Public Mobile Radio Systems

GSM-an overview
 GSM System Architecture
HLR/
UM VLR
Handset
A-bis A SS7
BSC MSC
PSTN
X.25
BTS
OMC
(Operation & Maintenance
Center)

Operation Data Terminal

SIM Terminal
card

Mobile Radio Network sub-system PSTN

station sub-system
 Mobile System network
• Two Components
– Fixed Installed Infrastructure (network)
– Mobile Subscribers (who uses the services of
network)
 Fixed Installed Infrastructure
(network)
• Divided into subnets known as
subsystems
1. Radio Networks
2. Mobile switching network
3. Management Network
 Subsystems

Radio Networks
Base Station Mobile switching network Management Network
Subsystems Switching and Management Operation and Management
(BSS) Subsystem (SMSS) Subsystems (OMSS)
 GSM Network Elements
• Handset
• BTS: Base Transceiver Station
• MSC: Mobile Switching Center
• BSC: Base Station Controller
• HLR/VLR: Home Location Register/Visiting
Location Register
• SIM Card: Subscriber Identity Module Card
 Subsystem-BSS
• BSS-two components
1. Base Station Controller (BSC)
2. Base Transceiver Station/Base Station
(BTS/BS).
 BSS- BTS
• BTS-provides interface
– Mobile’s interface to the network
– A BTS is usually located in the centre of a cell.
– The BTS provides the radio channels for
signaling and user data traffic in the cells.
– A BS has between 1 and 16 transceivers, each
of which represents a separate radio frequency
channel
 BSS- BTS
• BSC-Controller
– frequency administration
– control of the BTS
– The BSC also translates the 13 kbps voice
channel used over the radio link to the standard
64 kbps channel used by the Public Switched
Telephone Network or ISDN
• Connected to MSC
 Mobile switching network
• MSN consists of
– Mobile Switching Centres (MSC) and
– Databases, which store the data required for routing and
service provisions (HLR, VLR)
• Responsibilities
– In addition to switching it also provides all the
functionality needed to handle a mobile subscriber,
such as registration, authentication, location updating,
handovers, and call routing to a roaming subscriber
 MSC
• Gateway MSC (GMSC)
– This passes voice traffic between fixed
networks and mobile networks
– GMSC requests the routing information from
the Home Location Register (HLR) and routes
the connection to the local MSC in whose area
the mobile station is currently staying
 Databases
• Home Location Register (HLR)
– Stores the identity and user data of all
subscribers belonging to the area of the related
GMSC
– Permanent data such as the International
Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). permitted
supplementary service
– Temporary data such as address of the current
VLR
 Databases-VLR
• Visitor Location Register (VLR)
– Stores the data of all MS’s that are currently
staying in the administrative area of the
associated MSC
 Mobile Handset (MH)
• Used by the subscriber to access the GSM
network via the air interface
• Contains the hardware and software specific
to the radio interface
• Need a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
which contains the subscriber-specific data
to access GSM network, except emergency
call
 Subscriber Identity Module
(SIM)
• Subscriber Identity Module
– Contains
• phone number (MSISDN)
• international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)
• status of SIM
• service code
• authentication key
• PIN (personal identification code)
• PUK (personal unlock code)
 GSM Frame Structure
Superframe ... 51 Multiframe
6.12 sec

120 msec ... 26 Frames

4.615 msec 0 7 8 Multiframe

Coded data Midamble

0.57692 msec
3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25
156.25 bits
Tail bit Stealing Flag Guard period
 Frame Types
• There are two types of multiframe
– 26 TDMA-frame multiframe is used to carry
TCH, SACCH and FACCH(TCH0-11,13-
24)SACCH12,25,NO DATA
– 51 TDMA-frame multiframe is used to carry
BCCH, SCH,FCCH,AGCH,RACH
– FCCH IS ALWAYS IN 0,10,20,30,40 SCH IS
IN 1,11,21,31,AND 41 AND BCCH 2-5
– PAGCH AND RACH according to load
 Burst
• The information contained in one time slot is a
burst
• Five types of burst
– Normal Burst (NB)
• To carry information on traffic and control channels
– Frequency Correction Burst (FB)
• To synchronize the frequency of the mobile
– Synchronization Burst (SB)
• To synchronize the frames of the mobile
– Access Burst (AB)
• For random and handover access
– Dummy Burst
• For padding the frame
 GSM Frame Structure Per Channel

4.615 msec 0 8 Multiframe or bursts

7

Coded data Training

0.57692 msec
156.25 bits 3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25

Tail bit Flag Speech/data Or Signaling Guard period

 Channels
• Physical Channels
– Associated with frequency bands, time slots, codes
– Physical channels transfer bits from one network element
to another
• Logical Channels
– Distinguished by the nature of carried information and the
way to assemble bits into data units
– Three types
• one-to-one: traffic channels between a BTS and a MS
• one-to-many: synchronization signals from BTS to MSs in a cell
• many-to-one: from MSs to the same BTS
 Logical Channel List
Traffic TCH/F: Full-rate Traffic Channel Two-way
channels TCH/H: Half-rate Traffic Channel
(TCH)
FCCH: Frequency correction
BCH SCH: Synchronization
BCCH: Broadcast control
Base-to-
Signaling PCH: Paging mobile
CCCH
channel AGCH: Access grant
RACH: Random access
SDCCH: Stand-alone dedicated control
DCCH
SACCH: Slow associated control
Two-way
FACCH: Fast associated control
 Logical Channels
• Control Channels
– Broadcast Channels (BCH)
– Common Control Channels (CCCH)
– Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
• Traffic Channels (TCH)
– Full Rate (TCH/F)
– Half Rate (TCH/H)
 UP / Down-Link
• Down-link: the transmission path from Base
Station to Mobile Station
• Up-link: the transmission path from Mobile
Station to Base Station
 Control Channels
• Broadcast Channels (BCH)
– Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
– Synchronization Channel (SCH)
– Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
• Common Control Channels (CCCH)
– Paging Channel (PCH)
– Random Access Channel (RACH)
– Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
• Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
– Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
– Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
– Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
– Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
 Broadcast Channels (BCH)
• To help the MS (Mobile Station) measures
– to listen for the cell information
• to start roaming, waiting for calls to arrive, making
calls
– Because BTSs are not synchronized with each
other, every time a MH decides to camp to
another cell, its FCCH, SCH, and BCCH must
be read.
 Frequency Correction Channel
(FCCH)
• Provide MS with the frequency reference of
the system
– To enable the Mobile Handset (MH) to
synchronize with the frequency
• Transmission properties
– Transmit on the down-link
– Point to multi-point.
 Synchronization Channel (SCH)
• MS synchronize with the structure within the
locative cell
– MS can receive information from the proper time slots
on the TDMA structure
• Transmission properties
– Transmit on down-link
– Point to multi-point.
 Broadcast Control Channel
(BCCH)
• BTS broadcast cell information to MS
– LAI ( Location Area Identity), to start roaming,
waiting for calls to arrive, making calls
– maximum output power allowed in the cell
– information about BCCH carriers for the
neighboring cells
• Transmission properties
– Transmit on down-link
– Point to multi-point
 Common Control Channels
(CCCH)
• CCCH support the establishment of a
dedicated communication path (dedicated
channel) between the MS and the BTS
• Three types of CCCH
– Paging Channel (PCH)
– Random Access Channel (RACH)
– Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
 Paging Channel (PCH)
• Used by BTS to page particular MS in the cell
– MH actively listen to PCH to check contact info
within certain time
– Contact could be incoming call or short message
• Contact info on PCH include
– IMSI (MH’s identity number), or
– TMSI (temporary number)
• Transmission properties
– Transmit on down-link
– point to point
 Random Access Channel
(RACH)
• Used by MS to request a dedicated channel
for call setup
– Shared by any MS attempts to access the
network
– Channel request message contains the reason
for the access attempt
• Transmission properties
– Transmit on up-link
– Point to pint.
 Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
• The network assigns a signaling channel via
AGCH
– A Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel
(SDCCH) is assigned
• Transmission properties
– Transmit on down-link
– Point to point
 Dedicated Control Channels
(DCCH)
• DCCH are used for transferring nonuser
information between the network and the MS
Messages on DCCH Including
• channel maintenance
• mobility management
• radio resource management
• Three kinds of DCCH
– Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
– Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
– Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
 Stand alone Dedicated Control
Channel (SDCCH)
• Transfer signaling information between the
BTS and the MS
• Typically used for location updating prior
to use of a traffic channel
• Transmission properties
– Bi-directional channel, transmit on both up and
down-link
– Point to point.
 Slow Associated Control
Channel (SACCH)
• Carries control and measurement parameters along
with routine data necessary to maintain a radio
link between the MS and the BTS
– On the uplink, MS sends averaged measurements
(signal strength and quality) of current and neighboring
BCCH
– On downlink, MS receives information about
transmitting power to use and an instruction with time
advance/retard
• Transmission properties
– Bidirection channel, transmit on both up and down link
– Point to point
Fast Associated Control Channel
(FACCH)
• An FACCH is used over a TCH where it
steals time slots from a TCH
– a 20 ms segment of speech is stolen to carry
handover signaling information
• Appears on demand
 Traffic Channels (TCH)

• TCH transport user information (speech/data)

• TCH are bi-directional dedicated channels
between the network and the MS
 Traffic Channels (TCH)

• TCH- Two types

– Full-rate TCH (TCH/F): provides transmission
speed of 13 kbps for speech or 9.6, 4.8 or 2.4
kbps for data.
– Half-rate TCH (TCH/H): allows transmission
of 6.5Kbps speech or 4.8 or 2.4 Kbps of data.
 Handoff/Handover

A process, which allows users to remain in touch, even while breaking the
connection with one BS and establishing connection with another BS.

MSC MSC

New BS Old BS New BS

Old BS

MSC MSC

Old BS New BS Old BS New BS

Handoff To keep the conversation going, the Handoff procedure
should be completed while the MS (the bus) is in the overlap region.

Cell overlap region

Old BS New BS
 Handoff detection strategies

Mobile-Controlled handoff (MCHO)

Network-Controlled handoff (NCHO)

Mobile-Assisted handoff (MAHO)

 Mobile-Controlled Handoff (MCHO)

In this strategy, the MS continuously monitors the radio

signal strength and quality of the surrounding BSs.
When predefined criteria are met, then the MS checks for
the best candidate BS for an available traffic channel and
requests the handoff to occur. MCHO is used in DECT
and PACS.
 Network-Controlled Handoff (NCHO)

In this strategy, the surrounding BSs,

the MSC or both monitor the radio
signal. When the signal’s strength
and quality deteriorate below a
predefined threshold, the network
arranges for a handoff to another
channel. NCHO is used in CT-2 Plus
and AMPS
 Mobile-Assisted Handoff (MAHO)

It is a variant of NCHO strategy. In this strategy, the network

directs the MS to measure the signal from the surrounding
BSs and to report those measurements back to the network.
The network then uses these measurements to determine
where a handoff is required and to which channel. MACHO is
used in GSM and IS-95 CDMA.
Handoff types with reference to the network

Intra-system handoff or Inter-BS handoff

The new and the old BSs are connected to the

same MSC.

MSC

Old BS New BS
Handoff types with reference to the network

Intersystem handoff or Inter-MSC handoff

The new and the old BSs are connected to

different MSCs
MSC MSC

Old BS New BS
 Handoff types with reference to link transfer

Hard handoff

The MS connects with only one BS at a time, and there is

usually some interruption in the conversation during the link
transition

Soft handoff

The two BSs are briefly simultaneously connected to the MU while

crossing the cell boundary. As soon as the mobile's link with the new BS
is acceptable, the initial BS disengages from the MU.
 Handoff types with reference to link transfer

Soft handoff
1. MU sends a pilot strength measurement message to the old BS,
indicating the new BS to be added.
2. The old BS sends a handoff request message to the MSC. If the
MSC accepts the handoff request, it sends a handoff request
message to the new BS.
3. The BS sends a null traffic message to the MU to prepare the
establishment of the communication link.
 Handoff types with reference to link transfer

Soft handoff
4. The new BS sends a join request message to the MSC.
The MSC bridges the connection for the two BSs, so
that the handoff can be processed without breaking
the connection.
5. The new BS sends a handoff ack message to the old
BS via the MSC. The old BS instructs the MU to add a
link to the new BS by exchanging the handoff
command and handoff complete messages.
Handoff types with reference to link transfer

Soft handoff
6. The old BS and the MSC conclude this procedure by
exchanging the required handoff information. The quality
of the new link is guaranteed by the exchange of the pilot
measurement request and the pilot strength measurement
message pair between the MU and the new BS.
 Handover in GSM (2.11)
3 possible types
• Intra-Cell Handover
between traffic channels within cell
• Inter-Cell Handover
between traffic channels on different cells
• Inter-MSC Handover
between cells belonging to different MSCs
 Handover Situations
• To maintain Link Quality
• To minimize Interference
• Traffic Management
 Four security measures in GSM

1) PIN code (authentication of user using terminal

=> local security measure, network is not involved)
2) SIM authentication (performed by network)
3) Ciphering of information sent over air interface
4) Usage of TMSI (instead of IMSI) over air interface

IMSI = International Mobile Subscriber Identity

(globally unique identity)
TMSI = Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity
(local and temporary identity)
CDMA
 CDMA Is a Spread-Spectrum System

TRADITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM  Traditional technologies try to squeeze

Spread Spectrum
Narrowband the signal into the minimum required
Signal
Slow
Information
Slow
Information bandwidth
Sent Recovered
TX RX  Direct-Sequence Spread spectrum
systems mix their input data with a fast
spreading sequence and transmit a
SPREAD-SPECTRUM SYSTEM wideband signal
Wideband Signal  The spreading sequence is independently
Slow Slow regenerated at the receiver and mixed
Information Information
Sent Recovered with the incoming wideband signal to
TX RX recover the original data
Fast Fast
Spreading Spreading
Sequence Sequence
 Spread Spectrum Principles

MA
HAM TH
MER Power is “Spread” Over a Larger Bandwidth

MATH
HAMMER

30 KHz
1.25 MHz
 Spread Spectrum Principles

Many code channels are individually

“spread” and then added together to
create a “composite signal”
 CDMA
Code division Multiple Access is a digital technology
pioneered by QUALCOMM that provides crystal
clear voice quality in new generation wireless
communication systems
CDMA provides better and most cost effective
Voice quality
Privacy
System capacity
Flexibility.
SMS
E-mail
Internet
 Diversity in CDMA
Three types of Diversity
Frequency
Spatial Diversity
Time Diversity
 Frequency Diversity
• Inherent feature of CDMA due to wide part
of spectrum covered by each signal
• Multipath fading is caused by different
delays among alternative paths between a
mobile and base station
• Use of Rack Receivers to get benefits from
multipath propagation
 Spatial Diversity
• Both in TDMA and CDMA
• Use of multiple antennas at the base stations
• Two antennas far apart at the receiver make
it unlikely to receive the faded signal at the
same instant
• CDMA allows multiple base stations to
transmit to single mobile thus making soft
handover possible
 Time Diversity
• Channel coding and interleaving are used in
GSM for time diversity
• CDMA also uses time diversity
• The Forward channel in IS-95 standard
employs half-rate convolutional coding,
which doubles the number of bits
• The reverse channel also employs one-third
rate convolutional coding
 Continue…..
• All the bits, both information and
redundant, are interleaved thus separating
the adjacent information bits
• At the receiver end of channel, a Viterbi
decoder is used with soft decision point
• Only makes 1 or 0 bit decision as
demodulator already marks noisy symbols
• Decoder simply ignores bad symbols
instead of working on them
Features and Advantages of CDMA

Universal Frequency Reuse

Fast and accurate Power Control
Rake Receiver
CDMA Hand off
FDMA/TDMA Frequency Reuse
Frequency Reuse
CD CDMA MA Frequency
Reuse
CDMA Frequency Reuse
CDMA Power Control
without
CDMA Rake Receiver
Multipaths
Multipaths
Multipaths
CDMA RAKE Receiver
CDMA RAKE
Receiver
CDMA RAKE Receiver

Correlator 1

Correlator 2 Combiner The combined

Receive set signal
Correlator 3

Calculate the
Searcher correlator
time delay and
signal strength
s(t) s(t)

t t
 Handoff in CDMA System
• Soft Handoff
– Mobile commences Communication with a new BS without
interrupting communication with old BS
– same frequency assignment between old and new BS
– provides different site selection diversity
• Softer Handoff
– Handoff between sectors in a cell
• CDMA to CDMA hard handoff
– Mobile transmits between two base stations with different
frequency assignment
Soft Handoff
Soft Handoff Advantages
 Hand Off
 Hand off in GSM
a)Hard Hand Off
b)Soft Hand Off
 Hand off in CDMA
a)Soft Hand off
b)Softer Hand off
 Practical Handoff
Problems
• (1)Problem Caused by high speed mobility:
 More handoffs are required to handle high speed mobility of MS
during a call. It will cause load on the system as well as call
drops.
• (2) Problem Caused by low speed mobility: Cell dragging:

 In the line of sight and smooth area signal does not drop sharply
for pedestrian users so user goes on using the frequency of the
previous cell in to the new cell. This causes increase in the co-
channel interference.
 Solution For More Handoffs
• Umbrella Cell Approach:
 Micro cells inside A macro cell.
---- Macro cell is defined by high power and lengthy tower.
---- Micro cells are defined
inside the macro cell with less power and less height towers.

---- High speed MS are handled by macro cell and low speed
subscribers are handled by micro cells.
---- This strategy increases the no of capacity
channels per unit area and decreases the no of handoffs.
Umbrella Cell Approach
 Solution For Cell Dragging
• Handoff threshold

----and radio coverage

parameters must be adjusted carefully
according to the environment .
Forward Link Channels

88
Forward Link Channels

89
 Forward Link Channels
• Channels

– A channel may be voice data or overhead control data.

• Forward Link Channels

– On the forward link there are 4 types of channels used to transmit control and
voice data to the mobile.

– These channels are:

• Pilot
• Sync
• Paging
• Traffic

90
Forward Link Channels

91
 Forward Link Channels
• Pilot Channel

– The pilot channel is constantly transmitted.

– The mobile uses the pilot signal to acquire the system. After the mobile has acquired
the system the pilot is used for signal strength measurement.

– The strength of the pilot is used to determine the power required for mobile transmit.

– The pilot contains no information but it is the strongest signal on the forward link,
containing at least 20% of the total power on the forward link. The power of the pilot
is an indication to the mobile of its ability to successfully use the signals from the
base station transmitting that pilot.

– After this, the phone looks for the sync channel

92
 Forward Link Channels
• Sync. Channel

– The sync channel is constantly transmitted providing critical timing information to the
mobile.

– The mobile will decode the Sync. channel message during the power up sequence.

– It repeatedly transmits a sync channel message which contains information about the cell
and the phone system, and also contains information which permits the phone to
determine the absolute clock time

– Once the sync channel message has been processed, the phone has sufficient information
to begin to process the paging channel and to register

– Once the mobile is synchronized with the base station the sync channel is ignored.

93
 Forward Link Channels
• The Sync Channel

– Mobiles must acquire the Sync Channel and decode its

message in order to synchronize with the system.
– The Sync message is spread with Walsh code 32 and is
broadcast continuously.
– The Sync message includes the following information:
• System time
• System ID
• Network ID
• Many more

94
 Forward Link Channels
 Paging Channel
– A base-to-mobile forward-link communications channel
used to send control, call set-up, and paging messages
when the mobile is not in the traffic mode.

– The paging channel is used to transmit overhead information (i.e.

commands and pages) to the mobile.
• When a call is being set up the commands and traffic channel assignment
are sent on the paging channel.
• Once a traffic channel is established the paging channel is ignored by the
mobile.

95
 Forward Link Channels
• Paging Channels

• A Paging Channel is used by the CDMA system to transmit

overhead messages and mobile directed messages. Walsh codes
1 through 7 may be used for Paging Channels. A system
operator may choose to support less than seven Paging
Channels. In this case, unused codes may be assigned to Traffic
Channels.
• A Paging Channel transmits the configuration messages:
– System Parameters message
– Access Parameters message
– CDMA Channel List message
– housekeeping information such as the PN Offsets of all nearby
cells and sectors.
– Many more
96
 Forward Link Channels
– While the mobile is not in the traffic mode, the base
sends orders and messages to the mobile on the paging
channel. It receives responses and requests via the
mobile's Access Channel.

97
 Forward Link Channels

• Forward Traffic Channel

– The forward traffic channel is used when there is a call.

98
Forward Traffic Channels

99
Reverse Link Channels

100
Reverse Link Channels

101
 Reverse Link Channels
 The reverse link in an IS-95 system is any link from a
mobile subscriber to a base station.

 On the reverse link there are two types of channels used

to transmit control and voice data to the mobile.
 These channels are:
 Access
 Traffic

102
Reverse Link Channels

103
 Reverse Link Channels
• Access Channel
– The access channel is used by the mobile when not
assigned to a traffic channel.
– A mobile-to-base communications channel used
primarily for control and sending messages such as call
origination, page response, and registration.
– The access channel is used by the mobile to
• register with the network
• originate calls
• respond to pages and commands from the base station
• transmit overhead messages to the base station.

104
 Reverse Link Channels

• After the mobile initially acquires the pilot of a base station and
reads the data on the Synchronization channel, it transmits to
the base station on an Access Channel.

• This is the first indication that the base station has that the
mobile is present and active.

• All communications with the base station occur using the Access
Channel until the mobile is placed in the traffic mode.

105
 Reverse Link Channels

• Reverse Traffic Channel

– The reverse traffic channel is used when there is a call.

106
Problems in a CDMA Channel

107
 Problems in a CDMA Channel
• Near-Far Problem
– If all mobiles transmitted at the same power level, signals received
by the base station from mobiles further away would be weaker
than those signals received from mobiles which were closer to the
cell. This issue reduces, if not resolved, the capacity of a CDMA
system.
• Path Loss
– The more distance between the cell and a phone the weaker the
signal becomes.
• Fading
– Fading occurs when more than two signals from the same
transmitter are received due to multipath.

108
Advantages of CDMA

109
 Advantages of CDMA
• Coverage
• Capacity
• Clarity
• Cost
• Compatibility
• Customer Satisfaction

110
FDMA / TDMA / CDMA
Coverage

111
 Coverage
• Coverage Issues
– Providing adequate coverage is a basic requirement of a wireless system.
– Coverage of a BTS or network is impacted by the capacity requirements of the
system, terrain of the area, and power of the base station and mobiles.

• CDMA Advantage
– Forward and reverse link power control helps a CDMA network dynamically
expand the coverage area.
– The coding and interleaving techniques used in CDMA provide the ability to
cover a larger area for the same amount of available power used in other
systems.
– Under line of sight conditions CDMA has a 1.7 to 3 times more coverage than
TDMA.

112
Capacity

113
Clarity

114
 Clarity
• Rake Receiver
– Combines multipath and softer handoff signals to reduce
errors and power requirements.
• Variable Rate Vocoder
– The dynamic rate of the vocoder reduces the amount of
data transmitted for each person and reduces the
interference.

115
 Clarity
• Soft Hand-off
– The soft hand off in CDMA reduces the interference and power
requirements for maintaining the link. Multiple received signals
can be combined to reduce the possibility of errors resulting from
interference and fading.
• Power Control
– Dynamic power control reduces errors by keeping the power at an
optimal level.
• Wideband Signal
– CDMA’s wideband signals does not suffer from the same effects
of fading experience in an FDMA or TDMA system.
• Encoding and Interleaving
– Strong encoding and interleaving reduces the effects of fading.

116
Major Mobile Radio standards in North America

117
Spectrum Allocation by PTA
 PMR
Key features of professional mobile radio systems
can include:
• Point to multi-point communications (as opposed
to cell phones)
• Push to Talk, release to listen — a single button
press opens communication on a radio frequency
channel
• Large coverage areas
• Closed user groups
• Use of VHF or UHF frequency bands
 Private Mobile Radio (PMR)
System
• System setup by a company or group of
users for that group of user alone
• Walkie-talkie is simplest form where there
is no need of base station
• Simple to setup and cheap to run
• But lack flexibility as calls to other
networks or users is impossible
• A new service called PMR446, which can
support upto about 1 or 2 million users in
UK
• The channels are unlicensed, hence no
guaranteed access
• PMR446 equipment is not permitted to be
connected with public telephone network
• The USA has a similar system called called
family radio service (FRS)
• In public mobile access radio (PAMR) users
may group together to run joint systems
• PAMR systems are shared by number of
different users
• PAMR or PMR systems with a common
standard and internetworking arrangement
has advantage of direct calls
• It is useful for services in neighboring
countries
 Problems
• Delays as Interworking arrangement routes
calls through a fixed network
• Direct mode operation without base station
is impossible
• Development of good public cellular system
which undermine the advantages( adequate
coverage, reduce cost, supplementary
services) of PMR system
• Coverage in GSM exceeds the dedicated
coverage provided by PMR
• The cost of public systems has decreased
drastically due to competition and
innovations
• PMR handsets becoming more costly due to
move to digital and drive to increase
flexibility, capacity and security
• Cellular users have economies of scale due
to large market
 The PMR User Community
• Public Safety
Emergency Services( Police, Fire, ambulance)
• Non-safety National Govt
Customs etc
• Non safety local Govt.
• Transport
Railways, Buses, Taxis
• Other Utilities
Water, Electricity, Gas, Coal
• On-site PMR
Construction site
• PAMR
 Requirements of PMR Services
• Reliability
Service availability is extremely important
• Voice and Data Capability
Data services are increasing exponentially
• Centralized and De-centralized operations
• Pt to Pt, Group and Broadcast Calls
Flexible group call structure
• Fast Call Setup
Particularly important in emergency services,
push to talk, no need of dialing
• Good Coverage
Mountain rescue service
• Long Battery life
• Flexibility
Ability of system to change with the need,
scalable
• Low Total Cost of ownership
Lower Capital plus maintenance cost
• Others Requirements in some cases include
Security, Call priorities, Ease of licensing
 PMR Configurations (3.4)
• Point to point Direct terminal communication
• Dispatch operation
• Talk through Repeater Operation
• Use of Radio port to fill blackspot
• Vehicle mounted Repeater for local handheld
coverage
• Wide area coverage using several base sites
• Cellular PMR Configuration
 Comparison Between PMR and
Cellular
• Group call..required in PMR but not so
frequent in Cellular
• Dispatcher Operation…. Many PMR needs
dispatcher for controlling and monitoring,
not in Cellular
• Decentralized Operation…PMR works in
direct mode without the need of fixed base
station and network infrastructure
• Fast Call Set-up…. PMR fast as no need to
wait to be connected
• Supplementary Services….Additional call
services…now equally good in Cellular
• Traffic Patterns….Calls are short in PMR,
PMR calls are mostly intended for the users
on the same network
• Capacity…Cellular user base is larger, need
more base stations, small cells, high re-use
and efficient air interface techniques. PMR
operator want to minimize infrastructure
cost so larger cells.
• Freq Planning… Needed in Cellular
• Control, billing and authentication…User is
authenticated and bill for each call as
contrast to PMR
• Relationship between the service provider
and the user…QOS is directly in control of
user in PMR, Cellular will provide a
standard service
• Coverage….PMR operator require coverage
over predefined areas of operation, Cellular
may use over as wide area as possible
including internationally.
 PMR Standards
• Analog
• Digital
 Analog PMR
• Early systems were analog and proprietary
• Later on, some standards introduced for
infrastructure cost and spectrum sharing
• One such system is LTR (Logic Trunk
Radio)
• Another major Analog standard is
MPT1327 developed in UK in 1980s but
implemented worldwide
• MPT1327 is complex and expensive but
efficient in spectrum use as well as offer
data services
• Difficult to replace or upgrade due to cost
 Digital PMR
Advantages are
• Ability to recover the signal completely as long
as noise is below threshold level
• Direct sending of data without need for a
modem and trunking due to easy manipulation
of digital signal
• Lower spectrum required as digital modulation
allows use of efficient compression techniques
• Increased Flexibility
• Increased availability of services
• Improved efficiency
• High QoS
 Digital PMR Standards
• EDCAS..Enhanced Digital Access
Communication System
• Geotek-FHMA
• APCO25
• iDEN
• GSM Derivatives
• TETRAPOL
• TETRA
 Terrestrial Trunked Radio
(TETRA)
• Open standard within ETSI
• Feature rich system from specialized safety
services to cellular operating modes
• Wide selection of data services
• More efficient use of spectrum due to
TDMA access technique
• Number of operating modes with wide
coverage