UNIT III

FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT AND CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT &

CELL COVERAGE FOR SIGNAL AND TRAFFIC

CMC/IV ECE/II SEM

Contents
 Numbering and grouping, setup access and paging channels
 channel assignments to cell sites and mobile units: fixed channel
and non-fixed channel assignment
 channel sharing and borrowing, overlaid cells
 Signal reflections in flat and hilly terrain
 Effect of human made structures
 Phase difference between direct and reflected paths
 Straight line path loss slope
 General formula for mobile propagation over water and flat open
area
 Near and long distance propagation
 Antenna height gain, form of a point to point model.
 Frequency Management
The function of frequency management is to
divide the total number of available channels into
subsets which can be assigned to each cell either in
a fixed fashion or dynamically (i.e., in response to
any channel among the available channels).
How it is different from “channel assignment”

Frequency Management Channel Assignment

 Designating setup channels and  allocation of specific channels
voice channels . to cell sites and mobile units.
 Numbering the channels
 grouping the voice channels
into subsets (done by each
system according to its
preference).
Numbering the channels
The two frequencies in channel 666 are 844.98 MHz (mobile transmit)
and 898 MHz (cell-site transmit). The 666 channels are divided into
two groups: block A system and block B system.
The 42 set-up channels are assigned as follows.
Channels 313-333 block A
Channels 334-354 block B
The voice channels are assigned as follows.
Channels 1-312 (312 voice channels) block A
Channels 355-666 (312 voice channels) block B
These 42 set-up channels are assigned in the middle of all the assigned channels to
facilitate scanning of those channels by frequency synthesizers. In the new additional
spectrum allocation of 10 MHz (sec Fig. 1.2.), an additional 166 channels are
assigned. Since a 1 MHz is assigned below 825 MHz (or 870 MHz) in the future,
additional channels will be numbered up to 849 MHz (or 894 MHz) and will then
circle back. The last channel number is 1023. There are no Channels between
channels 799 and 991.
Grouping into subsets
The number of voice channels for each system is 312. We can group these
into any number of subsets. Since there are 21 set-up channels for each system, it
is logical to group the 312 channels into 21 subsets. Each subset then consists of
16 channels. In each set, the closest adjacent channel is 21 channels away. The 16
channels in each subset can be mounted on a frame and connected to a channel
combiner. Wide separation between adjacent channels is required for meeting the
requirement of minimum isolation. Each 16- channel subset is idealized for each
16-channel combiner.
In a seven- cell frequency-reuse cell system each cell contains three
subsets, iA+iB+iC, where i is an integer from 1 to 7. The total number of voice
channels in a cell is about 45. The minimum separation between three subsets is 7
channels. If six subsets are equipped in an omnicell site, the minimum separation
between two adjacent channels can be only three (21/6> 3) physical channel
bandwidths.
For example,
1A+1B+1C+4A+4B +4C
or 1A+1B+1C+5A+5B+5C
Set-up channels

• Set-up channels also called control channels are the

channels designated to setup calls.
A call always needs a set-up channel ?
• A system can be operated without set-up channels. If we
are choosing such a system all the 333 channels in each
cellular system (block A or block B) can be voice channels;
however each mobile unit must then scan 333 channels
continuously and detect the signaling for its call. A
customer who wants to initiate a call must scan all the
channels and find an idle (unoccupied) one to use.
Set-up channels
In a cellular system, we are implementing frequency-reuse
concepts. In this case the set-up channels are acting as control
channels. The 21 set-up channels are taken out from the total
number of channels. The number 21 is derived from a seven-cell
frequency-reuse pattern with three 120◦ sectors per cell, or a total
of 21 sectors, which require 21 set-up channels. However, now only a
few of the 21 setup channels are being used in each system.
Theoretically, when cell size decreases the use of set-up channels
should increase.
Set-up channels can be classified by usage into two types
access channels
paging channels
 An access channel is used for the mobile-originating calls and paging channels for
the land originating calls.
 For this reason, a set-up channel is sometimes called an ‘access channel’ and
sometimes called a ‘paging channel.’
 Every two- way channel contains two 30-kHz bandwidth.. Normally one set-up
channel is also specified by two operations as a forward set-up channel (using the
upper band) and a reverse set-up channel (using the lower band).
 In the most common types of cellular systems, one set-up channel is used for both
access and paging.
 The forward setup channel functions as the paging channel for responding to the
mobile-originating calls. The reverse set-up channel functions as the access
channel for the responder to the paging call. T
 he forward set-up channel is transmitted at the cell site, and the reverse set-up
channel is transmitted at the mobile unit.
 All set-up channels carry data information only.
Access Channels
In mobile-originating calls, the mobile unit scans its 21 set-up channels
and chooses the strongest one. Because each set-up channel is associated with one
cell, the strongest set-up channel indicates which cell is to serve the mobile-
originating calls.
Frequently only one system operates in a given city; for instance, block B
system might be operating and the mobile unit could be set to “preferable A
system.” When the mobile unit first scans the 21 set-up channels in block A, two
conditions can occur.
1. If no set-up channels of block A are operational, the mobile unit automatically
switches to block B.
2. If a strong set-up signal strength is received but no message can be detected, then
the scanner chooses the second strongest set-up channel. If the message still
cannot be detected, the mobile unit switches to block B and scans to block B set-
up channels.
Operational Functions

1. Power of a forward set-up channel [or forward

control channel (FOCC)]
2. The set-up channel received level
3. Change power at the mobile unit
Mobile station control message
System parameter overhead message
Control-filler message
4. Direct call retry
Paging channels

• Each cell site has been allocated its own setup channel (control channel). The
assigned forward set-up channel (FOCC) of each cell site is used to page the
mobile unit with the same mobile station control message.
• Because the same message is transmitted by the different set-up channels, no
simulcast interference occurs in the system. The algorithm for paging & mobile
unit can be performed in different ways. The simplest way is to page from all the
cell sites. This can occupy a large amount of the traffic load. The other way is to
page in an area corresponding to the mobile unit phone number. If there is no
answer, the system tries to page in other areas. The drawback is that response
time is sometimes too long.
• When the mobile unit responds to the page on the reverse set-up channel, the cell
site which receives the response checks the signal reception level and makes a
decision regarding the voice channel assignment based on least interference in
the selected sector or underlay-overlay region.
Fixed Channel Assignment

• Adjacent-Channel Assignment
• Channel Sharing
• Channel Borrowing
• Sectorization
• Underlay-Overlay Arrangement
Adjacent-Channel Assignment
Channel Sharing
Channel Borrowing

• Channel borrowing is usually handled on a long-term basis. The extent of

borrowing more available channels from other cells depends on the traffic density
in the area. Channel borrowing can be implemented from one cell-site face to
another face at the same cell site. In addition, the central cell site can borrow
channels from neighboring cells.
• The channel-borrowing scheme is used primarily for slowly-growing systems. It is
often helpful in delaying cell splitting in peak traffic areas. Since cell splitting is
costly, it should be implemented only as a last resort.
 Sectorization

• Sectorization serves the same purpose as the channel borrowing scheme in

delaying cell splitting. In addition, channel coordination to avoid cochannel
interference is much easier in sectorization than in cell splitting. Given the same
number of channels, trunking efficiency decreases in sectorization.
Comparison of Omni cells (Non sectorized Cells) and Sectorized Cells:
Omni cells:
If a K = 7 frequency-reuse pattern is used, the frequency sets assigned in each cell can
be followed by the frequency-management chart. However, terrain is seldom flat;
therefore, K = 12 is sometimes needed for reducing cochannel interference. For K
= 12, the channel-reuse distance is D = 6R, or the cochannel reduction factor q = 6.
Sectorized Cells: There are three basic types.
1. The 120◦-sector cell is used for both transmitting and receiving sectorization.
Each sector has an assigned a number of frequencies. Changing sectors during a
call requires handoffs.
2. The 60◦-sector cell is used for both transmitting and receiving sectorization.
Changing sectors during a call requires handoffs. More handoffs are expected for
a 60◦ sector than a 120◦ sector in areas close to cell sites (close-in areas).
3. The 120◦ or 60◦-sector cell is used for receiving sectorization only. In this case, the
transmitting antenna is omnidirectional. The number of channels in this cell is
not sub- divided for each sector. Therefore, no handoffs are required when
changing sectors. This receiving sectorization- only configuration does not
decrease interference or increase the D/R ratio; it only allows for a more accurate
decision regarding handing off the calls to neighboring cells.
Underlay-Overlay Arrangement

Underlay-Overlay Arrangement:
In actual cellular systems cell grids are seldom uniform because of varying traffic
conditions in different areas and cell-site locations.
Overlaid Cells:
To permit the two groups to reuse the channels in two different cell-reuse patterns of
the same size, an “underlaid” small cell is sometimes established at the same cell site
as the large cell (see Fig. 10a). The “doughnut” (large) and “hole” (small) cells are
treated as two different cells. They are usually considered as “neighboring cells.”
Reuse Partition Scheme In Overlaid Cell System
Non-fixed Channel Assignment
1. Fixed Channel Algorithm: The fixed channel assignment (FCA) algorithm is the
most common algorithm adopted in many cellular systems. In this algorithm,
each cell assigns its own radio channels to the vehicles within its cell.
2. Dynamic Channel Assignment: In dynamic channel assignment (DCA), no fixed
channels are assigned to each cell. Therefore, any channel in a composite of N
radio channels can be assigned to the mobile unit. This means that a channel is
assigned directly to a mobile unit. On the basis of overall system performance,
DCA can also be used during a call.
3. Hybrid Channel Assignment: Hybrid channel assignment (HCA) is a combination
of FCA and DCA. A portion of the total frequency channels will use FCA and the
rest will use DCA.
4. Borrowing Channel Assignment: Borrowing channel assignment (BCA) uses FCA
as a normal assignment condition. When all the fixed channels are occupied, then
the cell borrows channels from the neighboring cells.
5. Forcible-Borrowing Channel Assignment: In forcible-borrowing channel
assignment (FBCA), if a channel is in operation and the situation warrants it,
channels must be borrowed from the neighboring cells and at the same time,
another voice channel will be assigned to continue the call in the neighboring cell.
CELL COVERAGE FOR SIGNAL AND TRAFFIC
Ground Incident Angle, Elevation Angle
Ground Reflection And Reflection Point
phase difference between the direct path and the
ground reflected path
Propagation over Water or Flat Open Area
“Lee model” for point to point propagation
In general, the mobile point-to-point model can be obtain in three
steps.
(i) Generate a standard condition.
(ii) Obtain an Area-to-Area prediction model.
(iii)Obtain a mobile Point-to-Point model using Area-to-Area
prediction model.
The purpose of developing this model is try to separate two effects.
(a) Natural terrain contour.
(b) Human made structures.
Standard Condition
Obtain Area-to-Area Predication Curves for Human Made Structures:
In the Area-to-Area prediction model, all the areas are considered. as flat even though the
data may be received from non flat area
Effect of the Human Made Structures:
The terrain configuration of each city is different, and the human made structure of the
each city unique. So that, try to separate the two effects. The path loss curve obtained on
virtually flat ground indicates the effects of the signal loss due to solely human made
structures. The average path loss slope shown below which is a combination of
measurements from high spots and low spots along different radio paths.
Foliage Loss