Home / GSM / Step to Select any Site in RF Planning

Step to Select any Site in RF Planning

Here I write about selection of new site in rf planning, how step by step any new site planned is as per below.

Prepare Initial Search Ring

  • Note the latitude and longitude from planning tool.
  • Get the address of the area from mapping software.
  • Release the search ring with details like radius of search ring, height of antenna etc.

Release search rings to project management

Visit friendly site locations

  • If there are friendly sites available that can be used (infrastructure sharing), then these sites are to be given preference.
  • If these sites suite the design requirements, then visit these sites first.

Select Initial Anchor Sites

  • Initial anchor sites are the sites which are very important for the network buildup, Eg – Sites that will also work as a BSC.

Enter Data In Propagation Tool

  • Enter the sites exact location in the planning tool.

Perform Propagation Analysis

  • Now since the site has been selected and the lat/lon of the actual site (which will be different from the designed site) is known, put this site in the planning tool and predict coverage.
  • Check to see that the coverage objectives are met as per prediction.

Reset / Review Search Rings

  • If the prediction shows a coverage hole (as the actual site may be shifted from the designed site), the surrounding search rings can be resetted and reviewed.

Candidate site Visit( Average 3 per ring)

  • For each proposed location, surveys should be carried out and at least 3 suitable site candidates identified.
  • Details of each candidate should be recorded on a copy of the Site Proposal Form for that site. Details must include:
  1. Site name and option letter Site location (Lat./Long)
  2. Building Height
  3. Site address and contact number
  4. Height of surrounding clutter
  5. Details of potential coverage effecting obstructions or other comments (A, B, C…)

Drive Test And Review Best Candidate

  • In order to verify that a candidate site, selected based on its predicted coverage area, is actually covering all objective areas, drive test has to be performed.
  • Drive test also points to potential interference problems or handover problems for the site.
  • The test transmitter has to be placed at the selected location with all parameters that have been determined based on simulations.
  • Drive test all major roads and critical areas like convention centers, major business areas, roads etc.
  • Take a plot of the data and check for sufficient signal strength, sufficient overlaps and splashes (least interference to other cells).

Drive Test Integration

  • The data obtained from the drive test has to be loaded on the planning tool and overlapped with the prediction. This gives a idea of how close the prediction and actual drive test data match.
  • If they do not match (say 80 to 90 %) then for that site the model may need tuning.

Visit Site With All Disciplines( SA, Power, Civil etc )

  • A meeting at the selected site takes place in which all concerned departments like RF Engineering, Site acquisition, Power, Civil Engineer, Civil contractor and the site owner is present.
  • Any objections are taken care off at this point itself.
Recent Updates