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Tests to verify the faulty RF cables

The following procedures can be used to verify the RF cables:1) The TRX Test can be run using the BTS manager.
2) The faulty cable isolation test sequence.
NOTE: The TRX Test can be used to find any badly damaged RF cables but may not
identify all the damaged cables that can lead to the TRX/BCF restart issue. It may
also be necessary to perform the faulty cable isolation test.

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TRX Test Method


The TRX test can be run for each individual TRX installed at the site.
Before this:Disable BB or AHOP from the sector under test.
The power for the sector should be PMAX=0 (set at BSC).
A faulty cable may give failed TRX test results with one of the following reasons:> Low Power in Abis1- Air3 Loop
> RF cables not connected.
* A snapshot of follows.
* A document is attached describing the Tests from BSC for different configurations.

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Snap Shot of TRX Test

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Faulty Cable Isolation test


Faulty RF cables can be isolated in the following manner:
1) Connect the BTS Manager to the BTS (ESMA LMP)
2) Disable BB or Antenna Hopping from the BSC for all sectors of the BCF/Site as it
would not permit TRX blocking/unblocking in a BB/AHOP sector.
3) Verify that all the sectors are radiating at maximum power which can be verified from the
BSC using the command: ZEUO:BTS=<BTS id>;
4) Block all TRX of the Site locally from the BTS Manager.
5) For each sector at a time, unblock one TRX at a time (this would enable the BCCH to
reconfigure to each TRX at a time. This will enable sufficient power available on the cable
to be able to test each cable successfully.
6) On the BTS Control drop down menu of the BTS Manager, select the Power Control
Option and Change the Control from User to BTS (If it is not already there).

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Faulty Cable Isolation Continued


7) Bring the door of the cabinet or a sufficient sized metal plate in front of the radiating
TRX Tx port. Try this a number of times varying the distance from the BTS and speed of
movement ie slowly and fast.
8) When this activity is performed on a TRX with a faulty RF cable, it will be observed
on the power control box that the display of any one or more of the six power ports of
the Power Distribution Unit (PDU) turn from Green to a Question Mark in Red denoting
an Unknown State.
9) Note that before removing any TX cable, block the TRX locally first or a VSWR major
alarm may block the TRX which would require a sector reset from the BSC
10)The TX cable should be immediately removed from the TRX and replaced. This new
cable should again be verified in the same way before any other TRX is unblocked.
11) Repeat the activity on each TRX one at a time. Unblocking it to do the testing and
Blocking it again after verifying the integrity of the Tx cable.
12) For each TRX, after verifying that the Tx cable is OK, swap it with its Rx cable to
also verify its integrity before unblocking any other TRX.
13) In some cases a BCF Reset may also be observed on the site.

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Description of the Cable


The cable is an RG 400 cable with QMA Male type connectors at both ends. Cable codes:
994931b RA QMA RF CABLE ASSEMBLY 172 MM

994933b RA QMA RF CABLE ASSEMBLY 275 MM

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Summary
The RF cables might look and feel very flexible and robust but should be handled with
extreme care as a broken or damaged cable may cause many quality and reduced output
power issues.
The tests described earlier should be performed to isolate any damaged RF cables on sites
displaying any unintentional reset or RF quality issues.

The damaged cables should be removed and then disposed of immediately.

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