CP15 –

Introduction to RF Planning

Chapter 6 –
Advanced RF Planning
Objectives

• List the various steps involved in the RF planning process

• Explain each of the steps of the planning process

• State other factors to be considered in the planning process

• State customer requirements

• Explain the use of Drive Tests

• Explain the use of planning tools

• Describe the customisation of planning models

• Perform an RF planning exercise

Planning Steps

• Understand Customer Requirements

• Survey

• Prepare Planning Tool

• Draft plan

• Fine Tune Plan

Other Considerations

• Site Selection – Cell Types

• Dictating Factors

• Macros Initially

• Growth Phase

• On-going Activities
Customer Requirements

• Network boundaries

• Government requirements

• In-building acceptable coverage areas

• In-building critical coverage areas

• High growth areas

• Initial implementation strategy

• Budget restrictions
In-building coverage

• Classify buildings:
– Hotels/Restaurants
– Commercial
– Industrial
– Residential
– Shopping Malls/Markets
• Propagation tests in a number of buildings of each variety
• RF signal on the road Vs signal inside buildings gives penetration loss
• Repeat tests in as many buildings as possible to get an estimate of
building loss for the area
• In-building coverage affected mostly on ground floor/basements
• Typical values (examples only):
– Hotels/Restaurants Commercial 15dB
– Commercial buildings 20dB
– Shopping Malls 15dB
– Industrial estates 12 - 15dB
– Residential buildings 15 - 20dB
– Old/historical buildings 25 - 30dB
Planning Tool Preparation and Model Calibration

• Many tools available

• Planning tool requirements

• Authorised Maps

• Map Categories
Key Points

• Coverage probability

• Expected In-building coverage

• Edge Probability

• Fade Margin required

• Maximum permissible path loss

• Cell radius

• Number of sites required (coverage)

• Adequate number of sites for capacity?

Coverage Estimation
Site Selection

• Central business areas

• Residential/Suburban areas

• Industrial areas

• Quasi-open areas

• Highways