Drive Test

Drive-Test is the method that we are perform of network while driving.  We are required to given below equipment while performing DT.

·         Laptop

·         TEMS Mobiles

·         GPS

·         Test Sims

·         TEMS software

·         Mapinfo software

·         Database of the site

·         Country  vector and Cellfile and other required Tabfiles

·         Power Inverter

·         SCANNER

·                   GPS: collecting the data of latitude and longitude of each point / measurement data, time, speed, etc.. It is also useful as a guide for following the correct routes.

·                   MS: mobile data collection, such as signal strength, best server, etc ...

·                   SCANNER: collecting data throughout the network, since the mobile radio is a limited and does not handle all the necessary data for a more complete analysis.

Types of Drive-Test

·                   Benchmarking

·                   Highway drive

·                   City Drive

·                   Pre-post Drive

·                   TRAI Drive

·                   MAPA Drive

·                   SCFT

 Procedure:

There are different procedures for drive test depending on the purpose of optimization required. 

First of all connect all DT kit to ensure that it is working properly and locate the route of the site for which DT is required. 

When reach on concerned site check swap. Swap means that there is some conflict between the planned site coverage and the actual site coverage. It means the serving of sectors of the site is not proper. If there is swap inform the person in coordination and then remove the swap with the help of rigger.

After checking the swap, (if there is no swap or if there was swap but currently removed) verify all the implemented parameters on the site with the data base given by Huawei.

Important parameters to check are: Cell_ID, LAC, BSIC,Cell_GPRS_Support, BCCH, HSN, Hopping_Frequencies or MA_List of each sector.

After all above mentioned parameters are verified start TRX testing of the site. DT engineer must know the TRX count of site (given in database otherwise ask from OMCR or from the person in coordination). And make sure you have taken atleast 5 calls of specific duration (15 to 20 seconds) on each TRX and note the RxLevels, RxQuality, SQI and C/I at the same time. If there is some signal fluctuation then change the location to perform TRX testing. If same problem persists, then ask OMCR guy to disable power control of the site. If still problem exists then must check there might be alarms on the site. Remove those alarms with the help of rigger.

After TRX testing, check the GPRS/EDGE. Make an internet connection, if already made then just dial that connection, if both EDGE and GPRS is implemented on the site, by default EDGE will be connected, but DT engineer must verify from TEMS that what is connected by viewing EGPRS status window, in which DL coding scheme is given and also current data mode is shown. If EDGE is connected its coding scheme will be MCS-1 to MCS-9 and minimum acceptable DL RLC throughput in this case is 80Kbps. And

coding scheme for GPRS is from CS-1 to CS-4 and minimum acceptable throughput in this case is 30Kbps. If cellular operator requires the testing of both EDGE well as GPRS then in TEMS just go to equipment properties and disable GSM EDGE capability. Now dial internet connection it will be connected with GPRS.

Now check intracell handovers. It means the handovers between the sectors of the site. First check intracell handovers in clock wise direction and the counter clock wise direction.

Finally in DT check intersite handovers. Take a route in main coverage area of each sector and establish a long call and start to move away from the sector and take the handover with logical neighbor site. Make sure that you have taken two way handover with that site (means handover from your site to neighbor site and then from neighbor site to your site). If handovers are not happening then identify the reasons.

Is handover with logical neighbor defined? You can check this from TEMS serving + Neighbor window. If logical neighbor is not appearing in this window then call OMCR guy to define the neighbor. If neighbor is defined and still handover is not happening then check whether the BSIC of that neighbor decoding? If not decoding then handover can’t happen. In this case also inform OMCR guy and also try the handover with some other site.

After all these things are completed, just check log files and make sure that all steps are performed and all routes are completed and all log files are ok.