Workshop Overview

Microwave links are a key part of the world's fixed and second generation communications infrastructure. However, the advent of third generation mobile wireless networks has brought about significantly different traffic from second-generation networks. The emphasis in the design of second-generation networks was on voice traffic, with minor amounts of data traffic. As such, second generation networks were inherently circuit-switched networks. To efficiently accommodate the increase in data traffic in 3G systems, packet-switching techniques are introduced into the mobile wireless access network.

The technology of third generation networks has been designed to handle circuit switched as well as packet-switched connections. The driving forces behind third generation networks are a need for supporting the ever-growing amounts of data traffic, as well as bringing about higher capacity for voice.

For the second stage of third generation mobile wireless networks, the proposed network architecture for the backbone network is an all-IP network and it is essential that legacy TDM 2G link planners understanding this technology and gain skill to plan links using all IP packet radios.

This 2 day course focuses on current experienced legacy TDM link planners how to plan links with packet radios. The course will discuss in depth link dimension using CIR/PIR contention ratios, adaptive modulation, changing T/I curves. This is a much suited course for link planners who are using EDGE (2G), UMTS HSDPA, LTE and WiMAX broadband technologies.

The offered course is a 2day intensive microwave link planning workshop using Path Loss IV link planning software. To be able to participate in the hands-on activities, students are required to bring their lap tops equipped with Path Loss IV software program.

Key Benefits

As a minimum course participants will be able to:

• Understand the new methods to plan links with all Ethernet radios
• How to dimension the links with different Class of Services (COS)
• Howe to apply rules of Adaptive Modulation when calculating antenna centre lines.
• Understand the meanings of new reliability requirements for packet networks.

Pre-requisite

Good Knowledge of Microwave Link Planning with Path Loss IV that includes as a minimum, Link Budget generation, Microwave Propagation, ITU Prediction Models, Concept of Availability and Reliability, Frequency Planning and Interference Analysis.

Who should attend

This workshop is highly recommended for legacy TDM link planners who will be involved in EDGE, 3G, 4G network deployments.

Course Outline

Day 1

• Review of Link Planning Essentials
• Anatomy of a Packet
• OSI Layers and overview and their role in packet radio transmissions
• Packet Node vs. Circuit base Node
• Legacy Microwave TDM Radio vs. All IP Packet Radio
• Brief Overview Digital Modulation
• Adaptive modulation in packet radio
• QoS Protocols (IEEE std 802.1p: and DiffServ)
• Concept of Overbooking and Contention Ratios
• CIR and PIR Capacity Requirement Analysis
• Packet radio Network Architecture and Topology Planning
• Reliability and Availability requirements in packet radios

Day 2

• Packet Radio Network Design and Dimensioning and link planning using Path Loss IV link planning tool
• Cased Study: End to end Network planning for a 3G HSDPA Greenfield network