ION teams of experienced RF Engineers deliver highly reliable services to our clients. Our RF
Engineers are highly adept at handling the latest RF investigation tools like TEMS Drive Test
Kits.
ION provides the following Radio Frequency Engineering services for all wireless Networks
(GSM, CDMA & WiMax):
- RF Planning, Transmission Planning and Network Design
- CW Drive Tests and Model Tuning
- RF Survey and Site selection
- MW LOS Survey and Link Engineering
- Network Audit
- Drive Test & Network Optimization
- Comparative Drive Tests and Benchmarking
- RF Optimization and KPI Analysis
- Spectrum Analysis
ION's RF Engineering Resources are well trained to use state-of-the-art industry standard
tools for design, planning and testing the networks to ensure that the network design
meets the network performance objectives of the customer.
Some of the Network Planning Tools that our engineers are trained to used in RF Planning
and Network Design:
- Aircom's Asset Planning Tool
- Forsk Atoll Planning Tool
- Pathloss 4.0
- Aircoms' Connect Link Planner
| RF Survey
The ultimate goal of a RF site survey by ION is to acquire sample information to determine
the number and placement of access points that allows optimal coverage throughout the
facility.
RF site survey is carried out in the following steps:
Collect list of Nominals to be surveyed, from the customer. In case of new town surveys
where Nominals are not provided, ION will survey the town and provide a nominal for
suitable site location
Use the survey report template forwarded by the customer
Identify physical location of the proposed nominal and locate 3 candidates (maximum) for
each nominal, as per search ring size suggested by the customer
Survey the site for RF suitability
Record Latitude and Longitude, building height etc. of the proposed candidates
Estimate and provide required GSM Antenna heights and orientation, proposed tower / pole
location (s) will also be marked on a rough sketch of the building (rooftop) or ground
site (for each candidate)
Take site photographs (360 degrees panoramic view and building / site elevation) for each
candidate as given in the survey template by you
Record physical addresses of the candidates and site owner / manager contact details (where
available)
Complete the Site Survey Candidate evaluation report
| Line Of Site (LOS) Survey
The ultimate goal of LOS survey is to have MW connectivity between the two sites to
ascertain the Line of Site clearance.
The LOS survey is carried out physically checking the
terrain between the hop and selecting the sites for acquisition. The survey is highly critical
because any failure in LOS can lead to a delay in project and a subsequent loss on account.
LOS survey is carried out in the following steps:
Collect Nominals of proposed site and those of the nearest locations to which customer
proposes the LOS connectivity & Verification
Record latitude, longitude, building data, obstruction data and surrounding terrain data on the
LOS Survey template
Generate LOS Path Profile for the proposed Link using Pathloss 4.0
Generate LOS report for the proposed Link using Pathloss 4.0.Conduct physical survey of the
hop to identify any field obstructions and verify the LOS path profile
| Network Audit
Networks require consistent maintenance and vigilance to ensure reliable service delivery and
adherence to end user Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Objectives of ION's Network Audit services
- Network characterization and assessment
- Comparison of measured data with data on similar systems
- Recommendation of possible course of action and Network modifications
- Compilation of Network data for Network expansion, operations and maintenance
Depending on the type of Network, ION's Network Audit services offer
- Terminal Equipment Interface Analysis
- Voice Quality Measurement
- Network Configuration Comparison
- Trouble Ticket Analysis
ION's systems professionals audit, experiment and test the Networks in an effervescent
environment, construct empirical Network models from the collected statistical data, locate
root causes and recommend possible course of action and Network modification if required.
A detailed report of the findings of the audits and analysis of the data is compiled and
presented to customer's engineering team for initiating necessary corrective actions and
proactive measures for future expansions.
Our Network Audit services include
- Collect the data of the existing network from the customer
- Verify the data obtained with the site data on field
- Note the deviations if any and inform the customer through audit report
- Recommendation of possible course of action and Network modifications, if any for optimum
performance of the network
- Compilation and update of Network data for Network expansion, operation and maintenance
Drive Test is conducted for checking coverage criteria of a cell site with RF drive test tool. The
data collected by drive test tool as Log files is analyzed to evaluate various RF
parameters of the network.
Drive Route and Site Data for the sites to be driven is taken from customer
Drive Test LOG File of the specified Drive Route / Site is saved and the same will be handed
over to customer at the end of the day
DT Resource identify routine field optimization issues like cable swapping, missing neighbors
etc., and rectify the same with the help of the customer
Optimization is carried out in the network to
- Minimize the call drop and RF interference in the network
- Increase the indoor & outdoor coverage and better speech quality
- Note the deviations if any and inform the customer through audit report
-
Network Optimization Tools Used are as the following:
-
TEMS DeskCat
TEMS Investigation
- Compilation and update of Network data for Network expansion, operation and maintenance
| RF Optimization
ION offers RF Optimization Services for existing/new GSM and CDMA network operators.
This service is performed as a continuous RF engineering activity for preventive maintenance.
It ensures optimum network performance to meet the Quality of Service (QoS) targets of the
customer.
Quality of Service (QOS) targets as per the Operators specifications:
Coverage of Service Area: Urban, Suburban, Roads or the Rural areas
Call Success Rate
Minimizing Handover failures
| RF Optimization
- Improve Speech Quality Index for higher Network quality
- Satisfied customers resulting in low churn
- Efficient network utilization
- Reduced investment costs and increased revenue for the customers
| KPI Analysis
Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are a measure of successful network performance and its
quality. With growing customer base and continuous addition of capacity and coverage sites,
operators need to continuously monitor the KPIs of their network to assess service quality.
ION's experienced team of RF engineers are highly capable of providing regular KPI
collection, analysis and customer presentations.
