WiMAX RF Planning

3 days

Download brochureThe course explains in detail the process of WiMAX radio network planning and design concentrating on the mobile WiMAX. After outlining the fundamental background, including radio propagation and WiMAX radio interface architecture, it considers coverage and capacity planning tasks focusing on those aspects, where WiMAX planning process needs special attention due to the new radio interface. These include consideration of multiple antenna systems and new methods for frequency reuse and interference management. Recommendations for configuration of the key radio procedures and consideration of the interoperability issues close the course.

The course utilizes a number of hands-on practical exercises using the three tools:

• RNP tool to prepare coverage plots,
• 4G System Lab – a System Level Simulator to reflect various frequency reuse concepts and business case options,
• WiMAX PHY Lab – a Link Level Simulator to observe signals, channels and frames of the LTE air interface

.WiMAX RF Design Process

• RF Planning workflow
• Inputs to and targets for the planning; expected outputs
• Coverage and capacity requirements
• Planning constraints
• Significant differences in planning when compared to GSM and UMTS

WiMAX Architecture and Air Interface (tool-based)

• WiMAX waves, releases and system profiles; WiMAX Forum certification
• WiMAX network architecture: nodes and interfaces
• BS and MS architecture
• Radio frame for mobile WiMAX (FDD and TDD)
• OFDMA parameters for WirelessMAN-OFDMA
• Data mapping for downlink and uplink
• Preambles and pilots
• FUSC, PUSC, OPUSC, AMC
• Link-level radio interface simulations

Radio Propagation Principles (tool-based)

• Spectrum considerations and WiMAX frequency bands
• RF channel definitions
• MS and BS transmitter power parameters
• Large-scale and small-scale propagation effects; pathloss, shadowing and fading
• Propagation models: statistical, empirical and deterministic
• Configuration and tuning of the propagation model

Antenna Considerations and MIMO

• Antenna properties - size, gain, beam-width, polarization, front-to-back ratio
• WiMAX diversity techniques
• Spatial multiplexing, single-user and multi-user MIMO
• Transmission modes and MIMO feedback signaling
• Impact on WIMAX link budget and capacity
• Antenna system sharing options

Coverage Planning and Link Budgets (tool-based)

• Link budgets, gains and losses
• Role of adaptive modulation and coding scheme
• Requirements for signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SNIR) and receiver sensitivity
• Thermal noise calculations and interference estimation
• Maximum allowed path loss
• Impact of cyclic prefix length on the link budget
• Indoor considerations
• Impact of antenna configuration
• Range determination and site-to-site distance estimation
• Signal level and best server coverage plots
• SNIR and spectrum efficiency coverage plots
• Site sharing options coverage with the use of repeaters
• WIMAX downlink and uplink link budget exercises
• Planning tool configuration and simulations

Frequency Reuse and Interference Management (tool-based)

• Interference avoidance, cancellation and coordination
• Interference management vs. FUSC, PUSC and AMC
• Interference scenarios for FDD and TDD
• Considerations for Single Frequency Network (SFN)
• Frequency-parallel schemes (OFDMA) in SFN
• Classical frequency reuse concept (integer reuse)
• Fractional frequency reuse methods including soft reuse and partial reuse
• Frequency planning performance evaluations and simulations

WiMAX Capacity Planning (tool-based)

• QoS concept and QoS classes
• Traffic types and device types
• Impact of MCS and SNIR distribution on
• Capacity planning with MIMO
• Influence of Modulation and Coding Scheme distribution on sector capacity
• Overview of backhaul network options and requirements
• Exercises in capacity calculations
• Planning tool configuration and simulations

RAN Procedures Configuration

• Preamble planning
• Configuration of FUSC, PUSC, OPUSC, AMC
• Cell reselection and handover parameters
• Uplink and downlink transmit power control

WiMAX Inter-working with Other Networks

• Roaming: data access via home network and data access via visited network
• Inter-working with 3GPP E-UTRAN and CDMA 2000 networks