiver output power (TX,
BTS DL) from Ant A on ERxA is not connected to RxO1 as that would cause
permanent damage in RF module. Any existing TX cabling going into TxA connector
must be connected to TxB connector by using EWxx TX combiner instead.

Alternatively, AntA could be connected to feeder line instead and HSAG cable into AntB. In
this case, all TX signals must be connected into TxA and nothing into TxB. The instructions
in this document are for the case where AntB is connected to antenna feeder line.

Before commissioning, make absolutely sure all cabling is correct to avoid HW damages.

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 10 (18)

8. COMMISSIONING

The commissioning of both Flexi EDGE BTS and Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA is
otherwise normal according to the used cabling and configuration, except in the MHA
settings page in the BTS manager..

Virtual MHA: As shown in Figure 6, the internal LNAs on Main antenna lines already give
the needed high gain for the Diversity antenna line of co-sited BTS. Therefore the internal
LNAs on the Diversity antenna lines must be set to so-called low-gain mode to ensure
optimal RX gain in the entire RX Diversity path. This is done by defining so-called virtual
MHAs on RX diversity antenna lines.

Figure 6 Block diagram (note: for one sector)

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 Note: MHA settings in the Main antenna lines (connected to the feeder lines) depend on
whether real MHAs are used in the physical antenna lines or not (i.e. no difference to the
normal commissioning).

8.1 Flexi EDGE BTS commissioning

The virtual MHA is defined in the Antenna Setting page of the Commissioning Wizard in
the BTS manager following three steps:
• Define virtual MHA for those Antenna lines where cables where HSAG cable from
Flexi Multiradio RF module are connected. Set MHA type is set to High.
• Select Share with other BTS tick-box to prevent Flexi EDGE Antenna line to feed
DC voltage towards Flexi Multiradio RF module.
• Select Network Type according the frequency band 900/1800
• Set Cable loss to 3dB
o As shown in figure 6, the RX level in the Rx out connector on Flexi
Multiradio RF module is 29dB whereas Flexi EDGE BTS expects the RX
level to be 32dB on AntA connector (as High Gain MHA is selected). To
compensate this difference, feeder loss is set to 3dB

Repeat the steps for all antenna lines where the RX diversity signal comes from Flexi
Multiradio RF module via HSAG cable. As an example, the settings for ANT3 are shown
on Figure 7 below:

Figure 7 Flexi EDGE BTS Antenna settings for Diversity antenna

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 12 (18)

8.2 Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA commissioning

WN6.0 MP3:
The virtual MHA is defined in the Antenna Line Settings page of the Commissioning
Wizard in BTS Site Manager:
• Define the virtual MHA for those Antennas where HSAG cables from Flexi EDGE
are connected. Select MHA in use tick-box.
• Select MHA type to Other
• Set Feeder voltage to 0V to prevent Flexi Multiradio RF module to feed DC
voltage towards Flexi EDGE BTS.
• Set MHA gain to 33dB.
o As shown on Figure 6, the gain provided by ExtB connector on ERxA
module in Flexi EDGE BTS is +33bB.
• Set Feeder loss to -1.0dB
• Fill Serial number and Product code with dummy.

Repeat the steps for ANT4 and ANT6 as well, if the RX diversity signal to those antenna
ports comes from Flexi EDGE via HSAG cable as well. As an example, the settings for
ANT2 are shown on Figure 8 below.

Figure 8 Flexi WCDMA BTS Antenna settings for Diversity antenna

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 13 (18)

 WN6.0 MP4 or later:

To set the gain provided by ExtB connector on ERxA module in Flexi EDGE BTS:
• Set Additional RX gain to 33dB.
• Set Feeder loss to -1.0dB

Repeat the steps for ANT4 and ANT6 as well, if the RX diversity signal to those antenna
ports comes from Flexi EDGE via HSAG cable as well. As an example, the settings for
ANT2 are shown on Figure 9 below:

Figure 9 Flexi WCDMA BTS Antenna settings for Additional RX gain

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 14 (18)

9. VERIFYING

The verification of RX diversity sharing in a certain sector can be done as follows:

Flexi EDGE BTS:

• Ensure both Flexi EDGE BTS and Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA is commissioned
correctly and is in Supervisory / On Air state.
• Lock the test mobile on selected sector (BCCH) and make a GSM voice call, leave
it running. Ensure that the BTS can hear the mobile equally well via both antenna
lines used in that sector. The best way is to use a cabled mobile phone instead of
normal air interface.
• After 10+ minutes, check the RSSI comparison values by selecting Supervisory
and RSSI Comparison Values on BTS Manager.
• Expected result is that the difference between the Ant1 and Ant2 columns for the
TRX used for the continuous voice call is small indicating no difference between
the antenna lines.

Figure 10 shows a typical example where CS test call was running on TRX-6 and only 1
dB difference is seen between Ant1 and Ant2.

Figure 10 RSSI Comparison values

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 Flexi Multiradio BTS WCDMA:

• Verify that the difference between ANT1 and ANT2 RX signal level monitoring is
small

Figure 11 shows a typical example where the difference between ANT1 and ANT2 is 0.8
dB:

Figure 11 RX signal level monitoring

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 16 (18)

10. REFERENCES

Nokia Siemens Networks GSM/EDGE BSS, rel. RG20(BSS), Operating Documentation,

Issue 03:

Nokia Siemens Networks WCDMA RAN, Rel. RU20, Operating Documentation, Issue 03

Flexi EDGE BTS Co-siting, DN70530978, Issue 04A

© Nokia Siemens Networks Company Confidential 17 (18)

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