Importance of CW Test and Propagation Model Tuning in RF Planning

The propagation model lays a foundation for the cell planning of a mobile communication
network. The accuracy of the propagation model determines whether the cell planning is
reasonable and whether operators can meet the requirements of users through cost-effective and
rational investments. Therefore, it is necessary to tune the propagation model in order to obtain
the wireless propagation model that complies with the actual environment of the specific area,
improve the accuracy of the coverage prediction and lay a solid foundation for network planning.

To understand the importance of CW Test and model tuning, it is important to know how the RF
planning tool works:

1. How RF Planning tool works

The basis on which RF planning tool works and is built is the propagation prediction. It
basically calculates the received signal strength at each and every point away from the BTS
transmitter. Calculating Rx level on every point due to each and every BTS within the predicted
coverage radius and plotting Rx level of all the points in the map is the most fundamental job of
RF Planning tool.

To get the Rx level in any direction at distance d from Tx is to predict the path loss along the
distance d. So propagation prediction is the path loss prediction. Then Rx
Power
= Tx
Power

Path loss



The usefulness of features and functionalities provided by any planning tool depends on the
accuracy of the path loss prediction. The more accurate the prediction, the more realistic the
output of planning tool.

2. How to find Path loss

The received signal mean amplitude (Rx
Power
) is a function of many factors including free space
loss, terrain loss and clutter loss. simply,
path loss = free space loss + terrain loss + clutter loss
Free space loss is easy to compute, so the real problem is to predict the losses due to terrain and
clutter. Terrain loss takes account of geomorphology such as rocks, ponds, sands, land forms,
hills, etc. Similarly, Clutter loss takes account of demography such as dense urban, urban, sub
urban, residential, village etc.
3. Solution to problem of finding path loss

There is no definite mathematical formula which takes into account of terrain loss and clutter
loss besides free space loss. Only empirical formula is available from the time of research work
done in Japan by Okumara and Hata in the 1960s. Such general formula will take into account
the path loss influence of the following effects,
1. Frequency
2. Distance
3. Antenna Height
4. Antenna Pattern
5. Ground reflection
6. Clutter
7. Diffraction into non line of site regions

4. Propagation model

The propagation model, used in ASSET, which takes into account of above all parameters to find
path loss is:
Loss = K
1
+ K
2
Log(d) + K
3
(Hms) + K
4
Log(Hms) + K
5
Log(Heff) + K
6
Log(Heff)Log(d) +
K
7
Diffn + C_Loss.
Where
d = distance between base station and the mobile specified in Kilometres.
Hms = Height of the mobile above ground in metres.
Heff = The effective base station antenna height in metres.
Diffn = The diffraction loss
K
1
= Constant offset.
K
2
= Fade slope constant.
K
3
= Mobile antenna height factor..
K
4
= Okumura Hata multiplying factor for mobile height.
K
5
= Effective antenna height gain..
K
6
= Log of the effective antenna height gain.
K
7
= Diffraction loss
C_Loss = Loss due to clutter. Eg. urban, trees, dense urban, water, forest etc.


5. What CW Test and Model Tuning is

CW is a continuous wave test to find received signal level along the DT route. The CW Test log
file is used in the planning tool to find the K-values and C_Loss of the propagation model of
actual environment where Drive Test had been done.

K-values


C_Loss values


CW Test also finds fading loss in the specific area.