PRACH

The initial power on the PRACH, the power of the first preamble, is determined according
to equation (1).

P_PRACH = L_PCPICH + RTWP + constantValueCprach (1)

Where:

L_PCPICH is the path loss estimated by the UE based on knowing the

transmitted and received PCPICH power.
RTWP is the Received Total Wideband Power (UL interference) level
measured by the RBS.
constantValueCprach is used by the UE to calculate the initial power on the PRACH.

This parameter is configurable and decides at which level below

RTWP preamble ramping starts.

Except for the received power on the PCPICH, System Information (broadcast in the cell)
provides the UE with all this information.

To reach an appropriate received power level at the RBS, the UE uses preamble ramping.
This procedure consists of the following steps (also shown in Figure 1):

a. The UE transmits a preamble.

b. As soon as the RBS properly detects the preamble, it sends an Acquisition

Indicator (AI) on the AICH.

c. Until the UE receives an AI, it transmits a new preamble, increasing the

transmission power with respect to the previous one by the configurable
powerOffsetP0 parameter.

d. As soon as the UE receives an AI, it sends the PRACH message part. The
power of the control part of the random access message is determined by the
power of the last transmitted preamble and by a configurable offset
powerOffsetPpm parameter. The power of the data part of the PRACH
message is determined by the gain factors for PRACH, which is included in
System Information.
Figure 1 Power Ramping on RACH

Preamble ramping does not go on indefinitely. The maximum number of steps in each
preamble ramping cycle is set by the configurable preambleRetransMax parameter.
When this maximum is reached, a new preamble ramping cycle is attempted. The
maximum number of preamble ramping cycles before the access attempt is ended, is set
by the configurable maxPreambleCycle parameter.

The detection sensitivity for the RACH preamble in the RBS can be increased by the
Improved RACH Coverage feature (FAJ 121 1350). If the license is in place and the
increasedRachCoverageEnabled parameter equals TRUE, the sensitivity of the RBS is
increased a fixed number of dB.