Drive Test Solutions: Integrated RF and Call Performance Measurements

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A critical measure of the quality of a wireless network is the performance of the air interface. Drive testing is critical to maintaining top network performance. In order to understand how well service is being delivered to subscribers you must characterize the performance of your network as a function of location.

The primary underlying factor that defines air interface performance is RF coverage. How well are the RF signals being propagated? Are there coverage holes? Is there intrasystem interference: CDMA pilot pollution, GSM co-channel interference, etc.? Is there external interference from signals outside of my network?

The measures of performance that a subscriber understands are call-based parameters: dropped calls, blocked calls, poor voice quality, and failed terminations. Both call-based and RF parameters must be measured as a function of location in order to both characterize the performance and to understand the underlying cause of performance problems.

The HP Drive Test family of air interface measurement tools provides a comprehensive, scaleable set of drive testing capabilities for wireless networks. All of the systems are based on the same easy-to-use graphical user interface. The software foundation automates the data collection process. The user has complete control over which measurements are logged - any or all. Sophisticated alarm capabilities notify the user of specific conditions.

CDMA Systems

The HP E7450B RF Coverage Measurement System provides comprehensive characterization of the RF environment for CDMA networks in the PCS and cellular bands, respectively. The HP E7460A Service Quality Analysis System measures call-based performance parameters for CDMA networks in either the PCS or cellular band. The HP E7470A and E7472A Integrated Air Interface Measurement Systems combine all of the capabilities of the RF coverage and service quality analysis systems into complete solutions for CDMA drive testing in the PCS and cellular bands, respectively.

The HP E7450B combines the E6450B PCS band digital receiver with Windows95® (WindowsNT® compatible) software. The HP E7452A is functionally equivalent to the E7450B, but it integrates the HP E6452A cellular band digital receiver. These systems make RF measurements as a function of location. They measure the power (Ec, Io, and Ec/Io) of any or all pilot channel signals in IS-95 and J-STD-008 CDMA networks. All measurements are made independently from network parameter settings providing a completely objective view of the pilot signal environment. These systems also provide CW and channel power measurements for site evaluation / selection testing as well as spectrum display capability for diagnosis of RF problems.

The HP E7460A integrates a CDMA mobile phone (or multiple phones) with Windows95® (WindowsNT® compatible) software. Easy-to-use controls of phone functionality allows the user to characterize network performance parameters such as Frame Erasure Rate (FER), dropped call rate, and blocked call rate. The system displays rake receiver finger activity and pilot measurement information. Messaging information is displayed in a clear tree-oriented format, and the user has control over which sets of messages are displayed: paging, access, etc.

The HP E7470A and E7472A combine the capabilities of the E7460A with the E7450B and E7452A respectively to deliver complete drive test capability. RF and call-based measurements are controlled from an integrated user interface. As the phone delivers critical performance indicators: dropped calls, blocked calls, etc., the receiver provides a complete characterization of the RF coverage. In other words, the phone provides the "What" and the receiver provides the "Why".

GSM/DCS Systems

The HP E7451A GSM RF Coverage Measurement System provides comprehensive characterization of the RF environment for E-GSM900 cellular networks. The HP E7461A GSM / DCS Service Quality Analysis System is used to obtain call performance data versus location to assess the service coverage of wireless communications networks using E-GSM900 and DCS1800 technologies. The HP E7471A combines the comprehensive RF coverage measurement capabilities of the HP E7451A with the service quality analysis capabilities of the HP E7461A to provide a complete integrated air-interface measurement system for drive testing GSM networks.

The HP E7451A combines the HP E6451A E-GSM 900 band receiver with Windows95® (Windows NT® compatible) software. This system makes RF measurements as a function of location. It measures the power of all channels in GSM networks and can decode broadcast channels BSICs. Adjacent channel power and carrier to interference ratio measurements identify potential interference problems. The receiver also makes CW and channel power measurements for cell-site evaluation and selection testing. A spectrum-analyzer display eases interference management and diagnosis of RF problems.

The HP E7461A integrates an E-GSM900 or DCS1800 test mobile phone (or multiple phones) with Windows95® (Windows NT® compatible) software. Easy to use controls of phone functionality allows the user to characterize network performance parameters such as RxQual, RxLev, timing advance, dropped call rate, and hand-over data. Layer III protocol-messaging information can be displayed in a clear tree-oriented format. Extensive event alarm capabilities make it easy to identify potential problem areas and improve operator efficiency.

The HP E7471A combines the capabilities of the HP E7451A and HP E7461A to deliver complete drive test capability. RF and call-based measurements are controlled from an integrated user interface. The phone delivers critical performance indicators; dropped calls, blocked calls, and the receiver provides a complete characterization of the RF coverage. Providing call-based and RF parameters as a function of location allows users to characterize the performance of their networks and understand the underlying causes of performance problems. The phone provides the "What" and the receiver provides the "Why".


This product family includes


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[ Summary ][ Features ][ Specifications ][ Key Literature ][ Ordering ][ Assistance ][ Related ] 

RF Coverage Measurement Systems
HP E7450B:                     CDMA PCS
HP E7452A:                     CDMA Cellular
HP E7451A:                     E-GSM900 

Integrated Air Interface Measurement Systems
HP E7470A:                     CDMA PCS
HP E7472A:                     CDMA Cellular
HP E7471A:                     E-GSM900

Service Quality Analysis Systems
HP E7460A:                     CDMA 
HP E7461A:                     E-GSM900/DCS1800

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HP E7450B and E7452A Technical Specifications ( PDF)
HP E7460A Technical Specifications ( PDF)
HP E7470A and E7472A Technical Specifications ( PDF)
HP E74XX Series CDMA Drive Test Solutions, Configuration Guide ( PDF)
HP E7451A GSM RF Coverage Measurement System ( PDF)
HP E7461A GSM / DCS Service Quality Analysis System ( PDF)
HP E7471A GSM Integrated Air Interface Measurement System ( PDF)
HP E74xx GSM / DCS Drive Test Solutions Configuration Guide ( PDF)

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CDMA Systems
HP E7450B    CDMA PCS RF Coverage Measurement System
HP E7452A    CDMA Cellular RF Coverage Measurement System
HP E7460A    CDMA Service Quality Analysis Systems
HP E7470A    CDMA PCS Integrated Air Interface Measurement System
HP E7472A    CDMA Cellular Intergrated Air Interface Measurement System
   Opt 010    Portable laptop PC
   Opt 020    Replace single-port serial card with dual-port card
   Opt 200    Internal GPS receiver
   Opt 210    External GPS/dead reckoning system
   Opt 211    Adapter cable for Trimble Placer GPS/DR
   Opt 212    Adapter cable for Trimble Placer GPS 455
   Opt 230    Differential GPS receiver
   Opt 300    CDMA Wireless Post Processing Software
   Opt 410    1900 MHz PCS band antenna magnetic mount
   Opt 430    850 MHz cellular band antenna magnetic mount
   Opt 510    Vehicle mount kit (brackets, screws)
   Opt 530    Briefcase carrier
   Opt 700    Control capability for Qualcomm-based phones1
   Opt 710    Cable for Qualcomm QCP-800, 1900 phones
   Opt 711    Cable for Qualcomm QCP-820, 1920, 2700 phones
   Opt 712    Cable for Samsung SCH-1000 phone
HP E7480A    CDMA Wireless Post Processing Software


1Option 700 must be ordered when using phones based on Qualcomm's chip set.

GSM Systems
HP E7451A    GSM RF Coverage Measurement System
HP E7461A    GSM/DCS Service Quality Analysis System
HP E7471A    GSM Integrated Air Interface Measurement System
   Opt 010    Portable Laptop PC
   Opt 200    Internal GPS Receiver
   Opt 210    External GPS / dead reckoning system
   Opt 211    Adapter cable for Trimble Placer GPS/DR
   Opt 212    Adapter cable for Trimble Placer GPS 455
   Opt 230    Differential GPS receiver
   Opt 440    E-GSM900 band antenna magnetic mount
   Opt 510    Vehicle mount kit (brackets, screws)
   Opt 531    Briefcase carrier
   Opt 800    E-GSM900 Sagem Test Mobile Phone
   Opt 801    DCS1800 Sagem Test Mobile Phone


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