26 Wireless Network Measurements

Jyrki T. J. Penttinen

26.1 Introduction

The overall physical radio measurements largely share the same principles over cellular and wireless system generations. The same principles can thus be utilized as a base for GSM, UMTS, HSPA+ as well as for LTE measurements, and also for the other systems like CDMA. Nevertheless, each system has their own special characteristics, and they have evolved further from the previous generations. The more advanced performance and respective signal processing also require new abilities from measurement equipment.

26.2 Principles of Radio Interface Measurements

Radio interface measurements are essential in the deployment and operational phases of cellular networks.

The physical radio interface can be investigated by monitoring and storing numerical values about the received power level over the functional bandwidth. In the deeper measurement principles, the modulation scheme and other characteristics need to be observed case-by-case.

26.3 GSM/GPRS

26.3.1 GSM/GPRS Measurement Devices

The GSM/GPRS equipment can typically be used to record and monitor radio network occurrences and parameter values. The equipment can consist of a data storage unit such as a laptop PC, connected to a commercially available terminal. The packet data connection is established, for example, via the public Internet to the server, and data transfer is monitored in both directions. A separate data unit accessed via GPRS can potentially ...

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