Cellular Network Infrastructure:

Cell Site Design and Components

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Ever wonder what's at the bottom of a cell-tower?
 What actually runs a cell site?
 How the base-station radios generate the RF waves and
what happens to the airwaves from your cell-phone when
they reach the tower?
 What RF and wireless components you need to learn in order
to get ready for wireless industry?
 What kind of technical questions you would face in an
interview for a job with the telecom companies?
 Who is who in Cellular and Mobile Industry?
This course will answer all these questions.
(and many more)

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Understanding of cell-site components.
 Starting from Base Station (BTS) radios to the antennas
mounted on the tower.
 The course will cover various RF components in-line.
 Applications, limitations and alternative options for various
filters and amplifiers will be covered.

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Provides system level understanding of various hardware
components traditionally used at any typical cell-site.
 Goes beyond RF Engineering
 Hands-on exercises
 RL Measurements using industry accepted test-gear like Anritsu and
Teletilt RET controller
 On widely used TMAs, Antennas, RxAITs, Jumpers, Connectors and
many in-line components

 Field visit to a live Cell Site

 Technical Paper Presentation
 Wireless Weekly News Round-up

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Power Amplifiers – in Tx Line
 Tower Mounted Amplifiers (TMAs) – in Rx Line
 Antennas and Tilt Controlling Components
 Filters and Combiners
 Diplexers and Duplexers
 Power Sources, Bias Tees
 Cables and Connectors
 RF and Power Measurements at Cell Site
 Alarming Scheme, Lightening Protectors, Grounding
Material
 BTS (Base Station) Components

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

Each component will be taught to cover the following:
 Introduction
 Why is it needed? – Advantages
 Where is it needed? Uplink or Downlink
 Effects on RF Link
 Disadvantages – Insertion Loss, Return Loss, Power
consumption
 Example of typical Data-sheets (how to read a datasheet?)
 Alternative solutions
 Power and alarm requirements of RF Components

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Hands-on during semester:
 TMAs, Actuators, Bias Tees, PDU, Anritsu, RET
Controller, Actuators, LMUs, Cables and
Connectors, Multi-meter
 Towards the end of the class, a field-trip to a
live cell-site
 Will be able to see all components covered in the
class in action
 Observe RF theories come to life

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Students will be presenting a technical paper (Group
Presentation)
 Pick a topic from various wireless technologies and/or
practices from current industry
 In-class presentation of ~ 30 minutes
 E.g.
 Long Term Evolution (LTE Technology)
 HSPA
 WiMax Vs LTE
 A-GPS for LBS
 AWS Vs 700 MHz
 Smart Beam Antennas
 FCC Regulations on Frequency Auction
 National Broadband Plan
ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure
 Discussion of latest news from wireless and telecom
industry – 10 Minutes
 What matters to us (to ENTS689L)
 Need to understand who is who in the industry?
 What drives the innovation
 How trends are generated
 Where the wireless and cellular industry is heading

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Slides during the class
 White Papers
 Recommended reading on internet
 Class Participation and Discussion
 Extensive use of Blackboard System

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Mid-term: 35 %
 Paper Presentation: 20 %
 Final exam: 40 %
 Class Participation: 5%
 Black-board Discussion Board
 Weekly News Round-up

ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure

 Class will meet every Monday from 5:30 pm
to 8:15 pm at Class-room # 2116 in
Engineering Building on College Park campus
 Office hours for the instructor:
 Mondays, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at AVW Building
(Office #1357)
 Extra hours can be scheduled by appointments
 Contact information:
▪ rikin@umd.edu
ENTS689L: Cellular Network Infrastructure
Week Date Topics In-class Components
1 01/24/2011 Introduction, Basic RF and Cellular Communication
2 01/31/2011 Fundamentals of Cellular Communication, Introduction to
GSM and CDMA

3 02/07/2011 Antenna Theory, Link Budget, Data-sheet introduction Diplexer, Bias Tee, Smart Bias
Tee, Jumper, Multimeter

4 02/14/2011 Detailed definition of DS Parameters, VSWR Bias Tee and Jumper, Printed DS
of LDF4, Bias tee, Diplexer, DIN
Connector

5 02/21/2011 RxAIT Overview and Peripheral Components RxAIT and Connectors, DS of 850
and 1900 RxAIT
6 02/28/2011 RxAIT Line Components, GSM and UMTS RF Flow, RxAIT RxAIT, DS of 850 Dual Duplexer
Troubleshooting and 1900 Duplexer
7 03/07/2011 Types of TMA, AISG Intro, TMA Vs GMA, Introduction to TMA, PDU, Bias Tee, Harness
PDU Cable
8 03/14/2011 Mid-Term Exam
9 03/21/2011 Spring Break – No Class
10 03/28/2011 PDU front panel, Modes of PDU, AISG-TMA, How to decide PDU and DS of PDU
which TMA to use, Diplexer with DC Block, TMA
Troubleshooting, Three main configuration of RETs
11 04/04/2011 Sweep Introduction, Line Sweep Fundamentals Anritsu Hands-On
12 04/11/2011 PIM measurement
Tx Line Components, Diplexers, Duplexers, BTS, Site
Alarms
13 04/18/2011 Multi-carrier power amplifiers RFIM
14 04/25/2011 RET Antennas and Components AISG Controller and Actuators,
Smart Bias Tee
15 05/02/2011 Location Based Services and E911, MLC LMU
16 05/09/2011 Last Class - Project Presentations
17 05/16/2011 Final Exam 13