KKKT 4033

COMMUNICATION RADIO & SATELLITE

SEMESTER I (2009/2010)

CDMA VS WCDMA

NAME: CHENG SOON WAI (A111224)

OOI WEN HUI (A113479)

LECTURER: EN. KAMARULZAMAN BIN MAT

DUE DATE : 27 OCTOBER 2009

 2

Table of Contents

Table of Contents...................................................................................................................2
1 CDMA.................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Definition of CDMA...............................................................................................3
1.2 Spread Spectrum Characteristics of CDMA...........................................................4
1.3 Feature of CDMA...................................................................................................5
1.4 Technical specification of WCDMA......................................................................6
1.5 Power Control in CDMA........................................................................................6
1.6 Handoff in CDMA..................................................................................................7
1.7 Rake receiver .........................................................................................................7
1.8 Advantages of CDMA............................................................................................7
1.9 Disadvantages of CDMA........................................................................................7
2 WCDMA.............................................................................................................................8
2.1 Definition of WCDMA...........................................................................................8
2.2 Features of WCDMA..............................................................................................8
2.3 WCDMA Specifications.........................................................................................8
2.4 WCDMA Based System.........................................................................................9
2.5 Spreading and Modulation ...................................................................................10
2.6 Modulation Principle for WCDMA......................................................................10
..............................................................................................................................................10
2.7 Purpose of Power Control in WCDMA................................................................10
2.8 Power Control Types inWCDMA........................................................................11
2.9 WCDMA Handover Types...................................................................................12
2.10 Technology.........................................................................................................13
2.11 Advantages of WCDMA ...................................................................................13
Conclusions..........................................................................................................................15
References............................................................................................................................15
 3

1 CDMA

1.1 Definition of CDMA

Code division multiple access (CDMA) is a channel access method utilized by various
radio communication technologies. It should not be confused with the mobile phone
standards called cdmaOne and CDMA2000 (which are often referred to as simply "CDMA"),
which use CDMA as an underlying channel access method.
In CDMA systems, the narrowband message signal is multiplied by a very large
bandwidth signal called the spreading signal. The spreading signal is a pseudo-noise code
sequence that has a chip rate which is orders of magnitudes greater than the data rate of the
message. All users in a CDMA system use the same carrier frequency and may transmit
simultaneously. Each user has its own pseudorandom codeword which is approximately
orthogonal to all other code words.

Figure: CDMA in which each channel is assigned a unique PN code which is

orthogonal to PN codes used by other user

CDMA is a form of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum communications. In general,

Spread Spectrum communications is distinguished by three key elements:

1. The signal occupies a bandwidth much greater than that which is necessary to send
the information. This results in many benefits, such as immunity to interference
and jamming and multi-user access, which we’ll discuss later on.
2. The bandwidth is spread by means of a code which is independent of the data. The
independence of the code distinguishes this from standard modulation schemes in
which the data modulation will always spread the spectrum somewhat.
3. The receiver synchronizes to the code to recover the data. The use of an independent
code and synchronous reception allows multiple users to access the same
frequency band at the same time.
 4

Figure: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum System

1.2 Spread Spectrum Characteristics of CDMA

Most modulation schemes try to minimize the bandwidth of this signal since
bandwidth is a limited resource. However, spread spectrum techniques use a transmission
bandwidth that is several orders of magnitude greater than the minimum required signal
bandwidth. One of the initial reasons for doing this was military applications including
guidance and communication systems. These systems were designed using spread spectrum
because of its security and resistance to jamming. Asynchronous CDMA has some level of
privacy built in because the signal is spread using a pseudorandom code; this code makes the
spread spectrum signals appear random or have noise-like properties. A receiver cannot
demodulate this transmission without knowledge of the pseudorandom sequence used to
encode the data. CDMA is also resistant to jamming. A jamming signal only has a finite
amount of power available to jam the signal. The jammer can either spread its energy over
the entire bandwidth of the signal or jam only part of the entire signal.
CDMA can also effectively reject narrowband interference. Since narrowband
interference affects only a small portion of the spread spectrum signal, it can easily be
removed through notch filtering without much loss of information. Convolution encoding and
interleaving can be used to assist in recovering this lost data. CDMA signals are also resistant
to multipath fading. Since the spread spectrum signal occupies a large bandwidth only a small
portion of this will undergo fading due to multipath at any given time. Like the narrowband
interference this will result in only a small loss of data and can be overcome.
Another reason CDMA is resistant to multipath interference is because the delayed
versions of the transmitted pseudorandom codes will have poor correlation with the original
pseudorandom code, and will thus appear as another user, which is ignored at the receiver. In
other words, as long as the multipath channel induces at least one chip of delay, the multipath
signals will arrive at the receiver such that they are shifted in time by at least one chip from
the intended signal. The correlation properties of the pseudorandom codes are such that this
 5

slight delay causes the multipath to appear uncorrelated with the intended signal, and it is
thus ignored.
Some CDMA devices use a rake receiver, which exploits multipath delay components
to improve the performance of the system. A rake receiver combines the information from
several correlators, each one tuned to a different path delay, producing a stronger version of
the signal than a simple receiver with a single correlators tuned to the path delay of the
strongest signal. [5]
Frequency reuse is the ability to reuse the same radio channel frequency at other cell
sites within a cellular system. In the FDMA and TDMA systems frequency planning is an
important consideration. The frequencies used in different cells need to be planned carefully
in order to ensure that the signals from different cells do not interfere with each other. In a
CDMA system the same frequency can be used in every cell because channelization is done
using the pseudorandom codes. Reusing the same frequency in every cell eliminates the need
for frequency planning in a CDMA system; however, planning of the different pseudorandom
sequences must be done to ensure that the received signal from one cell does not correlate
with the signal from a nearby cell.
Since adjacent cells use the same frequencies, CDMA systems have the ability to
perform soft handoffs. Soft handoffs allow the mobile telephone to communicate
simultaneously with two or more cells. The best signal quality is selected until the handoff is
complete. This is different from hard handoffs utilized in other cellular systems. In a hard
handoff situation, as the mobile telephone approaches a handoff, signal strength may vary
abruptly. In contrast, CDMA systems use the soft handoff, which is undetectable and
provides a more reliable and higher quality signal.

Figure: CDMA Spread Spectrum illustration

1.3 Feature of CDMA
Many users of a CDMA system share the same frequency. Either TDD or FDD may be used
1. Unlike TDMA or FDMA, CDMA has a soft capacity limit. Increasing the number of
users in a CDMA system raises floor in a linear manner. Thus, there is no absolute
limit on the number of users in CDMA. Rather, the system performance gradually
degrades for all users as the number of users is increased, and improves as the
number of users is decreased.
2. Multipath fading may be substantially reduced because the signal is spread over a
large spectrum. If the spread spectrum bandwidth is greater than the coherence
 6

bandwidth of the channel, the inherent frequency diversity will mitigate the effects
of small-scale fading.
3. Channel data rates are very high in CDMA systems. Consequently, the symbol(chip)
duration is very short and usually much less than the channel delay spread. Since
PN sequences have low autocorrelation, multipath which is delayed by more than
a chip will appear as noise. A RAKE receiver can be used to improve reception by
collecting time delayed versions of the required signal.
4. Since CDMA uses co-channel cells, it can use macroscopic spatial diversity to
provide soft handoff. Soft handoff is performed by the MSC, which can
simultaneously monitor a particular user from two or more base station. The MSC
may choose the best version of the signal at any time without switching
frequencies.
5. Self-jamming is a problem in CDMA systems, Self-jamming arises from the fact that
the spreading sequences of different users are not exactly orthogonal, hence in the
dispreading sequences of a particular PN code, non-zero contributions to the
receiver decision statistic for a desired user arise from the transmissions of other
users in the system.
6. The near-far problem occurs at a CDMA receiver if an undesired user has a high
detected power as compared to the desired user.
1.4 Technical specification of WCDMA
1. Core network: ANSI-41 MAP
2. Channel bandwidth: 1.25 MHz (1X), 3.75 MHz (3X)
3. Channelization codes: 4-128 (1X), 4-256 (3X)
4. Chip rate: 1.2288 Mbps (1X), 3.6864 Mbps (3X)
5. Synchronized base station: Yes
6. Frame length: 5 ms (signaling), 20, 40, 80 ms physical layer frames
7. Multi-carrier spreading option: Yes, but in cdma2000 1X (direct spread)
8. Modulation: QPSK (forward link), BPSK (reverse link)
9. Modes of operation: FDD
10. Source identification code for sector: One PN code (32,768 chips), 512 unique
offsets are generated using PN offsets
11. Source identification code for mobile: One long PN code (242) chips, unique
offsets are generated based on ESN, not assigned by sector
12. Channel coding: Convolutional and turbo code
13. Power control: Both links (800 Hz)
14. Circuit-switched core network: IS-41, MSC/HLR/ AC
15. Packet-switched core network: IETF based, PDSN/ AAA/HA/FA
16. Voice coder: EVRC
17. Peak data rate: 614 kbps
18. Multimedia services: Yes
19. Overhead: Low (because of shared pilot code channel)

1.5 Power Control in CDMA

The power seen by the handset is directly proportional to the distance between the
transmitter and receiver. Thus, when a receiver is closer to the base station, the power with
which it transmits is much higher than the power of a receiver at the edge of the cell. This is
 7

seen as interference to the receiver farther from the transmitter and is called the near-far
effect. In order to avoid or reduce interference caused by this effect, the receiver design
includes power control measures that reduce the power with which it transmits to the base
station depending on the distance.

1.6 Handoff in CDMA

1 Soft or Hard Handoff occurs when the mobile moving between cells is switching its
cell station. At cell edges, the mobile tends to receive information from two or three
neighboring base stations. The mobile performs continuous calculations of the SNR (signal to
noise ratio) and decides to receive information from the base station that transmits with
maximum SNR. When switching from one base station to the other, if the mobile disconnects
with one base station before linking to the other, it is called hard handoff. In most practical
situations, at some point of time during switching, the mobile maintains a connection with
more than one base station. This is called soft handoff.

1.7 Rake receiver

2 The receiver in CDMA is based on the rake principle where multiple fingers receive
the transmitted output and appropriate combining techniques (Maximal Ratio Combining or
Equal Gain Combining) are used to process these multipath components.

1.8 Advantages of CDMA

1. Reduction of dropped calls thanks to Soft Handoff
2. Capacity is CDMA's biggest asset. It can accommodate more users per MHz of
bandwidth
3. than any other technology
4. CDMA has no built-in limit to the number of concurrent users
5. CDMA uses precise clocks that do not limit the distance a tower can cover
6. CDMA consumes less power and covers large areas so cell size in CDMA is large
7. CDMA is able to produce a reasonable call with lower signal (cell phone reception)
levels
8. CDMA's variable rate voice coders reduce the rate being transmitted when the
speaker is not talking, which allows the channel to operate more efficiently
9. CDMA has a well-defined path to higher data rates

1.9 Disadvantages of CDMA

1. Most CDMA-based technologies are patented and must be licensed from Qualcomm.
2. As the number of subscribers using a certain site goes up, the range of that site goes
down
3. CDMA towers interfere with themselves so they are usually installed on short towers
and
4. CDMA system may not perform well in hilly areas
5. Currently CDMA covers a smaller portion of the world compared to GSM which has
more subscribers and is in more countries worldwide
 8

2 WCDMA

2.1 Definition of WCDMA

W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is a wide band spread-spectrum

channel access method that utilizes the direct-sequence spread spectrum method of
asynchronous code division multiple access to achieve higher speeds and support more users.
WCDMA is a type of 3G cellular network. It is the technology behind the 3G UMTS
standard and is allied with the 2G GSM standard.

2.2 Features of WCDMA

The key operational features of the WCDMA are listed below:

1. Support of high data rate transmission: 384 Kbps with wide area coverage, 2 Mbps
with local coverage.
2. High service flexibility: support of multiple parallel variable rate services on each
connection.
3. Both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD)
4. Built in support for future capacity and coverage enhancing technologies like adaptive
antennas, advanced receiver structures and transmitter diversity.
5. Support of inter frequency hand over and hand over to other systems, including hand
over to GSM.
6. Efficient packet access.
7. Employs coherent detection on uplink and downlink based on the use of pilot
symbols.
8. Multiple types of handoffs between different cells including soft handoff, softer
handoff and hard handoff

2.3 WCDMA Specifications

Frequency utilization with W-CDMA

 9

Parameters of WCDMA

2.4 WCDMA Based System

1. All users share the same frequency time domain.

2. Users separated by the codes.
3. Codes are orthogonal
4. FDD frequency division duplex.
– Uplink, downlink in separate frequency bands
5. TDD time division duplex.
– Uplink, downlink in the same
 10

2.5 Spreading and Modulation

WCDMA applies a two-layered code structure consisting of an orthogonal spreading codes

and pseudo-random scrambling codes. Spreading is performed using channelization codes,
which transforms every data symbol into a number of chips, thus increasing the bandwidth of
the signal. Orthogonality between the different spreading factors can be achieved by the tree-
structured orthogonal codes. Scrambling is used for cell separation in the downlink and user
separation in the uplink.

2.6 Modulation Principle for WCDMA

The complex-valued chip sequence generated by the spreading process is QPSK modulated.
Figure below illustrates the modulation principle used in the uplink and downlink. The pulse
shaping is root-raised cosine with roll-off factor 0.22 and is the same for the mobile and base
stations.

Modulation principle

2.7 Purpose of Power Control in WCDMA

Power control in WCDMA can removes near far effect. It can also mitigates fading and
compensates changes in propagation conditions. In the system level, it helps to decrease
interference from other users and increase capacity of the system. Power control in uplink
must make signal powers from different users nearly equal in order to maximize the total
capacity in the cell. However, in downlink the power control must keep the signal at minimal
required level in order to decrease the interference to users in other cells.
 11

Power control in WCDMA

2.8 Power Control Types inWCDMA

There are three types of power control in WCDMA:

• Open Loop power control

The open loop power control is for initial power setting of mobile station across the air
interface.

• Fast closed loop power control

Fast closed loop power control can mitigate fast fading rate up to 1.5 kbps on uplink
and downlink. It uses a fixed quality target set in mobile station or base station.

• Outer loop power control

Outer loop power control compensates changes in environment. It adjust the SIR target
to achieve the required FER/BER/BLER. It depends on MS speed available, multipath
diversity. In the soft handover comes after frame selection.
 12

2.9 WCDMA Handover Types

WCDMA has several different types of handovers:

• Soft, softer, and hard handover;

• Interfrequency handover;
• Handover between FDD and TDD modes;
• Handover between WCDMA and GSM.

The handover algorithm to make the handover decision needs different types of measurement
information. Base stations in WCDMA need not be synchronized, and therefore, no external
source of synchronization, like GPS, is needed for the base stations. Asynchronous base
stations must be considered when designing soft handover algorithms and when
implementing location services. Before entering soft handover, the mobile station measures
observed timing differences of the downlink SCHs from the two base stations. The mobile
station reports the timing differences back to the serving base station. The timing of a new
downlink soft handover connection is adjusted with a resolution of one symbol (i.e., the
dedicated downlink signals from the two base stations are synchronized with an accuracy of
one symbol). That enables the mobile RAKE receiver to collect the macro diversity energy
from the two base stations. Timing adjustments of dedicated downlink channels can be
carried out with a resolution of one symbol without losing orthogonality of downlink codes.
 13

Measurement timing relation between WCDMA and GSM frame structures.

2.10 Technology

W-CDMA may use unpaired or paired spectrum, though the current implementations of W-
CDMA (i.e. FOMA and UMTS) all use a pair of 5MHz spectrum, one for uplink and one for
downlink. FOMA uses 16 slots per radio frame, where as UMTS uses 15 slots per radio
frame.

2.11 Advantages of WCDMA

1. Service flexibility

WCDMA allows each carrier of 5MHz to process mixed service from 8Kbps to 2Mbps. In
addition, circuit switched service and packet switched service can be carried out in the same
channel, and a single terminal is used to carry out multiple circuit and packet switched
services, so as to realize genuine multimedia service. WCDMA supports services with
different requirements (such as voice and packet data) and ensures high quality and perfect
coverage.

2. Spectrum efficiency

WCDMA can make highly efficient use of available radio spectrums. Because single cell
multiplexing is adopted for WCDMA, no frequency planning is needed. Network capacity
can be notably improved by using technologies of hierarchical cell structure, adaptive
antenna array and coherent demodulation (bidirectional).
 14

3. Capacity and Coverage

The number of voice users which can be processed by WCDMA RF transceiver is 8 times as
many as that of typical narrowband transceiver. Every RF carrier can handle 80 voice calling
users at one time or every carrier can handle 50 internet data users at one time.

4. Every connection can provide multiple services

Packet and circuit switched services can be freely mixed in different band width and can be
provided to the same user at the same time. Every WCDMA terminal can access up to 6 kinds
of different services at the same time, which may be combinations of various data services
such as voice, fax, e-mail, video, etc.

5. Network scale economics

When WCDMA wireless access is added to existing digital cellular network (such as
European GSM) and the network is running in two systems, the same core network can be
multiplexed and use the same base stations. The latest ATM mode i.e. micro-cell
transmission procedure is used for the links between WCDMA access network and GSM core
network. This method can process highly effective data packets, which can enhance the
capacity of standard E1/T1 lines to 300 voice calls compared to 30 voice calls for that of
existing network. It is estimated that about 50% transmission costs can be saved.

6. Outstanding voice capability

Although the main purpose for the next generation mobile access is to transmit high bit rate
multimedia communication, with regard to voice communication, it can also fully make use
of specs
 15

Conclusions

1. The term CDMA in the mobile world typically refers to the CDMA family of
standards developed by Qualcomm. They are protocols, sets of defined specifications
of mobile communications.
2. CDMA (the multiplexing technique) is used as the principle of the W-CDMA air
interface protocol, as well as Qualcomm's CDMA protocols.
3. W-CDMA strictly refers to a mobile phone protocol with detailed specifications, as
defined in IMT-2000.
4. The W-CDMA protocol was developed independently of the CDMA protocol
developed by Qualcomm, although drawing on Qualcomm's research the CDMA
family of standards (including cdmaOne and CDMA2000) are not compatible with
the W-CDMA family of standards.

The overview of CDMA and WCDMA highlights the potential of increasing capacity in
future cellular communications. This paper describes the mobile radio environment and its
impact on narrow-band and wide-band propagation. The advantage of having CDMA and
WCDMA in cellular systems is depicted. The concept of radio capacity in cellular is also
introduced. The natural attributes of CDMA and WCDMA provide the reader with the
reasons that cellular is considering using it.

References

[1] Garg, Vijay K.. 2007. Wireless Communications and Networking. San Francisco: Elsevier
Inc.
[2] Lee, William C. Y.. 1991. Overview of Cellular CDMA. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular
Technology. VOL. 40, NO. 2: 291-303

[3]Rappaport, T.S. 1992. Wireless Communication: Principles and Practice. 2nd Ed. New
Jersey: Prentice Hall.